7페이지 내용 : Prologue 5 As of 2014, the number of foreign tourists who have visited Korea is 14 million. According to statistics, the number of foreign tourists is growing by 1 million annually. This is mainly due to the popularity of Korean culture that began in the mid 1990’s. Foreigners pay great attention to Korean dramas and K-pop, which surprises even Koreans. 20 years have passed since the popularity began, but the simple touring pattern has not changed: shopping in Seoul, doing a medical tour in Busan, and vacationing on Jeju Island. But, if one wants to experience the true Korean culture, experiencing specialties of a certain region is a good option. In particular, visiting companies that produce quality local specialty products can be an efficient way of understanding the culture of Korea. The thirty companies introduced here have succeeded in continuing the tradition of their ancestors or seeking the coexistence between tradition and modernity. They produce items that are familiar to Koreans: kimchi, gochujang (red pepper paste), hangwa (traditional Korean sweets), ceramics, ginseng, and etc. In this regard, understanding the history of the products manufactured by the 30 businesses featured in this book, seeing the manufacturing process, and personally experiencing the products will provide opportunities for foreign tourists to indirectly experience Korean culture. And, by doing so, they will love Korean culture all the more. 30 industrial tourism destinations introduced here are jewels that are hidden all across the country. They are categorized into 8 regions, and additional tourist attractions, local delicacies and accommodations recommended in the regions are marked on the maps. Tourists will be able to make up their itineraries based on the spots and the industrial tour sites. A famous writer in Korea has said, “Once you love, you will know. And once you know, you will see. And what you see will not be the same as what you saw.” I hope readers of this book will be able to love Korean culture more, know it better and see the true beauty of it by visiting the industrial tourism sites introduced here.