No passive tourists: Making travel meaningful

Kim Yeon-mee, 35, an office worker from northern Seoul, visits a bookstore specializing in travel and tourism books every other weekend. The bookstore, Trip, Book and Space: Traveling Library, in Seongsu-dong, has some 1,000 titles on all things travel, from essays and photo books to magazines, cartoons and more. "Upon reaching 30, I did not want to travel like I used to, following routes planned by big travel agencies," Kim said. Even as she visited popular sites, Kim felt her travels

Dec. 9, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Coex Winter Festival, Seoul Ahead of the new year, the Coex Winter Festival will present artworks featuring rabbits to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit, the fourth animal of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs. The seven-day festival, starting on Dec. 19, presents various programs, including brick arts, digital arts, paintings, balloon arts and more. This year’s festival will be held at Coex’s K-pop Square, Coex Square and indoor lobbies in Gangnam, southern Seoul. The event is free. More in

Dec. 9, 2022

KTO out to correct wrong use of foreign languages on tourism sites

The Korea Tourism Organization is accepting reports on improper use of foreign languages on tourism-related websites operated by public organizations in Korea in a special event running through Dec. 16. The public may submit instances of inaccurate or wrong uses of foreign languages found on English, Chinese and Japanese versions of websites operated by public museums, performance centers and galleries, as well as tourism organizations. A list of the relevant websites in the three languages ca

Dec. 5, 2022

Vietnam's Hoiana Residences opens for tourists, business travelers

Hoiana Resort & Golf, a beachfront resort in Vietnam, has announced the launch of Hoiana Residences in central Vietnam. To meet the increased travel demand after the prolonged pandemic, Hoiana Residences, a a five-star accommodation, began with a visionary plan to provide a luxurious experience with a touch of home. Hoiana Residences has 270 fully furnished residences that feature contemporary living areas and spacious private terraces overlooking lush gardens and stunning sunsets over the E

Dec. 2, 2022

[Well-curated] Time for Christmas markets, miniature trains and some cheerful art

The time has come to bring out the Christmas tree and deck the halls with holly. Online shopping has never been so convenient, but Christmas markets are always worth a visit if only to enjoy the holiday atmosphere. Here are two places you can purchase Christmas decorations at relatively lower prices. Namdaemun Market, a large traditional market located next to Shinsegae Department Store in central Seoul, has a wide variety of shops, vendors and wholesalers offering a seemingly endless array of g

Dec. 2, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

E-World Illumination, Daegu E-World Illumination kicked off Nov. 19 and runs through Feb. 28, 2023 at E-World in Daegu. The festival features the areas around E-World and 83 Tower with ten million lights. A 15-meter-tall Christmas tree and a garden of 100,000 light-emitting diode roses are set to provide memorable photo zones for visitors as well. Admission costs 11,100 won per person on weekdays and 17,900 won per person on weekends. The event starts at 5 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. Updates can be

Dec. 2, 2022

[Weekender] Jeju Biennale shows the island's natural identity

JEJU CITY -- About an hour‘s flight from the South Korean capital of Seoul, Jeju Island is a popular destination for those who want to get away from the grit of the city. The ubiquitous porous basalt, covering more than 90 percent of the island, is evidence that the island was created as a result of volcanic activity. "Dolharubang," or village guardian statues carved out of porous basalt, fresh seafood, mandarin oranges and more than 368 parasitic cones are iconic symbols of t

Nov. 26, 2022

Looking for stars on a clear, cold night

YANGPYEONG, Gyeonggi Province -- Autumn is peak season for stargazing in Korea, as the arrival of chilly weather also brings clear skies. Some 60 kilometers east of Seoul, the small county of Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, is home to one of South Korea’s most popular observatories, Jungmisan Astronomical Observatory. After a 40- to 50-minute drive along the Han River, visitors climb the winding roads of Jungmisan and arrive at the observatory in the thick of a mountain forest. The occasion

Nov. 26, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Ansung Smelt Festival The Ansung Smelt Festival is scheduled to run from Dec. 24 to Feb. 5, 2023 in the areas near Dume Lake in Ansung, Gyeonggi Province. Hoping to provide a memorable winter experience, the festival features various programs, including smelt fishing, ice sledding and various photo zones featuring snow flowers. Smelt fishing is only available during the weekends and on public holidays. The festival opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. daily. Admission costs 10,000 won per person

Nov. 25, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Gwanak Starlight Festival, Seoul The 2nd-edition of Gwanak Starlight Festival which started on Oct. 26 and runs through Nov. 30 near Sillim Bridge in Gwanak-gu, southern Seoul. The annual festival lights make the city brighter with a number of lanterns and illuminated sculptures along the Dorim Stream. The festivalgoers will have an opportunity to take memorable photographs with their loved ones. Visitors of all ages are welcomed without any admission fee. Hueree Camellia Festival, Jeju The Hu

Nov. 19, 2022

No need to fly: Experience Japan in Korea

Friends and couples in kimonos take pictures on streets lit by colorful paper lanterns under the eaves of Japanese-style houses and shops. Food stalls' yakitori, takoyaki and platters of beautifully arranged sashimi tempt the appetites of passersby. At a shinto shrine, people write prayers or wishes on paper strips and bamboo plaques and hang them on wooden hooks. This corner of Dongducheon, just north of Seoul, may be a picture-perfect slice of Japan, but if you came to the same spot years

Nov. 15, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Goheung Yuza and Pomegranate Festival The Goheung Yuza and Pomegranate Festival started on Nov. 10 and runs through Nov. 13 at areas around Goheung Yuzu Park in Goheung, South Jeolla Province. Visitors can taste the city’s specialty Goheung yuja, a citrus fruit also known as yuzu, at the festival. Hands-on activities, including yuja syrup making, pomegranate juice drinking contest and more, are set to entertain visitors. Stamp tours, trot music concert and yuja quiz shows will be offered t

Nov. 11, 2022

[Herald Interview] Singapore's Grand Park City Hall manager foresees more automation in hotel operations

Grand Park City Hall, the flagship property of Park Hotel Group located at the heart of Singapore just a few minutes from the Central Business District, opened in 2018 after a full renovation. The hotel was one of the first hotels in Singapore to launch a mobile application that offers a seamless check-in process using facial recognition before the pandemic hit. "Travel and tourism was one of the worst-hit industries, and we are still recovering from the effects even though borders have reo

Nov. 5, 2022

Tourism industry remains cautious after Itaewon tragedy

South Korea's tourism industry remains cautious on the impact of the Itaewon tragedy, after the country saw its on-year increases in the number of inbound tourists in recent months. Around 337,000 tourists from abroad visited Korea in September, which is a 276 percent increase from the same month a year prior, according to data released by the Korea Tourism Organization on Monday. An outlook by UN World Tourism Organization in June this year showed that the gradual recovery was expected to conti

Nov. 1, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Colorful Autumn Garden, Gwangju The Colorful Autumn Garden opened on Oct. 15 and runs through Nov. 13 at Hwadam Botanic Garden in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. Visitors can enjoy the autumn foliage at its peak to the fullest in the eco-friendly arboretum, an hour’s drive from central Seoul. Autumn lovers can stroll down the promenade and feel the fall atmosphere with crisp air and some 4,000 different species of plants and trees. Admission costs 10,000 won for adults and 8,000 won for teen

Oct. 28, 2022

Travmedia Summit Asia discusses fresh opportunities as tourism rebounds

SINGAPORE -- The TravMedia Summit Asia 2022 brought together some 150 tourism brands, travel writers, influencers and journalists from across the Asia-Pacific region, to network and develop new insights and ideas on tourism, on Oct. 17, at Swissotel the Stamford, in Singapore. Presented in partnership with Tourism Australia, the summit was held on the first day of the two-day event of International Media Marketplace, a media networking event for the travel industry. "We are proud to bring t

Oct. 27, 2022

Luxury tourists from US, Europe to visit Korea

To meet the increasing demand for luxury travel to Korea, the Korea Tourism Organization has developed two tour programs in partnership with the Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City (Met) and a US-based luxury travel agency. Sixteen tourists from the US will be arriving Wednesday on a nine-day tour package called "Travel with The Met," priced at 14 million won ($9,599) per person, excluding airfare. The "Travel with The Met" program was created especially for Met membe

Oct. 25, 2022

Busan International Fireworks Festival returns after 3-year hiatus

Following a three-year hiatus, the night skies of Busan are to dazzle again, with the Busan International Fireworks Festival on Nov. 5. In its 17th edition, the annual fireworks festival will be held at Gwangalli Beach, Dongbaekseom and Igidae Coastal Park. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival was not held in 2020 and 2021. This year's festival will be held under the theme of "Harmony of Busan." The southern port city's government said it aims to illustrate its features

Oct. 24, 2022

[Weekender] Mountain temples perfect place to enjoy autumn

As the temperature starts to drop, the heavy jackets come out from the depths of their closets and trees everywhere start to dress up in their seasonal flaming reds, dazzling yellows and brilliant oranges. With autumn in Korea seemingly getting shorter every year, travelers are gearing up and preparing to traverse the country to get the most out of the season at popular destinations for leaf peeping. With the fall foliage expected to be most spectacular from late October through early November,

Oct. 22, 2022

Singapore's relaxing getaway, Sentosa Island

SINGAPORE -- A vast urbanscape with skyscrapers and a vibrant melting pot of diverse peoples and cultures, Singapore's tourism industry is fast recovering from the impact of the pandemic. The multicultural spirit that the country embraces allows tourists to spot the familiar in the unfamiliar, and a taste of home. With Chinatown, Little India and Arab Street all located within a short distance, the colorful enclaves of ethnic groups make the country one of the leading tourism hubs in Asia.

Oct. 22, 2022