With the Turkish lira at an all-time low, the number of tourists visiting Turkey has increased, according to the Korean branch of the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office. One Turkish lira was worth 470 won in December 2014 compared to 800 won in 2010 due to the continuing fall in oil price and the fall of the Russian ruble.

Turkey is the sixth most popular tourist destination in the world with more than 37 million tourists in 2013. The country saw an increase in Korean tourists, from 187,000 in 2013 to 250,000 in 2014.

Direct flights are available from Seoul to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. The popular attractions for Koreans include the historic Grand Bazaar, built in 1455, and Hagia Sophia.

(wylee@heraldcorp.com)