Enjoy last-minute cherry blossoms with less crowding With the arrival of spring in earnest in the last week or so, popular cherry blossom destinations in Seoul like Yeouido and Seokchon Lake have been packed with people day and night. If you wish to enjoy last-minute cherry blossoms this weekend with fewer people around, try the Seongnae Stream section of the Songpa Trail -- widely known as Seongnaecheonduk-gil --before the delicate pink and white petals drop off. Seongnaecheonduk-gil is a cause

  Rolling Hills Hotel presents Children’s Day package   Rolling Hills Hotel in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, is offering a Children's Day package in collaboration with fruit gummy brand Haribo. The promotion includes a one-night stay in the hotel’s standard room, Goldbears-themed stickers, a drawing kit with a coloring canvas, color pencils, a tumbler and more. Goldbears, or Goldbaren, are Haribo’s iconic mascots. The package includes a buffet breakfast and access to t

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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&#

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

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

DoubleTree by Hilton Seoul Pangyo offers K-pop class DoubleTree by Hilton Seoul Pangyo, located in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, is hosting the K-pop Dance Class for guests in March and April. Though the dance program is open to all DoubleTree by Hilton Seoul Pangyo guests, just 20 participants are permitted on a first-come, first-served basis. The K-pop Dance Class is held at the hotel’s GX Room every Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. Minors must be accompanied by a parent. For more inf

LPs from yesteryear Jung-gu, home to Myeong-dong, a popular shopping district with Shinsegae Department Store and Lotte Department Store, is a bustling district filled with tourists and shoppers. Head to Hoehyun Shopping Center, an underground shopping arcade connected to Shinsegae Department Store is a paradise for music buffs. Located at the center of the underground shopping center is Livingsa, one of the several secondhand LP stores at the arcade stocked with a seemingly endless selection

Yeongdeungpo-gu, the district in western Seoul, is set to turn into a pink heaven with cherry blossoms, where all flower lovers can enjoy the arrival of spring from March 29 to April 2. The district’s Yunjung-ro in Yeouido, a 1.7-kilometer road filled with almost 1,900 cherry blossom trees, and the street’s nearby areas, are scheduled to become the main stage for this year’s spring flower festival, according to the local government of Yeongdeungpo-gu on Monday. Visitors can enj