A theme park based on Korean pop culture is set to open in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, in 2017. 　Called “K-Culture Valley” for the time being, it will be built on 326,393 square meters across the Korea International Exhibition and Convention Center in Goyang, featuring six differently themed zones that highlight Korean pop music, TV dramas, and movies as well as the country’s history and retro culture.  Computer-generated image of the hallyu theme park, slated to open in 2017 in Goyang, Gyeonggi

‘Cuisine of Liguria’ at Grand Hyatt Incheon　Grand Hyatt Incheon is presenting the cuisine of Liguria throughout May. 　As a participant in the Italian Food Festival organized by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Korea, Restaurant 8 is presenting the traditional cuisine of Liguria, a coastal region in north-western Italy.　Restaurant 8’s Italian kitchen Cucina is presenting Ligurian dishes with seafood and nuts.　There is also a five-course dinner featuring baby octopus salad and king crab soup and

Master Chef Korea judge Song Hoon to act as executive chef of S-Tavern

Ah, the humble tortilla. It’s been around for thousands of years -- a soft, pliable flat bread that was a cornerstone of the Aztec diet.　And now it’s the fastest-growing segment of the baking industry. Last year, tortilla sales reached $12 billion, dethroning white sandwich bread as America’s No. 1 choice for turning meat, vegetables and/or condiments into finger food.　How did that happen? Simple demographics is part of the reason. The Hispanic population in the U.S. has swelled and so has the i

Ulsan Grand Park Rose Festival　Ulsan Grand Park Rose Festival has launched its 11th annual festivities. Held every year since 2005, this year’s festival exhibits roughly 3 million roses in a 44,730 square-meter rose garden. Visitors will have the opportunity to marvel at a wide range of premium rose species, which have been planted throughout the park’s expansive garden areas including the Cupid Garden, Venus Garden, Rose Hills and various themed gardens.　Aside from the diverse rose species on d

I guess you could call it a midlife crisis.　　I’d flown across the Atlantic Ocean for a weeklong cycling trip on this Spanish archipelago off the coast of Morocco. The crisis part came as I watched a Trek Travel guide hoist my Domane road bike onto the roof rack of the support van, and I sheepishly crawled into the passenger seat while the other cyclists on the trip pedaled up the hill and out of sight.　“We’ll just give you a bump to the next rest stop,” the guide said with an extra dose of enthu

Acclaimed chefs from Korea and abroad use Jeju ingredients in fresh ways for suprising culinary results

Yeol, the Korean Heritage Preservation Society, will hold the 2016 Young Designers Market on May 28, the group announced Wednesday.　Launched in 2013, the event promotes quality craftworks at reasonable prices. Young designers, craftsmen and indie brands present their unique products and interact with customers.  Poster of Yeol 2016 Young Designers Market (Yeol)　This year, 16 designers and brands will take part, including Soseng Industrial Corporation, Via K Studio and handcrafted interior design

A Night Doggaebi Market celebrating the month of May will open at Cheonggyecheon Square near Seoul City Hall from Friday to Monday between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.“Doggaebi” is a Korean word for a type of local goblin that comes out to play tricks on people at nighttime. The city government said this mythical creature suited the nature of the night market, which only comes to life in the night and disappears by morning. Visit http://love.seoul.go.kr/ for more information on cultural events in Seoul. (