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Inside Yeongwol Geo Museum and the communities shaped by rock
YEONGWOL, Gangwon Province -- In a quiet corner of Gangwon Province, a former coal town is rewriting its relationship with the ground beneath it. Yeongwol, long known for its mines, fossils and winding rivers, is now home to a new cultural site that seeks to explain how geology has shaped not only landscapes, but also the lives and histories of the people who lived upon them. The Yeongwol Geo Museum, which opens on Dec. 19, is the passion project of director Min Gyeong-mun, who spent 10 years st
Dec. 13, 2025 -
Packages and promotions
Grand Hyatt Seoul unveils coffee-themed "Wonder Atelier" pop-up Grand Hyatt Seoul’s lounge, JJ Mahoney’s, has launched “Wonder Atelier,” a winter pop-up created in collaboration with Nespresso. JJ Mahoney’s introduces a coffee-driven twist to its nightlife scene with a complimentary espresso-shot entrance, a rotating Nespresso capsule Ferris wheel installation and limited-edition coffee cocktails. The highlight is “Nespresso Wonder Night” on Saturday, featuring specialty drinks, DJ performances
Dec. 12, 2025 -
Festivals, sights across Korea
The Yangpyeong Ice Trout Festival returned this winter to Bongsang 2-ri in Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, running through March 2. Held in Sumi Village, a rural tourism destination recognized for its activities, lodging and food, the festival highlights the clean waters and natural scenery of the region. Visitors can enjoy ice fishing for trout, along with hands-on programs such as net scooping, barehand trout catching and dedicated fishing zones. The festival also offers family-friendly act
Dec. 12, 2025 -
Polytrips named Asia’s best cruise travel agency at World Cruise Awards
Polytrips, a Korean cruise-focused travel platform, was named Asia’s best cruise travel agency at the 2025 World Cruise Awards, marking the first time a Korean company has taken the regional title. The ceremony took place Dec. 6 in Bahrain, where industry members and global voters chose Polytrips over contenders from Singapore, Vietnam and Hong Kong. The recognition reflects how Polytrips has expanded its presence beyond its home market. CEO Choi Jong-gul, who built a sizable following online by
Dec. 11, 2025 -
Korean tourism to move toward more tailored travel in 2026: KTO
The Korea Tourism Organization Monday released its forecast for 2026 on Monday, projecting that travel to the country will be marked by individuals tailoring their plans to reflect individual tastes, rather fitting into than simple overall tourist categories. The forecast, presented as “D.U.A.L.I.S.M.,” is based on a three-year analysis of overall shifts in the travel enviroment, mobile and credit card data, social media patterns, expert interviews and consumer surveys. The report highlights sev
Dec. 10, 2025 -
Packages and promotions
Contemporary holiday setting at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul Four Seasons Hotel Seoul has turned its lobby into a contemporary winter scene for the holiday season, using sculptural trees and warm red, gold, and green tones that echo the property’s modern design. Alongside the decor, the hotel is offering its annual Confections by Four Seasons program, available through Jan. 5. The menu includes take-home roasts such as rib-eye and porchetta, priced from 450,000 to 550,000 won, and cakes. Options inc
Dec. 5, 2025 -
Festivals, sights across Korea
The Haeundae Light Festival returns for its 12th edition, illuminating Haeundae and the nearby Gunam-ro area in Busan with a vibrant display of winter lights. Running until Jan. 18, the festival invites visitors to experience “Stellar Haeundae." The event features large-scale light sculptures, immersive media art installations, hands-on programs and evening events. Along the beach, a galaxy-inspired pathway uses shimmering light formations to create the sensation of walking through a starlit Mil
Dec. 5, 2025 -
Make your own kimchi in Gwangju
GWANGJU — The southern city long celebrated for its bold flavors is inviting travelers to experience kimchi as more than a side dish — as culture, history and even performance. On Dec. 5, Gwangju will launch “Gwangju: Where Kimchi Becomes Art,” a new one-night, two-day culinary tourism program developed as part of the national K-gastronomic Belt initiative. The program follows the success of a day-trip version introduced in October. With strong demand from visitors, the city expanded the program
Nov. 29, 2025 -
How Korea’s trails became a cultural destination
Lari, a 20-year-old from France, hiked Gwanaksan in southern Seoul during her first visit to Korea in June. A YouTube video of K-pop singer Boo Seung-kwan at the summit inspired her, as she is a fan of his group, Seventeen. “I really liked the views throughout the trail, even though I was a bit scared at the very top. The few people I met were nice, and someone even helped me find the right way at one point,” Lari said. Long regarded as a destination mainly for older locals, Korea's trails are n
Nov. 29, 2025 -
Festivals, sights across Korea
Everland opens its annual winter celebration Friday with Christmas Fantasy, a park-wide festival running through Dec. 31. Visitors can enjoy a Christmas parade featuring Santa, Rudolph and festive floats, along with a new nighttime “K-Pop Demon Hunters Sing-along Fireworks Show” created with Netflix. Daily photo sessions with Santa, elves and Everland mascots add to the family-friendly fun, while the Grand Stage presents two showings of the holiday musical “Very Merry Santa Village.” The Alpine
Nov. 28, 2025 -
Packages and promotions
Lotte Hotel Seoul brings back annual winter strawberry event Lotte Hotel Seoul's annual winter strawberry event is back, offering a dessert buffet and afternoon tea set through April 30. The Peninsula Lounge & Bar presents more than 30 strawberry-based sweets, such as cakes and chocolate fondue, alongside 10 hot dishes, including lamb chops and carved beef. The special December buffet is 150,000 won per person, with seatings on Thursday and Friday evenings and three sessions on weekends and holi
Nov. 28, 2025 -
Everland ushers in early holiday season with Christmas Fantasy festival
Everland's annual winter program launches Friday, bringing festive parades, themed performances and seasonal attractions to its Christmas Fantasy festival through Dec. 31. The park’s main Christmas parade — a 30-minute procession featuring Santa, Rudolph and dancers moving to holiday classics — returns with updated floats sporting trees, sleighs and cakes. Nighttime programming includes a new “K-Pop Demon Hunters Sing-along Fireworks Show,” created in collaboration with Netflix. Family-friendly
Nov. 24, 2025 -
Festivals, sights across Korea
The K-Food Festival Knock-Knock is taking place at Sejongno Park near Gwanghwamun Square through Dec. 31. The event runs every Friday to Sunday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., with free admission for all visitors. The festival highlights a wide range of Korean cuisine through an expanded lineup of 25 participating food trucks, increased from 15 last year. It also broadens its offerings to 15 categories of Korean dishes, providing both residents and international tourists with a broader selection of K-foo
Nov. 21, 2025 -
Agoda taps comedian Lee Su-ji as ambassador for new Korea campaign
Digital travel platform Agoda has named popular comedian Lee Su-ji as the ambassador for its new domestic brand campaign, aiming to spotlight its expanded range of motel booking options and value-driven travel deals. Released Wednesday, the campaign features advertisements on Meta and YouTube, leveraging the platforms’ broad reach and Lee’s strong public appeal. The ad video humorously depicts a couple’s conversation inside a motel room, weaving in Agoda’s affordable offerings and booking benefi
Nov. 19, 2025 -
Korean travel to Southeast Asia takes a hit amid Cambodia trafficking crisis
Korean travelers are pulling back from Southeast Asia amid growing reports of scams and kidnappings in Cambodia. In October, the number of travelers flying from South Korea to Southeast Asian countries dropped sharply, with Cambodia seeing the steepest fall. According to passenger statistics released Sunday by Incheon International Airport Corporation, departures to Southeast Asia declined by 7.25 percent from the previous month (to 784,962 travelers). Cambodia alone saw a 15.4 percent drop, fro
Nov. 16, 2025