Exploring Seoul’s iconic cultural heritage sites like Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung and Jongmyo is one of the must-do activities while visiting South Korea. A light stroll along the stone walls of the palaces and taking in centuries-old "hanok," or traditional Korean houses, makes many fans feel like they've wandered into a Korean period drama. But, tourists can take a step back from these crowd-packed spots and enjoy a different view of Seoul's historical landmarks from ne

Culture Aug. 14, 2024

Liberation Day on Aug. 15 will be a great time to take in the beauty of South Korea’s national flower “mugunghwa,” or Rose of Sharon, according to Korea Forest Service. Commemorating the country’s history and the sacrifice of Korean independence fighters, a variety of mugunghwa-themed events will be held at arboretums and tourist destinations across the country. Chollipo Arboretum, located in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, will entertain visitors with a mugunghwa-rela

Travel Aug. 13, 2024

Celebrating its 79th Liberation Day this Thursday, tourist destinations around the country offer special programs to highlight what Korean independence fighters went through under Japanese occupation, commemorate their sacrifices and remember the history. Seodaemun Prison History Hall, in Seodaemun-gu, northwestern Seoul, offers a hands-on activity and concert for young visitors keen on taking in some of the nation’s arduous modern history. Children aged 7 to 10 can participate in a &ldquo

Culture Aug. 11, 2024

Legoland Korea Resort holds pop-up event for children Legoland Korea Resort in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, presents the new pop-up event “Lego Dreamz,” running until Sept. 12. Children can play with Lego bricks to design their own creations at the pop-up zone. Visitors can also experience the “mission portal” event that allows them to receive "dream chaser" gifts, including a dream chaser license, lanyard and Legoland badge. After completing a survey, visitors

Travel Aug. 9, 2024

Heading to one of South Korea’s several coastal getaways, a water park or an exciting festival is a great decision for a refreshing summer. But avoiding outdoor activities may be a better option, as the country has been caught up in an ever prolonged heat wave. Though people can easily find their own chilly summer paradise at practically every street corner -- think comics cafe, ubiquitous coffee franchises, bingsu (creamy shaved ice) spots and internet cafes -- there are more options, som

Travel Aug. 8, 2024

Yongsan-gu in central Seoul is one of the go-to spots for both local and overseas travelers. The district became popular for its Itaewon neighborhood -- where people can experience and enjoy a variety of international cultures -- many years ago. It also beckons history buffs with the National Museum of Korea and the War Memorial of Korea. Today, it is easy to spot young, vibrant K-pop fans near Sinyongsan Station, where the headquarters of Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind BTS, are located. Mean

Travel Aug. 3, 2024

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Thursday that the city is opening a water park to entertain children and families at World Cup Park in Mapo-gu, western Seoul, from Friday to Sunday. The three-day water park event offers a destination for Seoul-based families who wish to cool down in the thick of the summer heat without traveling far afield. During the day, children can enjoy the water park's two slides and two large swimming pools. The city government also offers cool-off mist t

Travel Aug. 2, 2024

One of the unique beaches on South Korea’s southern island of Jeju is Nonjinmul, a natural beach created by spring water flowing into the sea. In the Jeju dialect, "nonjinmul," means “water being thrown away,” referring to how the Hallasan spring water cannot be used for drinking or farming due to its proximity to the sea. Located in Seogwipo, southern Jeju Island, Nonjinmul has turned into a natural swimming pool with large embankments, beckoning holidaymakers wishin

Travel Aug. 2, 2024

Le Meridien Seoul Myeongdong launches wine promotion ‘Sparkling Hour’ Le Meridien Seoul Myeongdong in central Seoul presents a new wine promotion, “Sparkling Hour,” at its lobby lounge and bar Lumiere. The promotion offers a chance for guests to quench their thirst and whet their appetite with sparkling wine. Offered along with the wine, is a special platter featuring grilled lobster, shrimp, abalone, beef strip loin steak and more. Guests can taste both red and white win

Travel Aug. 2, 2024

The number of holidaymakers in Yangyang and Samcheok, two of the popular coastal getaway spots in Gangwon Province, has decreased this year, according to the Gangwon Provincial government. While Samcheok welcomed almost 32,000 visitors from July 1 to 24, marking an 84.1 percent decrease from last year, Yangyang beckoned 42,000 visitors during the same period, a 67.5 percent decline from 2023. Though the detailed reasons for these striking drops have yet to be analyzed, the provincial government

Travel Aug. 1, 2024

Kim Min-ji and An Yeon-gyong -- a 28-year-old marketer and a 26-year-old career consultant, respectively -- get off work in the evening like many other workers in South Korea. But their voices and movements change completely when they step into the light-filled, floor-to-ceiling mirrors-covered studio of The Passion Musical -- a local musical group that has been around since 2014 -- in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul. The pair say they are more active after the sunset. “I take an acting lesson o

Culture July 30, 2024

If you can't beat the heat, it might be best to surrender. But for those seeking sanctuary indoors, Korea still has a lot to offer tourists. For the month of August, the Korea Tourism Organization recommends a selection of spots that not only offer a cool, pleasant environment to spend your vacation, but also cultural experiences that reveal different sides of South Korea. Korean Stone Art Museum Korean Stone Art Museum, the world’s only museum specializing in stone art, is home to

Travel July 28, 2024

Travel and leisure e-commerce platform Klook announced on Thursday that two types of foreigner-friendly tickets that offer priority access to Everland attractions are now available. Everland is the largest theme park and zoo in South Korea, located in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Everland’s priority boarding ticket Q-Pass is available exclusively on Klook. The two Q-Passes -- Plan-it 2 and Plan-it 3 -- allow ticket holders to make reservations for the theme park's popular attractions, i

Travel July 27, 2024

A sip of poetic cocktail, coffee Near Mangwon Station, among small buildings, restaurants, and shops, a secret bar lies tucked away in the basement. Dada Lab transforms from a coffee shop by day to a cocktail bar by night, offering a full range of typical bar menu items. What sets this bar apart are the unique “Text Blending” drinks. “Text Blending” allows customers to write down any phrase or text, from which the bartender draws inspiration to create a personalized drin

Culture July 26, 2024

Quench your thirst at Park Hyatt Seoul The Park Hyatt Seoul, located in Gangnam, southern Seoul, presents an opportunity to enjoy refreshing, premium Champagne at its top floor The Lounge. The hotel offers a total of five bottles of Champagne -- Krug Grande Cuvee, Dom Ruinart 2010, Dom Perignon 2013, Ruinart Blanc de Blancs and Ruinart Rose Brut -- paired with a menu of smoked salmon, sliced ham, Blini, chives and 30 grams of Osetra caviar. The Lounge’s chef, Jung Sang-hyup, recommends eit

Travel July 26, 2024