Most Popular
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Korea’s homegrown nanosatellite successfully launches into space
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Ador CEO denies allegations, accuses Hybe of mistreating NewJeans
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[Herald Interview] 'Amid aging population, Korea to invite more young professionals from overseas'
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Nicaragua shuts down Seoul embassy
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Hybe's multilabel system tested amid conflict with Ador
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Medical reform committee kicks off despite boycott from doctors
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SNU profs to suspend treatment for one day
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Rocket engine expert, ex-NASA exec to lead Korea's new space agency
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Over-50s, men, single-person households take up majority of those filing for bankruptcy
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SK hynix pledges W20tr to ramp up DRAM production at home
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Sokcho City aims to attract tourists from around the globe
Sokcho, a city of about 81,000 residents located in the eastern part of Gangwon Province along the east coast of South Korea, is getting very popular as a tourist destination with millions of visitors every year. Although small in size, its splendors and fun-packed tourist sights are more than enough reasons to fall in love with the city. Many also visit the place in hopes for reunification since it is closer to the heavily fortified border with North Korea. This did not just happen overnig
March 10, 2020
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Coronavirus takes big toll on tourism
As the entire nation struggles with the ongoing spread of COVID-19, the tourism industry -- both inbound and outbound -- has been one of the hardest hit by the virus outbreak. More than 100 countries around the world are restricting the entry of all travelers from Korea, as of Monday, pushing outbound travel agencies to the brink. Hana Tour and Modu Tour, Korea’s top two outbound travel agencies, have reported major losses in sales due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Hana Tour sent 49,000
March 9, 2020
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[Travel Bits] Festivals and sights across Korea
Garden of Morning Calm Spring Festival The Garden of Morning Calm, situated in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, is one of Korea‘s major botanical gardens. Established to promote the beauty of Korean flowers and plants and to develop the local gardening culture, the botanical site attracts about 700,000 visitors each year. During the Spring Festival period, the Garden of Morning Calm is covered with a rich tapestry of color from thousands of flowers and trees in full bloom. In addition, t
March 6, 2020
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[Travel Bits] Festivals and sights across Korea
Seokchonhosu Lake Cherry Blossom Festival The annual Seokchonhosu Lake Cherry Blossom Festival will take place April 3-12 this year. Seokchon Lake in southeastern Seoul is recognized for beautiful cherry blossom trees surrounding the lake. In addition to the sights, a variety of performances, exhibitions, and hands-on activities will also take place during the festival period. The lake is easy to approach by public transportation, situated at about 200-meter distance from Jamsil Station. F
Feb. 28, 2020
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Visiting the southernmost end of Korea
HAENAM, South Jeolla Province -- Most Koreans have heard of Haenam county’s Ttangkkeut (end of land) Village, the southernmost end of the Korean Peninsula. Many visit the village on Dec. 31 to watch the last sunset or first sunrise of the year. But there is more to Haenam than that yearly ritual. It offers beautiful mountain landscapes and delicacies of Jeolla Province, making the more than four-hour drive from Seoul worthwhile. Plain yet sacred Buddhism beauty Mihwangsa is hi
Feb. 28, 2020
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[Travel Bits] Festivals and sights across Korea
Gurye Sansuyu Festival The Gurye Sansuyu Festival, an annual spring flower festival, runs March 14-22 in the Jirisan hot springs area. Major attractions include an exhibition of local products made with “sansuyu” (cornus fruit) as well as fireworks and traditional music and dance. Admission is free, and the festival is open to visitors of all ages. For more information in Korean, English, Japanese or Chinese, visit www.gurye.go.kr. Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival The Jindo
Feb. 21, 2020
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Culture Ministry to inject W50b toward loans for tourism businesses hit by COVID-19 outbreak
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Monday announced that it will inject 50 billion won ($42.3 million) to provide loans without collateral to small and medium-sized companies involved in tourism, following the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. “We hope that providing prompt and practical emergency financial assistance will help those suffering in the tourism industry due to the spread of COVID-19 recover and revitalize management fast,” ministry official Choi Jae-won sai
Feb. 17, 2020
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[Travel Bits] Festivals and sights across Korea
Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival The Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival will be held April 8-11. The island in South Jeolla Province is known for its indigenous Jindo dogs. The Jindo Miracle Sea Road is a 40-meter-wide, 2.8-kilometer-long path connecting two separate islands. It only appears for approximately an hour during extremely low tides. Open to visitors of all ages, the festival draws over 500,000 visitors every year. Admission is free. For more information in Korean, English, Japan
Feb. 14, 2020
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[Newsmaker] 1339 coronavirus hotline short of counselors to help foreigners
Foreign language speakers seeking assistance with their queries on the novel coronavirus are finding it difficult to get help through Korea Centers for Disease Control’s hotline 1339. Korea Tourism Organization announced on Thursday that people who need advice in foreign languages could call 1339 and press 4, which would connect them to a three-way call service with interpreters to accommodate callers who do not speak Korean. The service is available in eight languages, including Englis
Feb. 7, 2020
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[Travel Bits] Festivals and sights across Korea
Taean Tulip Festival Taean Tulip Festival is a picturesque event for both local residents and tourists alike with beautiful and vibrant tulips in full bloom. The festival venue is divided into multiple sections, which are decorated in different themes, allowing visitors to enjoy the sight of colorful tulips against creative and fun backdrops. The festival runs from April 14 to May 11 at the Korea Flower Park in Taean-gun, South Chungcheong Province. The event is open to visitors of all ages.
Feb. 7, 2020
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Uljin’s winter delicacies
ULJIN, North Gyeongsang Province -- Though the east coast is a favorite summer destination for many, Uljin may not be foremost on the minds of holidaymakers. A three-hour drive from Seoul, Uljin is a quiet harbor community that too often stands in the shadow of the popular tourist towns Gangneung and Sokcho. Old shops and dockyards line the streets, giving Uljin a retro vibe. Though it may lack the sparkle of its better-known neighbors, Uljin -- with its hot springs and forests -- is a go-t
Feb. 7, 2020
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[Travel Bits] Festivals and sights across Korea
20 for 2020 at Everland Everland theme park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, is to hold the “Hello My Twenties” event to celebrate the year 2020. In Korea, the number 20 symbolizes the beginning of adulthood, as students enroll in universities when they turn 20 by the Korean age system. The “Hello My Twenties” event aims to congratulate and encourage those who have just turned 20 and to remind those who are older of their 20s. Visitors can record special moments at a
Jan. 31, 2020
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5 cities to get nearly W16b for tourism development in 2020
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Tuesday announced five cities across the country will be developed into tourism hubs. “Five cities were picked based on their potential. We will inject around 15.9 billion won ($13.51 million) in total this year,” Culture Minister Park Yang-woo said during a press conference in Seoul. The move is aimed at promoting destinations outside of Seoul, which currently attracts the vast majority of overseas tourists. Busan, picked as a glob
Jan. 28, 2020
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[Travel Bits] Festivals and sights across Korea
Inje Icefish FestivalInje Icefish Festival, officially launched in 1997, offers a true winter experience with icefish fishing.The festival takes place at Bingeoho Lake in Gangwon Province. Admission is free but additional fees may apply depending on the program. For more information in Korean, English, Japanese or Chinese, call the travel hotline at 1330. The homepage (www.injefestival.co.kr) is in Korean only. Herb Island Lighting Festival The Herb Island Lighting Festival creates a romant
Jan. 23, 2020
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Hongcheon Ice Fishing Festival faces cold shoulder
HONGCHEON, Gangwon Province -- The opening day of the Hongcheon Ice Fishing Festival on Jan. 10 was marked by tourists pouring out of shuttle buses, clad in thick down jackets and gloves, to find the sun beaming down on an unfrozen river.The river is usually completely frozen over by this time in January, offering punters the chance to catch local trout from holes drilled into the river. But not a sliver of ice was to be found on the opening day of the festival, which last year welcomed approxim
Jan. 17, 2020
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[Travel Bits] Festivals and sights across Korea
Herb Island Lighting Festival The Herb Island Lighting Festival creates a romantic ambiance with beautiful lighting displays. Visitors can enjoy the pink wish tunnel, sparkling buildings, the Santa Village, a photo zone and other twinkling places.It is open to visitors of all ages, and admission costs 9,000 won. Children, senior citizens, people with disabilities and groups of 20 or more get in for 7,000 won per person. The festival runs through April 30.For more information in Korean, English o
Jan. 17, 2020
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[Travel Bits] Festivals and sights across Korea
E-World Starlight Festival (1) The E-World Starlight Festival in Daegu features 10 million lights in a large area around E-World and 83 Tower. Hot air balloons, illuminated roses and mask light decorations are all part of this carnival-like festival. Large trees are decorated along the 200-meter Light Road, as well as the Umbrella Road, Carnival Road and a photo zone with 1,000 lights. Some 10,000 light-emitting diode roses cover the “proposal stairs.”The festival runs until March 1.
Jan. 10, 2020
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[Travel Bits] Festivals and sights across Korea
Little Prince Starlight Festival of Petite France (1)The sixth Little Prince Starlight Festival of Petite France will be held at the Petite France Park in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, until Feb. 29. The annual festival is inspired by the southern French town of Montpellier. In addition to beautiful lighting at night, another highlight is the 30-meter light tunnel installed next to a round structure modeled after asteroid B 612, home of the Little Prince from Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s book
Jan. 3, 2020
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Hwacheon ice-fishing festival opening delayed
Organizers of a world-famous ice fishing festival on Thursday decided to delay its opening to Jan. 11 from the originally announced Jan. 4 due to safety issues.On Wednesday, the organizers -- local government of Hwacheon and Nara Foundation -- tested the ice condition of Hwacheon River, where the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival’s signature program that allows visitors to catch sancheoneo -- a species of trout known to live only in very clean freshwater-- takes place. “We normally c
Dec. 27, 2019
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Places to reflect on 2019, make New Year’s wishes for 2020
Making wishes while watching the first sunrise of the new year is considered a special event for many Koreans, who believe the practice will bring them luck in the year ahead. Rising before dawn on New Year’s Day is difficult, but watching the beautiful sunrise is worth the effort. Similarly, some people enjoy watching the sunset on the last day of the year, reflecting on the passing year. Here are some of the best spots for catching the sunset or sunrise in Seoul, and around the country.H
Dec. 25, 2019