[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

 Muju Firefly Festival The Muju Firefly Festival is scheduled to take place across the areas of Muju Deungnamu Stadium, North Jeolla Province, Aug. 27-Sept. 4. The Muju’s pristine environment provides a natural habitat for fireflies. Night-time programs include firefly explorations, stargazing experiences, traditional performances and concerts. Most of the programs are free, but the firefly exploration costs 15,000 won per person, with 1,200 spaces opened per day; the stargazing ex

Aug. 13, 2022

Giant whale installation to appear in Jeju fest

A festival “Colorful Sanji,” jointly hosted by the Jeju Island and the Jeju Tourism Organization, is scheduled to kick off Saturday at Jeju Island’s Tamna Culture Plaza. The festival runs through Sept. 12, and the highlight is a media art exhibition which features a 30-meter giant whale installation made of three thousand model sardines. The whale display will be decorated with colorful lighting, videos and music, throughout the festival period, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Aug. 12, 2022

DMZ experience center opens in Paju

In line with the official opening of Ecological Peace Tourism Information Center located near the banks of the Imjin River in Paju, on Monday, a newly created DMZ LIVE Experience Hall on the premises is inviting guests to a vivid experience of the adjacent neighborhood near the Korean peninsula’s military demarcation line. The establishment of the center has been jointly planned by the Korea Tourism Organization and the city of Paju since February 2018, with aims to build a cutting-edge

Aug. 8, 2022

Find peace of mind in mountainside temple

GANGHWADO, Incheon -- If you are looking for an escape from the scorching weather that’s under the cool shade, and with a fair view of the sea, sansa –- a mountainside Buddhist temple -– may be just the destination. Located deep inside mountains, sansa offer visitors a break from the city and the noise that comes with it. On Ganghwado, an island off the west coast, you will find Jeondeungsa, a temple on Jeongjoksan, a 220-meter mountain. It is about an hour’s drive fro

Aug. 6, 2022

[Weekender] ‘Tis the season for ‘gyegok’ splash

Millions of South Korean vacationers have flown overseas, driven to beaches and mountains around the country to escape the relentless heat this summer. Ever since the pandemic rules against gatherings were lifted, crowds with pent-up energy have packed just about anywhere, from sports stadiums and waterparks to theaters and art exhibits. During the country’s peak summer holiday season from late July through early August when most workers take off, a normally 2.5-hour drive from Seoul to

Aug. 6, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Tongyeong Hansan Battle Festival The Tongyeong Hansan Battle Festival is set to be held at the Donam Tourist Complex in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, Aug. 5-14. The festival commemorates the Great Battle of Hansan of 1592, the best-known naval battle in Korean history. Visitors can see the reenactment of the battle and experience hands-on programs at Yi Sun-sin Waterpark offered by the city and Great Battle of Hansan Memorial Foundation. Admission is free. People of all ages are wel

Aug. 5, 2022

Seoul offers free hiking gear rental as mountains lure foreign tourists

   With its rugged granite peaks, leafy forests, streams and walking trails, Bukhansan is an oasis of greenery in the bustling metropolis of Seoul. And it has rightly been receiving attention from foreign residents and visitors. The only drawback is that it is not a leisurely walk but one that requires proper hiking gear.  To address this and support foreigners who want to explore Bukhansan but don‘t have the right shoes or outfits, the Seoul Hiking Tourism Center offers

July 30, 2022

Unique summer getaway at BTS: In The Soop Estate

PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province -- Surrounded by serene nature and lush forests, the iconic two-story villa featured in the second season of K-pop powerhouse Hybe‘s reality show “BTS In The Soop” is set to host two special guests for the leisurely vacation that BTS enjoyed when filming. From RM’s beanbag chair to V‘s trumpet, small details from the show are reproduced, allowing fans to relive their favorite moments. The online house-sharing platform, Airbnb, is off

July 29, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Bonghwa Sweetfish Festival The 24th Bonghwa Sweetfish Festival is set to be held at gym park and areas around Naeseongcheon Stream in Bonghwa, North Gyeongsang Province. The nine-day event will start from July 30 to Aug. 7. The festival offers the opportunity to catch sweetfish, either with their bare hands or a scoop net. Visitors can also enjoy outdoor concerts, featuring artists like trot singer Jeong Dong-won, rock band Gukkasten, girl group Weeekly and more. The tourists can cook and ta

July 29, 2022

[Well-curated] Beat the heat with street art show, gelato and slick photo shoot

You may have limited experience with graffiti or street art in Seoul -- that can be attributed to the masses of apartment blocks across the city. But Urban Break 2022 offers a unique opportunity to meet graffiti artists and enjoy street art over the weekend at Coex in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul. The art fair, in its third edition, was the first show in the country dedicated to street art, a relatively unfamiliar art genre here. Some 3,000 works by 450 artists will be on display at Coex through

July 22, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Taebaek Sunflower Festival The 18th edition of Taebaek Sunflower Festival is scheduled to run from July 22 to Aug. 7 at Guwau Village in Taebaek, Gangwon Province. Presenting colorful wildflowers and seemingly endless fields of sunflowers, known to be the largest sunflower patch in South Korea, the festival welcomes flower lovers of all ages. The array of 300 species of wildflowers and sunflowers make for stunning Instagram photos. The festival offers hands-on programs to entertain visitors,

July 22, 2022

[Weekender] Vacationing with pets: What you need to know

Seven-year-old Mango the poodle is a beloved companion to Lee He-yong, 40, who brings his dog everywhere, even when he goes hiking. For his summer vacation early this month, Lee went to Meong Beach, situated on the East Sea coast, which allows people to come with their dogs. “It was my second time visiting the beach with my dog. In general, many beaches do not allow dogs because people complain about it. But Meong Beach has a lifeguard and is equipped with things that you may need for d

July 22, 2022

Take a light walk, eat to beat the heat at Namhansanseong

SEONGNAM, Gyeonggi Province -- While most people try to fight to summer heat with indoor air conditioning and ice-cold drinks, some Koreans still hold on to the saying that you can beat the heat with heat -- like eating piping hot dishes or exercising outdoors in the hot, humid weather. If you want to test this maxim handed down through generations, consider walking Namhansanseong-gil in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Located just to the east of Seoul, Namhansanseong-gil is one of seven courses

July 16, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Vacation in Snoopy Garden The Vacation in Snoopy Garden is scheduled to run through Aug. 31 on Jeju Island. Held at Snoopy Garden in Songdang-ri, Gujwa-eup of Jeju City, on the western side of the island, the festival allows the visitors to stroll through Peanuts comics-themed gardens, featuring the major characters, including Snoopy and Charlie Brown. Ranging from a garden to a cafe and souvenir store, various sites in Snoopy Garden will entertain cartoon-lovers of all ages. Tickets cost 18

July 15, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Suwon Culture Night Suwon Culture Night will take place in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Aug. 12-14. Held at Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and Hwaseong Temporary Palace, the areas are decorated with media art installations, titled “Eight Nights.” Every corner of the fortress offers a historical and cultural experience to visitors. Admission fees vary by program, including the docent-led tour, augmented reality experience, talk show, cooking program, bike taxi tour and more. More informati

July 8, 2022

Local tourist visits to Jeju hit all-time high in H1

Jeju tourism did not just bounce back to pre-pandemic levels -- it has reached a new high thanks to high travel demand from domestic tourists, suggests new data released Tuesday. According to tentative data compiled by the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Tourism Association, the number of domestic tourists to the southern resort island hit an all-time high of 6.8 million during the first half of this year. Compared to a year earlier, this is a 24 percent jump. The six-month visitor

July 5, 2022

From Haenam to Ganghwado, Seohaerang Trail opens

A new walking trail that stretches along the west coast -- Seohaeranggil, or Seohaerang Trail -- has opened to the public, just in time for the start of the summer holiday season. At 1,800 kilometers, Seohaeranggil is currently the longest walking trail in the country. It begins at the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula at Haenam, South Jeolla Province, and reaches up north all the way to Ganghwado, an island on the west coast about an hour away from Seoul. The trail forms the third section

July 2, 2022

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Tongyeong Hansan Battle Festival The Tongyeong Hansan Battle Festival is set to take place at Donam Tourist Complex in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, Aug. 5-14. The festival commemorates the Great Battle of Hansan of 1592, the best-known naval battle in Korean history. Visitors can observe a reenactment of the battle and experience hands-on programs at Yi Sun-sin Waterpark, organized by the city and Great Battle of Hansan Memorial Foundation. Admission is free. People of all ages are

July 1, 2022

2022 Punggi expo to bring new insights on ginseng

The upcoming 2022 World Punggi Ginseng Expo in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, aims to showcase a fresh aspect of the traditional Korean ginseng, the expo organizing committee said Wednesday. Under the theme, “Ginseng, embracing the world and opening the future,” the expo will take place from Sept. 30 to Oct. 23., at the Punggi Ginseng Culture Pop-up Park in Yeongju. Records of ginseng in Punggi date back to 1541 when Joo Se-boong, then governor of Punggi, after studying soil

June 30, 2022

[Eye interview] Hair stylist-turned-artist realizes his vision on a mountain side resort

ICHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- When Lee Sang-il, 66, a hairdresser to celebrities, the artsy and ladies-who-lunch, retired some 10 years ago, he hinted that he was about to embark on a very big project. “Keep me posted,” I said. Over the years, he did indeed keep me posted with occasional text messages. And about five years ago, I received photos of a snow-covered hanok and an update: His resort was 90 percent complete. Then came an invitation to the opening party in early May. An h

June 24, 2022