▲ Visitors enjoy the Seoul Spring Festa in this photo provided by the municipality of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- Seoul has been named the favorite city of global Generation MZ travelers for the fifth consecutive year, becoming the first city to earn a place in the award's Hall of Fame, the Seoul metropolitan government said Saturday.

 

According to the Seoul city government and the Seoul Tourism Organization, Seoul ranked No. 1 in the "Favorite City for Gen MZ" category in the 2026 "The Trazees" awards announced by U.S.-based business travel publication Trazee Travel.

 

Having topped the category every year from 2022 through 2026, Seoul also received the special "Quint Status" award, presented to cities that win the same category for five consecutive years, and became the first city inducted into the Hall of Fame.

 

The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place Sunday (U.S. time) in Chicago.

 

▲ This trophy is awarded to Seoul after the city was named the favorite destination among global Millennials and Generation Z in the 2026 Trazees awards. Photo provided by the municipality of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

 

The rankings were determined by votes from readers aged 25 to 40, a key consumer group in the global travel market.

 

Dublin, Hong Kong, London and Athens followed Seoul in second through fifth place, respectively.

 

The Seoul city government attributed the recognition to changing travel preferences among younger global travelers, who increasingly seek authentic local experiences rather than traditional sightseeing, saying Seoul's diverse attractions have become a major draw.

 

In addition to visiting landmark tourist sites, many travelers now enjoy itineraries that include exploring K-fashion and K-beauty pop-up stores in Seongsu-dong, sampling Korean food at Gwangjang Market and shopping for vintage items in Dongmyo.

 

The city's music and alleyway culture in Hongdae and Euljiro, as well as urban hiking destinations such as Bukhansan, Bugaksan and Achasan, were also cited as distinctive attractions.

 

▲ Visitors enjoy the Seoul Spring Festa in this photo provided by the municipality of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

 

According to an analysis by the Seoul AI Foundation, the destinations that saw the largest increases in foreign visitors last year compared with the previous year included Dongdaemun Design Plaza (up 12.1 percent), Achasan (11.8 percent), Hongdae and Naksan Park (10.5 percent), Gwangjang Market (10.4 percent) and Gwanaksan (10.0 percent).

 

The Seoul city government said it plans to expand experiential tourism programs and strengthen efforts to attract high-value visitors and promote the MICE sector -- meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions.

 

"Building on Seoul's unique lifestyle, culture and content, we will continue striving to make the city one of the world's most desirable global tourism destinations," said Cho Sung-ho, director general of the city's Tourism and Sports Bureau.

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