[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Daejeon International Wine FairThe Daejeon International Wine Festival takes place from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, showcasing a total of about 10,000 different imported and domestic wines, along with traditional liquors. Programs being held include wine tasting events, and the Asia Wine Buyers Conference. The fair is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., but the food court and some performances are available until 10 p.m. It runs until 8 p.m. on the opening day.The entrance fee is 10,000 won. Food packages and

Aug. 30, 2018

Danang No. 1 holiday spot for Koreans this summer

Vietnam’s Danang came out atop the list for Koreans’ summer break destination in 2018, according to Korean e-commerce company Ticket Monster, Wednesday. Ticket Monster, or TMON, found through its internal analysis on air ticket sales in the holiday months of July and August that Danang was the most popular choice among its users.  Cau Vang, the "gold bridge," opened near Da Nang, Vietnam, in July. (Reuters)Danang has recently risen in popularity here following multiple appearances on Korean ente

Aug. 29, 2018

Top 3 destinations for disconnecting from work

Nobody in their right mind likes to stay connected to work during their holidays. But however sane we may be, disconnecting is increasingly difficult in 2018, when wireless network technology is about to enter 5G levels.But don’t despair, because there are holiday locations where the notorious lack of Wi-Fi and bad reception gives you ample reason not to receive messages from work. According to research by a global travel agency Trip.com, the countries with the fewest hotels equipped with W-Fi a

Aug. 28, 2018

Royal tomb in Paju to open to public

The final resting place of King Injo of Joseon -- who led a tumultuous life that included a revolt and two Chinese invasions -- and his queen will be open to the public starting next month, and is set to become a new tourist attraction in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.The Cultural Heritage Administration said Monday that it is opening Jangneung, where King Injo and Queen Inyeol are buried, to the public starting Sept. 4.Authorities had restricted visits to the royal tomb, designated a UNESCO World Her

Aug. 27, 2018

Scorching heat leads to packed hotels

This summer’s prolonged heat wave was overwhelming for everyone -- including the local hotel sector, which recorded near full sales as South Koreans sought shelter in the comfort of cool hotels.While the “staycation” is nothing new, this year’s record-breaking temperatures encouraged more vacationers to flock to nearby hotels for a relaxing getaway.  Swimming pool at Novotel Ambassador Dongdaemun Hotels & ResidencesHotels with swimming pools and dining facilities were especially popular, as a la

Aug. 26, 2018

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Songdo World Culture Tourism FestivalSongdo World Culture Tourism Festival, or Songdo Beer Festival is an annual beer festival held from Aug. 24 to Sept. 1. The festival is held at the Songdo Moonlight Festival Park (Pentaport Park) in Incheon and costs 15,000 won for a day ticket. Tickets are 10,000 won in advance.Call the travel hotline at 1330 for information in Korean, English, Japanese or Chinese. Its homepage (www.songdobeer.com) is only in Korean.Rose of Sharon Festival of The Garden of M

Aug. 23, 2018

Gyeongbokgung to hold nighttime tour next month

A biannual nighttime tour of Gyeongbokgung will commence next month, with prebooking for the event starting on Thursday.According to the Cultural Heritage Administration, the Gyeongbokgung Starlight Tour for the second half of the year will be held from Sept. 2-15, and Oct. 6-20, twice a day. The first session will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and the second from 7:40 p.m. to 9:40 p.m.This year’s Starlight Tour, which started in 2016, will be held under the theme of old folktales from th

Aug. 20, 2018

[Eye Plus] DMZ Peace Park: wildlife paradise at the Cold War’s last frontier

 After the Korean War ended with an armistice agreement in 1953, two Koreas declared a 4-kilometer-wide Demilitarized Zone along the demarcation line that separated them, to prevent accidental skirmishes. Since the DMZ has been off-limits for more than 60 years, the area has become home to many endangered species, including red-crowned cranes. The border town of Cheorwon in Gangwon Province opened the DMZ Peace Park, an ecotourism park in the southern part of the heavily-fortified region, in 201

Aug. 16, 2018

A mix of fun and challenge at ‘scariest’ escape room in Seoul

More and more Koreans are participating in escape rooms, where they are given a set amount of time to solve puzzles using clues scattered around rooms in order to break out of the place. With various themes and different amounts of time, there are escape room experiences that suit a wide range of ages.Nestled in the side streets of the Apgujeong Rodeo area is Holic Room Escape, where three Korea Herald summer interns attempted the “Fall of Mankind” zombie-themed escape room. Touted as “the scari

Aug. 16, 2018

Changwon, Miryang readies for guests ahead of ISSF championship

Cities in South Gyeongsang Province offer mysteriously icy creeks, seafood, temples and shooting ranges The eyes of the sports world will be on Korea later in the month, this time in the southern and hottest place in the country, as the city of Changwon will host the International Shooting Sport Federation World Championship from Aug. 31 to Sept. 15.With outsiders expected to visit the region -- including 12 athletes and 10 officials from North Korea -- Changwon and the neighboring city of Mirya

Aug. 16, 2018

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Songdo World Culture Tourism FestivalSongdo World Culture Tourism Festival, or Songdo Beer Festival is an annual beer festival held from Aug. 24 to Sept. 1. The festival is held at the Songdo Moonlight Festival Park (Pentaport Park) in Incheon and costs 15,000 won for a day ticket. Tickets are 10,000 won in advance.Call the travel hotline at 1330 for information in Korean, English, Japanese or Chinese. Its homepage (www.songdobeer.com) is only in Korean.Rose of Sharon Festival of The Garden of M

Aug. 16, 2018

Hyatt loyalty program partners with Small Luxury Hotels of the World

Hyatt Hotels is to add Small Luxury Hotels of the World to its rewards portfolio. Starting from the end of this year, guests who stay at any of more than 500 independent luxury boutique properties under the SLH umbrella, will be able to earn and redeem World of Hyatt points. The exact kickoff date for the service is yet to be set. Guests who make their bookings through Hyatt channels, not directly with the SLH properties or through third-party websites will receive point benefits.“SLH’s high-end

Aug. 16, 2018

[Photo News] Busan opens lighthouse photo contest

Around 100 lighthouses are built along the eastern coastline of Busan, allowing fishermen to take off to sea at night. Gijang-gun’s beautiful lighthouses play a vital role in keeping the southern port city bustling with tourists. Each lighthouse boasts its own structural design, shaped like a baby’s bottle, baseball or World Cup trophy. Organized by the Busan Metropolitan Government and the city’s tourism organization, an open studio event will start next Monday and end on Sept. 5. The 80 teams

Aug. 13, 2018

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Coex Na Hit! AquariumCoex Aquarium is holding the “2018 Summer Na Hit! Aquarium” event, with special underwater performances and an extension of operating hours.Special summer activities include underwater performances by the Octonauts at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. During the event, operating hours for the aquarium will be extended by one hour to 9 p.m. The event is held from Aug. 10-17. Visit www.coexaqua.com for more information in Korean, English, Chinese or Japanese.Rose of Sharon Festival of

Aug. 12, 2018

Escape sweltering heat in valleys near Seoul

Valleys have long been a classic summer vacation spot for Koreans. For those who are used to visiting only beaches and islands, escaping the heat by going to the mountains might sound strange. Why hike to escape the heat? (Yonhap)But the joy of dipping in brain-freezingly cold water after sweating buckets can be thrilling. Under the layers of green shade, one can enjoy a cool swim away from the scorching rays of the sun. Though the valley streams are neither wide nor deep, the excitement is ther

Aug. 9, 2018

Seoul perceived as city of youth and nightlife: survey

A survey indicated Wednesday that Seoul is perceived by outsiders as a city vibrant with nightlife and suitable for youth.The Seoul Tourism Organization ran a survey for the month of June on respondents’ impressions of Seoul, targeting over 9,000 foreigners both living in the country and traveling. In the survey, 77 percent of foreign respondents answered the question on when in the period of their life they wished to visit Seoul, as “when young.” The figure, broken down, was 76 percent for trav

Aug. 8, 2018

[Photo News] Cities hold squid festivals to beat scorching heat

As Korea experiences one of the hottest summers in its history, different cities have held squid festivals to fight the scorching heat. At the festivals, visitors can jump into the water and catch fresh squid with their bare hands. Many people flocked to beaches in Gangwon Province and Ulleungdo to cool off and enjoy the rare experience. At the blow of the whistle, children and adults dive into the water to catch as many squids as they can. Those in luck also catch massive amberjack fish. Photos

Aug. 7, 2018

Expect ‘Better Boracay’ in October: Philippines

The resort island of Boracay is to reopen to visitors in October, the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Thursday.Boracay, one of the Philippines’ major tourism destinations, has been closed since April 26, as part of the local government’s efforts for the environmental rehabilitation of the island.Secretary Roy Cimatu of the DENR said that visitors will be able to enjoy a “Better Boracay” when the resort island opens again on Oct. 26.Boracay (Philippine Department o

Aug. 3, 2018

[Photo News] Learning skills for water survival

With summer vacation in full swing, August is prime time for swimming. It is also high season for water survival classes for schoolchildren. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has teamed up with the Incheon Coast Guard to provide lessons to practice survival floating techniques at Yeouido and Ttukseom Hangang Park swimming pools this summer.Basic techniques taught from these classes can help anyone, including children, stay afloat until someone comes to rescue them, instructors say. Participants

Aug. 2, 2018

[Weekender] 5 surfing spots to ride the wave

For many people, Korea is probably not on their list of must-go surfing destinations. However, with the rising popularity of the sport, more people are discovering that they can actually catch some good waves here.  Surfers at Mallipo Beach (Yonhap)Based on recommendations from members of the Korea Pro Surfing Association, pro and amateur surfers, and online surfing communities, The Korea Herald has selected five spots that surfers of all levels can enjoy.1. Busan  Songjeong Beach, Busan (Busan

Aug. 2, 2018