[Travel Bits]

Visit Korea’s first lighthouse

Palmido Lighthouse on Palmido Island in Jung-gu, Incheon, is Korea’s first lighthouse built in April 1903. It officially lit up for commercial ships in June 1903. Korea built the lighthouse due to pressure from Japan to open trade to the country.

It takes about 45 minutes by ferry to Palmido Island from Incheon Port International Passenger Terminal, and another 10 minutes to walk from the island’s dock to the top of the lighthouse.

Behind the original lighthouse, which guided the 1950 amphibious Incheon landing, there is a new lighthouse that has a museum with diorama miniature sets showing the reenactment of the Incheon assault.

Visitors will be able to walk around the island’s lighthouse in a woodland path. For more information, call Incheon City’s tourism office at (032) 440-4045.


See seascapes from Dorisan Observatory 

The Dorisan Observatory on the top of Mount Dorisan on Sangjodo Island in Jindo, South Jeolla Province, offers hikers and tourists a panoramic view of seven coastal areas of Dadohae Haesang National Park, the country’s largest national park, in the South and West Sea.

Visitors can see other islands in the region including Gwanmae, Byeongpung, Nabae, Daema and Soma Islands from the observatory, which many say “appear scattered over the sea like a flock of birds over water.”

Also, travelers can enjoy the sunrise and sunset from the observatory, and see as far as Hallasan Mountain on Jejudo Island on a clear day.

There are other attractions nearby such as Dondaebong Peak and Hajodo Lighthouse where tourists can enjoy beautiful scenic landscapes. For more information, visit http://tour.jindo.go.kr.

Ride bikes in Chuncheon

The Korea Tourism Organization will be expanding its bicycle riding tour program in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, in an effort to boost tourism in the region in the aftermath of the Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak.

It recently launched a pilot program enabling tourists to travel to Chuncheon from Yongsan Station via train and ride their bikes on a 30-kilometer course, and visit various attractions such as an animation museum.

Some 70 people participated in the biking program that also included water sports such as canoeing on Chuncheon’s Mulle-gil lake and river to enjoy the region’s scenery.

The state-run tourism agency said it would offer the program for families, friends and students every month until November.



Enjoy beautiful scenery of Jejudo 

Kensington Jeju Hotel will be offering the Autumn Scent Package enabling guests to enjoy Jejudo Island’s beautiful autumn scenery and wine.

The package, available from Sept. 8-Nov. 30, invites guests to Jejudo’s hills and fields filled with silver grass, alongside the Ollegil trails, the island’s well-known hiking course.

The hotel’s package includes a night in an autumnal brown-decorated Deluxe Room and a choice of breakfast from the well-known world cuisine buffet La Olle or Korean restaurant Dolmirong, and the wine party with the live performance of Italian operatic pop band Aida Duo.

Those who book more than two nights will have an additional chance to enjoy the Autumn Scent Tracking with the guidance of the hotel’s activity team, Kensington + Genie.

For more information, visit www.kensingtonjeju.com.



Tuna Festival to kick off in Philippines 

The Philippine Department of Tourism said the Tuna Festival will be held at General Santos, in the southernmost city in the Philippines, on Sept. 5.

Some 500 members of the Philippine fishing industries will gather to discuss the industry’s current position and future development direction.

People attending the Tuna Festival will have the opportunity to experience a tuna dish competition, various tuna dishes, and the Tuna Float Parade with colorful attractions and street dancing.

General Santos, also known as the “tuna capital of the Philippines,” is the largest producer of sashimi-grade tuna in the country. Most of the sashimi-grade tuna tasted in the Philippines is distributed by General Santos. General Santos’ highest-grade type tuna runs for an average of 8,000 won-13,000 won.