The Korea Tourism Organization hopes to enlist the ever-expanding presence and influence of K-pop in boosting the country’s international arrivals. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and KTO launched their first tourism product, which connects K-pop stars' fan meetings with ESG (environment, social and governance) campaigns. A total of 250 Japanese Super Junior-D&E fans who visited Jeju Island on May 12 were on a new tourism program that combined the K-pop stars' tal

GOESAN, North Chungcheong Province -- For those who are not yet ready to say goodbye to South Korea’s latest hit romance drama “Queen of Tears” and its leading couple, played by Kim Ji-won and Kim Su-hyun, paying a visit to the series's beautiful filming locations might be a way to recapture some of the show’s iconic moments. “Queen of Tears” was shot in various cities in South Korea and Germany. For those looking for quieter destinations that are not pac

South Korea’s famous Haeundae Beach in Busan is set to bring wonder to tourists' eyes with stunning sand art, starting May 24 until May 27. The annual Haeundae Sand Festival, started in 2005, displays a wide range of sand art pieces at the country’s popular summer getaway spot and entertains visitors with sand art-related programs. This year, under the theme of “World’s Famous Museums Trip,” the upcoming sand festival will feature sand art versions of Michelang

Lotte World Adventure, one of the most popular theme parks in South Korea located in Songpa-gu, southern Seoul, celebrates its 35th anniversary with the new nighttime parade “World of Light.” The 30-minute parade, which started on April 26, is set to provide a feast for guests’ eyes with dazzling light fixtures and unique performances every day at 8 p.m. “World of Light” is scheduled to run through the end of this year.

DoubleTree by Hilton Seoul Pangyo unveils special cake DoubleTree by Hilton Seoul Pangyo, located in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, is offering a carnation-themed cake in May, in celebration of Parents’ Day. With carnation flowers decorating the top, the cakes are made with raspberry coulis, cream cheese and pink colored buttercream cake sheet. The cakes are offered in two sizes -- a whole cake and mini cake -- which are priced at 65,000 won and 15,000 won, respectively. Reservations are r

Korail Tourism Development, a subsidiary of the Korea Railroad Corp., is offering day trips to explore South Korea’s Buddhist temples on June 8. Collaborating with the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism, Korail Tourism Development has prepared a total of eight train trip courses to different regions around the country and their well-known temples. Three trains will head to Banyasa and Yeongguksa in Yeongdong as well as Yonghwasa in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. While the Banyasa and

Korail Tourism Development, a subsidiary of the Korea Railroad Corp., has unveiled four iconic rail bike spots for domestic travelers. With green leaves dancing to the rhythm of the gentle breeze and spring now in full swing, hopping on a rail bike is one of the most popular ways to immerse yourself in the country’s beautiful nature and spring vibes. The highland county of Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, welcomes visitors with a splendid mountain range that can easily be spotted from practica

For visitors from overseas, it would be impossible to not note the proliferation of coffeehouses here; there seems to be more than just one around every corner in any Seoul neighborhood. This abundance of coffee shops has led Koreans to be discerning when it comes to choosing a cafe. Among the many different coffeehouses that beckon with unique concepts -- think animal cafes, vinyl record coffee shops and even a “chimmuk cafe” where patrons must remain quiet and conversation is prohi

Explore world of reptiles Gecko's Republic, located right around the corner from Mangwon Station on Subway Line No. 6, is a mini reptile zoo housing a wide range of unique reptile species, including chameleons, turtles and lizards. The two-story building is an inviting spot not only for reptile enthusiasts but also for those looking to raise reptiles themselves. Unlike some other reptile cafes that allow visitors to feed turtles and watch the lizards, Gecko’s Republic looks after som

Grand Hyatt Seoul unveils driving program for kids Grand Hyatt Seoul, located in Yongsan, central Seoul, is offering a new kids program “Hi Little Hyatt” to celebrate the upcoming Children’s Day. Children’s Day, which falls on May 5, is usually celebrated by parents taking their kids to enjoy a special treat. From May 5 to 7, “Hi Little Hyatt” allows children under six to ride the electric vehicles along the driving experience zone and head to the hotel&rsq

Travelers arriving at Incheon Airport's Terminal 1 can look forward to an introduction to traditional Korean culture through new media art as they make their way toward immigration. The National Palace Museum of Korea and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation have displayed the Traditional Culture Media Wall at the airport since 2021 with the aim of promoting Korea's traditional culture to international and domestic passengers. Videos entitled "K-Heritage," "K-Nature,&q

The Namhae German Village Oktoberfest, which takes place in Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province, has decided to extend its festival period to four days for the first time since its launch in 2010. The village, long known for its distinctly foreign ambience in South Korea, has garnered local travelers' attention with its annual beer festival based on Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. The decision to extend the festival period, previously held for two to three days, was made in response to its ri

MANILA, Philippines -- Traveling overseas brings unusual excitement for holidaymakers, driving them to explore new things, even if it means spending a lot of energy and effort. After days jam-packed with activities and new experiences in a foreign land, taking a much-needed break is just as important. For those who have spent several days discovering Manila's bustling city life and tourist attractions, spending your last night at the Marriott Hotel Manila is perfect for a refresh before h

Legoland Korea Resort, a theme park in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, announced that it will extend its operating hours so as to allow guests to enjoy its rides and attractions at night. The theme park will stay open until 9 p.m. on Saturdays in May. It will also stay open until 9 p.m. on May 5, Children's Day. Visitors will be treated to a stunning nighttime view of Chuncheon at the theme park’s 43-meter observatory for the first time, according to the theme park official. A Dance perf

The annual Hampyeong Butterfly Festival opens at Hampyeong Expo Park, an eco-themed tourist attraction in Hampyeong, South Jeolla Province, Friday. The 11-day spring festival beckons visitors who wish to learn about the flora and fauna of Korea via various programs, including virtual reality and hands-on experiences with butterflies and insects. There will be performances by local artists, banana harvesting, pizza making and exhibitions.

Four Seasons Hotel Seoul unveils new summer delicacy The Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, located in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, will serve three types of South Korea’s favorite iced dessert “bingsu” featuring Jeju apple mango, red bean and green tea. Bingsu is a national summer delicacy made with shaved ice, milk and condensed milk, and is often topped with sweetened red beans or fruits. The dessert will be available every day from May 1 to Sept. 30 at the lobby lounge. While the apple

Korail Tourism Development will launch seven new railway travel programs discovering different parts of Korea to celebrate the month of May. May, known as “family month” here, is when many Koreans schedule trips to enjoy public holidays and occasions like Children’s Day, Parent’s Day and Couple’s Day. All seven different railway travel programs leave on May 3 and 4. Two of them are overnight trips in North Gyeongsang Province under the concept of "rest." T

MANILA -- Guiding top K-pop artists visiting Manila was something that Grace Iriberri had never imagined when she started learning Hangeul, the Korean writing system, out of curiosity, some 10 years ago. Now, Iriberri feels that the Korean language has expanded her universe, creating new connections with people not only from the Philippines but also from South Korea. “My relationship with Korea started when I tutored Korean children as an English teacher in Manila,” Iriberri told The

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization are looking to woo Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern tourists with new Hallyu-themed tour packages. “Despite the rising popularity of Korean content, some travel destinations have not been promoted properly due to their low accessibility and intellectual property rights. We have been discussing such issues and have assisted local travel agencies and content creators to sign a memorandum of understanding for gre

CHEONGJU, NORTH CHUNGCHEONG PROVINCE -- While Netflix’s mega-hit revenge drama “The Glory” (2022-23) was mostly shot in the capital city of Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area, Cheongju -- located in the southwestern part of North Chungcheong Province -- made its presence strongly felt as the stage for two of the most iconic scenes in the show. In the series, Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo), a victim of school violence, spends a lot of time sitting on a wooden chair under