Celebrity guides, feng shui trails lead travelers off beaten path

In a fresh effort to revitalize quiet country towns and rethink domestic travel, Korea is inviting vacationers to explore the countryside not by map, but by specific themes. Under a newly launched autumn initiative, travelers can trek up mist-shrouded peaks with a feng shui master, spot rare birds alongside a celebrity actor or cook seasonal feasts with a prominent chef. The program, dubbed "Five Passions, Five Journeys," is organized by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) as part of its broader Travel Autumn campaign. Applications are open through Sept. 30 for 700 coveted spots across 25 day-trip itineraries, each designed around niche interests rather than traditional sightseeing checklists. The campaign directly addresses a growing challenge in Korea: severe regional depopulation. As younger generations increasingly move to the greater Seoul metropolitan area for work and education, rural counties face shrinking populations and quiet main streets. Government tourism officials hope that connecting urbanites with their specialized hobbies will channel steady foot traffic into under-the