Korea will continue to see an influx of visitors in the coming years as it plays host to major upcoming sporting events ― namely the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon and 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang as well as the 2020 Olympics in neighboring Tokyo ― on top of the constant tourist arrivals from other Asian countries, according to Paul Wright, general manager of Hyatt Regency Incheon. “It should be an exciting time. … Korea is going to benefit with Tokyo holding the Olympics because more people

On a small hill in the northern Gyeonggi Province city of Paju, Soulone, a newly opened tree garden, could become a key attraction in the border city. Close to some popular destinations such as Imjingak ― a park just 7 kilometers from the DMZ ― and the dynamic cultural scenes in Heyri Art Village and Paju Book City, the garden is an accessible and inviting respite from city life.Soulone is home to some rare forms of garden trees, bonsai trees and viewing stones that are part of the collection Le

The most common question that bridge experts are asked is when you should draw trumps when playing a suit contract. It is quite a difficult question, but we can simplify it by pointing out that about 25-40 percent of experts will lead a trump at the first opportunity.Facing an opening lead of ♣Q, South was careful to win in the dummy. If somebody had a singleton club, it was likely to be East, and it was important not to give him the opportunity to ruff an honor.To draw even one round of trumps

This is the sixth installment in an eight-part series that examines the social role of design beyond its aesthetic aspect. The weekly series is a precursor to Herald Design Week 2013 from Oct. 7-11, which is organized under the theme “Re-imagine the World.” ― Ed.Sustainability is the buzzword in many fields of design, but in fashion, the concept jars with its need to follow rapidly changing trends and cycles. But following in the footsteps of some leading design sectors in sustainability, such

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has opened a new museum in the northern part of the city, an area long considered to have been excluded from the capital’s main cultural events. The northern Seoul branch of the Seoul Museum of Art opened to the public on Tuesday with the goal of bringing cultural benefits to residents.“The new museum will focus on showing the public that it has its basis in the local community,” said Kim Hong-hee, director of the Seoul Museum of Art. The SeMA has two other bran

A garden by award-winning Korean garden designer Hwang Ji-hae is on permanent display in the French city of Lons le Saunier. The mudflat-themed 800-square-meter garden was unveiled in the French town Tuesday as the fourth Korean garden on permanent exhibit in France. Existing gardens include a Seoul garden created in 2002 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of friendship between Seoul and Paris and another garden to celebrate the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and

Oakwood Premier Coex Center, the leading serviced residence in Seoul, has embarked on a renovation project to offer a more guest-friendly experience 11 years after its opening. The 20 billion won ($18 million) renovation, which started in March, is transforming the classical interior of its 280 residences into a more chic and modern design that allows international travelers to stay comfortably in style. It is expected to be completed by October 2015.  Oakwood Premier Coex Center has undergone t

Kim Hoon, among the first generation of abstract expressionists in Korea, died after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 89. Kim led the development of Korean modern art by opening the Modern Painting Exhibition in 1954 and forming the Korean Contemporary Printmakers Association in the late 1960s. His contemporaries include Park Soo-keun, Kim Whanki and Chang Ucchin. He was among the first Korean artists to be invited for an exhibition in New York in 1958, along with Kim Whanki and Pa

The Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea is in the final stages of preparations for its opening in November. It will fulfill the long-held wish of the Korean art circle to have a signature modern art museum that represents Korean art in the heart of Seoul. Located in a popular tourist area next to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the museum is adding the final touches before the official opening on Nov. 12 ― bringing in furniture, hiring staff, opening bidding for museu

A record number of Chinese tourists will arrive in Korea during the weeklong National Day holiday in the first week of October, the peak season for overseas travel for the Chinese. Around 150,000 Chinese tourists are expected to travel to Korea from Oct. 1-7, up 50 percent from the previous year, according to the Korea Tourism Organization.The forecast is based on the continued surge of Chinese visitors to Korea in recent months. In July and August, the number of Chinese tourists jumped by aroun

BUSAN ― Sculptures dot the empty beach of Songdo in Busan for the biennial Sea Art Festival, filling the deserted area left by beachgoers who crowded the popular beach on the southern coast just a month ago. Now, a walk along the beach has become a cultural experience with the presence of 34 sculptures by international artists from 11 countries such as Brazil, Canada, China, Italy, Taiwan and India.“The Sea Art Festival is an art event taking place by the sea. It is a rare event that brings out

The Korean hotel chain brand BENIKEA has launched an online promotion “Visit Korea 3+1” that offers a free one-night stay for foreign guests who stay three consecutive nights. The BENIKEA hotel chain whose services are certified by the Korea Tourism Organization, the state tourism agency, has more than 60 hotels nationwide, including major tourist destinations such as Seoul, Busan, Gyeongju and Jeju. The hotels are popular among both locals and foreign visitors for their reasonable prices and qu

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― For $349, your dog can learn to fly.One Hollywood film studio now prepares dogs for a safe and calm flight.The Air Hollywood class includes a real fuselage on a sound stage with a simulator that mimics takeoff, turbulence and landing. Hollywood extras create crowds and the chaos that come with airport terminals.Talaat Captan, president and CEO of Air Hollywood, the world’s largest aviation-themed film studio, had the idea after noticing a dog owner having a rough time getting

Kwon Gee-chan, CEO of Wearfun International Co. and chairman of Opera Gallery Seoul, will receive the Italian Order of Merit, one of the highest honors given by the Italian government, for his contribution to introducing Italian fashion and art to Koreans. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place at the residence of the Italian Ambassador in Seoul on Saturday. Italian Ambassador Sergio Mercuri will give out the award on behalf of Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. Kwon, one of the leadin

Artist Kong Sung-hun paints landscapes, which is considered a rather outdated genre by the contemporary art scene. He takes a traditional approach to painting: he takes pictures of images, draws the second images filtered through his inner self and paints on canvas. He prefers subjects surrounding him ― dogs in his front yard, artificial tree sculptures and love motels he sees on his way to his studio and the stormy sea. The traditional practice in painting, however, has been neglected amid incr

Feminist media artist Jung Eun-young was awarded the 2013 Hermes Foundation Art Award for her five-year project that delves into the Korean masquerade actresses from a traditional Korean theater that was popular in the 1950s. Jung was selected among the three finalists, including Na Hyun, Noh Sun-tag, whose works are on exhibit at the Hermes Atelier on the third floor of the Maison Hermes Dosan Park in Seoul. “Jung’s new project is in line with the traditional Korean song and dance performance i

The Philippines is a popular travel destination, attracting millions of visitors year-round to its beautiful beaches and natural wonders. But in promoting tourism, the Philippines has taken an emotional approach that is not directly related to physical attractions. The tourism campaign slogan “It’s more fun in the Philippines” touches on the true image of the country ― its people and the fun they create, according to the Philippines Tourism Department Secretary Ramon Jimenez. “It’s the fundament

The Concept Korea fashion show presented a unique mix of four different Korean designers during New York Fashion Week on Monday. Under the theme of “4cus on Ma Dang” ― Ma Dang meaning courtyard in Korean and here referring to sharing the stage ― the annual fashion event presented a show that reflected both the distinctive personalities of four designers and a balanced mix of different styles on the runway at The Stage at Lincoln Center. The four designers, Lee Suk-tae (Kaal E. Suktae), Choi Bo K

The Korean Craft and Design Foundation is holding an annual crafts exhibition, aimed at reviving public interest in craftworks and promoting applicability of traditional Korean craftwork in modern lifestyles.The exhibition, which started on Monday at a gallery run by the state-funded institution in Insa-dong, showcases the aesthetics and practical use of Korean craftworks that still work in modern settings. “It’s really hard to tell where many of the craftworks we see at craft biennales belong.

Japanese architect Toyo Ito’s sketch and an Alessi cup gift set inspired by it will be auctioned at the Herald Design Forum next month.The “Ripples” drawing by the winner of the 2013 Pritzker Prize features green frogs creating ripples on a pond. The coffee cup set by the Italian kitchen utensil brand Alessi consists of two simple white porcelain cups accented with green frogs and white saucers. Ito’s works will be on display on the first floor of Blue Square, the main venue of the Herald Design