Gyeongju wins at IEFA 2024 Pinnacle Awards

Gyeongju, an iconic tourist destination in the southeast of Korea, clinched the prize for best world heritage city and festival at the 2024 Pinnacle Awards and Asia Festival City Conference held in Thailand on Thursday. The Pinnacle Awards is a tourism industry event that celebrates different cities’ tourism excellence across the globe. The Asia Festival City Conference is an annual meeting dedicated to creating quality Asian festivals to beckon overseas travelers from different regions. G

March 1, 2024

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Grand Hyatt Seoul unveils 'Spring Citrus Afternoon Tea' Grand Hyatt Seoul, located in Yongsan, central Seoul, runs its spring food promotion at The Gallery, from Friday to May 31. The promotion includes a variety of mini cakes featuring seasonal fruits such as oranges, lemons and grapefruits, as well as The Gallery’s charcuterie and savories. Strawberry mojitos and rosemary sparkling drinks will be offered as well. “Spring Citrus Afternoon Tea” will be available from

March 1, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Japanese Cornelian cherry blossom trails in Gurye Cornelian cherry dogwood, one of the first trees to flower in spring, beckons tourists to cherry blossom-lined trails in Gurye County, South Jeolla Province. From March 9-17, the trail that cuts through villages and hidden spots is open to all looking for spring flowers. Guided tours will be offered March 10, 16 and 17 for those making reservations online at naver.me/xBsHaJDS. The 2.5-kilometer trail, which is mostly flat, takes about 50 minu

March 1, 2024

Culture Ministry, KTO seek to make S. Korea an Arab-friendly travel destination

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Korea Tourism Organization on Wednesday launched a new public-private consultative group Aalam Arabi Korea with the aim of creating a more enjoyable tourism environment for holidaymakers from the Middle East. Aalam Arabi Korea, meaning “world of Arab in Korea” in Arabic, has been formed to create tourism products for travelers from the Middle East travelers, analyze Arab holidaymakers’ travel trends, identify major customers, and

Feb. 28, 2024

Incheon presents new city tour bus routes, promotions

Incheon Metropolitan City and Incheon Tourism Organization on Sunday announced changes to its city tour bus routes and upcoming promotions in March. The double-decker bus Ocean Line, one of the two circular route services covering Incheon’s newly-developed Songdo district and Yeongjongdo Island, will add a new bus stop at Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort. Inspire Resort is Incheon’s latest landmark, scheduled to make its official opening on March 5. Incheon Retro Line, a 90-minut

Feb. 26, 2024

Aegibong Peace Ecopark poised to become popular border-area tourism spot

GIMPO, Gyeonggi Province -- Aegibong Peace Ecopark, celebrated the country’s annual Jeongwol Daeboreum festival on Saturday with a lighting show, media performance, magic show and concert. Jeongwol Daeboreum is a traditional holiday marking the first full moon of the Lunar New Year, when people share nuts and other traditional food and drinks among families and neighbors, send their wishes for a healthy and fruitful new year to the first full moon. “We are celebrating Jeongwol Daebor

Feb. 25, 2024

Enjoy Danyang with unique cafes and dynamic activities

DANYANG, North Chungcheong Province -- Danyang, a county some 170 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is perhaps a lesser-known tourist destination, even for many Koreans. While historical sites, like Guinsa and Dodamsambong Peaks -- three stone peaks rising out of the Namhan River -- are popular spots, the county has much more to offer, from unique dishes and restaurants to exciting outdoor activities. To enjoy Danyang to the fullest, one would have to stay more than just a single night. Those looki

Feb. 24, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Jeju Canola Flower Festival Canola flowers on Jeju Island herald the start of spring. Following the winter camellia festival, the resort island now invites visitors to its canola flower festival, which will run until the end of April. At Hueree Park, visitors won’t just find a field of yellow canola flowers. Red plum blossoms and hydrangea, set to bloom as early as April, will render a more spring-like atmosphere. Pets on leashes are allowed. Admission costs 13,000 won for adults, 11,0

Feb. 23, 2024

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Haevichi Hotel and Resorts Jeju presents unique package Haevichi Hotel and Resorts Jeju is offering a new staycation “Spring Riding” package, available through May 31. The package provides an opportunity to feed carrots to their horses and experience horse riding at Gotjawal Forest in Samdal-ri. The package also includes a one-night stay, buffet breakfast for two, swimming in both the indoor and outdoor pool of the hotel, and a choice between a bottle of hallabong orange juice an

Feb. 23, 2024

Fried chicken becomes most sought-after dish for overseas travelers in 2023

Creatrip, South Korean inbound tourism service platform, on Wednesday announced the Korean food trends among foreign holidaymakers in 2023. Based on the online transaction data collected throughout 2023, Korean-style fried chicken was selected as the most popular Korean food for overseas tourists. The platform explained that many foreigners enjoyed fried chicken via online delivery services and reservations. In addition, an increasing number of tourists were looking for more unique ways to tas

Feb. 21, 2024

Giant panda Fu Bao to be shown to public until March 3

Giant panda Fu Bao, who has been the darling of animal lovers in South Korea, will be on display for the public at Everland until March 3, the South Korean amusement park said Monday. Fu Bao will then be kept in a separate space at the park's Panda World for a month to undergo preparations for her overseas transfer to the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan Province in early April. The female giant panda, the first of her kind to be born in South Korea, is

Feb. 19, 2024

Roll in esports experiences in Seoul

With South Korea hosting the annual global esports event League of Legends World Championship for the third time in the event's 13-year history, the year 2023 was truly a feast for esports, or League of Legends, fans in Korea. Celebrating one of the most popular competitive multiplayer video gaming events around the world, Seoul was filled with events, activities and attractions aiming to capture the hearts of esports enthusiasts. Though unique esports stamp tours, pop-up stores, live conce

Feb. 17, 2024

Busan releases new food guidebook

Busan on Friday announced that it updated the annual food-themed guidebook "2024 Taste of Busan." The food guide map, created by 10 food-related experts, including a city official in the hygiene department, a university professor, a columnist, a food influencer and more, recommends Busan's 144 must-visit restaurants. "2024 Taste of Busan" not only offers the restaurant's location, menu and prices, but also presents some of their recipes and renowned Busan-based chef

Feb. 16, 2024

Gwangyang Plum Blossom Festival to charge admission for first time

The Gwangyang Plum Blossom Festival, one of South Korea’s most favored spring flower events, will not be offered for free this year, opting instead to charge admission for the first time since its launch in 1997, the Gwangyang City Government, which organizes the event, said Thursday. According to the city in South Jeolla Province, admission for the upcoming festival now in its 23rd edition, will be 5,000 won for adults and 4,000 won for teenagers under 19 years old. The decision was made

Feb. 16, 2024

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

WE Hotel offers special discounts for wellness programs WE Hotel, a premium health resort located in Seogwipo, southern Jeju Island, began offering wellness programs with special discounts at its wellness center in February. A therapy session is offered at 100,000 won ($75) with a 67 percent discount. The hotel’s hydro program -- a signature wellness program using the natural volcanic bedrock water -- costs 100,000 won with a 44 percent discount as well. Meanwhile, WE hotel’s beauty

Feb. 16, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

‘Royal taste’ at Korea House Through February, Korea House in central Seoul is offering a “royal desserts” special. The traditional snacks associated with the Joseon era (1392-1910) include rice cakes and jeonggwa -- dessert prepared by boiling dried fruits like apples or edible plants like ginseng in honey. Citron stuffed with jujubes or pomegranates, also braised with honey, is also part of the assortment of royal desserts that are served with mandarin orange tea. A

Feb. 16, 2024

Visit Korea Year campaign

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Thursday announced plans to attract both local and overseas tourists for the Visit Korea Year 2023-24 campaign, hoping to turn Korea into an Asian tourism powerhouse. The tourism campaign will not only be an opportunity to enjoy Korean culture, including food, K-pop, cosmetics and esports, but it will also be a chance to experience the lesser-known sides of the country in provincial areas and towns. One of the campaign's most notable programs

Feb. 15, 2024

Big discounts offered for Travel Month in March

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Korea Tourism Organization on Wednesday announced March as this year’s Travel Month to promote local tourism with large-scale discounts on public transportation, accommodation and domestic tourism products. Travel Month is a promotion, first launched in June 2023, to meet rising public demand for travel after the lifting of social distancing measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. From Feb. 20 to March 31, a 30 to 50 percent disco

Feb. 14, 2024

Lotte World Adventure opens Valentine’s Day-themed events

Lotte World Adventure, one of the most popular theme parks in South Korea, said it's presenting romantic Valentine's Day-themed events for first-time visitors as well as returning lovers. The theme park, located in Songpa-gu, southeastern Seoul, announced Monday that the entrance gate to Magic Island, featuring the sky blue roof -- will turn into an interactive photo zone with moving backdrops on Valentine's Day, Wednesday. When visitors stand in the photo zone and strike a pose,

Feb. 12, 2024

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

The Plaza offers esports-themed promotion Hanwha Resorts’ The Plaza, located in Jung-gu, central Seoul, will soon launch a League of Legends-themed promotion for guests looking to experience Korean esports. LoL is one of the most popular competitive multiplayer video games around the world, and Hanwha sponsors Hanwha Life Esports, a Korean LoL team. The package includes a one-night stay in a deluxe room, two tickets for an HLE live match and merchandise created as part of a collaboration b

Feb. 9, 2024