Bugok Hot Springs in Changnyeong sees tourism recovery

With facility renovations and 30th hot spring festival, tourism attraction expects to welcome 3 million visitors this year Tourism in the Bugok Hot Springs area of South Gyeongsan Province, once a major tourist destination in South Korea, is showing signs of recovery after a challenging period marked by the closure of the popular Bugok Hawaii resort and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Discovered in 1973, Bugok Hot Springs is a natural sulfur spring that produces more than 6,000 metric tons

Feb. 23, 2025

Travel agencies bet on premium package offerings

Premium travel packages see higher customer satisfaction and growing demand South Korean travel agencies are focusing on enhancing their premium travel packages this year, seeking to boost profitability and capture new demand. These premium offerings, which exclude the common drawbacks of package travel such as required shopping itineraries and add-ons, have become increasingly popular. They often feature business-class flights and stays at four- or five-star hotels, offering travelers a more lu

Feb. 23, 2025

Lotte World partners with Nexon for new MapleStory attraction

Three MapleStory-themed attractions to unveil in the first half of 2026 Lotte World, an amusement park in Jamsil, Seoul, has teamed up with Nexon, the publisher of MapleStory, to introduce a new theme zone called "Maple Island." The attraction, set to open in the first half of 2026, will be the park's first collaboration with external intellectual property for a dedicated theme zone. Previously, the two partnered on a smaller scale, introducing attractions such as World KartRacing (2021) and Kar

Feb. 14, 2025

Four Seasons Hotel Seoul retains Forbes 5-star rating for 6th consecutive year

Forbes Travel Guide 2025 recognizes the five-star hotel for exceptional services and sensuous interior Four Seasons Hotel Seoul maintained its prestigious Forbes five-star rating for the sixth consecutive year. The hotel received high praise from anonymous inspectors for its outstanding service, refined features and sensuous interior, according to Forbes. Located in the heart of Seoul, the 29-story luxury hotel first received Forbes five-star recognition in 2020. The hotel’s interior blends trad

Feb. 14, 2025

A weekend of unabashed gluttony

Annual four-day crab festival to open Feb. 28 around Hupo Port ULJIN, North Gyeongsang Province -- A culinary specialty is what makes this county with a population just shy of 50,000 residents look most crowded in winter: snow crabs. Most of the country’s crabbing takes place at Hupo Port, Uljin’s largest sitting at its southern tip along the east coast. Each winter, it draws thousands of visitors seeking ribbons of red and white meat, feathery soft and sweet. The port is also where a wholesale

Feb. 13, 2025

Korail to operate extra trains for Taebaeksan Snow Festival

Korail, the national railway operator, announced Friday that it will operate extra trains during the 32nd Taebaeksan Snow Festival to accommodate an increase in the number of visitors. The festival runs through Feb. 16. The special trains will run twice daily between Seoul Station and Taebaek Station on Sundays, Feb. 9 and Feb. 16. The services are expected to accommodate 1,700 passengers. The trains will depart Seoul Station at 7:28 a.m., while the return trains to Seoul will arrive at Seoul St

Feb. 7, 2025

Winter getaway without the travel

Stroll around gardens, borrow seeds and stop by exhibition at Seoul Botanic Park Seoul Botanic Park, the largest indoor botanical garden in the country, in Magok-dong, on the western edge of Seoul, is a four-story greenhouse that showcases unmatched varieties of plants from tropical to Mediterranean plans in two separate gardens. The Tropical Garden houses plants native to four countries: Indonesia, Vietnam, Brazil and Colombia. Plants indigenous to Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey Uzbekistan, Austr

Feb. 6, 2025

Korea Tourism Organization eyes early tourism boom

Tourism body to focus on overseas road shows in first half of 2025 The Korea Tourism Organization said it will wrap up 14 of the 20 overseas road shows planned for this year by June to hasten the recovery of the tourism sector. “Going forward, travel spending isn’t rosy given the escalating US-China trade conflict,” said Seo Young-choong, the state-run KTO’s acting president, during a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday, referring to potentially shrinking Chinese travel spending. China, which

Feb. 5, 2025

South Korea tourism surges in 2024 with record spending and arrivals

South Korea’s tourism industry had a banner year in 2024. Foreign visitors spent more money than ever before, pouring 9.26 trillion won ($6.39 billion) into the local economy -- a 33.8 percent increase from the previous year. The number of international arrivals also surged, reaching 16.37 million, nearly matching pre-pandemic levels. Yet, despite this boom, South Korea’s long-standing travel deficit is expected to widen, as outbound Korean travelers considerably outnumber inbound tourists. Shop

Feb. 5, 2025

Hwacheon ice fishing festival draws 1m visitors

The 2025 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, one of South Korea's most popular winter events, has welcomed over 1 million visitors, according to the event's organizers Friday. The festival, which began on Jan. 11, takes place in Hwacheon, a remote mountain town in Gangwon Province, located 25 kilometers south of the inter-Korean border and about 90 km northeast of Seoul. The event is scheduled to run through Feb. 2. Between its opening day and Friday afternoon, approximately 982,155 people visited

Jan. 24, 2025

Gangwon: Ski slopes for devotees and beginners

Ski resorts in Gangwon Province beckon last-minute skiers, snowboarders and snow lovers Gangwon Province has long been a haven for veteran skiers and dabblers alike, thanks to its mountainous landscape and the cold, snowy weather of the country’s easternmost region. Resorts and their well-groomed slopes welcome anyone seeking panoramic views from a chairlift and a post-ski soak. Alpensia Resort Located in Pyeongchang-gun, Alpensia Resort prides itself on being the “high-end” destination for skie

Jan. 23, 2025

Celebrate Seollal with traditional games at amusement parks

Amusement parks across Korea offer festive activities and discounts for the Lunar New Year holiday Amusement parks in Korea are preparing a variety of events to celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday Seollal. Seoul Land announced Tuesday that it will host the "Jijigo Bokgo Alley Playground" event in the park's Samchulli Hill area from Jan. 25 to 30. In this nostalgic alley, guests can enjoy photo zones wearing retro costumes and play traditional games such as ttakji-chigi (paper tile flipping) and

Jan. 22, 2025

Korea Grand Sale kicks off in largest-ever scale

The 2025 Korea Grand Sale officially kicked off Wednesday, marking the largest event in the festival’s history with participation from over 1,680 companies. The event runs through Feb. 28. Korea Grand Sale, a flagship shopping and cultural tourism festival, is aimed at boosting international tourism and spending during the winter. Organized in collaboration with private companies, the festival offers discounts and benefits on airlines, accommodations, shopping, dining and more. Airline promotion

Jan. 17, 2025

Greenery in the dead of winter

Gardens, forests to visit across country Freezing temperatures make lingering indoors evermore enticing, but a trip out to the woods could be refreshing, especially for plant and flower lovers. Even if you’re neither, a walk in the woods to breathe in forest air -- which some claim is therapeutic -- might just help you beat the mid-winter blahs. 1004 Island Garden Opened in 2004 in Shinan, South Jeolla Province, this garden runs an annual winter festival touting walking trails and a field of ca

Jan. 9, 2025

2025 travel trends: ESG, digital detox and nocturnal tourism

Environmental, social and governance considerations, digital detoxing and nocturnal tourism are set to define global travel trends in 2025. According to the Pacific Asia Travel Association, ESG will continue to play a larger role in the global tourism market as more travelers seek to minimize their environmental impact. "Sustainable travel continues to grow, with travelers becoming more aware of their environmental footprint and actively seeking ways to reduce their carbon impact," PATA said in

Jan. 3, 2025