Seoul pilots AI-powered guides to boost foreign tourism at temples and medicine sites
Seoul selected three startups to embed generative AI tools in Buddhist temples and Korean-medicine centers, easing language and booking hurdles for overseas visitors.
Seoul’s municipal government launched a program to modernize its historic Buddhist and Korean-medicine attractions by embedding generative artificial intelligence. After receiving 78 applications, three firms—Sweet & Data, Tobelist and Trip Supporters—were chosen to supply multilingual AI kiosks, GPS-linked audio guides and an AI-powered reservation platform for foreign visitors. The initiative, developed with the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and the Seoul Korean Medicine Association, seeks to overcome language barriers and complex booking procedures that have limited off-the-beaten-path tourism. The city will allocate 100 million won and provide business-development assistance, with pilot sites slated for October and performance reviews planned for late October and November before any commercial rollout.
Why it matters
The project could make Seoul’s cultural and wellness tourism more accessible to international travelers, boosting visitor numbers and local economies.
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