“Suni and the Seven Princesses” Complete Group Formed as Heroes in Korea’s First Marine Tourism Campaign, A scene from the promotional video for the domestic marine tourism campaign. Suni and the Seven Princesses are taking a selfie with the Tongyeong sea as a backdrop. Provided by Chilgok County
“I am also a woman who has seen the sea. Don’t go abroad; come and visit our sea,”
South Korea’s oldest hip-hop group, “Suni and the Seven Princesses,” stepped in as the stars of the country’s first promotional video on marine tourism.
The campaign, titled “Month of Going to the Sea,” is a collaborative effort by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Korea Tourism Organization. It aims to showcase the charm of marine tourism nationwide, with Tongyeong’s sea as the backdrop for the group’s rap performances.
This initiative is the first marine tourism-focused campaign, coordinated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, aiming to unearth coastal and fishing community tourism resources and encourage domestic travel.
The promotional video will be released sequentially starting from the 22nd on the Korea Tourism Organization’s YouTube channel and government outdoor advertising platforms.
Under the slogan “Wave after Wave, Endless,” the campaign ties in with various regional events and tourism benefits to spark public interest in marine tourism.
Suni and the Seven Princesses is a hip-hop group composed of grandmothers who learned Korean and hip-hop through Chilgok County’s literacy education program, marking them as the oldest hip-hop group in the country.
Having spent most of their lives inland, some members saw the sea for the first time in decades—one for the first time in ten years, another in half a century.
Grandmother Lee Pil-sun (89) remarked, “Seeing the sea again after my 20s makes me so happy, it feels liberating,” and expressed that her late husband would have loved to see such places.
At Tongyeong port, the grandmothers performed a rap featuring messages like “Let’s head to the sea; our sea is wonderful.”
The campaign includes a jovial impromptu rap with lyrics such as “Not dried pollack, not dried Alaska pollack, but a Sea Expo!” provoking smiles from tourists.
The group also enjoyed singing on a yacht, doing yoga on the beach with instructor Ha-ram, and performed alongside MZ rapper ONYOU, hailing from Africa, in an energetic joint stage show.
They relished domi-jjim (steamed red snapper) and sashimi prepared by Chef Lee Sang-hee, known for his Netflix appearance in “Soup of the Sea—Tongyeong Edition,” adding extra delight to their long-awaited trip.
The campaign marked a pivotal moment for the group. After their central member, Grandmother Seo Moo-seok, passed away, the group welcomed a new member for the first time—Grandmother Lee Sun-hwa, who joined through a public audition, played a decisive role in filling the void and returning the group to a complete lineup. The Tongyeong shoot was her first official stage appearance.
Yoo Jin-ho, head of the Korea Tourism Organization’s Tourism Content Strategy division, stated, “The grandmothers are not mere participants; they embody the message of this campaign. The video captures the intergenerational empathy and authenticity perfectly,” adding, “We hope everyone can be captivated by the endless appeal of marine tourism.”
Kim Jae-wook, mayor of Chilgok County, remarked, “I am grateful and proud that the grandmothers are leading the effort to promote Korea’s seas beyond Chilgok,” and added, “Their commitment to public service at over eighty years of age is truly inspiring.”
Suni and the Seven Princesses plan to continue their nationwide performances and social contribution activities following the campaign, marking not an end but a new beginning in their journey.