Mt. Palgong designated as 23rd national park in Korea

Mount Palgong, a 1,193 meter-high mountain lying between the southeastern city of Daegu and nearby North Gyeongsang Province, was granted national park status Tuesday, becoming Korea's 23rd national park. The Ministry of Environment approved the designation in a meeting of its national park committee, two years after the city of Daegu, 237 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and North Gyeongsang Province, made the recommendation, ministry officials said. It marks the first designation of a natio

May 23, 2023

[One with Nature] Taean sunsets bring memorable coastal escape

TAEAN, South Chungcheong Province -- Taean-gun, a popular seaside getaway on the west coast of Korea, is quiet most of the day. But when golden hour hits, parking lots by the coast get crowded with visitors who stop to take in the stunning seaside views bathed in an explosion of colors. For many Koreans, residing in a country surrounded by three distinct seas, witnessing a coastal sunset or sunrise is not unfamiliar. Yet Taean, and its unique beaches, is considered one of the must-go sites where

May 20, 2023

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Hansan Ramie Fabric Cultural Festival, Seocheon The 33rd edition of the Hansan Ramie Fabric Cultural Festival will be held from June 9 to 11 at Hansan Mosi Museum and Hansan Traditional Market in Seocheon, South Chungcheong Province. The event seeks to continue the tradition of Hansan ramie, or “mosi,” weaving which is listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The festival offers an opportunity to experience weaving traditional Korean natural fibers and trying on m

May 19, 2023

[One with Nature] Find stamps, hike nature-friendly Dalmasan Trail in Haenam

HAENAM, South Jeolla Province -- Haenam, some 400 kilometers south of Seoul, is famous for its Ttangkkeut village at the southernmost tip of the Korean Peninsula. The village gets crowded with visitors who wish to watch the last sunset or the first sunrise of the year. The village is especially crowded on Dec. 31. But the county’s 17.74-kilometer walking trail has recently gotten on the radar of hiking and walking enthusiasts, as it presents opportunities for memorable outdoor activities

May 13, 2023

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Hadong Wild Tea Cultural Festival The Hadong Wild Tea Cultural Festival, which started May 4, will run through June 4 at Tea Culture Center in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province. The annual festival promotes tea cultivation, which started approximately 1,000 years ago in Hadong county. Visitors can experience various exhibitions and hands-on programs, including tea bowl making activities, as well. Detailed information is available at www.wildteafestival.kr. Gwangalli Eobang Festival The Gwang

May 12, 2023

Korean Heritage Campaign highlights 10 heritage routes

The 2023 Visit Korean Heritage Campaign, which aims to help people discover the country's cultural heritage and natural attractions, kicked off Tuesday. Marking the campaign's fourth year, the Cultural Heritage Administration and Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation jointly unveiled 10 routes that go through 76 destinations in Korea during a press conference held in Seoul, Tuesday. The destinations include UNESCO World Heritage sites and those listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hu

May 10, 2023

[One with Nature] Hadong beckons with fascinating history and nature

HADONG, South Gyeongsang Province -- Hadong, a small county some 350 kilometers south of Seoul, may not be the first destination that comes to mind for travel lovers. None of its beautiful sites made it to the Korea Tourism Organization's list of the 100 must-visit tourist spots in Korea this year. But Hadong certainly has what it takes to become a mesmerizing destination where visitors can feast their eyes on splendid views and learn about fascinating historical sites. Samseong-gung Sams

May 6, 2023

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Eumseong Pumba Festival The Eumseong Pumba Festival will take place in Eumseong-gun, North Chungcheong Province, running for five days starting May 17 at Seolseong Park. The origin of the festival is connected to the songs of beggars who would go around marketplaces to look for anything they could get. The performers here do not beg for food and money, but they will sing at the event. The event features various programs, including a pumba street parade and National Pumba King Contest. The annual

May 5, 2023

[One with Nature] Immerse yourself in the verdant greens of Boseong

BOSEONG, South Jeolla Province -- Although there are pockets of greenery in bustling cities, most of them are full of concrete buildings, dark windows and mostly black-and-white cars. Relieve your stress and take emotional refuge in rolling green tea plantations and a unique pine forest in a city famed for its green tea. Daehan Dawon Located in the southwestern part of the peninsula, Daehan Dawon, also known as Daehan Tea Garden or Boseong Green Tea Plantation, is one of the five major t

April 29, 2023

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Gunpo Royal Azalea Festival The Gunpo Royal Azalea Festival will take place from April 28 to 30, the flower's peak season, at the areas around Royal Azalea Park in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province. The three-day festival welcomes flower lovers of all ages who wish to enjoy the vivid pink and purple blooms. An array of programs, including a ceramics exhibition, royal azalea art market, food trucks and more, is planned as well. Seojong Korean Music Orchestra and Gunpo Prime Philharmonic Orchestra w

April 28, 2023

[Weekender] Cozy, affordable ‘imokase’ course menus trending in Seoul

Located in the narrow alleyways of Seoul’s industrial district Euljiro -- dubbed “Hipjiro” for its renaissance as a hotspot for younger locals -- Joil Food is one of the city’s growing number of popular “imokase” joints. Stemming from the Japanese term “omakase,” which translates into “leaving it up to you,” an imokase establishment is a small eatery where the chef, who locals call “imo,” serves an affordable meal for custom

April 22, 2023

[One with Nature] Gwangyang has more to offer than just plum blossoms

GWANGYANG, South Jeolla Province -- Gwangyang, some 300 kilometers south of Seoul, is home to vast fields of plum blossom trees, which draw huge crowds from around the country each spring. The flowers that blossom here are some of the first to bloom on the peninsula, signaling the arrival of the new season. From early to mid-March, the city and Hongssangri Plum Farm, widely known as Maehwa (plum) Village, is crowded with people who come to see the flower-filled fields. As the popcorn-like blosso

April 22, 2023

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Miryang Arirang Festival The 65th edition of Miryang Arirang Festival runs from May 18-21 along the Miryang riverside and at the Yeongnamnu Pavilion in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province. The four-day event promotes the Miryang style of Arirang, a national folk song that was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012. The highlight of the folk festival is "Miryang River Odyssey," a musical that combines the story of Miryang Arirang and the history of Miryan

April 21, 2023

[One with Nature] Enjoy spring in Songdo's parks

INCHEON -- As the cherry blossom petals fall from the trees, dancing to the rhythm of the gentle breeze, spring is now in full swing. Although the colder-than-expected temperatures have had people holding on to their winter coats, there are many who, eager to greet the new season, are wandering outside in search of fun. This year's cherry blossom season was much too short, especially in the Seoul area, and many are looking to enjoy leisurely quality time and spring fun. Songdo Central Park

April 15, 2023

Beach golf resort to open at Taean coastal dune in 2024

A massive resort, Sun Beach Golf and Resort, will open in May 2024 at the coastal dune of Sindu-ri, Taean in South Chungcheong Province -- one of South Korea’s natural monuments. Spreading across a whopping 1.4 million square meters, the resort offers spaces for various purposes, including for businesses, social gatherings, health, leisure and vacation, according to developer Sindu Beach Development. The main feature of the resort is an 18-hole public golf course facing the beach along th

April 14, 2023

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Gochang Green Barley Festival The Gochang Green Barley Field Festival will be held from April 15 to May 7 in the Hakwon Farm area amid the green barley fields of Gochang-gun, North Jeolla Province. The festival celebrates the region’s plentiful barley. Visitors can take part in activities such as making flutes out of barley leaves, searching for hidden treasures in the barley fields and making essential oils. Other programs, including a concert by local artists, a magic show, a puppet sh

April 14, 2023

Black Hawk Village, an American town in the middle of Seoul

On a recent Tuesday morning, a sense of calm pervaded Black Hawk Village, a remnant of the Yongsan Garrison, the old headquarters of the US Forces Korea. Once home to American soldiers and their families, the village of 18 buildings is a relic from a time when the foreign military had its headquarters right in the heart of Seoul. For Hwang, a bride-to-be in her 20s, however, it is the perfect backdrop for her pre-wedding photo shoot. “The hues of the brownish-red buildings, green lawns and

April 11, 2023

Muju Deogyusan Resort unveils new accommodation package

With the warm spring weather and blooming flowers encouraging more and more people to take trips, Muju Deogyusan Resort has announced a new accommodation package. Muju Deogyusan Resort, located in North Jeolla Province, offers a scenic view of Deogyusan Mountain and its surrounding nature all year long. It is the only comprehensive mountain resort that is located in a national park in Korea. Its new 2023 package is divided into two types – the Breakfast Package and Muju Package. Both optio

April 11, 2023

Time passes slower on Phu Quoc Island

PHU QUOC ISLAND, Vietnam – The number of Korean travelers to Vietnam was some 965,000 in 2022, accounting for more than a quarter of Vietnam’s foreign tourists, according to the Vietnamese General Statistics Office. With the full resumption of international flights, their presence is expected to continue this year. In addition to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and Da Nang, the three most popular destinations for first-time travelers to Vietnam, there is a hidden gem of an island that is relative

April 8, 2023

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Taean World Tulip Flower Festival The World Tulip Flower Festival is scheduled to run from April 12 to May 7 at Korea Flower Park in Taean, South Chungcheong Province. Some 200 types of flowers, including flamingo, lambada, red proud tulips and more, will be on full display, offering excellent photo opportunities. Recognized as one of the world’s top 5 tulip festivals worth travelling to by the World Tulip Society, the festival is set to allow visitors to enjoy the sight of colorful tuli

April 7, 2023