Although Dongdaemun and Namdaemun tend to dominate many lists of “must-see markets” in Seoul, small-scale markets that are equally full of history and character are scattered across the city. This is the seventh installment of a series introducing traditional local markets. ― Ed.A short stroll from the hustle and bustle of the glitzy mega shopping mall of Yeongdeungpo Times Square is a retail relief that couldn’t be more opposite of modern-day purchasing. Despite the vast number of traditional m

Rail cruise in KoreaKorail Tourism Development is gearing up to promote its nationwide rail cruise called Haerang in an effort to attract more foreign tourists during the summer.The Haerang cruise express offers three-day and two-day tourism programs enabling travelers to see Korea’s beautiful landscapes while staying overnight in the train’s hotel-style rooms.It travels as far as Jeonju City in North Jeolla Province, where travelers can visit its famous hanok villages of traditional Korean home

Heal your soul with scenic beauty of Geirangerfjord

In the heart of Jongno-gu, just east of Gyeongbokgung Palace, lies the quaint hillside neighborhood of Samcheong-dong, well-known for its abundance of chic cafes and small gift shops. From offering simple one-room hanok stays to the more sophisticated options of established hanok boutique hotels ― such as the Cheong Yeon Jae Hanok Hotel or the Haeinjung Boutique Hanok Hotel ― this area has been a magnet for tourists looking to regale in the out-of-the-box lodging experience and a taste of past-t

When Paul McCartney was planning a visit to Korea for his first concert in Seoul on May 2, he requested his team to find a hotel with a room that comes with a balcony.In the overpopulated business district of Gangnam, a hotel room with a balcony is rare. When everyone was curious where the 72-year-old rock star stayed, his fans on a hunt to spot their star found out that McCartney was staying at the Ritz-Carlton, Seoul, located just 5 kilometers from the concert venue at Jamsil Sports Complex. L

At its core, the function of a hotel is to offer guests a place to stay the night. However, in Korea, luxury hotels are widely known for another function: hosting gatherings of various types and sizes. These events have become an important source of revenue for hotels, which are facing fierce competition from guest houses offering cheaper accommodations and rental services like AirBnB. “If you look at the sales figures, banquets such as conferences and weddings make more than rooms,” said Hannah

Urban dwellers have, at least once, dreamed of taking a spontaneous trip with little or no planning.Kim Ka-young, cofounder of Bonbonlab, the developer of hotel booking application Hotel Now, was one of them.When Kim was in her senior year at a local university, she randomly took a train to Busan without planning what to do and where to stay. She then realized that there was no affordable accommodation available for her that night. She contacted some 20 hotels and hostels, but they demanded a su

‘Korea Night’ in LAThe Korea Tourism Organization will hold “Korea Night” at LA Dodgers Stadium on June 17 when the Dodgers and Texas Rangers face off in a Major League Baseball match.Korean players Ryu Hyun-jin, a starting pitcher for the LA Dodgers, and Choo Shin-soo, a Texas Rangers outfielder, will participate in the promotion of Korea to the some 50,000 spectators at the stadium, according to the KTO.K-pop girl group 2NE1’s CL will throw the first pitch of the game, and Korean rock singer Y

Gyeonggi’s biggest traditional market famous for ‘oiljang’ flea market

Koreans take the fewest vacations in the world, according to a survey by Expedia, the world’s largest online travel company.They go on a vacation for about eight days a year, well below the world average of 20 days. The French take about 30 days of vacation.The company’s 2014 survey showed that this was mostly because of the negative perception of vacation by Korean bosses, and their tight work schedule.Faced with Korea’s longstanding rigid labor policy, Expedia seeks to change this by increasin

Hadong Wild Tea FestivalHadong County in South Gyeongsang Province will host the 19th Hadong Wild Tea Cultural Festival from May 22-25.The festival will include programs to educate about Hadong’s unique tea history that dates back to the Unified Silla era.It will also have programs where visitors can hand-pick wild tea leaves from the gardens, and make teas, with demonstrations on tea-drinking etiquette for the young.Hadong officials said the festival will hold sideline events such as singing co

Discover the land of great thinkers and artists - Luther, Bach, Goethe and Schiller

Lotus Lantern Festival in SeoulThe Lotus Lantern Festival will take place from May 15-17 in celebration of Buddha’s Birthday in the Jogyesa Temple, Ujeongguk-ro and Gwanghwamun areas. A 1,300-year-old tradition with over 300,000 Korean and foreign participants each year, the festival features 100,000 lotus lanterns of various shapes and colors lighting up the Seoul night, alongside hands-on activities and family-oriented programs. The exhibition of traditional lanterns will be held from May 15-2