South Korea’s Hadong Leads the Smart Tourism Revolution With Cutting-Edge AI Solutions for Global Travellers

Written By: Boby Dey

Boby Dey

A Passionate travel writer at Travel And Tour World with a strong interest in global tourism, destination storytelling, and the ever-evolving travel industry. Dedicated to creating well-researched, engaging, and informative content that highlights emerging travel trends, tourism developments, airline and hospitality news, cultural experiences, and must-visit destinations from around the world.

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September 2, 2026 9:26 AM |

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South Korea’s Ha-dong pioneers smart tourism and uses AI to address crowds and offer better services and more personalized experiences to international guests.

South Korea’s Ha-dong is set to embrace a new era in smart tourism as artificial intelligence (AI) technology is introduced to revolutionize the visitor experience, destination management and offer more convenient travel options for tourists. The initiative aims to leverage digital solutions to address key tourism challenges such as overcrowding, parking congestion, language barriers and personalized travel planning.

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has selected six technology companies to test AI-based tourism services at some of Ha-dong’s most visited attractions in South Gyeongsang Province. The project highlights South Korea’s wider push towards building a digital tourism ecosystem powered by AI and data-driven innovation.

Ha-dong Moves Towards a Future Powered by Artificial Intelligence

Ha-dong is recognised for its natural landscapes, cultural heritage and historic attractions. Located in South Gyeongsang Province, the region attracts travellers looking for traditional experiences, scenic beauty and cultural exploration. The county is also connected with Irishman National Park, making it an important destination for nature and heritage tourism.

However, increasing visitor numbers have created new challenges for tourism management. Popular attractions experience major visitor surges during seasonal travel periods, especially during cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons. These peak periods often put pressure on transport systems, parking facilities and visitor safety management.

To address these issues, the Korea Tourism Organization is introducing AI-powered solutions designed to make tourism services smarter, more efficient and more personalised. The project aims to demonstrate how advanced technology can support regional destinations while improving experiences for both domestic and international visitors.

The initiative reflects South Korea’s broader strategy of integrating artificial intelligence and digital technology into tourism operations. Through innovation, the country is working towards creating smarter destinations that can respond effectively to changing traveller expectations.

AI Technology Targets Major Tourism Challenges in Ha-dong

The smart tourism project focuses on five major areas where artificial intelligence can deliver practical improvements.

The first area is customised travel planning. AI-powered mapping services will provide personalised routes based on visitor interests and preferences. The technology will help travellers discover suitable attractions while improving movement patterns across tourism sites.

The second focus area is crowd-density analysis. During peak seasons, large visitor numbers can create congestion and safety concerns. AI systems will analyse pedestrian and vehicle movement to provide better insights into crowd conditions and support more effective destination management.

Parking congestion monitoring is another key priority. Popular attractions often face difficulties managing large numbers of vehicles during busy periods. AI-based systems will analyse parking conditions and help improve traffic flow around tourism areas.

The project will also strengthen multilingual tourism assistance. International travellers often require information in different languages, and AI-powered support services will help provide easier access to destination details.

The fifth area involves personalised visitor services. AI-generated content and digital interaction tools will create more engaging experiences by offering information and recommendations based on individual travel needs.

Six Technology Companies Join Ha-dong’s AI Tourism Transformation

Six technology companies have been selected to participate in the pilot project: Free grow, Deeping Source, XL8.ai, Int flow, C flat AI and Tail Studio.

Each company will develop specialised AI solutions focused on improving different aspects of tourism management and visitor services.

Free grow will introduce an AI-based mapping service that creates customised travel routes. The system will help visitors plan journeys more efficiently by recommending routes suited to their interests.

Deeping Source will focus on analysing pedestrian and vehicle congestion. Its technology will monitor movement patterns and provide data to support better crowd management.

XL8.ai will provide multilingual tourism information services and develop an AI-based digital guide system. The technology aims to reduce language barriers and improve accessibility for international travellers.

Int flow will use CCTV-based AI analysis to monitor parking congestion. The solution will help identify vehicle management challenges and support smoother traffic operations around tourist attractions.

C flat AI will develop AI digital-human services designed to enhance visitor communication. These digital assistants will provide another way for travellers to access information and guidance.

Tail Studio will create personalised AI video content that delivers more engaging and customised tourism experiences.

Historic Attractions Prepare for a Smarter Visitor Experience

Two major tourism locations in Ha-dong will become testing sites for the AI solutions: Ssanggye Temple and Hwagaejangteo Market.

Ssanggye Temple, a historic Buddhist temple located in Irishman National Park, attracts more than 500,000 visitors annually. The destination becomes particularly popular during seasonal periods when travellers visit to enjoy natural scenery and cultural heritage.

Hwagaejangteo Market welcomes around 1 million visitors each year and remains an important tourism attraction in the region. The site attracts visitors interested in exploring local culture and regional experiences.

Both destinations experience challenges during periods of heavy visitor demand. Increased crowds can affect transportation, parking availability and visitor movement. The introduction of AI technology aims to provide solutions that improve destination management while maintaining high-quality visitor experiences.

South Korea Strengthens Its Smart Tourism Leadership

The Ha-dong project demonstrates South Korea’s ambition to become a leading destination for smart tourism innovation. By combining cultural attractions with advanced technology, the country is developing a tourism model where artificial intelligence supports visitor satisfaction and operational efficiency.

AI is becoming an increasingly important tool for the tourism industry. From personalised recommendations and multilingual assistance to real-time crowd monitoring, intelligent systems can help destinations provide more convenient and responsive services.

South Korea’s technology-driven approach also creates new opportunities for regional destinations. Smaller tourism areas can use AI solutions to improve competitiveness, attract international travellers and manage visitor demand more effectively.

Instead of depending only on traditional tourism promotion methods, destinations can now use data-driven systems to understand traveller behaviour and deliver more targeted experiences.

AI Demonstrations Set to Begin as Ha-dong Tests the Future of Travel

Field demonstrations of the AI tourism solutions are scheduled to begin in September. The testing phase will allow the selected technology companies to evaluate how their systems perform in real tourism environments.

The results could provide valuable insights into how artificial intelligence can improve regional tourism operations. If successful, similar AI-powered services may be expanded to other destinations across South Korea.

Ha-dong’s smart tourism transformation represents a major step towards the future of travel, where technology and cultural experiences combine to create smoother, safer and more personalised journeys.

South Korea’s Ha-dong is leading the smart tourism revolution by adopting cutting-edge AI solutions that address overcrowding, parking challenges, language barriers and travel planning issues. The initiative aims to create smarter, safer and more personalised experiences for global travellers while transforming regional tourism management.

As global travellers increasingly seek digital convenience and customised experiences, South Korea’s AI-powered tourism strategy shows how innovation can reshape the way destinations welcome and support visitors.