South Korea’s Jeju Islands to introduce NFT tourism cards with perks

South Korea’s crypto-friendly Jeju Islands are planning to use non-fungible tokens to attract Gen Z tourists.

According to local media reports, South Korea’s popular tourism destination Maeil Kyungjae will introduce NFT-based digital tourism resident cards in the second half of 2025. Powered by an unspecified blockchain, the cards will reportedly offer special benefits to tourists, such as travel subsidies. , membership privileges and discounts at local attractions.

Jeju Island has a rich history of embracing blockchain and cryptocurrency innovations to spur economic growth and establish itself as a web3 hub.

In 2019, Ada launched the Blockchain Hub City Development Research Service, which aims to explore advanced blockchain applications. By 2021, it expanded its initiatives across the public sector in areas such as traffic management systems and VAT refunds for foreign tourists.

Jeju launched efforts to become a cashless international city by introducing Tamna Jeon, a regional digital currency, in 2020 and expanded these efforts in 2024 with plans to integrate cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.

In addition to the initiatives, Tamna Jeon will be used for travel subsidies through the new tourism card to encourage local spending and support economic activity on Jeju Island.

Meanwhile, tourists using the NFT-based tourism card will be able to document their travel experiences, including places visited, time, photos and videos, on the underlying blockchain.

Trials of the tourism card are planned to begin in the second half of 2025 before full-scale implementation.

This development comes amid a broader push towards the adoption of blockchain and cryptocurrencies across South Korea. The country is actively investing in blockchain technology to develop both the public and private sectors, complemented by a crypto-savvy population.

On February 29, 2024, web3 firm Dispread partnered with Ethereum Layer 2 Arbitrum to support the native blockchain developer ecosystem.

Then in June, the Ministry of Science and ICT, together with the Korean Internet and Security Agency, announced an investment of 20 billion won (about $14.5 million) in blockchain support projects.

In 2023, South Korea’s second largest city, Busan, announced plans to become a leading blockchain city by developing a public blockchain network compatible with major platforms such as Ethereum and Cosmos.