From a Webinar to a Dream Come True: My Korea Tourism Organization Grand Prize Win

A few days ago, I opened an email that I thought would tell me who had won the Korea Tourism Organization’s “12 Colors of Korean Cities” Grand Prize.

Then I read the first words.

“Dear Althea: Congratulations!”

I was the winner.

Even now, a few days later, it still feels like a dream.

To explain why this means so much to me, I have to go back to a webinar in March—and an invitation to learn more about a country I have long dreamed of visiting.

Our Mission, If We Chose to Accept

During that March webinar, the Korea Tourism Organization mentioned an upcoming campaign for U.S. travel advisors. Beginning in April 2026, the “12 Colors of Korean Cities” campaign would introduce us to the distinctive character of Korea’s regional cities.

There would be four quarters, each highlighting three cities. Each quarter would begin with a webinar to enhance our knowledge of those destinations.

Our mission, if we chose to accept: design a ten-day itinerary highlighting the three cities. After each webinar, we had two weeks before the submission deadline.

Each quarterly winner would receive a $500 Amazon gift card. There was also the opportunity to win the Grand Prize: a trip to South Korea.

I decided to join because I will take any chance to deepen my knowledge of South Korea, deepen my craft, and have fun designing Korean itineraries.

And, of course, there might be a prize at the end.

Traveling to South Korea is a huge dream of mine. I knew I could design and curate wonderful itineraries, but never in a million years did I expect to win.

Still, I was invested from the beginning.

What Makes This City Special?

I took each itinerary as seriously as if it were a trip for a client—or for myself.

My starting point was always a question: What makes this city so special?

Then came the questions that shape every journey I design.

How can a traveler really get to know this place? How can they explore, savor, and connect with the city, its flavors, and its people? What experiences could help them begin to understand its culture?

I wanted to find accommodations that belonged to the experience. A hotel with character, perhaps a connection to the city’s history, and a sense of welcome. Somewhere that could become a traveler’s home away from home.

In Jeju, I imagined finding that “Jeju home away from home”—a place to settle into and return to after a day of discovery.

Food was another essential part of the story. What should someone savor here? Which regional dishes, markets, or meals could reveal something about the place and the people who live there?

And what made each city distinctive enough that a traveler shouldn’t miss it?

Choosing those experiences was only part of the work. I also needed to bring them together into days that could be enjoyed.

I wanted time to appreciate a meal, ask another question, or stay a little longer somewhere unexpected. I wanted a traveler to feel comfortable with the plan and still have the flexibility for unknown stories to unfold.

When I design an itinerary, I want the story of the city to be honored. Its culture, food, traditions, and people deserve thoughtful attention.

That is the care behind Explore. Savor. Connect.

The First Two Quarters

The first quarter came and went. I didn’t win.

There was no individual feedback on the itineraries; we simply learned who had won that quarter. So I continued learning and looked forward to the next assignment.

The second quarter arrived. Again, I didn’t win.

This time, though, two additional advisors were acknowledged for having a “spot-on itinerary.” They would receive a Korean beauty basket.  I was honored to be one of those two advisors.  The gift was lovely, but the acknowledgment of my craft meant so much more.

I had put real thought and care into that itinerary. Knowing that someone had recognized it was deeply encouraging.

I wasn’t designing solely to win. I wanted to create journeys that honored the destinations. But if one of those journeys won, I knew I would be over the moon.

With every quarter, I learned more about this beautiful country—and more about myself.

Quarter Three: A Call I Won’t Forget

In the third quarter, I won.

And the decision was unanimous.

You could have knocked me over with a feather.

To receive that call, followed by the email, was such a wonderful surprise. The work I loved doing had been recognized in a way I had hardly allowed myself to imagine.

About an hour later, another thought finally caught up with me.

Right—I also won a gift card.

Then came the bigger realization: I was now one of four quarterly winners who might receive the Grand Prize trip to South Korea.

That dream suddenly felt a little closer.

The Waiting

The fourth quarter came and went. I didn’t win that round.

Then the deadline for the Grand Prize announcement arrived, and I heard nothing.

I thought, Okay, I didn’t win.

Later, I learned that the announcement had been extended by a couple of weeks. That deadline came and went too, still with no news.

I asked about the final results and received a general response saying they would be posted soon. I came away from it thinking I probably hadn’t won.

Eventually, I decided to move on from thinking about the outcome.

I had learned so much. I had enjoyed creating the itineraries. I had received acknowledgment that meant a great deal to me.

There was already so much to value in the experience.

Then the Email Came

When I saw the Grand Prize Winner headline, I thought they were finally announcing the person who would be going to Korea.

I opened the email—and it was addressed to me.

The Korea Tourism Organization had selected me as the Grand Prize Winner of its 2026 “12 Colors of Korean Cities” campaign.

Their message recognized all four of my submissions:

April 8: Danyang, Jeju, and Daegu

June 10: Boseong, Jeonju, and Suwon

July 7: Pyeongchang, Busan, and Seoul

August 5: Andong, Daejeon, and Gyeongju/Jeonju

They explained that my itineraries had consistently stood out for creativity, thoughtful planning, and a strong understanding of Korea’s diverse destinations. They also recognized how the cities had been combined into memorable, engaging travel experiences.

That is the part I keep returning to.

The recognition reflected the work across all four submissions. The questions, the research, the choices, and the care I had brought to every round had been seen.

I’m proud of the journeys I created. To have that work recognized by the Korea Tourism Organization itself is an honor I’m still taking in.



Why This Matters to Me—and to Your Journey

The campaign gave me a reason to study each destination more closely and consider how its experiences could become part of a meaningful trip.

It strengthened the work I love: looking at a place with curiosity, finding what makes it distinctive, and thinking carefully about how a traveler can experience it.

That same process guides the journeys I create for clients.

I want to understand what draws you to a destination. What you enjoy. How you like to spend your days. Which experiences might stay with you long after you return home.

Then I work to bring those pieces together—with thoughtful pacing, carefully chosen accommodations, local insight, and room to be present.

Food is often a starting point. A shared table can open a conversation about family, history, seasons, and traditions. It can turn something unfamiliar into a moment of connection.

That is why I believe the most meaningful journeys begin around a shared table.

Next Stop: South Korea

The Grand Prize includes round-trip airfare, four nights of accommodation, meals, and ground transfers associated with the program.

The travel details are still being arranged, and I’ll share more as plans are confirmed.

I’m excited to deepen my knowledge firsthand: to taste, listen, explore, and connect. To meet people and experience the places I have spent so much time learning about. To return with greater understanding and new ideas for the journeys I design.

But for now, I’m letting myself celebrate.

In March, I accepted an invitation to learn and create. I hoped there might be a prize at the end, but I never expected this.

A few days after that email, I still feel like it’s a dream.

If South Korea is a dream of yours too, I’d love to hear what draws you there. Let’s begin with a conversation.

Althea Wyman
Owner, Setters Point Travels

Explore. Savor. Connect.