Known for dynamism and high technology, Seoul is one of the largest metropolitan cities in the world, with a population of more than 10 million. Its population flow into, out of and within the greater metropolitan area, including the surrounding Gyeonggi Province, causes frequent traffic jams. 　Luckily, the city has one of the world’s most efficient public transportation systems. The subway network looks complex, but it is the easiest way to navigate the capital city and discover its various cul

May 20, 2016

Ulsan Grand Park Rose Festival　Ulsan Grand Park Rose Festival has launched its 11th annual festivities. Held every year since 2005, this year’s festival exhibits roughly 3 million roses in a 44,730 square-meter rose garden. Visitors will have the opportunity to marvel at a wide range of premium rose species, which have been planted throughout the park’s expansive garden areas including the Cupid Garden, Venus Garden, Rose Hills and various themed gardens.　Aside from the diverse rose species on d

May 20, 2016

I guess you could call it a midlife crisis.　　I’d flown across the Atlantic Ocean for a weeklong cycling trip on this Spanish archipelago off the coast of Morocco. The crisis part came as I watched a Trek Travel guide hoist my Domane road bike onto the roof rack of the support van, and I sheepishly crawled into the passenger seat while the other cyclists on the trip pedaled up the hill and out of sight.　“We’ll just give you a bump to the next rest stop,” the guide said with an extra dose of enthu

May 20, 2016

　Imperial Palace Seoul Hotel relaunches ‘Familia’　Imperial Palace Seoul Hotel’s buffet restaurant Familia has reopened after three months of extensive renewal process.　The buffet is equipped with upgraded facilities, and has been relocated to the first floor for easier access.　The seven live stations -- grill, sushi, dim sum, pasta, pizza, deep fried and oriental noodles -- provide diverse menus including the signature dishes such as Buddha’s Temptation (a seafood soup), penne pasta, and cold ra

May 13, 2016

MIAMI BEACH, Florida -- This just may be America’s sexiest city -- a symphony of sand, surf and sherbet-colored sunrises set to a sassy salsa beat. It is palm trees and pulsating nightlife; torpid days and tropical nights; shimmering pools and shimmying revelers. 　Can you imagine a less glamorous city spawning “Miami Vice’s” Sonny Crockett and his linen suits or “C.S.I. Miami’s” Horatio Caine and his signature sunglasses?　The epicenter of all this glamor is South Beach -- a slice of sand along O

May 13, 2016

 Everland Rose Festival　The nation’s largest outdoor amusement park, Everland, is hosting its annual Rose Festival until June 12. The theme park, located in Yongin just outside of Seoul, is celebrating its 40th anniversary and is currently flooded with roughly 1 million roses scattered throughout the park’s luscious garden areas. 　This year’s Rose Festival is highlighted by the newly established, “Shakespeare Garden,” which features specialized storyboards of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” “Romeo and J

May 13, 2016

Koreans traveled more frequently within the country last year compared to the year before, according to a travel survey report released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.In 2015, about 87.9 percent of the population aged over 15 made trips within the country, a 1.6 percent increase from 2014. An average Korean citizen travels 5.47 times a year for the combined duration of 9.34 days and spends an average of 582,770 won ($500). The survey was conducted on 6,534 Korean citizens, aged o

May 12, 2016

Cosmojin Tour, specializing in catering to foreign tourists, announced Wednesday that majority of its clients picked jjimjilbang as their most exotic experience in Korea. Jjimjilbang is a type of an indoor leisure complex that combines sauna, karaoke and restaurant.  Even the U.S. ambassador to Korea, Mark Lippert, tried jjimjilbang while meeting with university students.According to Cosmojin Tour, it surveyed 926 tourists who visited Korea in March and April for their most memorable experience.

May 11, 2016

Goyang City will be hosting the Rotary’s 107th annual international convention, which is expected to attract more than 50,000 Rotary club members from more than 160 countries including Korea, making it the most multicultural nonprofit gathering in Korea.　The convention is scheduled to be held at the Kintex convention center in Gyeonggi Province from May 28 to June 1 and it is estimated to host roughly 25,000 foreign nationals. The Rotary is a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tack

May 11, 2016

The city of Gyeongju will provide massive discounts for tourists during the four-day weekend that starts from Thursday. The iconic town in north Gyeongsang Province, is a popular travel destination, boasting well-preserved national treasures and historic sites.  (Korea Tourism Organization)On May 5, which is Children’s Day, Gyeongju’s Yangdong Folk Village, which dates back to the Joseon Dynasty, will offer free entry to children and a 15 percent discounted entry price for family members. Shilla

May 4, 2016

GWANGMYEONG, Gyeonggi Province (Yonhap) -- The fate of Gwangmyeong Cave has fluctuated with the various happenings in the wild Korean modern history.　During the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945), it was abused for precious metals like gold and copper for the Japanese. When the specter of exploitation had finally gone, it became a shelter for Korean refugees during the Korean War (1950-1953). In peacetime, the abandoned gold mine served as a storage for salted shrimp.　Now, the beautifully tran

April 29, 2016

 Springtime eateries on Jejudo Island　The following are two eateries on Jejudo Island featuring natural, seasonal dishes that travelers may want to visit during their spring outings.　Temple Stay Food in the southwestern district of Jejudo Island is a restaurant that specializes in temple food. The eatery serves healthy, fresh vegetable-based dishes that the Buddhist monks eat in their mountainside Buddhist temples. Key dishes include lotus leaf-wrapped rice and seaweed flower rice set. The resta

April 29, 2016

Family time at Kensington Yoido　Kensington Yoido presents Fun & Fun Kids Package until May 26 to celebrate the month of family.　The package includes a one night’s stay at Deluxe Room along with a mini bar offering kids-friendly snacks and beverages. It also includes two Cocomong Kids Land tickets for an adult and a kid, and the doll of the Cocomong character. Cocomong is the main character of Korean animation series “Cocomong” which aired on EBS1.　The package also offers breakfast buffet for two

April 22, 2016

‘Yeon Deung Hoe’ to celebrate Buddha’s birthday　Korea’s Important Intangible Cultural Property No.122 “Yeon Deung Hoe,” also known as the Lotus Lantern Festival, will take place at Jogyesa and Bongeunsa temples and on Jongno Street on May 6-8. The festival celebrating Buddha’s birthday which falls on May 14 this year, will offer glimmering night views with lotus lanterns and a vast array of traditional cultural experiences. The festival will feature traditional lantern exhibitions at three separ

April 22, 2016

This is the second and final article of a two-part travel series on a weeklong journey to the new European capital of culture, San Sebastian, Spain, and through the heart of the country’s capital, Madrid. - Ed.MADRID -- Priceless works of arts, world-class cuisine and a rich history -- there’s no touristic thirst that cannot be quenched in Madrid, Spain’s alluring capital.　Spain is certainly no stranger to the tourism spotlight. Last year the country was the third most visited country in the wor

April 22, 2016

PARIS (AP) -- Swapping burgers for lobster souffle and rusty welding for a state-of-the-art canopy roof, Paris' mayor this month unveiled a $1 billion revamp of the city’s dilapidated main shopping and transport complex, Les Halles. 　Paris authorities view the building project -- which made central Paris a construction site pockmarked with cranes for seven years -- as an opportunity to gentrify the ‘70s complex that was often voted among the city's the biggest eyesores by disgruntled Paris resid

April 21, 2016

LOS ANGELES –– Claudia Flores and her husband were months past due on $60 phone and $80 electricity bills.　So they packed their minivans with strollers, car seats, used T-shirts and assorted other things and drove to a stretch of Figueroa Street just blocks from Imperial Highway in South Los Angeles.　There, they spread their wares on the sidewalk and opened for business.　This part of Figueroa Street has become a shopping bazaar of last resort for people living on the margins.　Every weekend, doze

April 19, 2016