Most Popular
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Contentious grain bill put directly to plenary meeting for vote
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Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low
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Will tug-of-war between doctors, government end soon?
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Climate impacts set to cut 2050 global GDP by nearly a fifth
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Trilateral talks acknowledge ‘serious’ slumps of won, yen
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[KH Explains] Hyundai's full hybrid edge to pay off amid slow transition to pure EVs
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North Korea removes streetlights along cross-border roads with South
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Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official
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Farming households dip below 1m for first time in 2023
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S. Korea votes in favor of Palestinian bid for UN membership
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[Travel bits] Festivals, sights across Korea
Busan Port Festival The festival has been held annually since 2008 to introduce Busan Port, one of the top five ports in the world. It offers a variety of programs that that showcase Busan Port-related industries, culture and education. Part of Ocean Day celebrations, this annual festival offers opportunities to learn about Busan Port’s rich history. Related businesses, organizations and universities take part in the festival to promote the port. For more information, visit www.bfo.or.
June 4, 2021
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Korea Tourism Organization launches environment-focused travel challenge on social media
When planning a trip involves buying new products and creating waste, a major problem arises – travelers enjoying the outdoors while ignoring the impact their vacation may have on the environment. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization jointly launched the “Inconvenient Travel Tips“ campaign on Wednesday, to promote eco-friendly travel methods through October. The travel tips are conservation-minded measures that some may find inconveni
June 2, 2021
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[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea
Seoul Salon du Chocolat Since its inception in France in 1994, Salon du Chocolat has taken place in 32 cities in 11 countries. In Seoul this year, it will be a three-day event from Aug. 20 to Aug. 22 at Coex, where visitors can taste and purchase a wide range of chocolate products, dessert ingredients and paraphernalia related to chocolate and desserts. Unique events such as the Chocolate Fashion Show, Chocoland and Choco Art will entertain visitors. A variety of hands-on activities, inc
May 28, 2021
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When travel meets wellness
The 19th-century American self-help author Napoleon Hill was referring to the deep connection between body and mind when he said, “The body achieves what the mind believes.” The mind plays an important role in wellness, but it is not easy to achieve wellness while living in a crowded city, venturing out each day and maintaining a hectic schedule. To help the pandemic weary, the Korea Tourism Organization has recommended seven “wellness travel” destinations. “We
May 27, 2021
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Sobaeksan’s floral beauty in full bloom
The fragrant beauty of royal azaleas blooms around April each year. The azaleas, “cheoljjuk” in Korean, are ready to fill the gardens with a potpourri of pink and purple. The Sobaek Mountain National Park Northern Office said Thursday that royal azaleas near the Yeonhwa peak have begun to bloom. The azalea flowers are expected to be at their peak on May 29 and 30. The Sobaek Mountain Royal Azalea Festival hosted by Danyang, North Chungcheong Province, has been canceled f
May 21, 2021
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[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea
Moonlight Tour at Changdeokgung Built in 1405 as a royal residence of the Joseon era, Changdeokgung, a UNESCO World Heritage site, welcomes the summer season with nighttime visitors. The nighttime tour offers a unique opportunity to witness and experience the beauty of the palace under Seoul’s moonlight. Each tour lasts approximately 100 minutes. The tour runs through June 20, and online reservations are required. Tickets are limited to two per reservation. Information on reservatio
May 21, 2021
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New high-speed train service connects Seoul to Andong in two hours
Nearly five months into its operation, the KTX-Eum -- a high-speed train service launched by Korail in January -- is gaining popularity among travelers and commuters alike. Departing from Seoul’s Cheongnyangni Station for Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, before making its way down to Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, the train, also known as the KTX EMU-260, is the eco-friendliest in the KTX lineup. The KTX-Eum (pronounced “ee-eum”) is equipped with LTE-R technolo
May 20, 2021
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[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea
Boryeong Mud Festival The 24th Boryeong Mud Festival will be held both online and offline, under the slogan “On and Off,” from July 23 to Aug. 1. According to organizers, the hybrid festival will connect online and offline content, introducing properties and uses for the mud of Boryeong and other local specialties. Details will be released after monitoring the number of COVID-19 cases through the end of May. The festival, which takes place at Daecheon Beach in Boryeong, will fe
May 14, 2021
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[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea
Rosy spring at Everland Amusement park Everland will open its Rose Garden on May 14 for about a month, featuring some 3 million roses of 720 varieties. The flower garden will momentarily transport visitors to France, with decorations like the Saint-Germain-des-Pres district in Paris and an installation of a structure inspired by the gate at the Palace of Versailles. The amusement park will host various events at the garden, including a painting competition, gardening activities and more.&nb
May 7, 2021
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[Art on Jeju Island] Architectural charms of Jeju Island
SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island -- Though better known for its beaches and forests, Jeju Island also boasts a wide range of art galleries, some of them offering more than just a display of art works. Big name architects such as Tadao Ando and Jun Itami have designed art galleries on Jeju Island, under the architectural principle of harmonizing the structure with the surrounding environment. One example is the Yumin Art Nouveau Collection. Located on the tip of Seopjikoji, a cape on eastern Jeju Islan
May 4, 2021
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[Art on Jeju Island] Waterdrops on Jeju Island
The following is the second article in a three-part series that explores art galleries on Jeju Island. -- Ed. JEJU CITY -- Contemporary art master Kim Tschang-yeul died in January at the age of 91, but his waterdrop paintings continue to send a message at Kim Tschang-yeul Art Museum Jeju. Located in the Hallim area on the western part of Jeju Island, a 50-minute drive from Jeju International Airport, the museum dedicated to the “waterdrop master” stands on serene grassland. The
May 3, 2021
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[Art on Jeju Island] Breathing life into old downtown
The following is the first article in a three-part series that explores art galleries on Jeju Island. -- Ed. JEJU CITY, Jeju Island -- An old neighborhood near Jeju International Airport has come into the limelight, attracting young hipsters looking for an artsy experience on an island best known as a holiday destination. Tapdong, situated near the airport -- the main gateway to the island -- was once a bustling area. Tapdong Plaza, a outdoor entertainment hub for young people, opened in 1
May 2, 2021
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[Eye Plus] City meets nature at Songpa Trail
A trail spanning 21 kilometers surrounds Seoul’s eastern district of Songpa-gu, packed with nature, adventure and culture. The Songpa Trail, which opened to the public in 2019, has been serving both locals and visitors alike as a favorite spot to enjoy jogging or a leisurely walk. In recent years, the trail has managed to build its own unique ecosystem, as it is built alongside three freshwater streams that feed into the larger Han River. It is easy to spot animals en
May 1, 2021
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[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea
Yanggu Gomchwi Festival The 2021 Yanggu Gomchwi Festival will be held online from Wednesday to Saturday, in concern over the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the festival will feature online lectures, a cooking show and live commerce events, promoting gomchwi, a mountain herb that is characterized by its unique bitter, soft and savory flavor. The festival organizers will also operate a drive-thru order pickup service for visitors who would like to purchase spring gomchwi. Yell
April 30, 2021
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City of Seoul opens new hub to promote tourism industry
The Seoul metropolitan government opened a new tourism hub in the nation's capital Thursday, saying it will support the growth and development of the tourism industry. Seoul Tourism Plaza, located inside Samil Building in the central Jongno Ward, is spread across floors one and four to 11, with a tourism information center and souvenir shop on the first floor and the offices of various tourism organizations, associations and startups on the upper levels. The city government said the plaza aims
April 29, 2021
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Consumption expenditures on tourism and leisure hit hard by COVID-19
Consumption expenditures in South Korea's tourism and leisure sector decreased by more than 20 percent last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, a state-funded think tank said Monday. In particular, foreigners' spending in the domestic tourism and leisure sector plunged by nearly 80 percent and the travel industry was hit hardest among the relevant industries, the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute said. Last year, consumption expenditures in the nation's tourism and leisure industries were
April 26, 2021
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[Eye plus] Children's Grand Park reopens for festive spring
Just as spring is a season of rebirth, a 49-year-old amusement park in Seoul has also been given a new lease on life. Reopening to the public after eight months of renovation, the Children’s Grand Park located in Neung-dong, Gwangjin-gu is a popular picnic spot that has been loved by generations of Seoulites since 1973. Covering a total of 530,000 square meters, the park has a zoo, botanical garden, outdoor performance venue and many other fun attractions. The public p
April 24, 2021
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[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea
Yellow Forest in Kimcheon Kimcheon City in North Gyeongsang Province has set up a forest decorated with yellow furniture pieces and objects, named the “Yellow Forest.” The project was inspired by the Purple Island in Sinan. Two islands in the Sinan area in South Jeolla Province are blanketed in a hue of purple, with all the roofs and streets painted purple. Kimcheon City hopes to attract tourists with its new Yellow Forest. It will feature hands-on activities such as woodcraft cl
April 23, 2021
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Millennials, Gen Z set latest travel trends
Millennials and Gen Z are trend leaders in tourism amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Korea Tourism Organization. The KTO, which analyzed data from local mobile carrier KT from January 2019 to December 2020, said that different generations travel in a different manner. In 2020, the total movement rate for tourism decreased by 7.1 percent compared to the previous year, while movement in one’s own residential area increased by 3.4 percent. Generation Z, or the Zoomers, visit
April 17, 2021
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[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea
Haman Watermelon Festival The county of Haman, South Gyeongsang Province, will host the 2021 Haman Watermelon Festival online from April 23 to May 2. More than 14 percent of watermelons produced in Korea come from Haman. Though the festival is being held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be kits to help people make watermelon-inspired dishes and diverse activities related to the summer fruit. During the festival period, watermelons from the area will be sold at live commerce ev
April 16, 2021