[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Everland ‘Horror Club: Fear the Night’ festivalEverland theme park is presenting a horror-themed party “Horror Club: Fear the Night” on each Saturday of October.The event, held as part of its annual zombie-themed festival “Blood City,” will feature DJs like Bequz and Cream, along with performance by rock band Devil’s Rock.Around 100 staff will be dressed as zombies, clowns and monsters, creating a Halloween vibe. Photo spots will be set up at various pla

Oct. 11, 2019

Japan-bound trips dip in Aug., demand for other regions shoots up

An increased demand on non-Japanese routes helped offset lower demand on Japanese routes in August amid trade tensions between Seoul and Tokyo, the transport ministry said Sunday.  The number of South Koreans who traveled to Japan in August plunged more than 20 percent as outbound travelers shunned Japan for alternative destinations in Europe, China and other Asian nations amid a trade row between the two Asian neighbor, according to data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and T

Oct. 6, 2019

[Weekender] The pink invasion

Pink is the most sought-after autumn color in South Korea right now. Do an Instagram search for #pinkmuhly and you’ll get an idea of what’s going on. There are over 300,000 posts, many showing couples, children and young women posing in picturesque gardens full of pink grass. Surreal displays of pink and purple inflorescences, floating above tall grass like soft clouds, have popped up in so many cities and towns that they are difficult to keep track of: Seoul, Busan, Jeju, Ulsan, Yeo

Oct. 4, 2019

[Weekender] Into the red, yellow and orange

The air is crisp and the trees are getting ready to change color. Now is the time to be outdoors. With nearly 70 percent of its territory covered by mountains, South Korea is spoiled with choices for fall getaway destinations where the scenery is a magnificent display of vibrant colors. Autumn reds and oranges have already started to emerge at some high peaks in northern parts of the country. The fall foliage is expected to be most spectacular in late October to early November. Just be

Oct. 4, 2019

Holiday on rails: cruise train Haerang

It is every couch potato's dream come true: You get to travel around the country with a friendly guide at your side, try each region’s delicacies, enjoy a performance once in a while and sleep in a comfy bed -- all while not once having to book for a ride. The catch? It comes with a rather hefty price tag. But if you are up for it, a trip aboard Korail’s Rail Cruise Haerang could be quite an experience.On a recent sunny fall day, I boarded the train at Seoul Station for a trip slated

Oct. 3, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Everland ‘Blood City’ Halloween festivalEverland theme park is holding the latest edition of its zombie-themed Halloween festival “Blood City” until Nov. 17.Parts of the park feature a horror theme, with around 100 staff dressed as zombies, clowns and monsters. Performances and photo spots are available, including at the recently unveiled Raptor Ranger attraction. Some of the most popular attractions, including T-Express, have a horror theme as well.For more information i

Oct. 3, 2019

Philippines eyes 2 million Korean tourists by year-end

The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Korea announced a recent jump in the number of Koreans visiting the country, saying it aims to attract 2 million Korean tourists by the end of the year.“Last year, we were able to achieve 1.6 million (Korean) tourists. Because of that we aim to work for 2 million Korean tourists this year of 2019. By the end of 2019, in December, I will be proud to say we achieved 2 million. I look forward to that,” Ambassador Noe Albano Wong, who too

Sept. 27, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

1. Everland ‘Blood City’ Halloween festival Everland theme park is holding the latest edition of its zombie-themed Halloween festival “Blood City” until Nov. 17.Parts of the park feature a horror theme, with around 100 staff dressed as zombies, clowns and monsters. Performances and photo spots are available, including at the recently unveiled Raptor Ranger attraction. Some of the most popular attractions, including T-Express, have a horror theme as well.For more informati

Sept. 27, 2019

Not so lonely September in Jeju

Come fall, Jeju Island is a wonder to behold.  Skies clear up to reveal a horizon that stretches as far as the eye can see, as the cool breeze of September chases away the heat of summer. This is indeed a good time to visit the island historically known for its abundance of wind, rocks and women widowed by the sea. The first two are remnants of the volcanic island’s environment, which has made it such a unique travel destination.Hwasun GotjawalHundreds of thousands years ago, Hal

Sept. 27, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

1. Everland’s ‘Blood City’ Halloween festivalEverland theme park is holding the latest edition of its zombie-themed Halloween festival “Blood City” until Nov. 17.Parts of the park feature a horror theme, with around 100 staff dressed as zombies, clowns and monsters. Performances and photo spots are available, including at the recently unveiled Raptor Ranger attraction. Some of the most popular attractions, including the T-Express, have a horror theme as well.For mor

Sept. 20, 2019

Travel like a local on Jeju Island

JEJU ISLAND -- Jeju Island, a popular travel destination both for South Koreans and foreigners, has seen a surge of tourists in recent years. Accessible by an 80-minute flight from Seoul, around 15.4 million tourists visit the island each year. In fact, the Seoul-Jeju route is one of the most active flight routes anywhere in the world. As a result, Jeju residents are struggling with the drawbacks of excessive tourism. Gentrification is a serious problem on the island, where the amount of tr

Sept. 16, 2019

[Graphic News] Bangkok world’s most visited city again

　Bangkok was the world’s most-visited city in 2018 for the fourth consecutive year, ahead of Paris and London, according to a ranking compiled by Mastercard.　Thailand’s capital hosted more than 22 million international overnight travelers, Mastercard’s latest Global Destination Cities Index shows. 　Seoul ranked No. 11 with 11.25 million visitors.　Rankings are based on the number of overnight visitors. The average Bangkok stay was 4.8 nights. (Bloomberg)

Sept. 11, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

1. Coex Aquarium hosts Chuseok eventCoex Aquarium is holding its “Follow moonlight, follow water” Chuseok event to commemorate the holidays this week, from Thursday to Sunday.As it is a Korean tradition to wish upon the full moon during Chuseok, a full moon display will be placed at the “Wish Place” zone in front of the Pirarucu tank at Amazonia World.A special underwater performance of Korean traditional games will replace the usual mermaid performance at Deep Blue Squar

Sept. 11, 2019

Scent of mugwort fills Andaz Seoul

Global hotel chain Hyatt’s luxury lifestyle hotel brand Andaz opened its first property, Andaz Seoul Gangnam, in Apgujeong-dong, southern Seoul, Friday. According to the hotel, Andaz, meaning “personal style” in Hindi, hopes to overcome the stereotypes of a luxury hotel and respect the individuality of each guest and service staff member.  The 241-room hotel is Andaz’s 21st in the world and its fourth in Asia -- the others are in Tokyo, Shanghai and Singapore. The h

Sept. 9, 2019

[Eye Plus] Culture flourishes in old oil depot

Seoul’s new cultural hot spot, the Oil Bank Culture Park, has a fascinating history behind its unusual name. For more than four decades, the giant oil tanks that now function as exotic cultural venues stored 69 million liters of oil as part of resource-poor South Korea’s national fuel reserves. The site was off limits to the public. Its fashionable rebirth into an artsy space came about in 2017, long after its official closure in 2000, as the result of a public idea contest. Now

Sept. 6, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Everland’s ‘Blood City’ Halloween festival (1)Everland theme park will hold the latest edition of its zombie-themed Halloween festival “Blood City” until Nov. 17.Parts of the park will be decorated in a horror theme, with around 100 actors dressed as zombies, clowns and other monsters. Performances will be available and various photo spots will be arranged, including at the recently unveiled “Raptor Ranger” attraction. Some of the most popular attraction

Sept. 6, 2019

[Eye Plus] Garden of dignity

In the forest of the Soswaewon garden in Damyang, South Jeolla Province, there stands a colony of bamboo trees that symbolize the pride of the “seonbi,” the noble scholars of the Joseon era (1392-1910).Standing upright and reaching straight toward the sky, bamboos were seen as a symbol of dignity and the principles of the scholars. Built in the 16th century by Yang San-bo, the garden functioned as a place where great scholars of the time interacted with each other, discussing politic

Aug. 30, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Everland’s ‘Blood City’ Halloween festival　Everland theme park will hold the latest edition of its zombie-themed Halloween festival “Blood City” from Friday through Nov. 17Parts of the theme park will be decorated in a horror theme, with around 100 actors dressed as zombies, clowns and other monsters dispatched around the park. Performances will be available and various photo spots will be arranged, including at the recently unveiled “Raptor Ranger” attr

Aug. 29, 2019

Gyeongbokgung to open its gates for autumn nights

Gyeongbokgung Palace will invite visitors to enjoy its grounds at night this coming autumn, opening its gates between 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. from mid-September until early November.According to Cultural Heritage Administration, the annual nighttime special tours of the Joseon-era palace will take begin Sept. 12 -- during the Chuseok Holidays -- and will conclude on Nov. 6. The hours will be extended from the usual 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., but only up to 4,500 people a day will be able to visit the pal

Aug. 22, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Muchangpo Mystic Sea Road FestivalA 1.5 kilometer path opens up across the sea from Muchangpo Beach to Seokdaedo Island when the tide goes out during this festival. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of attractions and hands-on programs such as celebratory performances, fishing with a torch, the Mystic Sea Road torch parade, barehanded fishing, catching manila clams, gathering razor shells and many more.It is open to all visitors, and is held until Sept. 1.For more information in Korean, English, J

Aug. 22, 2019