Mice Affairs Media India, 11 Sep 2020

- No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks, global superstar group BTS shows the beauty of Seoul in seven themes

- BTS to spread sentiments of comfort and hope to worldwide “Hallyu” fans by promoting Seoul as Honorary Tourism Ambassador for the fourth year

- BTS to send the message “See you in Seoul on your next trip”

- Official worldwide release on Friday, September 11 via STO’s VisitSeoul website (visitseoul.net) and social media

BTS, as the face of K-pop and the first act in Korea to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks, will show the beauty of Seoul in a worldwide release of the 2020 Seoul City TVC. The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) and Seoul Tourism Organization (STO) (CEO Lee Jae-sung) unveiled that they will release the video “See you in Seoul” for the 2020 Seoul City TVC starring BTS worldwide on Friday, September 11 via STO’s VisitSeoul website (www.visitseoul.net).

SMG and STO co-produce new videos of various themes every year that promote to the world the beauty of Seoul to vitalize Seoul tourism. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s halting of travel worldwide, this year’s promotional video has been designed with a different concept from that of all the previous videos, focusing mainly on major tourist attractions.

The focus of this year’s video is “recovery marketing” with aims to attract tourists to visit Seoul in the future and to convey the message of hope to those waiting for eased travel restrictions all the while gaining ground for Seoul tourism. Despite the halt in global travel, the international love for Seoul and “Hallyu” (Korean Wave) still continues, and this video will allow Seoul to establish itself as a must-visit destination for worldwide fans. STO’s message of “we hope you begin your journey in Seoul [when COVID-19 subsides]” is embodied in the slogan “See you in Seoul.”

Moreover, this year’s video was produced to make viewers feel like they are on a journey visiting Seoul with BTS while watching via the web due to the current situation of global travel restrictions. The video stars all seven members of BTS, each of them giving a thematic tour guide of Seoul from start to finish, capturing the eyes and ears of Hallyu fans and effectively depicting the colorful beauty of Seoul.

The seven themes have been selected after analyzing the interests and preferences of Seoul tourists, and are presented as follows: “Old But New” by RM; “Recharge” by Suga; “Getaway” by V; “Exciting Moments” by J-Hope; “City Break” by Jin; “Scenic Nature” by Jungkook; and “Local Life” by Jimin.

This marks BTS’s fourth year starring in STO’s videos to promote Seoul tourism; BTS has long continued its relationship with Seoul, having served as Seoul’s Honorary Tourism Ambassador since 2017. Following its previous appearances in “Seoul Life” in 2017, “My Seoul Playlist” in 2018 and “Live Seoul Like I Do” in 2019, BTS makes its appearance again in 2020 for the STO’s promotional videos for Seoul tourism, playing a major role in promoting Seoul tourism.

SMG and STO had previously released seven countdown videos starting on Friday, September 4 starring each BTS member introducing their theme as prelude teasers for the main worldwide release on Friday, September 11. The countdown videos have been gaining hot interest and responses from potential tourists around the world. The videos featuring BTS members in the order of RM, Suga, V, J-Hope, Jin, Jungkook and Jimin, have so far garnered a total of 21 million views and 23,700 comments (as of 3PM, September 9), showing the scale of BTS’s ripple effect.

The TVC will be released worldwide on STO’s VisitSeoul website (www.visitseoul.net), YouTube (www.youtube.com/visitseoul), Facebook, Instagram and other social media channels on Friday, September 11 at 5PM (GMT+9). Posters of BTS showing the beauty of Seoul will also be unveiled.

There will be promotional video quiz events held on STO’s VisitSeoul Facebook (www.facebook.com/VisitSeoul/) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/visitseoul_official/) for participants to win various prizes. For more information, visit the STO’s VisitSeoul website (www.visitseoul.net).

Hong Jae-sun, head of the Global Marketing Team at STO, said, “We hope that viewers will enjoy their journey of Seoul through the seven doors that BTS will guide them through and enjoy the experience of seeing the charm of Seoul in seven different ways”, “Also, we hope that this video can serve as a way to send greetings from Seoul and alleviate the anxious minds of everyone waiting for global travel restrictions to ease.” he added.

Starting with this 2020 Seoul City TVC, SMG and STO are working on various global marketing projects. Despite tourists not being able to visit Seoul due to COVID-19, the two are continuing its efforts to make a mark for Seoul as a tourist-friendly city by holding a comment participation event, a countdown video download event, and a Seoul-themed photo contest to attract prospective international tourists.

Joo Yong-tae, Director-General of SMG’s Tourism & Sports Bureau, said, “Seeing the passionate love that BTS has for Seoul, we hope that this video can serve as a gift to those eagerly waiting to travel to Seoul as well as a way to offer comfort and hope to Hallyu fans around the world who are affected by COVID-19.” “Although it is unfortunate that global travel has halted for the most part, we sincerely hope that Seoul will be the first destination of choice for international tourists when COVID-19 subsides and travel restrictions ease,” he added.