Beaches in the Busan area are set to open for the summer. Haeundae and Gwangalli beaches will open June 1 and July 1, respectively. The Busan Metropolitan City Government announced Friday that it would hold a conference Monday at City Hall to discuss the operation of beaches during the upcoming summer season. 　 This photo shows Haeundae Beach in Busan, some 450 kilometers south of Seoul, on July 17, 2018. (Yonhap)At the conference, local authorities are to discuss a number of issues so that loca

For those who dream of escaping from the hustle and bustle of the city life, Seongnagwon offers a new level of relaxation, with 200 years of history that had been veiled until only recently. The garden, whose name means “enjoy nature outside of the castle,” is open to the public only temporarily, from April 23 to June 11, as preservation work is not yet completed.Created in 1790, Seongnagwon was used as a royal villa for 35 years by Yi Gang, the fifth son of King Gojong of the late Joseon era (1

‘Walk with a King’ at Jeonju Hanok VillageJeonju Hanok Village is holding the “Walk with a King” tour every Saturday through Oct. 26, with the exception of Aug. 3 and 8. The tour is open to up to 100 people. A guide will take you around the beautiful city of Jeonju, including a spot that offers a special view of Gyeongggijeon Shrine. Admission fees are 10,000 won per person, and the hours are from 8 p.m. to 9:40 p.m. It is open to visitors of all ages.For more information in Korean, English, Jap

In Apgujeong, Seoul’s southern mecca of high fashion, fine dining and plastic surgery, lies the tomb of Ahn Chang-ho (1878-1938), a legendary freedom fighter from the Japanese occupation of Korea. Named Dosan Park after his pen name Dosan, it has the tombs of Ahn and his wife Lee Hye-reon, a memorial hall and some statues across its 29,974 square meters. The memorial hall features a collection of photos, handwritten letters and journals of Ahn, along with historic documents that shed light on hi

SUNCHEON, South Jeolla Province -- Stepping off the KTX, I was welcomed by light drizzle and clouded skies in Suncheon, a city on the southwestern coast of the peninsula. It was perhaps a befiting first impression of a city that holds the record, set in 1998, for the most rainfall in one hour -- a whopping 145 millimeters.Then again, the wet was what created the beautiful natural environment that makes the South Jeolla Province city such a worthwhile place to visit: from the botanical life and t

Spring on Spoon festival in EverlandHappy May in Coex Aquarium Coex Aquarium is holding themed events in May, including a photo event, face painting and other activities for children.Throughout the month, a photo event with characters from the popular children’s TV series “The Octonauts” is being held from noon to 4 p.m. On Children’s Day, May 5, special booklets on the adventures of Octonauts will be provided to the first 100 children to visit the aquarium.A face painting event is being held at

　The number of foreigners who arrived in South Korea jumped by 12.4 percent in March from a year earlier due to higher numbers of Chinese and Japanese tourists on incentive tours, the local tourism promotion agency said.　A total of 1.54 million foreigners arrived here last month, compared with 1.36 million a year ago, according to the Korea Tourism Organization.　The number of Chinese tourists shot up 20.9 percent last month from a year earlier to some 488,000, due to an increase in both independ

 Royal azaleas are in full bloom at the Gunpo Cheoljjuk Festival, in Gunpo, Gyeonggi province. The azaleas, known as “cheoljjuk” in Korean, are native to Korea and go into full bloom at the end of April.  (Yonhap)

The Seoul metropolitan government said Tuesday it will open to the public the country's first botanical park this week after about six months of its pilot operation. The Seoul Botanic Park in the South Korean capital's Gangseo Ward, which has been tentatively accessible since Oct. 11, is set to open Wednesday. During the pilot operation, 2.5 million people visited the park built on a site of 504,000 square meters. (Yonhap)Out of the entire space, the botanical garden accounts for 21 percent, wit

The Grand Hyatt Seoul has completed the renovation of its suites. Australian design firm Bar Studio, which was in charge of the interior spaces within the Park Hyatt Shanghai, Park Hyatt Sydney and Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, led the recent renovation of the hotel’s 53 suites. The rooms have undergone a significant upgrade while embracing the original design of famed interior architect John Morford, with subtle references to Korean culture.Three premium-level suites -- the Diplomatic, Ambassador and

Hanbok for foreigners at Coex AquariumCoex Aquarium is holding an event where foreign visitors can try on Korea’s traditional costume, hanbok, free of charge. The event is being held Monday through Friday, from noon to 6 p.m. at Garden of Korea in the aquarium. It is a year-round event that is available exclusively for foreign visitors.Hanbok available at the event are styled after those worn by royals of the Joseon era.For more information on Coex Aquarium in Korean, English, Chinese or Japanes

For many expats in Korea, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, is like a home away home. More than 86,000 foreign nationals from 107 countries are registered to be living in the city about an hour’s drive west of Seoul. The city claims the highest foreign population density in Korea. Wongok-dong, especially, is heavily populated by foreign residents, with around 21,000 expats from 57 countries. In May 2009, the area was designated a Multicultural Village Special Zone. Expats from China, Indonesia, Nepal, I

It is the best season for outdoor markets right now -- whether they are flea markets, farmers’ markets or art markets. On weekends, stalls sprout up on streets and in parks, beckoning visitors to come enjoy a pleasant spring day at a lively marketplace. Some of them draw larger crowds, as they have made a name for themselves via word of mouth and social media. These markets have their home turf, but they also tour. They put up notices about upcoming dates and locations on social media, then shop

As part of the promotion for its Templestay programs – one- and two-day events featuring hands-on programs related to Buddhism and the related culture – the Korean Buddhist Cultural Foundation is launching special packages that include transportation options. As Korean temples are often located at remote mountains, it is often not easy for individuals, including foreign tourists, to visit the establishments on foot or by public transportation. Taking note of the situation, the foundation, in cha

Hanbok for foreigners at Coex AquariumCoex Aquarium is holding an event where foreign visitors can try on hanbok, free of charge. The event is held from Monday through Friday, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Garden of Korea in the aquarium. It is a year-round event that is available exclusively to foreigners.Hanbok is the Korean traditional clothing, and garments available at the event are styled after those worn by royals of Joseon era.For more information on Coex Aquarium in Korean, English, Chines