Lotte Hotels & Resorts Gimhae earned a five-star family hotel distinction from the Korea Tourism Association on Thursday. With this achievement, it has become the first family hotel in South Gyeongsang Province to receive a five-star rating. According to the Korea Tourism Association, a family hotel is defined as a type of accommodation designed for family travelers, offering rooms with cooking facilities and additional amenities such as dining, fitness, recreational or training facilities — all

Check out a 100-year-old church-turned-cafe, US garrison-turned-selfie site and a museum with a perfect picnic spot this weekend. Just five minutes by car from Eulwangni Beach in Incheon, northwest of Seoul, is Made Lim, a 120-year-old church has been transformed. Now a cultural space, it invites visitors to appreciate art, interact with deer and enjoy tea time. The space consists of three buildings: One is used for exhibitions, another houses a cafe and baker, while the third is used as a deer

The annual Green Barley Festival will run through May 11 at Hagwon Farm in Gochang, North Jeolla Province. Music performances, from the traditional performing art known as “nongak” to classical music and jazz, take place amidst beautiful fields of barley. Children can take part in treasure hunts. Admission, including parking, is free. The annual Icheon Ceramic Festival is underway at Yes Park in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. Icheon is a UNESCO-recognized city of creative culture, particularly famed

Sofitel Ambassador Seoul offers family promotions Sofitel Ambassador Seoul is offering family-friendly promotions to celebrate the month of May. From May 3-5, the Le Bon Marche French buffet will feature a kids’ special with mini beef sliders, lasagna and chocolate fondue. The buffet is priced at 150,000 won for adults and 75,000 won for children under 12. Jardin d'Hiver cafe offers a children's dessert collection, including animal-themed vanilla cake and chocolate bars in flavors like vanilla,

A mother of two grade schoolers, Kim Moon-sook is an enthusiastic proponent of walking tours of royal Joseon tombs, some of which sit near her neighborhood in Guri, Gyeonggi Province. “I thought, ‘It’s a burial site, so what could be out there to keep us occupied?’ But it turns out that isn’t the case,” Kim said of her recent trip to Donggureung, or the East Nine Royal Tombs, a compound of nine graves of Joseon (1392-1910) kings and queens. “The vast compound is a place to clear your head. With

A 100-member team of South Korean nationals and other citizens has been launched by the state-run Korea Tourism Organization to improve travel in the country. The team is tasked with visiting multiple travel destinations nationwide and come up with suggestions to make each experience better. Gathering complaints and feedback from those who have already made visits will be part of the mission. The team started work this week, stopping at Gyeongju, the city in North Gyeongsang Province hosting thi

Grand Hyatt Seoul celebrates Children’s Day with family-friendly events Grand Hyatt Seoul will offer a variety of special programs May 5, Children's Day. Highlights include the Floating Sounds Bath, a tranquil bonding session for mothers and children set to soft music and nature sounds, and a lively K-pop Zumba class. The hotel also offers a flower class for children where, in an outdoor garden setting, they can design flower pots and create floral gifts for their parents at 36,000 won for guest

The cherry blossom festival on Nami Island in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, will run through April 20. It will feature trails, performances, craft shops, pedal boats and snack booths. Adult admission is 16,000 won. ITX runs from Cheongnyangni Station to Gapyeong Station. A 10-minute bus ride from there will take you to the dock that has a ferry to the island. Skylight Garden in Jangheung-gun, South Jeolla Province, is a place to check out all varieties of tulips. The garden is home to some 1,000

If life gives you berries, try going for an acai bowl filled with fruit and your favorite toppings. Every weekend, a large crowd usually spills into the streets of Apgujeong Rodeo, a popular neighborhood in the posh Gangnam district of southern Seoul, which boasts streets full of luxury brands, curated shops and fine dining restaurants. In a small alley there, you can also find a dessert shop called A-ha Dosan that offers a frozen acai bowl with oats, honey, strawberries, bananas and choco loops

Everland plum, cherry blossoms The signature Four Seasons Garden at Everland, South Korea’s largest theme park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, is showcasing 1.2 million spring flowers, including plum and cherry blossoms. Beside tulips and daffodils, some 100 varieties of spring flowers are on display. Sign up for the Garden Pass, a subscription service that allows pass-holders to visit the Everland gardens anytime. Jeju tulips at Boromwat Check out this tulip festival at Boromwat on Jeju Island. T

Park Hyatt Seoul marks 20th year with Italian culinary collaboration Park Hyatt Seoul is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a culinary collaboration featuring Guido Paternollo, executive chef of Park Hyatt Milan. From April 18-24, the Italian restaurant Cornerstone will host a special event offering lunch, a gala dinner and an Easter-themed brunch buffet. Chef Paternollo will present "La Mia Citta," a menu honoring Milan’s traditional dishes with a modern twist. The 4-course lunch is priced a

SEOCHEON, South Chungcheong Province -- Nestled in the heart of South Chungcheong Province, Seocheon is a charming destination where natural beauty and unique experiences come together. From the ages-old brewing techniques of Hansan Sogokju to the tranquil beauty of the Seocheon Maryang-ri Camellia Forest, this region offers a wealth of opportunities for adventure, relaxation and cultural immersion. Hansan, a small town in Seocheon, is renowned for its brewing tradition. For over 1,500 years, lo

A stroll through nature rarely brings the heart-pounding adrenaline rush of a rollercoaster and its twists and turns. But sometimes it can, said Lim Hyung-jin, a rollercoaster enthusiast who regularly takes his wife and their two grade school children to mountain walkways. “We get to be out in nature, so that’s good for the kids, and my wife and I need an outlet for emotional release,” Lim said of his recent trip to the Oksunbong Suspension Bridge in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province. The walk

Jeju tulips at Boromwat Check out this tulip festival at Boromwat on Jeju Island. This village on the island’s east touts truckloads of tulips in shades of red, yellow and pink. A 6,000 won entry fee is all it takes to relish the flower beds, open through April 13. Visitors can spot sheep at a nearby farm. A space is dedicated to canola flowers on the compound that also has a cafe. The village is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Strawberry picking at Yulbom The freshest possible strawberries are waiti

Park Hyatt Seoul celebrates 20 years with Japanese Kaiseki collab Park Hyatt Seoul is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a culinary collaboration featuring Yoshida Nobuhiro, the acclaimed chef at Park Hyatt Tokyo’s Kozue restaurant. From April 25 to May 1, the exclusive dining experience will be held at The Timber House, offering a traditional Japanese kaiseki menu that reflects the essence of spring. The eight-course dinner includes dishes such as shellfish appetizers, tuna sashimi, grilled