Deoksugung palace tours to open next week

Free guided tours of palace buildings at Deoksugung, one of Seoul’s main palaces, will run from March 22-28, with reservations set to open from Friday. According to the Cultural Heritage Administration on Wednesday, each tour will take up to 90 minutes and take place twice a day at 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. -- with fifteen applicants who have booked a tour at royal.cha.go.kr. Major stops include Seogeodang, a two-story building that was rebuilt after being burned down in 1904. King Seonjo had

March 13, 2024

[From the Scene] Early birds win at plum blossom festival

GWANGYANG, South Jeolla Province -- If you are considering celebrating the arrival of spring at Gwangyang Plum Blossom Festival, one of South Korea’s most favored spring flower events, be ready to be at the festival site by 7 a.m. The 10-day flower festival kicked off March 8 at Gwangyang, a county located some 330 kilometers south of Seoul. Early birds will be able to enjoy the beautiful spring flowers to the fullest in a pleasant environment. Visitors exploring different areas of Gwang

March 11, 2024

Haman Nakhwa Festival taking online reservations

Haman, South Gyeongsang Province, on Thursday announced that online reservations will be required to attend the annual Haman Nakhwa Festival this year. This is the first time online reservations are being taken since the festival's launch in 1985, with reservations available for 16,000 spectators to enjoy the event this year. The county decided to hold two separate Nakhwa Festival events on May 14 and 15, each with 8,000 visitors, in consideration of visitor safety and the size of the venue

March 9, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Spring blooms at Everland A walk on trails lined with spring flowers -- 11 different types of plum blossoms -- is a sure sign that spring has arrived. At the Sky Garden in Everland, South Korea’s largest theme park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, a 5,000-won ticket is all it takes to enjoy the harbingers of spring. Ticket holders can also enter the nearby Hoam Museum of Art at a 50 percent discount and also save on admission to the amusement park. The trails will be open from March 15-26

March 8, 2024

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

WE Hotel offers new spring-themed program WE Hotel, a premium health resort located in Seogwipo, southern Jeju Island, is offering a new program for the upcoming spring season from March 15 to April 15. “Walk Under Cherry Blossom” presents visitors the chance for a one-night stay in a superior room, free breakfast buffet, cherry blossom tea with the Korean honey snack yakgwa as well as a wellness program for two guests. Visitors can make their choice from a total of four wellness pro

March 8, 2024

[Drama Tour] Explore Jeju Island as shown in rom-com series 'Welcome to Samdal-ri'

Jeju Island, an 80-minute flight from Seoul, is a go-to destination for many local and overseas holidaymakers, beckoning with its unique culture and activities, from Jeju horseback riding to tangerine picking and "haenyeo," among many others. Haenyeo are women divers who harvest marine products from the seabed for a living. But, Korea’s southernmost island is looking to expand its touristic reach by promoting iconic spots featured in the popular 16-part rom-com series “Welc

March 7, 2024

Korail Tourism Development presents cheap day trips via train

Korail Tourism Development, a subsidiary of the Korea Railroad Corp., is offering large-scale discounts on train travel in March. Korail Tourism Development has launched “Train Trip in March” (unofficial translation), a program that includes an opportunity to experience a day trip to provincial areas. The cost is 30,000 won ($22.42) per person. According to the agency, “Train Trip in March” will be available for 1,700 people who will be chosen in a raffle. Applications fo

March 5, 2024

Danyang's new, old indoor tourist attractions beckon family travelers

DANYANG, North Chungcheong Province -- Danyang, home to multiple outdoor activities and renowned historical sites, like Dodamsambong Peaks, three stone peaks rising out of the Namhan River, is starting to draw more traveling families with its unique indoor spots as well. The augmented reality-themed tourist attraction Pops World Dajagu Halmine is a place that has appealed especially to young visitors since its opening in August 2023. Pops World Dajagu Halmine, a four to five-minute ride from the

March 2, 2024

South Jeolla vows to hold eco-friendly festivals

The South Jeolla Provincial Government on Thursday announced that its 22 local festivals will be held without using any disposable products. Local festivals, each from South Jeolla Province’s 22 cities and counties, will become eco-friendly, according to a provincial government official. Though the festival venues and food trucks freely used disposable products without separate regulations in 2023, host cities and counties will create guidelines for stores and businesses to provide reusabl

March 1, 2024

Gyeongju wins at IEFA 2024 Pinnacle Awards

Gyeongju, an iconic tourist destination in the southeast of Korea, clinched the prize for best world heritage city and festival at the 2024 Pinnacle Awards and Asia Festival City Conference held in Thailand on Thursday. The Pinnacle Awards is a tourism industry event that celebrates different cities’ tourism excellence across the globe. The Asia Festival City Conference is an annual meeting dedicated to creating quality Asian festivals to beckon overseas travelers from different regions. G

March 1, 2024

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Grand Hyatt Seoul unveils 'Spring Citrus Afternoon Tea' Grand Hyatt Seoul, located in Yongsan, central Seoul, runs its spring food promotion at The Gallery, from Friday to May 31. The promotion includes a variety of mini cakes featuring seasonal fruits such as oranges, lemons and grapefruits, as well as The Gallery’s charcuterie and savories. Strawberry mojitos and rosemary sparkling drinks will be offered as well. “Spring Citrus Afternoon Tea” will be available from

March 1, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Japanese Cornelian cherry blossom trails in Gurye Cornelian cherry dogwood, one of the first trees to flower in spring, beckons tourists to cherry blossom-lined trails in Gurye County, South Jeolla Province. From March 9-17, the trail that cuts through villages and hidden spots is open to all looking for spring flowers. Guided tours will be offered March 10, 16 and 17 for those making reservations online at naver.me/xBsHaJDS. The 2.5-kilometer trail, which is mostly flat, takes about 50 minu

March 1, 2024

Culture Ministry, KTO seek to make S. Korea an Arab-friendly travel destination

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Korea Tourism Organization on Wednesday launched a new public-private consultative group Aalam Arabi Korea with the aim of creating a more enjoyable tourism environment for holidaymakers from the Middle East. Aalam Arabi Korea, meaning “world of Arab in Korea” in Arabic, has been formed to create tourism products for travelers from the Middle East travelers, analyze Arab holidaymakers’ travel trends, identify major customers, and

Feb. 28, 2024

Incheon presents new city tour bus routes, promotions

Incheon Metropolitan City and Incheon Tourism Organization on Sunday announced changes to its city tour bus routes and upcoming promotions in March. The double-decker bus Ocean Line, one of the two circular route services covering Incheon’s newly-developed Songdo district and Yeongjongdo Island, will add a new bus stop at Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort. Inspire Resort is Incheon’s latest landmark, scheduled to make its official opening on March 5. Incheon Retro Line, a 90-minut

Feb. 26, 2024

Aegibong Peace Ecopark poised to become popular border-area tourism spot

GIMPO, Gyeonggi Province -- Aegibong Peace Ecopark, celebrated the country’s annual Jeongwol Daeboreum festival on Saturday with a lighting show, media performance, magic show and concert. Jeongwol Daeboreum is a traditional holiday marking the first full moon of the Lunar New Year, when people share nuts and other traditional food and drinks among families and neighbors, send their wishes for a healthy and fruitful new year to the first full moon. “We are celebrating Jeongwol Daebor

Feb. 25, 2024

Enjoy Danyang with unique cafes and dynamic activities

DANYANG, North Chungcheong Province -- Danyang, a county some 170 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is perhaps a lesser-known tourist destination, even for many Koreans. While historical sites, like Guinsa and Dodamsambong Peaks -- three stone peaks rising out of the Namhan River -- are popular spots, the county has much more to offer, from unique dishes and restaurants to exciting outdoor activities. To enjoy Danyang to the fullest, one would have to stay more than just a single night. Those looki

Feb. 24, 2024

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Jeju Canola Flower Festival Canola flowers on Jeju Island herald the start of spring. Following the winter camellia festival, the resort island now invites visitors to its canola flower festival, which will run until the end of April. At Hueree Park, visitors won’t just find a field of yellow canola flowers. Red plum blossoms and hydrangea, set to bloom as early as April, will render a more spring-like atmosphere. Pets on leashes are allowed. Admission costs 13,000 won for adults, 11,0

Feb. 23, 2024

[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages

Haevichi Hotel and Resorts Jeju presents unique package Haevichi Hotel and Resorts Jeju is offering a new staycation “Spring Riding” package, available through May 31. The package provides an opportunity to feed carrots to their horses and experience horse riding at Gotjawal Forest in Samdal-ri. The package also includes a one-night stay, buffet breakfast for two, swimming in both the indoor and outdoor pool of the hotel, and a choice between a bottle of hallabong orange juice an

Feb. 23, 2024

Fried chicken becomes most sought-after dish for overseas travelers in 2023

Creatrip, South Korean inbound tourism service platform, on Wednesday announced the Korean food trends among foreign holidaymakers in 2023. Based on the online transaction data collected throughout 2023, Korean-style fried chicken was selected as the most popular Korean food for overseas tourists. The platform explained that many foreigners enjoyed fried chicken via online delivery services and reservations. In addition, an increasing number of tourists were looking for more unique ways to tas

Feb. 21, 2024

Giant panda Fu Bao to be shown to public until March 3

Giant panda Fu Bao, who has been the darling of animal lovers in South Korea, will be on display for the public at Everland until March 3, the South Korean amusement park said Monday. Fu Bao will then be kept in a separate space at the park's Panda World for a month to undergo preparations for her overseas transfer to the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan Province in early April. The female giant panda, the first of her kind to be born in South Korea, is

Feb. 19, 2024