Korea’s Jeju to issue NFT tourist cards to boost Gen Z visitors: Report
Jeju Island in South Korea plans to issue non-fungible token (NFT) tourist cards in the second half of 2025 to attract younger tourists, specifically millennials and Generation Z. The digital tourism cards will offer various perks, including travel subsidies and discounts at local attractions. Jeju, known for its hiking trails and resorts, is South Korea's largest island and has a history of crypto initiatives, including a blockchain-based COVID-19 contact tracing app launched in 2021. A trial for the NFT-linked cards will precede the full rollout. Discussions have also taken place regarding the application of blockchain and NFTs in tourism and other local industries. In late 2024, South Korea saw a surge in crypto users, with a total of 15.6 million, representing about 30% of the population. NFT sales volumes reached $8.83 billion in 2024, although this is significantly lower than the peak of $23.7 billion in 2022.
