Gyeonggi Province is hosting “Real Treasure Hunter,” a unique event that uses immersive digital technologies and smartphones to find treasures at the former Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex (located in Paldal-gu, Suwon City) and around Mt. Paldal from October 4 at 10 a.m. until the end of the year.

Immersive digital technologies stimulate human senses to create life-like experiences through virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), as well as high-resolution videos, holograms and media facades.

Designed to revitalize the stagnant neighborhood after the relocation of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex to the Gwanggyo area in Suwon, the registration-free Real Treasure Hunter is open to anyone with a smartphone and runs from October 4 to December 31.

After downloading and connecting to the dedicated app, participants can search for treasures via the on-screen treasure map and travel from the former Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex to Mt. Paldalsan to find treasures and solve step-by-step quiz missions. Those who find a certain number of treasures will receive a mobile gift icon. The treasures consist of approximately 100 physical items as well as digital treasures discovered through immersive digital technologies, and the hiding places change periodically.

Through various quiz missions, Gyeonggi residents are encouraged to learn about social economy and provincial values in a free and entertaining manner; the process of completing missions will naturally extend their stay in the neighborhood, which is expected to boost consumption in nearby commercial areas.

To join the event, participants must access the related content using a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet, by scanning a QR code on a poster or downloading the “Real World” app from the Google Play Store or the App Store. Since the event utilizes GPS technology, it is necessary to visit the former Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex and paths around Mt. Paldalsan to participate.

There are also plans to hold a treasure hunt event, titled Real Treasure Festival, at the former Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex on November 12 to challenge the related Guinness World Record for the largest number of participants . The previous world record was set in 2017 in Ottawa, Canada, with a total of 2,732 participants.

Seok Jong-hoon, Director General of the Social Economy Division of Gyeonggi Province, said, “The former Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex is a symbolic space that led the development of Gyeonggi Province for the past 55 years, and we plan to open it up to Gyeonggi residents as a social innovation space.” He added, “We hope that many people will visit and experience it, revitalizing the nearby business district and establishing the former Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex as an attractive space.”