Festivals, sights across Korea

DDP Design Market Check out the latest Christmas-themed handcrafts at Dongdaemun Design Plaza’s Design Market through Dec. 25. Interactive programs like book talks are available, while giant installations around the compound make for perfect holiday photo opportunities. The market will be open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., starting two hours earlier on weekends. To find out more about the festival, go to english.visitkorea.or.kr. Hampyeong Winter Festival A winter festival is running in Hampyeong Coun

Dec. 22, 2024

Santa, crowds are coming to Gwanghwamun

As Christmas draws near, Seoul is gearing up for one of its busiest holiday seasons. If you’re planning to head out, brace yourself -- last year’s data shows the Gwanghwamun area was especially packed on Christmas Eve. According to Seoul City, this year looks no different. Last year on Dec. 24 at 7 p.m., Gwanghwamun and Jonggak -- part of the Jongno 1-4-ga-dong district -- saw 86,682 people in the streets, making it the busiest spot in the city. These numbers come from Seoul City’s big data plat

Dec. 22, 2024

Popular year-end destinations offer wintry vibe

Year-end is a time for merrymaking and travel to wintry destinations that bring the year to a close on a high note. This month, the Korea Tourism Organization, the state tourism agency, has recommended four spots to explore before the year runs out. French, Italian villages in Gapyeong Open since 2008, Petite France is a village in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, mirroring a typical French countryside landscape. The theme park, inspired by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupery of “The Little Princ

Dec. 21, 2024

Seoul Facilities Corporation to host ‘Winter Land’ festival

Seoul Facilities Corporation kindles the Christmas spirit with the “Winter Land” festival at Seoul Children’s Grand Park in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. The festival, running from Saturday through Dec. 25, features a range of attractions, including a festive Christmas market, winter activities and themed photo zones. “We will expand various cultural and leisure programs that enhance the quality of life, striving to make the Seoul Children’s Grand Park a comfortable and attra

Dec. 20, 2024

Korea Tourism Organization pitches tech tourism

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) is ramping up technology-driven initiatives to support tourism companies grappling with persistent labor shortages, a key challenge since the post-pandemic recovery began in early 2023. Kwon Jong-sool, executive director of the KTO’s company support division, sai

Dec. 17, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Gwanghwamun Square market At Gwanghwamun Square through Jan. 5, craft shops and food stalls will be open for year-end celebrations. Open from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., starting and ending 30 minutes later from Friday to Sunday, the market festival in its third year hosts over 100 mom-and-pop shops and

Dec. 13, 2024

Culture minister vows to ensure travelers' safety amid martial law turmoil

South Korea's culture minister vowed Monday to make efforts to ensure the safety of travelers to address concerns over the ongoing political turmoil over the botched martial law declaration by President Yoon Suk Yeol last week. Culture Minister Yu In-chon said "The government will do its utmost for the safety and convenience of all visitors (to the country)" during the South Korea-Japan tourism business forum held in Seoul. Vice Culture Minister Jang Mi-ran also said South Koreans

Dec. 9, 2024

KTO brings global payment apps to local markets for tourists

The Korea Tourism Organization has launched a project in partnership with overseas payment services -- including WeChat Pay, Alipay and UnionPay -- to make it easier for foreign visitors to make purchases at local small businesses and traditional markets using their smartphones. According to the KTO, it has teamed up with the Korea Easy Payment Foundation to enable tourists to pay by QR code -- a method commonly used by Koreans at traditional markets and tourist sites as an alternative to cash -

Dec. 3, 2024

Korail presents new train trip for Korean ‘jang’ experience

Korail Tourism Development, a subsidiary of Korea Railroad Corp., is offering a two-day train trip to experience the country’s “jang” culture, the traditional Korean methods of making fermented pastes and sauces, from Dec. 13 to 14. Developed in collaboration with the Korean Food Promotion Institute and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, this one-time train trip will bring tourists to Damyang and Sunchang, North Jeolla Province -- two iconic locations in South

Dec. 2, 2024

Escape winter chill in the comfort of private listening room, cinema

As the cold settles in with daytime temperatures dropping down below 5 degrees Celsius across the country, many may be crossing last-minute fall foliage appreciation off their to-do lists to be replaced with cozier indoor options. From unique cafes to large shopping complexes and the latest pop-up stores, Seoul has an abundance of indoor entertainment for spending time with friends and family. Those in search of a calmer atmosphere or hoping to avoid crowds might enjoy the comfort and privacy of

Nov. 30, 2024

October foreign visitors jump 30 percent on-year

Korea welcomed 30.1 percent more foreign visitors this October compared to the same month last year, nearly matching pre-pandemic levels of 2019. The state-run Korea Tourism Organization reported Friday that 1,690,263 tourists visited Korea in October 2024, reaching 97 percent of the October 2019 figures. Most markets saw strong growth compared to last year. Chinese visitors led the charge with a 57.2 percent increase, while Taiwan and the Philippines each recorded 35.6 percent growth. Japanese

Nov. 29, 2024

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Four Seasons Hotel Seoul collaborates with Hublot The Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, located in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, is offering a new artistic gastronomy experience in collaboration with Swiss premium watchmaker Hublot until Jan. 14, 2025. Inspired by Hublot’s philosophy “Art of Fusion,” flower artist Nicolai Bergmann presents his floral creations in the hotel lobby, featuring preserved white carnations and hydrangeas. The hotel’s Charles H. bar will offer two Hublot-ins

Nov. 29, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

10,000 mums at Hallim Park Hallim Park on Jeju Island, known for showcasing different flower varieties each month, is highlighting over 10,000 chrysanthemums of 50 types for November. Available at the park, open everyday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., are flower beds and smaller gardens with ponds and hiking trails. A shuttle covers major stops on the ground. Admission is 15,000 won for adults. Visit hallimpark.com. All-in-one park in Paju First Garden Park in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, offer

Nov. 29, 2024

Hikers thrilled by early winter mountainscape

With the major November snowstorm, students, workers and drivers might have started the day with a frown while walking on the icy roads, waiting for delayed public transportation and unexpectedly hit by snow falling from trees and buildings. However, passionate hikers may feel somewhat differently. “I never expected to bring out my winter mountain gear this early,” Hong Young-sik, a Guro-gu resident in his 70s, who visited Gwanaksan told The Korea Herald on Thursday. Though Hong knew

Nov. 28, 2024

Maisan trails among popular destinations to close for winter

After an unusually warm fall season, the first snow of the winter arrived in most parts of the country Wednesday. With the arrival of winter, many of South Korea's popular tourist destinations are scheduled to go on a long winter break, closing down for the season. Jinan, a rural county in North Jeolla Province, announced Tuesday the closure of the mountain trail for its iconic Maisan starting Wednesday. The 600-meter-long walking trail that stretches from Guardians Gate to Ammai Peak and t

Nov. 27, 2024