Winter ski and snow escapes

The Korean phrase “it’s dangerous outside the blanket” often feels truest in winter. Yet those who venture out are rewarded with a transformed landscape — mountains blanketed in white, frozen valleys turned into ice galleries, and slopes teeming with skiers. As temperatures drop, winter travel in Korea is beginning, particularly among visitors seeking snowy experiences unavailable in their home countries. One of the country’s most prominent winter destinations is High1 Resort in Jeongseon, Gangw

Jan. 3, 2026

Tea, horses and a moment to pause: Weekend ideas to start new year

As the new year settles in, the weekend offers a chance to slow down and look inward — whether by lingering over hand-brewed tea in a quiet corner near Mangwon Market or by wandering through an exhibition at the National Folk Museum that reflects on humanity’s enduring bond with the horse, a symbol of guidance, belief and resolve. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city and nearby Mangwon Market sits T.Nomad, a quiet, traditional tea house serving hand-brewed teas in handmade pottery cups, a

Jan. 2, 2026

Packages and promotions

Grand Hyatt Seoul introduces winter tasting course at Teppan Grand Hyatt Seoul has introduced a winter tasting course at its teppanyaki restaurant, Teppan, built around seasonal ingredients and restrained cooking techniques. Titled “Evolution,” the course emphasizes texture, warmth and balance rather than visual complexity. The menu opens with a Pyongyang-style cold noodles, followed by seasonal sea bream, blue lobster with seaweed sauce, and hairtail cooked teppan-style with gochujang. The main

Jan. 2, 2026

Festivals, sights across Korea

Everland and Caribbean Bay have introduced a new winter program allowing visitors to enjoy both parks with a single ticket in one day. The “Ever to Cabi” pass lets guests move freely between Everland’s winter attractions and Caribbean Bay’s heated spa facilities. Visitors can start the day sledding at Everland’s Snow Buster, warm up in Caribbean Bay’s indoor and outdoor spas, and return to Everland in the evening for fireworks and seasonal performances. A free shuttle bus directly connects the s

Jan. 2, 2026

Marketing expert behind Samsung 'Anycall' ad named new tourism agency head

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism appointed Park Sung-hyeuck, a former vice president and corporate advisor of Cheil Worldwide, as the new president of the Korea Tourism Organization on Wednesday. Park’s appointment follows a monthslong leadership vacancy at the KTO after former KTO President Kim Jang-sil stepped down in January 2024 to run in the general elections. Park has no political background or prior involvement in the tourism industry. According to the ministry, Park, 57, will

Dec. 31, 2025

[Best Brand] Hanatour accelerates product diversification, AI adoption as Korea's travel market rebounds

South Korea's leading travel agency Hanatour is betting on premium packages and artificial intelligence to capture growth as the country's outbound tourism market rebounds from the pandemic. The company said mid-to-high-end package sales reached 54 percent of total package revenue in the third quarter, a quarterly record. The gains were driven by HanaPack 2.0, a premium offering that scraps the mandatory shopping stops long embedded in Korean group tours -- a practice that generated rebates for

Dec. 29, 2025

Travel in 2026 puts individual at center

Travel in 2026 will be less about ticking off destinations and more about personal meaning, identity and self-directed experience, according to a global survey released by Booking.com. Based on responses from nearly 29,000 travelers across 33 countries, including South Korea, the report points to a decisive shift away from standardized itineraries toward travel shaped by individual values, interests and emotional needs. The defining theme is simple: the traveler, not the trend, is now the main c

Dec. 27, 2025

Packages and promotions

Grand Josun Jeju rings in 2026 with Candlelight Concert Grand Josun Jeju is offering a limited year-end package, “Grand Golden Finale,” for guests seeking a refined New Year’s Eve experience. Available through Dec. 30 and limited to 30 rooms, the package includes two A-grade tickets to a candlelight concert held at the hotel’s Halla Hall. The performance features the Lisus Quartet playing 17 classical pieces amid thousands of LED candles, culminating in a live countdown from 11 p.m. to just afte

Dec. 26, 2025

Festivals, sights across Korea

Aqua Planet has launched a series of Christmas-themed performances and promotions nationwide, strengthening family-oriented programs for the holiday season. At its Gwanggyo location, Santa-clad mermaids will perform up to seven shows a day through Sunday. Jeju has introduced its first Santa stingray feeding show, using technology to project festive imagery into the tanks throughout December. In Yeosu, visitors can enjoy a Santa diver feeding show, with a 30 percent admission discount offered to

Dec. 26, 2025

Gen Z drives short, event-focused travel as nature and self-discovery gain ground in 2026

Travel in 2026 is expected to be faster, more intentional and increasingly shaped by younger travelers, with a shift toward short overseas trips, nature-based escapes and purpose-driven journeys tied to major cultural events. One of the most notable changes is the rise of ultra-short international travel, led largely by Gen Z. Trips lasting just one or two days are growing faster than long vacations, as many younger travelers choose intense, experience-packed itineraries over extended downtime.

Dec. 19, 2025

Festivals, sights across Korea

The Seoul Lantern Festival runs through Jan. 4, transforming Cheonggyecheon and Uicheon into a large-scale nighttime art exhibition. Now in its 17th edition, the festival showcases more than 400 illuminated installations. Visitors can expect a range of light sculptures made from hanji paper, LED structures, kinetic art and large air balloons, complemented by immersive effects using sound, mist and aurora-style lighting. Each zone presents a different narrative, from Seoul’s past, present and fut

Dec. 19, 2025

Two ways to spend year-end in Seoul: Festive outdoor market and quiet, cozy wine bar

As the year draws to a close, Gwanghwamun Square has turned festive with the return of Seoul’s signature European-style Christmas market. Running through Dec. 31, Gwanghwamun Market positions itself as an ideal weekend outing for families, couples and visitors seeking a year-end atmosphere. Now in its fourth year, the 2025 edition is bigger, both in terms of its visual scale and its participatory programs. The market's “Santa Village” concept includes photo zones throughout the square. Admission

Dec. 19, 2025

Packages and promotions

Four Seasons Hotel Seoul curates festive experiences Four Seasons Hotel Seoul brings a range of festive offerings this Christmas season, including family-focused accommodation packages, takeaway dining and signature holiday cakes. The "Kids For All Seasons" package for families with children includes an overnight stay, hotel credit, children’s classes and access to a kids-only lounge. The package is available from 1.08 million won per night for a Premier King Room with stays valid through June 3

Dec. 19, 2025

Lotte Hotel acquires New York Palace land for $490m

Lotte Hotels & Resorts said Monday it has acquired the land beneath the Lotte New York Palace in Midtown Manhattan for $490 million, completing full ownership of one of New York City’s landmark luxury hotels. The South Korean hotel operator purchased the site from the Archdiocese of New York following years of negotiations. Lotte has owned the hotel building since 2015, but had leased the land under a long-term agreement that required rent resets every 25 years. The acquisition removes exposure

Dec. 15, 2025

Festive lights, vintage sidecars and new creative hub in Singapore

SINGAPORE — From colorful lights cascading over towering Supertrees to Vespa sidecar rides through heritage districts, Singapore is rolling out a mix of holiday events and cultural experiences this season. At Gardens by the Bay, the Supertree Grove’s nightly light show — typically held twice a day — runs three times during the Christmas period as Christmas Wonderland continues through Jan. 1. The annual market draws both locals and tourists with food stalls, photo booths, artificial snow and fes

Dec. 13, 2025