[Weekender] Finding peace in winter wonderland

Unlike last winter, South Korea’s high vaccination rate has given people courage to step outside and participate in outdoor activities. Skiing and snowboarding remain popular choices, but this winter, people are seeking out less extreme activities such as hiking and fishing in search of serenity. “Just standing on the top of Mount Halla on Jeju Island was a breath of fresh air for me,” said Lee In-ho, a 36-year-old office worker in Seoul. Lee had been delaying the planned h

Jan. 22, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Paju Ice Fishing The annual Paju Trout Festival kicked off Jan. 8 and runs through Feb. 13 at Gangtan Leisure Town in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, though the event has reduced its size to focus only on the ice fishing event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While various programs, including trout catching with bare hands, smelt fishing for children and more, are canceled, visitors can catch a maximum of three salmon and trout through ice fishing. The ice sledge park is also available for visitors to

Jan. 21, 2022

[Herald Interview] New Park Hyatt Seoul manager singles out Gen MZ as key players shaping the hotel industry

Park Hyatt Seoul General Manager Andrew Ashdown has fond memories of running room to room as a child in a hotel his parent operated. He has always associated being in a hotel with positive emotions and, as the new general manager of Park Hyatt Seoul, his goal is to provide guests with similarly lasting experiences by delivering meaning services.  Ashdown, who took the post in November after three years as General Manager of Park Hyatt Busan, has said that he will begin this process by seek

Jan. 20, 2022

[Eye Plus] Excitement fills air as prehistoric world comes to life

A mask-clad life-size tyrannosaurus rex in front of Seodaemun Museum of Natural History marks a boundary between the contemporary world in a battle against the pandemic and a venue that shows a glimpse of the prehistoric world.  A few steps past it, visitors inside the museum‘s main hall can let their imagination run wild as they bring themselves face to face with a skeleton of a 10-meter-long acrocanthosaurus and a model of a giant sperm whale hanging from the ceiling. At Seodaemun

Jan. 15, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Yangju Snow Festival The Yangju Snow Festival runs through Feb. 13 at Jangheung Recreational Forest in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province. The festival features various programs, including ice sledding, a snow mountain, a sleigh train, an augmented reality snow experience zone, ice sculptures and more. While admission costs 12,000 won and 15,000 won on weekdays and weekends, respectively, separate fees apply for hands-on programs. All activities will be masked and visitors are required not to eat in

Jan. 14, 2022

[Well-curated] Discover classical music haven, hearty gukbap and film cameras

Classical music lovers will find a haven for music listening in Revedell, a music and gallery cafe located in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. Fully equipped with state of the art sound systems, including a classic Klangfilm model from Germany with horn-type revedyn baffle, visitors are greeted by a majestic sound upon entering the café.  A small tin bucket is placed at the right side of the main music hall for the visitors drop their music requests. The owner, who also plays the DJ,

Jan. 14, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Yangju Snow Festival The Yangju Snow Festival kicked off Jan. 1 and runs through Feb. 13 at Jangheung Recreational Forest in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province. With an attempt to share and appreciate the beauty of snow, the festival features various programs, including ice sledding, a snow mountain, a sleigh train, an augmented reality snow experience zone, ice sculptures and more. While admission costs 12,000 won and 15,000 won on weekdays and weekends, respectively, separate fees apply for hands-on

Jan. 7, 2022

Birdwatching near Demilitarized Zone

With the new year signaling the season of migratory birds, the DMZ Migratory Bird Watching Tour offering visits to vantage points in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, will available through the end of February. Cheorwon is a popular sanctuary for migratory birds, such as cranes, wild geese and eagles, owing to the county’s vast plains that are rich in food and water. Along with water reservoirs and the Hantangang River, the region is close to the Demilitarized Zone, which remains relatively un

Jan. 7, 2022

STO recruits ‘Global Seoul Mates’ to promote Seoul

The 2022 “Global Seoul Mate” project, jointly initiated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization, is recruiting members to produce and promote Seoul’s tourism-related digital content, the STO announced Monday. The Global Seoul Mates are a delegation of foreigners living in Seoul who have both expertise and passion in producing digital content and utilizing social media, looking to introduce and promote Seoul’s attractions, festivals and ev

Jan. 3, 2022

Carrying traditions to the future: Finding Jeonju

JEONJU, North Jeolla Province -- An hour and thirty minutes from Seoul’s Yongsan Station by KTX train is Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, wrapped in both unaltered traditions and the vibrant future of South Korea. Designated by the Culture Ministry as one of the five “Tourism Hub City Development” project cities in 2020 -- along with Busan, Gangneung, Mokpo and Andong -- the city is stretching its wings to greet global visitors who wish to experience Korea beyond what its densel

Jan. 1, 2022

[Eye Plus] Glittering farewell to 2021

Trees and plants adorn twinkling light displays at the Herb Island in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, inviting visitors to a winter fiesta. Flowers may not be in abundance due to the winter weather, the botanic garden is full of spectacular lights and holiday cheer at night, making it a perfect spot to celebrate the Yuletide season.  Fairy-tale houses, which are surrounded by a vast field of herbs, are decked out in lights, creating romantic photo spots. The bright, rainbow-colored displays a

Jan. 1, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Everland Winter Wishes Everland Winter Wishes started Dec. 3 and will run through March 1 at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The festival is a fantastic winter event, where tourists can enjoy various attractions like T-express, Thunder Falls, Lost Valley and Safari Ride more freely than during other seasons. The beautiful lights have a golden concept this year, and create a romantic Christmas ambience. The carol songs are played all day long, with a special Christmas parade once a day

Dec. 31, 2021

‘Lesser known spots’ become MZ generation’s travel trend: survey

Hidden travel destinations known only to locals residing in the area have become the MZ generation’s most preferred travel routes, a survey data showed Thursday. The Seoul Tourism Organization announced the survey results on the “2021 most-favored online Seoul tourism contents,” conducted on some 9,181 respondents over the month of November via its official website. The survey was carried out in six languages -- Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian and Malaysian &nda

Dec. 30, 2021

Pandemic dampens New Year celebrations nationwide

With an attempt to tame the spread of COVID-19 and the newly confirmed omicron variant, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and local governments have decided to cancel their annual year-end and New Year’s ceremonies. The traditional bell-ringing ceremony at Bosingak in Jongno, central Seoul, at midnight on New Year’s Eve will be held online for a second year in a row, according to the city. Ringing the bell 33 times, people bid farewell to the old and welcome the new year. Ten civi

Dec. 28, 2021

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Everland Winter Wishes Everland Winter Wishes started Dec. 3 and will run through March 1 at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The festival is a fantastic winter event, where tourists can enjoy various attractions like T-express, Thunder Falls, Lost Valley and Safari Ride more freely than other seasons. The beautiful lights have a golden concept this year, and create a romantic Christmas ambience. The carol songs are played all day long, with a special Christmas parade once a day at 2 p

Dec. 24, 2021

[Eye Plus] Let there be light

We may be heading into the darkest winter of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Myeong-dong wants us to keep our spirits bright. The once-bustling shopping mecca of Seoul is not busy as it used to be pre-pandemic, but it is twinkling, sparkling and shining brighter than ever before with extravagant Christmas light displays.  Millions of LED lights adorn the exterior of departments stores and other buildings in the district, creating a spectacle at night.  Street trees decked out with Christ

Dec. 18, 2021

Season’s Greetings: Spots to celebrate the Christmas spirit

Myeongdong Cathedral situated in the heart of Seoul is a symbolic destination for the Christmas season. The country’s oldest Roman Catholic gothic architecture is now surrounded by soft lights and glittering Christmas trees adding a festive vibe to the city. Passersby in the neighborhood are attracted to the cathedral to take photos against the background of the rose garden, or some would stay for a while in front of the nativity scene set up in front of the cathedral to pray. The manger

Dec. 18, 2021

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Daegwallyeong Snow Festival The Daegwallyeong Snow Festival will run from Jan. 21-30 at the area of Songcheon Stream in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province. The annual festival began in 1993 and has become among the most famous winter festivals in South Korea. The event features beautiful snowy hills and enjoyable activities for both children and adults. Admission fees are yet to be announced, but various in-person programs are ready to excite winter-loving visitors. More information can be found at

Dec. 17, 2021

KTO predicts 2022 tourism trends with big data analysis

The Korea Tourism Organization predicted next year’s domestic travel trends with the acronym, HABIT-US, on Tuesday, the results showing a shift in travel preferences and patterns brought out by the COVID-19 pandemic. The results were based on travel-related big data analysis over the past three years, including travel expenses and use of social media, as well as in-depth interviews with industry experts. The acronym was derived from “habitus,” which refers to a person’

Dec. 14, 2021

[Eye Plus] Old railroad in Seoul brings back old memories

A rusty railroad abandoned in Seoul brings back old memories and warm nostalgia.  Hang-dong Railroad, located in Guro-gu, Seoul, is a 4.5-kilometer track drenched with a vintage atmosphere, with traces of train stations and destination signs left here and there.  Lined with deep greenery and green barley, the 62-year-old railway is now one of the most beloved places for Seoulites to go and reflect. Beside Hang-dong Railroad, there is the Pureun Arboretum, Seoul’s first arboret

Dec. 11, 2021