Articles by Lee Si-jin
Lee Si-jin
sj_lee@heraldcorp.com-
Wintertime fun fill tranquil towns
POCHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- January may still be a time of hibernation for bears, snakes, frogs and others, but that is not so the case for some villages in northern areas of South Korea. Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, home to the Republic of Korea V Corps, is seldom visited by outsiders other than those visiting to see their friends, sons or brothers serving their mandatory military duty. However, things change in the winter months when this quiet locale becomes crowded with people from around
Travel Jan. 13, 2024
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[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages
Hanhwa Resort Pyeongchang presents winter sports package Hanhwa Resort Pyeongchang is offering a special all-in-one package for winter sports enthusiasts. The “Extreme Winter In Pyeongchang” package features a one-night stay and breakfast. Guests may choose a free six-hour lift ticket, a ticket to be used in a sledding park, or ski or snowboard rental. The tickets can be used at the nearby ski resort Phoenix Park in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province. The promotion offers a 55 percent dis
Travel Jan. 12, 2024
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Indoors doesn't have to mean boring
The winter may have you huddling indoors to avoid the weather, but that doesn't mean you have to narrow your horizons. To prove this, Gyeonggi Tourism Organization has announced six indoor destinations in Gyeonggi Province for travelers looking to enjoy the holidays while avoiding the cold weather. The recommended destinations include museums featuring trick art, comics, a virtual reality studio and more. Paju Heyri Trick Art Located in northwestern Gyeonggi Province, Paju Heyri Trick Art
Travel Jan. 6, 2024
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Celebrated pastry chefs to mesmerize with desserts in Seoul on Jan. 14
Park Hyatt Seoul, located in Gangnam, southern Seoul, looks to attract those with a prominent sweet tooth in a one-time, dessert-themed event at the hotel’s top floor restaurant, The Lounge, on Jan. 14. The upcoming food event, “Four Hands Dessert: A Taste of Seoul and Paris,” invites renowned chefs Kim Na-rae and Lee Ji-myung to showcase their creativity and inspiration. The event offers an eight-course dessert menu along with a glass of Champagne and a cocktail. While visitor
Food Jan. 5, 2024
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Seoul to renovate city walking trail to be more accessible, attractive
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday it will renovate the city’s footpaths, called “dullegil” in Korean, to allow more travelers to finish the complete walking trail safely. Though the total length of the trail remains the same, major changes will be made with the courses and tourism facilities. Seoul Dullegil circles the city on a 156.5-kilometer course divided into eight paths. Feeling most of the courses were too long -- averaging nearly 20 kilometers -- Seoul Met
Travel Jan. 5, 2024
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[Well-curated] Blue dragon exhibition, stationary store, immersive art show to kick off 2024
Meet Korea's blue dragons Marking the Year of Blue Dragon -- the 41st year of the sexagenary cycle -- the National Folk Museum of Korea has opened a special exhibition titled “The Blue Dragon.” As the only fictitious animal among the 12 zodiac animals, the dragon holds special meaning in Korean culture. From ancient times to the present, the dragon has been one of the most popular motifs for Korean artworks, allegories and myths. In some cases, the dragon symbolized the power an
weekender Jan. 5, 2024
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[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages
Moxy Seoul Myeongdong presents special staycation package Located in one of Seoul’s main tourist districts, Moxy Seoul Myeongdong offers the “Beauty Hunter” package to quench beauty enthusiasts’ thirst. The promotion presents an opportunity to experience Korean beauty, food and culture with a one-day stay at the hotel. Guests receive a free welcoming drink after check-in. The hotel also offers five sheet masks from vegan beauty brand Lapcos. The package includes the oppor
Culture Jan. 5, 2024
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Explore dragon-themed travel sites in Gyeongsang region
While food tours or luxury adventure vacations are surefire crowd-pleasers, exploring South Korea's many sites inspired by the mythical dragon creature will offer holidaymakers a chance to learn more about the country, its culture and history in 2024, the year of the blue dragon. Busan’s Haedong Yonggung Temple If you are looking to hit some towns in South Gyeongsang Province or pay a visit to Busan, the popular coastal town at the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, consider add
Travel Jan. 1, 2024
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Local governments up safety measures for year-end festivals
Hoping to keep New Year's festivals safe, local governments are planning to focus their efforts on crowd control at desirable travel destinations across the country which are popular for watching the first sunrise of 2024. Gangneung, a popular year-round travel destination facing out to the East Sea in Gangwon Province, has organized a special safety management team, encompassing the city’s police, firefighters and other travel-related officials to closely monitor the on-site situatio
Travel Dec. 30, 2023
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Bidding farewell to last sunset of 2023
Haenam sunset festival From Haenam, a county located in South Jeolla Province at the southernmost tip of the Korean Peninsula, to Gangneung, Gangwon Province, a popular year-round travel spot facing the East Sea, desirable travel destinations are set to entertain those who wish to bid farewell to 2023 while watching the last sunset of the year on Sunday. Haenam’s Ttangkkeut Village, visited by countless travelers hoping to watch the last sunset or catch a glimpse of the first sunrise of th
Travel Dec. 30, 2023
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[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages
Park Hyatt Seoul offers lucky bag event The Park Hyatt Seoul, located in Gangnam, southern Seoul, plans to celebrate the New Year with a total of 200 lucky bags. Each lucky bag, valued at 600,000 won, consists of a hotel room voucher and two special dining vouchers. The hotel room voucher includes an opportunity to have a one-night stay in the Park Hyatt Seoul’s premium suite room, the “Diplomatic Suite,” or a two-night stay at the Park Hyatt Bangkok for two winners. The dining
Culture Dec. 29, 2023
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Chuncheon hosts Christmastime promotions, events
The city of Chuncheon -- about a two-hour drive east of Seoul -- in Gangwon Province seeks to add to the Christmas atmosphere with special promotions and events. According to the city of Chuncheon, it will offer opportunities for visitors to enjoy Samaksan Mountain Lake Cable Car at a discount. For travelers who upload a post to social media like Instagram with Christmas-themed accessories or outfits in Christmas colors, 1 in 3 visitors will have their ticket fee waived. The event runs through C
Travel Dec. 22, 2023
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[Photo News] Everland’s favorite panda mascot
Giant Bao, a massive blown-up balloon version of Everland’s popular panda Fu Bao, has become a go-to tourist attraction in the largest theme park and zoo in South Korea. It has been a year of Fu Bao -- the first panda to be born naturally in Korea in 2020 -- for Everland as countless visitors fell in love with the panda's lovely charm and cuteness. Everland has prepared a special photo zone with the 12-meter-tall mascot at the entrance. Visitors can take pictures with other installati
Travel Dec. 22, 2023
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[Well-curated] Lantern festival, PC room and animations galore
Seoul Lantern Festival The annual Seoul Lantern Festival, held until Jan. 21, 2024, is made all the more memorable this year with the event spanning areas from Gwanghwamun Square to Seoul Plaza. The areas light up from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The lighting show, which first began in 2009, features installations and media facades, as well as on-site programs. The festival is taking place concurrently with the Gwanghwamun Flea Market, a pilot program that took off last year. The market offers not only ha
Culture Dec. 22, 2023
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[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages
Paraspara Seoul presents unique Christmas Paraspara Seoul is offering a special Christmas-themed package for visitors who check in on Christmas Eve. The “Santa Claus Coming to Bukhansan” package allows parents to leave Christmas presents they have prepared at the hotel’s front desk before checking in. Santa Claus will then later visit the guests’ rooms to deliver the gifts in person. Paraspara Seoul’s Christmas cookies are offered to children as well. The package al
Culture Dec. 22, 2023
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