Vacationing at home with Hawaiian shirts, ice-cold beer, Olympics live on TV offers virus-free, low-cost summer break

Eumseong Pumba Festival The Eumseong Pumba Festival will take place in Eumseong-gun, North Chungcheong Province, running for four days starting Oct. 21 at Seolseong Park. The origin of the festival is connected to the songs of street singers when strolling around the marketplaces to look out for anything they could get. Performers here do not beg for food and money, but they will sing at the event. The event features various programs, including the Pumba street parade and National Pumba King

Though summer travel abroad has become more difficult with strict travel restrictions and quarantine measures implemented around the world amid the pandemic, Jeongokhang Marina Port, located in Seosin-myeon of Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, quenches the thirst of travel bugs, presenting an exotic sunset while white yachts are moored in the port.  The Jeongok port, the first marina in or around the capital area, opened in 2009, and has hosted various international marine sports events, includ

The sky in Seoul was graced by a double rainbow at early night on July 19 in Seoul. This picture was taken from the rooftop of the Korea Meteorological Administration.  The rainbow in the indigo sky mesmerized Seoulites on their way home from work.   People jog against the backdrop of the double rainbow near Mangwon in western Seoul.  The double rainbow is reflected in a puddle in Seoul in the image. The double rainbow arches over two statues called Dol hareubang, at a pa

Boryeong Mud Festival The Boryeong Mud Festival takes place at Daecheon Beach in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province. With its slogan “On and Off,” the festival will be held both online and offline from July 23 to Aug. 1. The event is one of South Korea’s best-known festivals, attracting the largest number of international visitors to the beach. Visitors can enjoy the hybrid festival through various activities and programs. This year’s festival will feature 62 events on

An area rich in history and culture, the hill street of Ahyeon-dong has one of 10 walking paths that Seoul’s western district of Mapo is promoting to visitors. The district has set up multiple signposts marking notable sights along the paths.  The course begins at Ahyeon Market, near Ahyeon Station on Subway Line No. 2, Exit No. 4. Since the market opened in 1930, it has embodied a typical Korean traditional street market.  On a corner along the hill street, Doijissal Supermark

Zinnia blossoms are capturing the hearts of visitors at the historic site in Aewol-eup on Jeju Island where 13th-century Korean resistance fighters struggled as hard as they could against Mongolian invaders. Though they were ultimately defeated, the Koreans never gave up. 　 Zinnia elegans, well known for their colorful red, pink and orange flowers, start blooming between June and October. The Korean name of the plant, “baek-il hong,” refers to red flowers that stay in bloom for 100

Four years since the hotel’s opening, Ananti Hilton Busan’s General Manager Peer Norsell shares thoughts on the essence of hotels

The monsoon season is just around the corner, but the cool summer breeze awaits at the waterfront of Namyangju Water Garden.  Located near Ungilsan Station in front of Bukhan River, the nature-friendly garden can be seen at the southern part of Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. Daisy fleabanes that bloom from June, also known as “fried egg flowers” due to their shape and color, wave at passersby, announcing the arrival of summer.  Namyangju Water Garden was created as an ec

Places of learning offer a unique experience in a natural setting

Ddareungi is Seoul city’s public rental bike service, which you can use across the city. You can download the Seoul Bike app on your phone then register or log in with Naver, Facebook or a Kakao account. The app is available in both Korean and English. You can select “Buy Pass” and select the plan that fits you -- one-time, weekly, monthly and annual pass. There are one or two-hour rentals for each time you check out a bike. A one-time pass for one hour costs 1,000 won ($0.88)

Gimje Horizon Festival The Gimje Horizon Festival takes place in front of the Byeokgoljae Reservoir in Gimje, North Jeolla Province. Themed “sky and land meeting at the horizon,” the festival aims to showcase the uniqueness of South Korea’s farming culture. A variety of programs are available for festivalgoers, including dragon games, rice harvesting, a Black Eagle air show and a parade. This year’s festival will be held online from Sept. 29 to Oct. 3. More information

The deep blue sea stretching beyond the horizon combined with the sight of palm trees makes a splendid summer view.  Beaches on Jeju Island officially opened on July 1. Summer vacationers enjoy swimming at Hamdeok Beach in Jocheon-eup.  A huge banner requests visitors to comply with the safety rules at Woljeong Beach in Gujwa-eup. (Photos: Yonhap)

Geumsan Insam Festival Geumsan Insam Festival is held annually since 1981 in Geumsan-gun, South Chungcheong Province, and is the largest ginseng-producing region in South Korea. Growing both in content and in size, the festival was selected as a cultural tourism festival by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Sports in 1996, and became established as a national festival. This year’s festival will run from Oct. 1-10. Visitors can try their hand at digging up ginseng, and tour around int

Over 2,000 buyers from 40 countries to participate at exposition to consult with South Korea’s leading travel agencies, airlines, medical institutions