KTO to publish foreign language e-book on Korean food, ingredients

Stories about popular regional cuisines, ingredients and liquors will be published in Korean and foreign languages in an e-book titled "Taste Your Korea," according to the Korea Tourism Organization. The e-book, to be published in collaboration with the leading Korean comic artist and foodie Huh Young-man, will be released by the end of the year. Huh is best known for his mega-hit comic, “Sik Gaek,” (2002-2010) and is the host of the food reality show “Huh Young-man&r

Nov. 5, 2024

Local food festivals enjoy unexpected popularity as snacks go viral

Local festivals in Korea on the theme of bunsik, Korean light meals and snacks, are enjoying unprecedented success, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors in recent weeks. Although the festivals were held in cities 2-3 hours by car from the Seoul metropolitan area, where half of the Korean population lives, some cities saw visitor numbers similar to their whole populations as the events went viral online. The 1st Gimcheon Gimbap Festival, held at Samyeongdaesa Park in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsa

Nov. 4, 2024

Klook launches rural tours for inbound tourists

Hoping to make rural travel for tourists from overseas more convenient, global travel and leisure e-commerce platform Klook is launching a new product, Klook Private Taxi Tours, on Monday. The travel platform’s real-time express bus booking and payment service -- only available for foreign tourists -- opened in January this year. Its new taxi tour promotion is set to benefit vacationers who face difficulties hiring private vehicles to access tourist destinations in rural sites off the beat

Nov. 3, 2024

Medongaule: Garden of all gardens

YANGPYEONG, Gyeonggi Province -- Gardens are a place of serenity. The Gardens of Medongaule -- formally “Les Jardins de Medongaule,” a garden complex scheduled for full opening next year -- are no exception. Even more, the sheer size of the gardens will leave you awestruck. The compound of Medongaule, meaning a valley (gaule) of bindweed (medon), spans some 200,000 square meters. That’s roughly the size of Ttukseom Hangang Park in Seoul. Medongaule is divided into two main gard

Nov. 2, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Geoje Island Flower Festival The free flower festival will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Sunday at the Geoje Agricultural Development Institute, which also serves as a theme park in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province. Over 100 different types of chrysanthemums and 250 kinds of camellias will be showcased. Artworks like paintings and photos shedding light on the region will be on exhibit as well. Check out the latest at geoje.go.kr. Pink Muhly Festival Admire the shining pink muhly g

Nov. 1, 2024

KTO names best public campgrounds of 2024

The Korea Tourism Organization unveiled a list of 20 top public campgrounds of 2024 to promote the excellence of the country’s public campsites and continue to develop sustainable camping cultures across the country. The public camping grounds were recommended by the provincial, city governments and public institutions and they were organized and evaluated in four categories -- family-friendly, pet-friendly, eco-friendly area and barrier-free. The campsites were assessed once again with th

Oct. 31, 2024

103 autumn foliage paths in Seoul

Seoul City introduced 103 streets and trails where pedestrians can enjoy the fall foliage of around 70,000 deciduous varieties, including maple, ginkgo, cherry and metasequoia trees. The list revealed last Wednesday introduces well-known fall foliage spots such as Deoksugung-gil along the wall of Seoul’s Deoksugung, Songpanaru Park around Seokchon Lake in southern Seoul and Ansan Trail in Seodaemun-gu, western Seoul, as well as routes for a brief stroll in nearby residential areas. The t

Oct. 28, 2024

[Weekender] Walk around Korea to really get to know the country

With its last course -- an 11.4-kilometer trail connecting Unification Security Park in Goseong, Gangwon Province and Goseong Unification Observatory in Goseong, Gangwon Province – having opened Sept. 23, the entire 4,500-kilometer-long Korea Dulle Trail that traces the perimeters of South Korea along the eastern, southern, western coasts and the border area of the Demilitarized Zone in the north is now open. The trail is a great way to discover and experience the country with your feet fi

Oct. 26, 2024

[Photo News] Sacheon Airshow paints autumn sky

The annual Sacheon Airshow, a major air show in the country's southern region, kicked off Thursday with an opening ceremony featuring flybys by the Air Force’s Black Eagles aerobatic team. Co-hosted by the South Korean Air Force, Sacheon city government and Korea Aerospace Industries, the four-day air show is held at an air base in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province. Spectators can enjoy the showcase of military aircraft, including demonstration flights of the homegrown KF-21 fighter

Oct. 25, 2024

GWTO promotes Goseong nature with wellness programs

Gangwon Tourism Organization presents a new wellness-themed program at Ocean to You Resort and Sampo Beach in Goseong, Gangwon Province on Nov. 16. The program features a barefoot walking session along the white sandy beaches of the eastern coast as well as yoga and meditation sessions with professional yoga instructors at the resort, according to the organization. A total of 100 participants will be able to apply for the upcoming event. Though the beachside wellness session is a one-day program

Oct. 25, 2024

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul collaborates with Lemona Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul, an urban oasis nestled on the slope of Seoul’s Namsan in central Seoul, is offering a new dessert experience in collaboration with Lemona, the country’s popular vitamin powder brand, starting from Saturday. The promotion “Weekend Table” features brunch dishes including Burrata cheese salad, arugula-themed focaccia, lobster Cacciucco and more. Guests can enjoy lemon-flavored welcome

Oct. 25, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Fall colors at Beartree Park Hiking trails and a scenic route that meanders through Beartree Park in Sejong City will be rewarding for those seeking fall foliage. Jazz performances will take place at the Autumn Festival, which will run through Nov. 10 at the park from 9 a.m. to sunset. Admission for adults is 13,000 won ($9.43). Pets and food are banned. For more information, visit beartreepark.com. Iksan in blossom Through Sunday, the Iksan Ten Million Blossom of Chrysanthemum Festiva

Oct. 25, 2024

Korean travelers seen to prefer short-distance trips for 2025

South Korean holidaymakers will be interested in traveling to less-visited destinations in Asia next year, according to Skyscanner, a UK-based online flight, hotels, car hire options search engine. The trend forecast was based on the company's tourism data, analysis by industry experts and a survey of 1,000 South Korean holidaymakers, said Brendan Walsh, Skyscanner's head of commercial, at Travel Trend 2025 held at Music Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, Oct. 15. “We exp

Oct. 24, 2024

Quiet Blue House neighborhoods become tourist destinations

Hoping to promote the neighborhood near the Blue House -- the former presidential office known as Cheong Wa Dae -- to tourists, the Culture Ministry and the Korea Tourism Organization are jointly running a travel campaign entitled “2024 Around Cheongwa” until Dec. 30. Featuring Cheongwadae Sarangchae, “2024 Around Cheongwa” will offer various programs ranging from history lessons and a stamp tour to trekking. Cheongwadae Sarangchae is the former meeting spot for Blue Hous

Oct. 24, 2024

[Photo News] Hanok Experience

Foreign envoys, CEOs and their family members pose for a photo during a weekend program at the Hanok Heritage House in Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon Province. Front row from left: Tourist guide Park So-young, Ignacio Montojo Salazar, husband of EU Ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez; the ambassador; New Zealand Ambassador to Korea Dawn Bennet; Renault Korea CEO Stephane Deblaise and his wife Marie Deblaise; Fernandez's friends; Italian Ambassador Emilia Gatto and Yoon Kyung-hae, the advise

Oct. 22, 2024

Feel the autumn at Seoul Silver Grass Festival

The Seoul Silver Grass Festival is taking place at World Cup Park in Mapo-gu, western Seoul until Friday. The 23rd edition of the annual festival opened on Saturday, running through Friday, according to Seoul City. The festival, themed "Silver Grass Embraces the Wind, Wish and Dream,” offers views of the park's shining silver grass waving in the autumn breeze and a chance to take part in other events. The city is holding a light show at the park, visualizing the wind blowing thro

Oct. 22, 2024

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

Korail offers discounts for train travel in November

State rail operator Korea Railroad Corp. announced that large-scale discounts on the country’s major tourist trains will be offered in November. In collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization's Travel Month campaign -- a promotion to encourage local tourism with discounts on public transportation -- Korail hopes to meet the public demand for travel. Discounts of up to 50 percent will be offered for South Korea’s five major to

Oct. 19, 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