Yangpyeong Strawberry Festival The Yangpyeong Strawberry Festival is being held through the end of May. Visitors can pick their own strawberries at the strawberry farms and participate in a variety of activities and programs in the village. Reservations are required.Exclusive events for bloggers are on offer at blog.naver.com/yp--nadri. Up to 50 teams can participate. The festival is open to visitors of all ages. Visit www.yp21.net for information provided in Korean, English, Japanese and Mandar

May 19, 2017

Whether it’s basking in history and tradition at one of Seoul’s five palaces, or emptying one’s wallet in some of the city’s most popular shopping districts, Seoul has a handful of tour buses serving both local and international tourists.Korea’s capital attracts more than 12 million tourists annually. Looking to offer visitors more variety and options, the city’s numerous tour bus lines include trolley buses, European-style double-decker buses and a panorama open-top bus.  (Yonhap)The Seoul City

May 12, 2017

Icheon Ceramic FestivalIcheon Ceramic Festival introduces visitors to celadon, white porcelain, buncheongware and other premium Korean ceramics along with various hands-on programs.This includes uncovering ceramics and painting on ceramics, the most popular programs. The area is also well-known for hot springs that Joseon kings often visited.The festival is held in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province.Admission and all programs are free of charge. Visit www.ceramic.or.kr for information in Korean or Englis

May 5, 2017

WANDO -- The number of visitors to an international seaweed expo under way on this southwestern island exceeded its target of 600,000 on Tuesday, organizers said.The second Wando Seaweeds Expo received its 600,000th visitor Tuesday morning, 19 days after the exposition kicked off for a 24-day run. The 600,000th visitor to the second Wando Seaweeds Expo (center) poses with officials at the venue on the southwest coast on May 2, 2017. (Yonhap)The organizing committee expected at least 200,000 more

May 2, 2017

Gwangju Royal Ceramic Fest The Gwangju Royal Ceramic Festival is held annually in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, where royal ceramic ware was first created during the Joseon era. Launched in 1998, the festival comprises of programs such as performances, exhibitions and hands-on activities. The festival is being held until May 7. It is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is no admission fee, though a separate admission fee is required for the Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum. Call the travel hotline at 1330 fo

April 28, 2017

Children’s package at Westin Chosun SeoulThe Westin Chosun Seoul is offering a children’s package from May 2 to May 6 filled with exciting activities. The Playground Package offers accommodation in three different suites ranging from 250,000 won to 480,000 won. It includes tickets to the “Pixar: 30 Years of Animation” exhibition at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, two facial towels and access to the Kids Zone at the hotel. Guests can also participate in a cake decorating class with children 5 y

April 21, 2017

Gwangju Royal Ceramic FestGwangju Royal Ceramic Festival is held annually in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, where royal ceramic ware was first created during the Joseon period. Launched in 1998, the festival is comprised of various programs such as performances, exhibitions, and hands-on activities. The festival is held from April 22 to May 7, and the visiting hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is open to visitors of all ages and there is no admission fee. A separate admission fee is required for

April 21, 2017

A new Hilton hotel, along with a small village of boutique shops, is currently undergoing construction on a secluded block of land jutting out into the sea in Gijang County.The location is just north of Busan’s Haeundae Beach, one of Korea’s busiest coasts famed for its lively nightlife. The new five-star Hilton Busan, however, seeks to offer a quieter getaway, introducing a more refined type of tourism to the seaside city. “We think there is a large market for both locals and tourists who want

April 21, 2017

Take yourself down to Paradise City -- as the great Axl Rose once said -- and you will find more than green grass and pretty girls; you’ll stumble upon a giant yellow pumpkin in the lobby.It is a sculpture by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama that has come to be known as her alter ego.Peculiar, but so is a stroll through the artwork-filled hallways of Paradise City Hotel & Resort, a multi-complex facility on Yeongjongdo, Incheon, which boasts a five-star hotel, convention halls, shopping area, casino

April 21, 2017

Gwangju Royal Ceramic Fest Gwangju Royal Ceramic Festival is held annually in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, where royal ceramic ware was first created during the Joseon period. Launched in 1998, the festival is comprised of various programs such as performances, exhibitions, and hands-on activities. The festival is held from April 22 to May 7, and the visiting hours are from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is open to visitors of all ages and there is no admission fee. A separate admission fee is requir

April 14, 2017

Spring could not have come soon enough. After wintry months of one piece of gloomy news after another, things are starting to look prettier, at least on the surface.Namsan, nestled in the middle of chaotic Seoul, is finally looking more hopeful, as the barren trees and branches are being coated with blooming magnolia, forsythia and azalea.Groups of hikers and gaggles of friends and families share smiles as they walk up the trails or ride cable cars to reach the landmark N Tower and take pictures

April 7, 2017

Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival The Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival will be held in the area of Jeonnong-ro and the entrance of Jeju National University. The peak of the King Cherry Tree blossoms lasts for only two to three days, but the beautiful blossoms can be seen for weeks, until April 9.There is no admission fee. For more information, call the travel hotline at 1330 or visit www.visitjeju.net. Both provide information in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese.Shinan Tulip Festival Shinan Tulip Fe

April 7, 2017

With the blooming flowers and warm breezes reminding us that spring has arrived, high-end hotels in Seoul located in areas known for cherry blossoms present room packages for guests to enjoy the season.Conrad Seoul in Yeouido -- one of go-to spots in Seoul for cherry blossom viewing -- has introduced the “Blooming Days” package, suitable particularly for picnic-goers.Conrad SeoulConrad Seoul‘s Blooming days packageThe package offers one night’s stay a in a luxury room with view of the Han River,

April 6, 2017

A smartcard allowing foreign tourists to enjoy various benefits is growing popular, Visit Korea Committee said Tuesday, selling over 20,000 just two months after its release.Launched in late January, the Korea Tour Card allows those visiting the country to get discounts on some tourism-related activities, encompassing shopping, sightseeing and performances such as those by Hallyu stars. It also acts as a pass for public transport anywhere in the country, until 2018. Japanese tourists pose with t

April 4, 2017

Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival will be held in the area of Jeonnong-ro and the entrance of Jeju National University. The peak of the King Cherry Tree blossoms lasts for only two to three days, but the beautiful blossoms can be seen for weeks, until April 9.There are no admission fees. For more information, call the travel hotline at 1330 for Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese services, or visit www.visitjeju.net for information provided in Korean, English, Japanese

March 31, 2017

To woo more Muslim tourists, the Korean government is planning to expand the number of Muslim-friendly restaurants here. Korea Tourism Organization announced that it will expand the number of such restaurants from 135 to 170 to help reach its goal of hosting 1.2 million Muslim tourists this year. It started receiving applications from local restaurants Monday and will continue to do so until April 28.Muslim tourists from Indonesia pose in front of the National Folk Museum of Korea in Seoul in th

March 28, 2017

MONTREUX -- As travel becomes cheaper and more personalized with the advent of online lodging services like Airbnb, feedback sites like TripAdvisor, and itinerary planners like Google Trip, the notion of “hospitality” is changing.Some say the emerging services have led to a decline in the hotel business. The leaders of Swiss Education Group, however, argue that the field of hospitality -- a sector which incorporates hotel management, fine dining, concierge services and luxury branding -- has exp

March 24, 2017

Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival will be held in the area of Jeonnong-ro and the entrance of Jeju National University. The peak of the King Cherry Tree blossoms lasts for only 2 to 3 days, but the beautiful blossoms can be seen for weeks, from March 31 and continue until April 9.There are no admission fees or age limit.For more information, call the travel hotline at 1330 for Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese services, or visit www.visitjeju.net for information provi

March 24, 2017