The following is the first article in a three-part series that explores art galleries on Jeju Island. -- Ed. JEJU CITY, Jeju Island -- An old neighborhood near Jeju International Airport has come into the limelight, attracting young hipsters looking for an artsy experience on an island best known as a holiday destination. Tapdong, situated near the airport -- the main gateway to the island -- was once a bustling area. Tapdong Plaza, a outdoor entertainment hub for young people, opened in 1

 A trail spanning 21 kilometers surrounds Seoul’s eastern district of Songpa-gu, packed with nature, adventure and culture.  The Songpa Trail, which opened to the public in 2019, has been serving both locals and visitors alike as a favorite spot to enjoy jogging or a leisurely walk.  In recent years, the trail has managed to build its own unique ecosystem, as it is built alongside three freshwater streams that feed into the larger Han River. It is easy to spot animals en

Yanggu Gomchwi Festival The 2021 Yanggu Gomchwi Festival will be held online from Wednesday to Saturday, in concern over the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the festival will feature online lectures, a cooking show and live commerce events, promoting gomchwi, a mountain herb that is characterized by its unique bitter, soft and savory flavor. The festival organizers will also operate a drive-thru order pickup service for visitors who would like to purchase spring gomchwi.  Yell

The Seoul metropolitan government opened a new tourism hub in the nation's capital Thursday, saying it will support the growth and development of the tourism industry. Seoul Tourism Plaza, located inside Samil Building in the central Jongno Ward, is spread across floors one and four to 11, with a tourism information center and souvenir shop on the first floor and the offices of various tourism organizations, associations and startups on the upper levels. The city government said the plaza aims

Consumption expenditures in South Korea's tourism and leisure sector decreased by more than 20 percent last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, a state-funded think tank said Monday. In particular, foreigners' spending in the domestic tourism and leisure sector plunged by nearly 80 percent and the travel industry was hit hardest among the relevant industries, the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute said. Last year, consumption expenditures in the nation's tourism and leisure industries were

Just as spring is a season of rebirth, a 49-year-old amusement park in Seoul has also been given a new lease on life.  Reopening to the public after eight months of renovation, the Children’s Grand Park located in Neung-dong, Gwangjin-gu is a popular picnic spot that has been loved by generations of Seoulites since 1973.  Covering a total of 530,000 square meters, the park has a zoo, botanical garden, outdoor performance venue and many other fun attractions.  The public p

Yellow Forest in Kimcheon Kimcheon City in North Gyeongsang Province has set up a forest decorated with yellow furniture pieces and objects, named the “Yellow Forest.” The project was inspired by the Purple Island in Sinan. Two islands in the Sinan area in South Jeolla Province are blanketed in a hue of purple, with all the roofs and streets painted purple. Kimcheon City hopes to attract tourists with its new Yellow Forest. It will feature hands-on activities such as woodcraft cl

Millennials and Gen Z are trend leaders in tourism amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Korea Tourism Organization. The KTO, which analyzed data from local mobile carrier KT from January 2019 to December 2020, said that different generations travel in a different manner. In 2020, the total movement rate for tourism decreased by 7.1 percent compared to the previous year, while movement in one’s own residential area increased by 3.4 percent. Generation Z, or the Zoomers, visit

Haman Watermelon Festival The county of Haman, South Gyeongsang Province, will host the 2021 Haman Watermelon Festival online from April 23 to May 2. More than 14 percent of watermelons produced in Korea come from Haman. Though the festival is being held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be kits to help people make watermelon-inspired dishes and diverse activities related to the summer fruit. During the festival period, watermelons from the area will be sold at live commerce ev

Music Village 1939 is a music complex built on 38,000 square meters of land where the former Gapyeong station was located, connecting Seoul and the small town of Gapyeong in Gyeonggi Province.  The complex, which is designed to host musical and other cultural performances, is also widely known for hosting the country’s biggest annual jazz festival, Jarasum International Jazz Festival. The complex comprises of several buildings that house concert halls, a cinema, guest residences,

Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival This year, the 42nd Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival will be held online, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Every spring, the sea around Jindo opens up, exposing a 2.8-kilometer-long stretch of sand that connects two islands in the area. The gravitational phenomenon draws numerous visitors to the small island in South Jeolla Province. 　 The annual festival was canceled last year due to the virus pandemic. This year, it will be held online with the sea road op

WWOOF offers glimpse into local culture of Korea amid COVID-19 era

Though the arrival of vaccines has recently boosted hopes for international travel, the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute expects domestic tourism will continue to be strong in the post-pandemic era. Last year, the number of international tourists across the world decreased by 74 percent from the year before, dropping to a point similar to that of the 1990s, according to the World Tourism Organization. On Thursday, the KCTI shared a report written by its official, Choi Gyeong-eun, titled

Jeonju Hanji Culture Festival The 25th Jeonju Hanji Culture Festival is to open May 5. Every year, the city of Jeonju holds a hanji festival, celebrating the legacy of traditional handmade paper. In concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 edition of the festival will be held both offline and online for a month. The online part of the festival will feature lectures, contests, hands-on activities related to hanji, spanning over three weeks. In early June, the festival will wrap up wit

Hwadam Botanic Garden　 Hwadam Botanic Garden is to open its doors for the 2021 season Friday. The eco-friendly arboretum located at Konjiam Resort in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, about an hour’s drive from central Seoul, is spread across 65,265 square meters, featuring 17 gardens with different themes. This year, the park will receive visitors who first make reservations online to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 pandemic. Hwadam Botanic Garden will remain open until late November.