Making Korea a tourism powerhouse and a sought-after travel destination among young overseas travelers will be the focus of Korea Tourism Organization this year. In a press conference with Korea Tourism Organization officials and 31 directors of the KTO’s overseas offices in central Seoul on Tuesday, Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Yu In-chon highlighted the importance of creating eye-catching tourism products and hosting exciting local festivals that allow travelers to truly experien

For some Koreans, spending time at a cafe might be a way to take an emotional refuge or relieve stress from a hectic life. But for many others, a cup of coffee or dessert at a cafe is merely a means to secure a place to work or study. Hoping to showcase the true French dessert culture, including quality time with friends with tea and traditional French nibbles, renowned chef Kim Na-rae presents the “French Gouter” program at the Park Hyatt Seoul in Gangnam, southern Seoul. Gouter, re

Chinese tourists will be able to enjoy more Alipay Plus-related travel and payment options starting in early February, according to the Korea Tourism Organization. Lee Hak-ju, executive vice president of the KTO's international tourism division, signed a memorandum of understanding on Jan. 24 with his Alipay Plus counterpart Chung Hyung-kwon -- general manager of South Korea, Australia and New Zealand -- at KTO Seoul Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Under the deal, two companies will promote smart

PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province -- Pyeongchang, a popular summer getaway for families and friends who wish to escape the unrelenting heat, beckons even more holidaymakers in winter. Winter is also the season when Samyang Roundhill, among many farms and ski slopes here, becomes a go-to destination with its iconic wind turbines and seemingly unending snow-covered open grassland. While a number of programs -- including taking care of calves, border collies herding sheep and feeding sheep and ostriche

CHUNCHEON, Gangwon Province -- Chuncheon is one of South Korea’s most sought-after tourist destinations, where travelers can enjoy extensive mountain ridges, breathtaking views of the Soyang River, stylish cafes and the bold neon signs of restaurants. What may surprise some visitors to the area is the signage of an unfamiliar street name which reads “Ethiopia-gil,” meaning "Ethiopia Road" in Korean, in Geunhwa-dong, central Chuncheon. Streets in South Korea are typica

Explore guitars at Guitarnet Showroom While enjoying a weekend stroll through Apgujeong, visit the Guitarnet Showroom, where you can feast your eyes on an array of colorful guitars. Just a 5 to 7-minute walk from Apgujeongrodeo Station's Exit No. 6 on the Suin-Bundang Line, the oval-shaped, dark gray store cannot be missed after making a right turn at the Hana Bank. Insa-dong’s Nagwon Instrument Arcade, also known as the Nagwon Music Mall, is widely considered to be a musicians&#

Grand Hyatt Seoul presents American prime beef promotion Grand Hyatt Seoul’s Steak House has launched new promotions to taste top-rated American prime beef, starting from Monday. Collaborating with the US Meat Export Federation, the top-rated American beef is dry-aged with Bourbon whiskey flavor and roasted in a charcoal oven. The restaurant offers porterhouse, T-bone and L-bone steaks with a glass of wine to bring up the flavor for the whole table. The steaks are offered with a price of

Light installations, lamps and lanterns for the Sejong Light Festival will stay in place through Feb. 18, giving people more time to enjoy the luminous nightscape of Sejong City. Though the 2023 Sejong Light Festival was initially scheduled to run through Dec. 31, 2023, Sejong had extended the annual light festival until Jan. 14. Recognizing the growing popularity of the festival, the city chose to extend the festival once again. “With the extended schedule, more Sejong residents and visit

CHUNCHEON, Gangwon Province -- From its regional delicacy dakgalbi -- spicy stir-fried chicken -- to the Legoland Korea Resort, Chuncheon does not disappoint as a top Korean tourist destination. The city, located some 100 kilometers from Seoul, has almost everything travelers of all ages could want -- popular cafes, restaurants, the country’s renowned Soyang River, lakes and mountains. Among both professional and amateur photographers, Chuncheon is a much sought-after spot, especially in w

Namhae German Village, located in Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province, is scheduled to undergo a partial renovation starting on Feb. 13. The village has long been recognized for its distinctly foreign ambience in South Korea. Hoping to improve visitors' travel experience, Namhae German Village will replace the sidewalks and install a sound system around the village’s plaza, according to Namhae County on Thursday. Shops and facilities nearby the affected area, including Namhae German Exh

Celebrating the Year of the Dragon, known as the “gapjin” year in the 60-year sexagenary cycle, the upcoming Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival presents a stunning, dragon-themed snow sculpture. As a popular motif in Korean art and myth, dragons symbolize power and are considered to be sacred gods that prevent misfortune and disaster. Snow sculptures aside, the Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival features exciting works of art from snow carving contests for university students, an igloo

Kolon Hotel offers Lanco-themed rooms Kolon Hotel, located in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, has unveiled its new Lanco-themed rooms. Collaborating with Spain-based baby toys company Lanco, the rooms feature yellow pillow covers, cushions, a door mat, towels and cups, all inspired by Lanco’s yellow rubber duck. A total of six Lanco-themed rooms are available, each accommodating a maximum of four guests. The rooms come with a beam projector and screen. The hotel also has a miniature z

Korail Tourism Development, a subsidiary of the Korea Railroad Corp., offers the chance to catch a glimpse of the country’s space industry and explore local tourism. According to Korail Travel on Wednesday, the "Space Science Train" (unofficial translation), a spaceship-themed train launched in 2023, is a two-day travel package featuring a visit to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, as well as trips to popular tourist destinations and traditional markets in the south of the

Plunging temperatures draw mixed reactions. They may be great news for winter sports fans, but others wish to escape the cold, waiting for signs of spring. Following are some of the country’s popular weekend getaways that outdoor, adrenaline addicts and those sensitive to cold can enjoy, respectively. Vivaldi Park Resort Though the unexpected warm weather this year has disappointed some skiers, preventing them from enjoying the slopes to the fullest in December, Vivaldi Park Resort -- am

Ice festival lovers living in the country’s southeastern Yeongnam area, which covers South Gyeongsang Province, North Gyeongsang Province, Daegu, Busan and Ulsan, will need to travel further afield to enjoy this year’s winter festival, as the Amsan Ice Festival has been canceled due to unusually warm winter temperatures. The Amsan Ice Festival, which was scheduled to take place in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, is one of the most visited winter festivals in the Yeongnam area,

POCHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- January may still be a time of hibernation for bears, snakes, frogs and others, but that is not so the case for some villages in northern areas of South Korea. Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, home to the Republic of Korea V Corps, is seldom visited by outsiders other than those visiting to see their friends, sons or brothers serving their mandatory military duty. However, things change in the winter months when this quiet locale becomes crowded with people from around

Hanhwa Resort Pyeongchang presents winter sports package Hanhwa Resort Pyeongchang is offering a special all-in-one package for winter sports enthusiasts. The “Extreme Winter In Pyeongchang” package features a one-night stay and breakfast. Guests may choose a free six-hour lift ticket, a ticket to be used in a sledding park, or ski or snowboard rental. The tickets can be used at the nearby ski resort Phoenix Park in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province. The promotion offers a 55 percent dis

The winter may have you huddling indoors to avoid the weather, but that doesn't mean you have to narrow your horizons. To prove this, Gyeonggi Tourism Organization has announced six indoor destinations in Gyeonggi Province for travelers looking to enjoy the holidays while avoiding the cold weather. The recommended destinations include museums featuring trick art, comics, a virtual reality studio and more. Paju Heyri Trick Art Located in northwestern Gyeonggi Province, Paju Heyri Trick Art

Park Hyatt Seoul, located in Gangnam, southern Seoul, looks to attract those with a prominent sweet tooth in a one-time, dessert-themed event at the hotel’s top floor restaurant, The Lounge, on Jan. 14. The upcoming food event, “Four Hands Dessert: A Taste of Seoul and Paris,” invites renowned chefs Kim Na-rae and Lee Ji-myung to showcase their creativity and inspiration. The event offers an eight-course dessert menu along with a glass of Champagne and a cocktail. While visitor

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday it will renovate the city’s footpaths, called “dullegil” in Korean, to allow more travelers to finish the complete walking trail safely. Though the total length of the trail remains the same, major changes will be made with the courses and tourism facilities. Seoul Dullegil circles the city on a 156.5-kilometer course divided into eight paths. Feeling most of the courses were too long -- averaging nearly 20 kilometers -- Seoul Met