Daejeon and Chuncheon have recently been gaining attention as quick-turn travel destinations that are close in distance to Seoul but offer a wide variety of experiences. Sungsimdang, a local bakery in Daejeon (only one hour from Seoul when traveling by the high-speed train KTX) is considered a major reason for the city’s popularity nationwide. According to the 2023 Factual Survey on Daejeon Tourists published by the Daejeon Tourism Organization, 60.3% of Daejeon tourists chose Sungsimdang as a place they wanted to visit, and 84.5% visited the bakery on their same day of travel.
As previously mentioned, Sungsimdang has gained attention as a quick-turn travel destination in Daejeon because it offers tasty, cost-effective treats that can only be found in Daejeon. The bakery’s bread, as well as the fruit cakes such as mango cake and tangerine cake, have become so popular that they have been featured in the news. The response to the bakery has been explosive, and people from various regions flock to the shop to be there when it opens. Tourists who visit Sungsimdang have also had a positive effect on boosting the economy of Daejeon itself as they also stop by other places in the city to enjoy a short but considerable break.
Chuncheon, Gangwon-do Province, located one to two hours from Seoul, is traditionally known for its beautiful lakes and recreational forests. However, Chuncheon has recently received a great deal of attention from people for having the largest liquor market in Korea. The World Liquor Market, which opened in April 2019, is 400 pyeong (about 14,233 square feet) in size and offers a variety of liquors from around the world as well as cheese and groceries that pair well with them. The market is even more popular because it carries rare kinds of whiskey. Just like in Daejeon, tourists help boost the local economy as they visit other parts of the city, enjoy the food such as dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken), and explore famous attractions.
There are also many quick-turn travel experiences that focus on short trips rather than consumption. Quick-turn travel can be completely enjoyed in a short period of time without any special preparation, making it a great option for those who are hesitant to travel due to the amount of energy it can require.