Articles by Lee Si-jin
Lee Si-jin
sj_lee@heraldcorp.com-
Haman Nakhwa Festival online reservations open Wednesday
Online reservations for this year’s Haman Nakhwa Festival will be available from Wednesday on Yest24 Ticket's website. Haman County in South Gyeongsang Province, home to the Mujinjeong Pavilion and the annual Nakhwa Festival, had announced in early March that online reservations would be required to attend this year's festival. This is the first time online reservations are being taken since the festival was launched in 1985. Last year, the county came under heavy criticism fo
Travel April 8, 2024
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[Drama Tour] Dating spots from hit coming-of-age dramas shot in Suwon
SUWON, Gyeonggi Province -- For those who plan a day trip outside Seoul, Suwon is an attractive travel destination, easily reachable by public transportation and boasting an iconic UNESCO World Heritage site in the middle of the city. The 5.74-kilometer-long Suwon Hwaseong Fortress is certainly one of the must-visit sites in Suwon. But, if you want to immerse yourself in the daily lives of the locals, spending time at Haenggung-dong, a restful district in Paldal-gu, central Suwon, is a great opt
Travel April 6, 2024
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[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages
Legoland Korea Resort unveils rail bike-themed package Legoland Korea Resort in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, presents a springtime promotion for visitors to enjoy the hotel as well as a rail bike ride along the Bukhan River. The package, available since March 29, offers a one-night stay in a Legoland Korea Resort Lego-themed room, free access to the indoor swimming pool, the children’s activity program and breakfast for up to two adults and three children. At check-in, guests can receive v
Travel April 5, 2024
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[Herald Interview] Thai chef brings savory flavors of her home to Seoul
Tipaporn Phianthong, the head chef of Saffron -- the modern Thai cuisine restaurant at Banyan Tree Phuket -- has ventured beyond her home turf Thailand to bring the gastronomic excellence of Thai cuisine to Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul and its guests. The 31-year-old Thai chef arrived in Seoul last week with excitement to connect with Korean diners via Thai dishes. “Many people might be familiar with Thai cuisine’s spicy flavor. But, what makes our food tasty is the aroma of Thai
Travel April 4, 2024
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[Herald Interview] Legoland Korea Resort determined to bring more happiness, spread more joy to families
A smile on their children's faces may be what all parents want most. Lee Soon-kyu, Legoland Korea Resort's divisional director and a father of two boys, wants to bring something more to young visitors at Legoland Korea Resort. “Regardless of their age, race, cultural background or whether they are disabled, all children who come to Legoland Korea Resort deserve to feel happy. This place is designed to be a cozy and comfortable place for everyone,” Lee told The Korea Heral
Travel April 1, 2024
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KTO marks Visit Korea Year campaign with pop-up event
Marking the Visit Korea Year 2023-24 campaign, the Korea Tourism Organization is hosting a new pop-up event “Korea Express Road” at HiKR Ground tourism center in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, from Tuesday to April 15. The exhibition looks at popular Korean pop culture like K-pop and Korean dramas and also presents a glimpse of traditional Korean culture as well. While the first floor presents 3-D video content on Korean tourism, the second floor of the five-story building features displa
Travel April 1, 2024
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[Drama Tour] Sewoon Shopping Center, home of Geumga Plaza in 'Vincenzo'
Seoul may be a shopper’s paradise with its numerous mega shopping complexes spread throughout the city -- the Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido, the beloved shopping district of Myeongdong in Jung-gu and Songpa-gu's Lotte World Tower & Mall, to name a few. These shopping complexes and districts attract visitors of all ages with luxury brands, trendy dining spots and eye-catching pop-up stores, not only enriching the shopping experience for shoppers but also transforming the surrounding are
Travel March 30, 2024
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Soyanggang Skywalk to be renovated until mid-April
Soyanggang Skywalk, located in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, is scheduled to undergo partial renovation and maintenance starting on April 1. Hoping to improve visitors' travel experiences and provide clear glass views, new transparent films will cover the Skywalk's glass floor, which extends for 156 meters of the 174-meter walking trail, according to Chuncheon city on Thursday. Though travelers will be restricted from the area until April 10, Soyanggang Skywalk is set to reopen with e
Travel March 29, 2024
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Gyeongju's Daereungwon to become car-free on Fridays, Saturdays in April
The areas around Daereungwon, home to 23 ancient tombs of the Silla period in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, and its nearby stone wall path, are scheduled to be car-free zones during the weekends of April, according to Gyeongju city on Thursday. The popular stone wall streets are the main stage for Gyeongju’s annual cherry blossom festival, beckoning nationwide flower lovers with a pink heaven of cherry blossoms. Starting from April 5 to 27, cars will be restricted in the 600-meter a
Travel March 29, 2024
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[Well-curated] High-end graffiti, LP bar and Gwanghwamun on roller coaster
Cyril Kongo’s first graffiti exhibition in Seoul French-Vietnamese graffiti artist Cyril Kongo’s first solo exhibition in Seoul kicked off March 14 at Museum Wave, bringing together some 45 works from the artist's early days to his collaborations with luxury brands such as Chanel, Hermes and Maserati. The artist became interested in graffiti during his adolescent years in the French Congo and launched his career as a graffiti artist in Paris in 1986. The exhibition, “Graff
Culture March 29, 2024
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[Around the hotels] Promotions and packages
Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul offers wellness promotion Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul, an urban oasis nestled on the slope of Seoul’s Namsan in central Seoul, presents “Season’s Moment,” a wellness program for those seeking an emotional refuge from a hectic life. The package includes hand cream featuring spring scents like lime, yuzu and lavender and a QR code-printed postcard, allowing guests to enjoy a spring-themed music playlist. Guests can relieve stress in the
Travel March 29, 2024
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Japanese the largest group of inbound travelers to Busan in 2023
While the number of overseas travelers to Busan rebounded to 67.7 percent of pre-pandemic levels last year, Japanese visitors topped the number of inbound travelers to Busan in 2023. A total of 344,537 Japanese tourists visited South Korea's second-largest city, accounting for almost 53 percent of total inbound travelers -- 1,820,057 -- to the city, according to data compiled by the city government and Busan Tourism Organization. On Sunday the city announced that Taiwanese and American trav
Travel March 25, 2024
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Late cold snap leaves blossom festivals without blooms
One of South Korea’s iconic cherry blossom festivals, opened Saturday in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, but the cherry blossoms were still days away from coming into full bloom. According to a Changwon City official, the city moved up the opening date for its cherry blossom festival, Jinhae Gunhangje Festival, believing the mild winter might cause flowers to bloom early. But, the lack of sunny days and a cold snap in early March deterred the cherry blossoms from flowering. The town
Travel March 24, 2024
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[Drama Tour] Relive scenes from ‘Guardian: The Lonely and Great God’ in streets of Jongno
Jongno-gu in Seoul is home to several major tourist attractions, including Insa-dong with its antique shops and traditional cafes, Gyeongbokgung, the main royal palace of the Joseon era built in 1395, and Jongmyo Shrine, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. With traditional Korean architecture standing among modern, glass-clad skyscrapers, the Jongno district is an exciting destination where old meets new. The small, narrow alleys of Anguk-dong in particular preserve Korea's traditional c
Travel March 23, 2024
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[Herald Interview] Chef Damien Selme keeps dishes simple, authentic
For Damien Selme, offering a stunning gastronomic experience to the guests of Park Hyatt Seoul, is, of course, his highest priority. The newly named executive chef highlighted that such opportunities are not only for the diners, but also for his fellow chefs. French-born Selme, 39, who has built his career as a chef at Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris, Shanghai, Busan and Seoul, did not hesitate in sharing his dream of leaving a legacy. “One of my greatest interests is what will hap
Food March 23, 2024
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