-
Where to watch Daeboreum lunar eclipse in Seoul
On March 3, as South Korea marks Jeongwol Daeboreum, the first full moon of the lunar year, skywatchers will witness a rare spectacle: a total lunar eclipse, in which the moon slips entirely into the Earth’s shadow. Often called a “blood moon,” the phenomenon occurs when the moon passes into Earth’s shadow and sunlight, filtered through the planet’s atmosphere, bends and scatters shorter blue wavelengths before reaching the moon. The remaining red and orange light casts the moon in copper and cr
Feb. 20, 2026 -
Winter’s end with Luminarie and a seafood gem
Winter is drawing to a close, but its lingering, mysterious aura remains in Seoul, where tunnels of light offer a glowing escape, like a passage to another world. For a contrasting experience, a small, intimate seafood restaurant in Sindang, central Seoul, invites diners to savor the freshest seasonal flavors in a quiet corner of the city. The following are The Korea Herald's picks for this weekend. Each February, the outdoor plaza at the foot of sky-piercing Lotte World Tower is given over to a
Feb. 20, 2026 -
Packages and promotions
Cassia Sokcho welcomes spring flavors with dining promotions Cassia Sokcho is offering limited dining experiences built around seasonal herbs, seafood and matcha. At Vista, the hotel’s fourth-floor buffet restaurant, specials include herb-marinated tender roast beef, grilled king prawns, chili crab with crown daisy greens, sea squirt mulhoe and tuna carpaccio with seasonal greens. Horizon cafe and bakery's seasonal items include fernbrake and beef brisket aglio e olio, basil-cream shrimp fettucc
Feb. 20, 2026 -
Festivals, sights across Korea
The 2026 Uljin Snow Crab and Red Snow Crab Festival will take place Feb. 27-March 2 at Hupo Port in Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province, celebrating one of the region’s most prized winter delicacies. Held at Wangdolcho Plaza, the festival highlights Uljin’s signature seafood — snow crab and red snow crab — through tastings, auctions and hands-on experiences. Visitors can watch live performances by local artists, join cultural programs and try red snow crab fishing and yacht rides along the coast. L
Feb. 20, 2026 -
Korean cafes shape LA’s evolving coffee culture
LOS ANGELES — In Los Angeles, where coffee trends often emerge from independent roasters and neighborhood cafes, Korean-led coffee shops are increasingly shaping how the city drinks its daily cup. Justin and Hailey Bieber are known to start their mornings at Community Goods, a small takeout-focused cafe that has become the go-to for Korean-style lattes. Since opening in February 2023, the cafe has drawn long weekday lines for drinks developed by Korean head barista Brandon Cho. Among the most po
Feb. 19, 2026 -
Sono International expands into Japan with Sono Moon Nagoya in July
Sono International is preparing to enter the Japanese market with the opening of a newly rebranded hotel in Nagoya this summer, as the company accelerates its expansion across Asia. The company said Wednesday it has signed a management agreement for Compass Hotel Nagoya, located in Aichi Prefecture, and will reopen the property in July under its urban-style brand Sono Moon Nagoya following renovations. The 10-story hotel will offer 130 guest rooms, targeting business and leisure travelers to cen
Feb. 16, 2026 -
Runners brave subzero cold at 'Naked Marathon'
A total of 450 participants braved freezing temperatures on Saturday as they ran shirtless in the Pyeongchang Daegwallyeong Naked Marathon. Despite the cold, runners appeared in high spirits, drawing cheers from spectators. Participants removed their upper garments, with some performing a playful group jump before the race. The event was jointly organized by the Pyeongchang-gun Sports Council and the Daegwallyeong-myeon Sports Association. Organizers said the marathon aimed to encourage particip
Feb. 15, 2026 -
Packages and promotions
Four Seasons Hotel Seoul launches Seollal dining promotion Four Seasons Hotel Seoul is offering a Seollal gastronomic promotion designed for family gatherings, available across several dining venues. At Michelin one-star Cantonese restaurant Yu Yuan, guests can enjoy festive specialties such as Poon Choi, crispy suckling pig with fermented red tofu and ginger-infused nian gao through Feb. 22, with prices starting at 32,000 won. The hotel’s international buffet restaurant, The Market Kitchen, wil
Feb. 13, 2026 -
Festivals, sights across Korea
The Daegwallyeong Snow Festival, one of Korea’s longest-running winter events, returns to Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, through Feb. 22. The theme for this year's festival, which dates to 1993, follows Nundongi, Pyeongchang’s mascot, on a journey from aspiring winter athlete to a national team competitor, depicted through snow and ice sculptures. Visitors can explore a giant snow tunnel, sledding areas and winter sports experience zones. Traditional games, local food stalls and outdoor grilling
Feb. 13, 2026 -
Desert cool meets studio chic in downtown LA
By Hong Yoo Korea Herald correspondent LOS ANGELES — In a city where hotels often compete through scale, glamour or celebrity appeal, the Moxy and AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles stand out by combining two distinct hospitality experiences inside a single 37-story tower. Opened in April 2023 across from the Crypto.com Arena and the Los Angeles Convention Center, the property includes 727 guestrooms across the Moxy and AC Hotel brands. Designed by global studio Yabu Pushelberg with architecture by G
Feb. 12, 2026 -
Festivals, sights across Korea
Taebaeksan Snow Festival has opened at Taebaeksan National Park in Gangwon Province, transforming the mountains into a snowy playground for families and travelers alike. Running through Sunday, the event features towering snow sculptures, wide sledding hills, an igloo-style cafeteria and an indoor play zone for children. Meanwhile, Snow Land combines Taebaek’s local character with Korean cultural themes through large-scale snow artworks set against the park’s scenic winter landscape. For the fir
Feb. 6, 2026 -
Packages and promotions
Four Seasons Hotel Seoul invites Seven Yi to H. Bar for one night H. Bar inside the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul will host Taipei mixologist Seven Yi for a one-night guest shift on Wednesday. Yi, known for experimental cocktails with food pairings at his bars Room by Le Kief and Mad Men, will present a course-style menu that reworks classic drinks with modern techniques. The eight-seat bar operates like a tasting counter, so reservations are essential. Cocktails are priced at 29,000 won, served from
Feb. 6, 2026 -
Palaces, Jongmyo, royal tombs open free for Lunar New Year
In celebration of Seollal, Korea’s Lunar New Year holiday, the nation’s four main palaces in Seoul — Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung and Changdeokgung — along with the shrine Jongmyo and royal tombs, will open their doors to the public for free from Feb. 14 to 18, the Korea Heritage Service said Tuesday. Typically, visits to Jongmyo require guided tours at set times, but during the holiday period visitors will be able to explore the area freely. Admission to Changdeokgung’s Secret Gar
Feb. 2, 2026 -
KTO chief aims to attract 30m visitors by 2028
The head of the Korea Tourism Organization on Monday pledged to accelerate South Korea’s push to become a global tourism powerhouse, setting a goal of attracting 30 million foreign visitors by 2028 — two years earlier than previously planned. At his first press briefing since taking office, Park Sung-hyeuck outlined a slate of 10 flagship initiatives for 2026, which he called the “first year of execution” to transform tourism into a core growth engine for the national economy. Park previously se
Feb. 2, 2026 -
Steam meets frost: Spas and hot springs to warm up a long winter
As subzero temperatures linger, few winter pleasures rival sinking into steaming mineral water while frost hangs in the air. Across Korea, several spa and hot spring destinations combine therapeutic bathing with dramatic natural settings, turning the coldest months into the best season to travel. From forest-framed infinity pools to carbonated springs beneath volcanic peaks, these four spots offer restorative warmth and a reason to embrace winter. Forest Resom Have9 Spa In the mountains of North
Jan. 31, 2026