Journeying across scattered islands off Taean

The West Sea is famous for islands scattered across the coast, like breadcrumbs enticing seagulls. The 114 islands off the coast of Taean-gun, South Chungcheong Province, are a typical example. Featuring a natural habitat that has remained free from human touch for the most part, each island boasts its own unique characteristics. There is no train connection, so visitors have to either drive or take a bus to the coastal town. If you are traveling from Seoul, buses are available at the Central Ci

April 19, 2019

Jeju Island gets Southeast Asian media attention

In March, Southeast Asian media flocked to Jeju Island on multiple occasions. One was a visit by Malaysian singer Wany Hasrita to film her new music video. During a five-day stay in mid-March, videographers captured the beauty of the island, including the canola flowers of Sanbangsan, Seopjikoji and Woljeongri Beach. In the video the singer wore hanbok, traditional Korean clothing, rented from a local shop called Miya’s Closet. Net.TV Indonesia crew members pose for photos in hanbok. (The Planet

April 15, 2019

[Photo News] Korea colored in pink with cherry blossoms

Spring has finally arrived in Korea, with cherry blossoms forming pink clouds above streets. The Yeouido area in western Seoul is a popular destination for enjoying cherry blossoms, especially Yunjung-ro, a 1.7-kilometer road lined with cherry trees. The annual Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival attracts a large number of visitors each year. (Yonhap) (Yonhap) (Yonhap)Another must-visit spot is Seoul Forest in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul. Though it is not as densely populated with cherry trees as Ye

April 12, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Everland Tulip Festival (1)Everland is hosting its Tulip Festival until April 28 to mark the onset of spring. Its themed garden features sculptures and paths adorned with beautiful spring flowers. There is also a photo zone featuring the 26-meter-tall Flower Magic Tower. As night falls, visitors can enjoy the LED Musical Rose Garden with light-emitting diode roses of various colors, accompanied by music.Refer to the official website, www.everland.com, for more information in Korean, English, Jap

April 12, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Everland Tulip Festival Everland is hosting a Tulip Festival until April 28 to mark the onset of spring. Its themed garden features sculptures and paths adorned with beautiful spring flowers. There is also a photo zone featuring the 26-meter-tall Flower Magic Tower. As night falls, visitors can enjoy the LED Musical Rose Garden with light-emitting diode roses of various colors, accompanied with music.Refer to the official website, www.everland.com, for more information in Korean, English, Japane

April 4, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Everland Tulip Festival Everland is hosting the Tulip Festival until April 28 to mark the onset of spring. Its themed garden features sculptures and paths adorned with beautiful spring flowers. There is also a photo zone featuring the 26-meter-tall Flower Magic Tower. As night falls, visitors can enjoy the LED Musical Rose Garden with light-emitting diode roses of various colors, accompanied with music.Refer to the official website, www.everland.com, for more information in Korean, English, Japa

March 28, 2019

Paradise City resort opens theme park

The Paradise City resort in Incheon said Wednesday that it is opening a theme park featuring media arts, eateries and other attractions.Wonder Box will be a nighttime amusement park within Paradise City with a look befitting its name -- created through media facades and interactive media in a joint effort with the Moment Factory studio. Wonder Box / Paradise CityIts dessert lineup will include Singaporean pastry chef Janice Wong’s first store in South Korea.The moonlit Luna Carnival is an event

March 28, 2019

Everland rediscovers identity as ‘eco park’

The Everland theme park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, has vowed to reinvent itself as an “eco park” by fully utilizing its rich botanical gardens, launching new programs with its infrastructure such as the Speedway motor track.Leading the way is the newly created Plum Blossom Trail, opening Friday.  The EverlandSpanning 33,000 square meters, it is the biggest botanical garden in the park’s history. It boasts some 700 plum trees of over 11 different species, scattered among 10,000 trees and color

March 28, 2019

Seoul hosts tours at royal palaces

Royal palaces of the Joseon era (1392-1910) will hold limited tours, with Deoksugung inviting guests to see inside its buildings and Changdeokgung holding its annual nighttime tour.From Wednesday to Sunday, and on April 2, tours of Deoksugung’s five main buildings will be held twice a day from 10 a.m. to 11:20 a.m., and 4 p.m. to 5:20 p.m., according to the Cultural Heritage Administration.Deoksugung was originally built as a home for the royal family, but became a palace after a Japanese invasi

March 24, 2019

A family getaway at Haeundae, Busan

Although not a traditional resort town, Busan has the ABCs of a quick weekend getaway: the accommodations, the beach, and celebrated tourist attractions that are accessible by public transportation.The great thing about Busan is that it is big enough to have something for everyone -- from 24-hour bars and super clubs to scenic walking trails. One major attraction is the beach at Haeundae, one of the most popular sites in the city of 4 million. Located in the southeast part of the city, it has on

March 21, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Everland Tulip Festival Everland hosts its Tulip Festival to mark the onset of spring, running until April 28.The themed garden features sculptures and paths adorned with beautiful spring flowers, with one of the photo zones featuring the 26-meter-tall Flower Magic Tower. As night falls, the unique LED Musical Rose Garden can be enjoyed, where LED roses are lit in various colors, accompanied with dynamic background music.Refer to the official website -- www.everland.com -- for more information i

March 21, 2019

Germany holds exhibitions, events to commemorate Bauhaus centenary

Bauhaus, the early 20th century German crafts and fine art school, will be commemorated this year through a number of special exhibitions and events around the country.According to the German National Tourist Board, the marketing theme for 2019 is celebrating the 100th year anniversary of the institute formally called the Staatliches Bauhaus, founded by Walter Gropius in Weimar in 1919. Last year‘s German tourism theme was “culinary Germany.”“We believe that Bauhaus is a crucial heritage in Germ

March 19, 2019

[Weekender] Itaewon: Present and future

Some say Itaewon has lost its soul and is now just another soulless hangout place for young Koreans. Others say the neighborhood has become safer and trendier -- suitable for a wider audience. And if you stand in the right place, you can still find the same expat-led culture thriving, they say. Whichever side one takes, the talk resembles the typical debate that erupts whenever a neighborhood gets gentrified. A less developed area with its unique characteristics and a vibrant local community get

March 14, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Everland Tulip FestivalEverland hosts the Tulip Festival to mark the onset of spring from March 16 to April 28.The themed garden features sculptures and paths adorned with beautiful spring flowers, with one of the photo zones featuring the 26-meter-tall Flower Magic Tower. As night falls, the unique LED Musical Rose Garden can be enjoyed, where LED roses are lit in various colors, accompanied with dynamic background music.Refer to the official website -- www.everland.com -- for more information

March 14, 2019

Welcoming spring in Seogwipo, gem of Korea’s resort island

SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island -- Sitting on the rocky southern coastlines of Jeju Island, the city of Seogwipo is known for its beaches, forests, waterfalls, parks and other cultural experiences one may stumble across on Korea’s volcanic island. It is also where winter is warmest and spring comes first. Jeju Island’s unique climate and culture derives from its distance from the mainland. Much like Hawaii, its indigenous culture grew independent from the dynasties on the Korean Peninsula, existing as the

March 7, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Yeongdeok Snow Crab FestivalYeongdeok Snow Crab Festival is an annual event that celebrates local snow crabs mainly caught off the eastern coast of North Gyeongsang Province. Among festival highlights are a snow crab market, a public auction of freshly caught crabs, a ride on the fishing boat and cooking competition. Visitors will be able to enjoy various sample dishes of snow crab for free.The festival is open to visitors of all ages.For more information in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese

March 7, 2019

Seogwipo to hold annual canola walking festival

Seogwipo, on the south coast of Jeju Island, will host an annual walking festival that takes place alongside its famous canola flower fields.According to Seogwipo Tourism Council, which organizes the event, the 21st Seogwipo Yuchae (Canola) Flower International Walking Festival will be held March 23-24 across the seaside city. It is co-hosted by Seogwipo metropolitan government and Korea Athletic Promotion Association.As Jeju is one of the biggest tourism spots in the country, hundreds of partic

March 1, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Uljin Snow Crab Festival The Uljin Snow Crab Festival celebrates Uljin’s famous local specialty, snow crabs. Visitors can taste fresh seafood caught from Uljin’s Hupo Port and participate in a variety of crab-related events, including a snow crab eating competition and fishing for snow crabs. The festival is open to visitors of all ages. The ongoing event continues through Sunday.For more information in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese, call the travel hotline at 1330. The homepage -- www.u

Feb. 28, 2019

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Little Prince Lighting Festival of Petite France The Little Prince Lighting Festival of Petite France is being held at the Petite France Park in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province. Buildings and streets as well as Christmas trees have been decorated with sparkling lights. There are also events such as performances featuring marionettes and magic as well as the opportunity to experience plaster art. The festival is being held through Thursday between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.Admission fees are 10,000 for ch

Feb. 21, 2019

[Weekender] How cheese transformed a poor village: The story of Imsil Cheese

Imsil-gun, a tiny rural village in North Jeolla Province, is a town that most people in South Korea have heard of and precious few have visited. For starters, a trip there via public transportation is not easy.It is secluded behind mountains and admittedly scenic rivers, crouching behind the slopes just a little over 20 kilometers from Jeonju. Stretched across 597 square kilometers of mostly farmland and home to a meager 29,160 as of 2019, it is, for the most part, but a tiny speck on the map. B

Feb. 21, 2019