Relaxing fall foliage trips, popular autumn getaways in Seoul

From mountaineering to rail biking, Seoul and the surrounding cities offer a wide array of exciting opportunities to take in the flaming reds, dazzling yellows and brilliant orange hues this autumn season. But, if you want to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage and atmosphere without traveling too far, head to some of Seoul’s popular autumn getaways near subway stations that are easily accessible. Haneul Park in Mapo-gu Haneul Park, one of the five parks of World Cup Park, is a popular spot

Oct. 19, 2024

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Legoland Korea Resort unveils new seasonal program Legoland Korea Resort in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, presents a new hands-on activity this autumn until Nov. 10. Children can participate in the pumkin-making contest at Bricktopia's Build & Test, where they can get creative with thousands of yellow- and orange-colored bricks. The contest takes place every day from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The winning work will be put on display and named “The Best Pumpkin,” and the winner will

Oct. 18, 2024

Korean Series live viewing party to be held at Kimdaejung Convention Center

The Gwangju Tourism Organization has announced that an outdoor viewing party and cheering event will be held at Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju for the first five games of the 2024 Korean Series. The local tourism agency is hosting the event in collaboration with the hometown Kia Tigers to give baseball fans the chance to cheer for their team in the Korean Series from afar, from Monday. A megasized LED TV will be set up at the plaza at the convention center to screen the games. Spectator

Oct. 18, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Hangang River Festival Outdoor enthusiasts should check out the Hangang River Festival, running through Sunday at Yeouido, Banpo and Ttukseom Hangang Parks. Kayaking and river cruises as well as fireworks are some of the highlights, in addition to music performances. For more information, go to festival.seoul.go.kr/hangang. Gyeonggi Ceramic Biennale Mark your calendar for the 2024 Gyeonggi Ceramic Biennale in Icheon, a city in Gyeonggi Province known for ceramics. Through Sunday, 26 ar

Oct. 18, 2024

‘Hanok hotels offer more than a one-night stay’

Butler.Lee CEO Lee Dong-woo shares possibilities and challenges in managing hanok hotels Since his decision to start a part-time job at a local guest house in the bustling neighborhood of Hongdae as a university student in 2017, Lee Dong-woo -- CEO of the hanok stay platform Butler.Lee -- knew that

Oct. 16, 2024

'Intoxicating' trips to toast the autumn season

Korea's regional beers, wines and liquors are still working to build awareness in the local and global markets, but for the curious, there are some highly recommended places you can go to experience the making of Korean alcoholic beverages -- from local craft beer to “makgeolli,” or Korean rice wine -- and try some samples. The Korea Tourism Organization recommends five destinations outside of Seoul that might pique the interest of those in search of a local tipple. MontBeer i

Oct. 12, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Fall blooms in Jangseong Check out fall flowers -- everything from cosmos to sunflowers, verbenas to zinnias -- all in their full glory in Jangseong-gun, South Jeolla Province. For the past nine years, the Jangseong Hwangryong River Fall Flower Festival has been one of the major local attractions. The festival, which saw over 60,000 visitors on its first day, runs for nine days through Sunday. For more details, visit jangseong.go.kr. Gimpo Laveniche Festival This year’s Gimpo Lav

Oct. 11, 2024

[Photo News] Dive into Pocheon’s silver grass

The 27th Pocheon Silver Grass Festival will take place at Myeongseongsan’s silver grass colony and in areas surrounding Sanjeong Lake in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, from Saturday to Oct. 27. The annual festival, the city’s representative autumn event, features diverse cultural programs, including concerts, stamp tours, a quiz show, flower exhibitions and photo zones in the silver grass fields. Holidaymakers can explore the seemingly unending 150,000-square-meter grass field and take

Oct. 11, 2024

Local food festivals beckon tourists with ‘Culinary Class Wars’ chefs

Local food festivals, which usually take visitors on a gastronomic journey with an array of savory dishes, this year offer an additional feast for participants’ eyes -- live performances from the chefs of “Culinary Class Wars." “Culinary Class Wars” is Netflix’s latest hit cooking reality show, where the country’s top chefs and local restaurant owners are divided into two teams to compete in multiple elimination rounds. Chefs Jung Ji-sun, one of the show&

Oct. 11, 2024

Are any Han Kang works coming to the big screen?

Renewed interest has emerged in potential film adaptations of Han Kang's works, after she became the first Korean author to receive the prestigious Nobel Prize in literature. However, experts suggest that one of the most anticipated adaptations, "Human Acts," may face significant challenges in its transition to film. To date, there have been two film adaptations of Han's works. The film adaptation of Han's International Booker Award-winning novel "The Vegetarian,&qu

Oct. 11, 2024

Travel agencies rush fall tourism products as fall foliage expected to arrive early

With the country experiencing chilly fall weather in recent days, peak fall foliage will arrive a little earlier than last year. According to WeatherI -- a Korea Meteorological Administration-associated weather forecasting company -- the first autumn leaves were spotted at Seoraksan, one of the highest mountains on the Korean Peninsula, spanning over multiple cities and counties in Gangwon Province, on Sept. 29, two days ahead of 2023. The weather company added that the country’s central r

Oct. 7, 2024

Take your dog to a festival this October

From outdoor book festivals to fireworks and flower exhibitions, a wide range of festivals are set to entertain visitors wanting to savor the cooler weather while taking in the autumn atmosphere with friends and family. Ganak-gu and Gangnam-gu -- two districts located in southern Seoul -- plan not to leave furry friends and their owners out of the fun. Nakseongdae Park will become a small theme park for pet dogs where they can enjoy various activities. Dogs and their owners can build precious me

Oct. 5, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Nighttime view of Gongsanseong A nighttime stroll around the storied Gongsanseong is perfect for those wanting a leisurely walk that is also enlightening. The fortress in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, will be lit up between 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. through Oct. 10. Installations will also give a glimpse into the Baekje Kingdom (18 BC to 660 AD). Visit ggm-art.kr. Wild chrysanthemums Check out a wide variety of chrysanthemums in full bloom at the Garden of Morning Calm in Gapyeong, G

Oct. 4, 2024

Social media era creates more challenges for pastry chefs

Julien Perrinet, Hyatt’s executive pastry chef for the Asia Pacific region based at the Park Hyatt Tokyo, aims to offer a stunning gastronomic experience to those with a sweet tooth at an upcoming chefs’ collaboration between Park Hyatt Seoul and Park Hyatt Tokyo. The French-born Perrinet, 42, has h

Oct. 3, 2024

Digital tour card has Yeongdong energized with young travelers

YEONGDONG, North Chungcheong Province -- Travelers choosing to explore Korea outside the Greater Seoul area -- consisting of Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province -- often head to well-known tourist destinations such as Busan, Daegu, Gyeongju and Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. Small counties and towns, like Yeongdong, a county located in the southern part of North Chungcheong Province, do not typically make it to the list of must-visits. However, the introduction of the Digital Tour ID Card -- a

Sept. 28, 2024