Global Traveler picks Seoul as best leisure destination in Asia

A tourist on June 12 takes a photo of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) building in central Seoul, covered in a purple façade to celebrate the 10th anniversary of BTS's debut. [YONHAP]

The U.S.-based travel magazine Global Traveler has picked Seoul as the best leisure destination in Asia, the city said Sunday.

The magazine surveyed its readers from December to April, asking them to choose the best place for many categories involving leisure, luxury and lifestyle travel for the 11th annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards, according to the magazine's website.

"With the sharp increase in K-content's popularity, the popularity of leisure tourism in Seoul is also spreading across the world," the city said. "We will make full use of this opportunity to attract more tourists to Seoul."

The city government said that despite the blow to tourism from the prolonged Covid-19 pandemic, it promoted Seoul's attractions overseas together with its honorary ambassador and K-pop megastar BTS.

Last year, it also opened a tourism center tailored for hikers at the entrance of Mount Bukha.

It plans to open a second center near Mount Inwang and Mount Bugak this year.

Yonhap