[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Cozy staycation at Millennium Seoul HiltonMillennium Seoul Hilton is offering a cozy staycation package for the winter holidays through Feb. 28 next year. The Winter Escape Package offers accommodation in a deluxe room with a view of the city, a buffet breakfast for two at Cafe 395, two gingerbreads and access to a fitness center and swimming pool. The package starts from 240,000 won and is only Korean citizens or foreigners with an alien registration card. There is an additional charge of 50,00

Dec. 2, 2017

[Travel bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Lotte World Christmas MiracleLotte Word Christmas Festival will be held from Nov. 11 to Dec. 31 with “Christmas Miracle” theme. Visitors can see Christmas decorations hung everywhere at the festival site.The event is held at Lotte World in Songpa-gu, Seoul and is open to visitors of all ages.For admissions and other information, refer to the homepage (http://www.lotteworld.com). It offers information in Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Russian, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Mongolian.Littl

Dec. 2, 2017

[Photo News] Peninsula verging toward wintry days

As the trees shed their foliage, the cold winter looms over mountains across the country.Seemingly disappointed in winter coming so early, the leaves did not fall so quickly.A snow-covered mountain peak welcomes the change of the seasons.The first snowfall of winter arrived in Gangwon Province on Nov. 3 and the first big snow storm dropped up to 16.2 centimeters of snow in the Daegwallyeong distirct, Pyeongchang-gun, on Sunday.A blueberry farm located in Yanggu-gun, a northern district of the pr

Nov. 29, 2017

S. Korea to seek safety steps for its nationals in Bali on volcanic eruption

South Korea said Monday it plans to draw up measures to ensure the safety of its nationals on Indonesia's resort island of Bali, as the Southeast Asian nation has raised the volcano alert on the island to the highest level.The volcano at Mount Agung has been spewing plumes of smoke and ashes since last week, raising fears that a larger eruption is imminent, according to foreign media reports. Airports on Bali and neighboring island Lombok have been closed. This photo carried by AFP on Nov. 26, 2

Nov. 27, 2017

Stories hidden within southernmost strip of Korea

HADONG, South Gyeongsang Province - Take the scenic route to South Gyeongsang Province by train. Drift down past Gyeonggi Province, Sejong City, and Namwon, where the most famous pansori love story of Chunhyang is set. Change at Suncheon and it’s a short trip to Hadong-gun and Namhae-gun -- where you will find unique people with stories to tell.When you are visiting a place just a stone’s throw away from the shore, make sure to try some of the seafood. One of the delicacies of the area is the Ch

Nov. 24, 2017

[Neighborhood Trails] Nature walk atop Namsan in heart of Seoul

Seoul is a city dotted with many mountains. Following is a series that explores some of the easy trails in Seoul’s neighborhood mountains. --Ed.Standing just 265 meters above sea level, the petite mountain of Namsan in Seoul is hardly considered a hiking spot. But that is exactly why it is a perfect place for a light stroll.Namsan Dulle-gil refers to the trail surrounding the mountain. Along with access to its noted features, it also offers great views of the city.The two most-frequently used en

Nov. 23, 2017

Jamsil residents provide tourists with free translations

Free-of-charge multilingual translation services for tourists will be available in Songpa-gu, Seoul, by voluntary street translators. Dubbed “We Can,” the service group will take off with a launching ceremony scheduled for 5 p.m. at Songpa YMCA, Tuesday. Some 100 residents inhabiting the Jamsil Special Tourist Zone in Songpa-gu are in the volunteer group, including retired seniors over 50 years old and teenagers. Songpa-gu Office (Yonhap)The volunteer workers can speak English, Chinese, Japanese

Nov. 20, 2017

[Travel bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Seoul Lantern Festival The annual Seoul Lantern Festival is held from Nov. 3 to Nov.19. Since its inception in 2009, it has hosted nearly 3 million visitors each year. Visitors can see lanterns along the 1.2-km Cheonggyecheon Stream from Cheonggye Plaza to Supyogyo Bridge.The lanterns are lit from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and the event is free of charge. Visit www.seoullantern.visitseoul.net for more information in Korean, English, Japanese or Chinese or call the travel hotline at 1330 for information

Nov. 19, 2017

[Photo News] Hallasan peaks blanketed with first snow of season

The white peaks of Mount Hallasan on Jeju Island has attracted weekend hikers after receiving the first snowfall of the season early Saturday.The white peaks of Hallasan attracted weekend hikers after receiving the first snowfall of the season early Saturday.(Yonhap)While the rest of the Island got rain, the water droplets had developed into snow on mountain peaks over 1,500 meters-high, where the temperature dropped as low as minus 8.1 degrees Celsius.The mountain trail saw a huge crowd on Satu

Nov. 19, 2017

[PyeongChang 2018] New high-speed train service brings PyeongChang closer to Seoul

GANGNEUNG, Gangwon Province -- With a shortage of accommodation cited as one of the biggest problems for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games, authorities are hoping to address the issue by better connecting the host city to the Seoul metropolitan area.A high-speed train service connecting the gateway city of Incheon, through Seoul, all the way to Gangwon Province where the Winter Olympic Games will be held will begin operation in December.Passengers aboard the high-speed KTX will be able to travel

Nov. 17, 2017

[Eye Plus] A feast of colors -- autumn in Seoul

Seoul is generally known as a high-tech city filled with tall buildings and high-rise apartments. But once a year, though not for long, the modern city transforms into a city of colors.  (Photo by Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)This week seems to be the peak of the nation’s favorite season -- fall.  (Photo by Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)From the top of Namsan to Jamsil in the southeastern part of the city, urban districts have turned into places to celebrate the harvest season. Streets are de

Nov. 12, 2017

[Herald Interview] ‘Serve guests like family’

Millennium Seoul Hilton’s new director of sales and marketing, Tom Wang, fit almost too smoothly into his job upon arriving here this summer. “I felt totally at home at this hotel after arriving in Korea from Singapore, where I began my career over two decades ago,” Wang told The Korea Herald in an interview. The Singapore native described the five-star executive hotel in the heart of Seoul as his new “home away from home,” highlighting that the staff have “a sense of belonging and ownership.” T

Nov. 10, 2017

[Photo News] Brilliant shades of ‘stinky’ ginkgo trees

Ginkgo trees, beautiful in the fall season with their bright golden hues, are both loved and hated for the picturesque sight they provide and the rancid stench emitting from its rotting berries. A mistaken step on the ginkgo berries leaves the smell of stinky socks throughout the day. In Seoul, talks are being thrown around to switch the female trees to male trees. But as the smelly period of the fallen berries only goes on for about a month, some environmentalists argue it is unreasonable to ge

Nov. 9, 2017

Fans of ‘Descendants of the Sun’ camp at ex-military base

Some foreign tourists, influenced by the popular Korean drama series “Descendants of the Sun,” are visiting a former US military base used as a location for the series. According to the Donga Ilbo, a local newspaper, Camp Greaves, near the demilitarized zone, is attracting foreign tourists with its “Descendants of the Sun Program.” (Gyeonggi Tourism Organization)The US military was stationed at the camp until August 2004. After the relocation, Gyeonggi Province and Gyeonggi Tourism Organization

Nov. 6, 2017

[PyeongChang 2018] Train to connect Seoul-Gangneung in 100 minutes

Starting from mid-December, travel time between Seoul and the port city of Gangneung in Gangwon Province will be shortened to 1 hour and 40 minutes from the previous six hours via regular trains and three hours via express buses. In June, Korea Rail Network Authority completed construction of the 277.9-kilometer railroad linking Incheon Airport and Gangneung. Trial trips began on Oct. 31. The new route allows for a maximum travel speed of 250 kilometers per hour and takes passengers straight fro

Nov. 6, 2017

[Travel bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Seoul Lantern FestivalThe annual Seoul Lantern Festival is being held from Friday to Nov.19. Since its inception in 2009, it has hosted annually nearly 3 million visitors, who can expect to see lanterns along 1.2 kilometers of the Cheonggye Stream stretching from Cheonggye Plaza to Supyogyo Bridge.The lighting hours are from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., and the event is free of charge. Visit www.seoullantern.visitseoul.net for more information in Korean, English, Japanese or Chinese or call the travel hot

Nov. 3, 2017

Foreigners invited to promote Korea

Visit Korea Committee on Wednesday launched a three-week-long campaign inviting foreigners to create content to describe Korea to international audiences. It is part of the VSK’s effort to promote Korea, as the country counts down to hosting the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in February 2018. The online advertisement providing details about Visit Korea Committee’s promotional campaign. (Visit Korea Committee)The event, which runs until Nov. 22, encourages foreigners to cre

Nov. 1, 2017

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Seoul Lantern FestivalThe Seoul Lantern Festival will take place from Nov. 3-9 in Seoul‘s Cheonggyecheon area. 　Lanterns of various shapes will be showcased along 1.2 kilometers of the manmade stream, stretching from Cheonggye Plaza to Supyo Bridge. 　Many whimsically shaped lanterns have adorned the festival throughout the years, from animation characters to historical figures. 　This year’s festival will celebrate the upcoming 2018 PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, with various sp

Oct. 27, 2017

[Photo News] Globe amaranth denotes unfading love

Full-blown globe amaranth drew people to Nari Park in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. Globe amaranth is originally from South America. Their meaning, in the language of flowers, is of unfading love.By Park Hyun-koo (phko@heraldcorp.com)

Oct. 24, 2017

[Travel bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Mindung Mountain Eulalia FestivalThe Mindungsan Eulalia Festival takes place in Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do. Some of the events held include weekend mountain climbing, talent contests, Arirang singing contests, eulalia music concerts, a Mindungsan Gate ball competition and eulalia photo exhibition. Hands-on programs at the festival include a local food program, post card sending, mountain horseback riding and much more.The event is open to visitors of all ages and will be held until Oct. 29. Visit

Oct. 20, 2017