A touch of Korea’s winter wonderland enveloped SM Mall of Asia Music Hall last August 30 and 31 as the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) hosted one of their much-awaited events of the year, Korea Travel Fiesta 2025.
This large-scale celebration brought together travel, culture, and all things Hallyu. The venue, dressed in hues of blue and white, set the tone for a festive winter atmosphere.
Honorary Ambassador for Korea Family Tourism in the Philippines, Melai Cantiveros-Francisco, husband Jason Francisco and children Mela and Stela. PHOTOS FROM KTO MANILA
Star-studded performances and cultural showcases
The celebration continued with electrifying performances from the cast of “Show Musical Dream High”, including Se7en, Kim Dong Jun, Sunye, Lim Sejun, and Kim Dahyun. Fans were equally thrilled by Kim Myung Soo’s serenade and travel talk show, which captivated audiences from the front row to the upper floors of the event hall.
Adding to the excitement, world-renowned Korean taekwondo demonstration team K-Tigers wowed the crowd with their signature dynamic moves, even inviting the audience to join their team for a showcase. Rising dance crew ARTix energized both days with their performances and a live onstage dance tutorial. Filipino talents also took the spotlight with Everyone’s K-Pop singers Sandra Dela Cruz and Venisse Sy, and rising cover dance groups Kairos and Paradigm.
Kim Myung Soo, also known by his stage name ‘L,’ the lead vocalist of the legendary K-Pop group Infinite
Engaging talk shows and interactive stage sessions
Day one featured a K-Creators Club Talk Show, where Filipino K-content influencers shared highlights from their K-Culture Challenge Tour in Korea last June. On day two, Honorary Ambassador for Korea Family Tourism Melai Cantiveros-Francisco, and husband, Jason Francisco, shared onstage their family winter travel experience in Korea.
The second day also offered hands-on cultural experiences, including a live K-Food gimbap demo with Chef Ara Lee, and a K-Beauty makeup session led by Beauty Play artist Ryu Bomi. Each day concluded with a passport stamp tour raffle, giving away exciting prizes such as gadgets and round-trip tickets to Korea.
Immersive booth activities and travel deals
Beyond the stage, attendees explored immersive booths that transported them to Korea’s winter landscapes. Popular booths include the immersive LED cube, featuring a wintery Nami Island backdrop, cultural activities such as learning the Hangeul (Korean alphabet), K-Beauty styling, wearing hanbok or the official jacket uniform of the famous School of Performing Arts (SOPA), where various idols graduated, snapshots with Korean style photo Life4Cuts, making DIY handicraft souvenirs, and even receiving hand-drawn caricatures.
KTO’s partner travel agencies and airlines offered exclusive discounts on tour packages and flights to Korea.
Meanwhile, Korean ski resorts promoted winter travel deals that made the idea of a winter visit to Korea even more irresistible.
With thousands in attendance, Korea Travel Fiesta 2025 proved to be a resounding success. The event not only celebrated the vibrancy of Korean culture but also reaffirmed Korea as a top travel destination for Filipinos — through spring, summer, fall, and now, winter.
