Try a figure-skating class, go sledding in Yeouido or explore up-and-coming artists One-day skating classes for all levels Ice Works, a large skating facility on the fourth floor of the E-Mart Yeoksam branch near Hanti Station in Seoul, offers one-day classes to those interested in trying ice skating. The venue spans approximately 5,000 square meters and boasts the largest ice rink in Gangnam. Ice Works offers a variety of activities on its four separate rinks, including figure skating, ice hock

Winter strawberry promotion at The Lounge, Park Hyatt Seoul The Lounge, located on the 24th floor of Park Hyatt Seoul, is celebrating winter with a special winter strawberry promotion. The Strawberry Afternoon Tea Set, which is priced at 68,000 won ($46.59) per person, includes savory options such as hanwoo (Korean beef) tartare, lobster crostini, crab meat choux, and strawberry and burrata cheese salad, along with desserts like strawberry tart, strawberry yogurt cake, vanilla gateau de voyage,

Bricktopia at Legoland Discover the unexpectedly soothing experience of colorful Lego bricks passing by on an 80-meter conveyor belt, the longest in the country, at Legoland Korea Resort. The theme park in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, invites children and adults alike to Bricktopia, offering a variety of baked goods and desserts. The lounge, which can accommodate up to 200 people, will be open through February. Legoland is open Friday to Sunday. Check the latest information at legoland.kr. Ice f

Gardens, forests to visit across country Freezing temperatures make lingering indoors evermore enticing, but a trip out to the woods could be refreshing, especially for plant and flower lovers. Even if you’re neither, a walk in the woods to breathe in forest air -- which some claim is therapeutic -- might just help you beat the mid-winter blahs. 1004 Island Garden Opened in 2004 in Shinan, South Jeolla Province, this garden runs an annual winter festival touting walking trails and a field of ca

A Hyundai Development Company residence starts at $10,000 a night High-end residences thrive on exclusivity. Since 2011, Piet Boon House at Oak Valley -- a resort complex in Wonju, Gangwon Province, that boasts the country’s largest golf course along with ski slopes -- is a private getaway frequented by a small but steady circle of high-net-worth individuals. The upscale clientele have their every whim catered to at Piet Boon House, a three-story residence that charges them over $10,000 per nigh

Environmental, social and governance considerations, digital detoxing and nocturnal tourism are set to define global travel trends in 2025. According to the Pacific Asia Travel Association, ESG will continue to play a larger role in the global tourism market as more travelers seek to minimize their environmental impact. "Sustainable travel continues to grow, with travelers becoming more aware of their environmental footprint and actively seeking ways to reduce their carbon impact," PATA said in

Four Seasons Hotel Seoul launches business lunches Four Seasons Hotel Seoul is offering a new midweek business lunch, available at its restaurants Jan. 6 - March 31. At Yu Yuan, the lunch set includes two appetizers, three signature dim sum dishes, and a choice of main courses such as Sichuan-style pork mapo tofu, seafood noodle soup and king crab fried rice. The set, priced at 99,000 won ($67.27) per person, can be upgraded with Yu Yuan’s signature Peking duck for an additional 35,000 won. At A

Wintertopia at Everland At Everland, South Korea’s largest theme park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, visitors can get a glimpse of both winter and spring through March 3. At the Dream Garden, butterflies flutter around the spring flowers while pandas frolic at a nearby zoo. The signature Four Seasons Garden is styled to resemble a Nordic countryside covered in snow. More details are available at everland.com Gwanghwamun Market Craft shops and food stalls will be open for year-end celebrations at

Sunrise staycations to celebrate New Year Hotels and resorts in diverse locations across the country, from Gangwon Province to Jeju Island, offering a private and peaceful view of the first sunrise of the year away from the crowds, are emerging as popular New Year destinations. Lotte Resort Sokcho located near Oeongchi Port and Daepo Port offers a view of the sunrise over an emerald blue sea. The resort launched a special “2025 Lucky New Year” package that includes a one-night stay, two coffees

Gyeonggi Province‘s designation will expedite development of Asia’s largest Paramount-themed park The Paramount theme park project in Gyeonggi Province will get a boost when Gyeonggi Province formally declares an area in Namyang, a town in the western part Hwaseong City, as a theme park district on Tuesday. Gyeonggi Province, on Monday, said that the 2.85 square-kilometer Hwaseong International Theme Park Tourism District would be formally declared Tuesday after receiving approval from the Gyeon

For people with physical disabilities, a forest stroll isn’t always simple. To change that, Naver Map announced Friday that it updated information on 112 special forest trails, known as “barrier-free sharing paths” (mujangae nanum gil), created by the Korea Forest Welfare Institute. The trails feature deck paths and yellow ocher paths, making them safer and more convenient for people with disabilities, pregnant women, those with young children, and older adults to explore. The Naver app now deta

Ski resort on Hokkaido sets tone for Hanwha’s pitch for exclusive clientele For people who see money as no object in search of a luxury skiing experience, exclusivity is what counts. Add wellness, and that’s how Hanwha Solutions is pitching Muwa Niseko, a luxury ski resort in Hokkaido, Japan. Muwa Niseko, meaning “my Niseko” with the French word “moi” spelled out phonetically, is nestled in the ski resort town of Niseko on Japan’s northernmost island Hokkaido, best known for powder snow -- soft

Ansan Star Village A light festival is running year-round in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. An 8,000 won entrance fee is all it takes to make a tranquil escape to Ansan Star Village, which includes a garden and animal installations. The park, open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., lights up at 5 p.m. Visit ansanstar.net for more info. Gwanghwamun Market At Gwanghwamun Square through Jan. 5, craft shops and food stalls will be open for year-end celebrations. Open from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., starting and endin

A special Christmas-themed train exclusively for holders of the digital tour ID will operate on Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization. The train, which links six regions participating in the digital tour ID program—Jecheon, Danyang, Yeongju, Yeongwol, Jeongseon, and Taebaek—sold out just two days after its release. The digital tour ID program aims to boost tourism in areas experiencing population decline by offering discounts on a

Climate change wreaks havoc on major tourist draws As winters have become warmer in South Korea, festivals that rely on freezing temperatures are being pushed back or canceled. Organizers have postponed the opening of the Pyeongchang Trout Festival, one of the country’s signature winter festivals held in Pyeongchang County, Gangwon Province, that invites visitors to fish for trout on a frozen stream. The event, now rescheduled for Jan. 3-Feb. 2, had to factor in the slower freezing of the stream