The Korea Times

As winters warm, Korea’s famed ice festivals face uncertain future

Korea’s best-known winter festivals are struggling to adapt to an increasingly unreliable cold season, with climate change unsettling the ice, snow and fishing conditions that once defined them. In North Gyeongsang Province, the city of Andong canceled the Amsan Ice Festival just 10 days before its scheduled opening on Jan. 17, after ice at the riverside venue failed to reach the minimum 25 centimeters required for safe sledding, skating and ice fishing. The festival, which typically draws about 300,000 visitors, was called off for the second time in three years because of poor ice conditions. Festivals in Gangwon Province have been dealing with similar setbacks. Inje County scrapped its signature smelt ice fishing festival on the Soyang River for a third consecutive year, after an unusually rainy autumn raised dam reservoir levels and repeated warm spells prevented the ice from forming properly, with flooding in parts of the planned venue. Nearby Pyeongchang postponed the opening of its trout festival from Jan. 1 to Jan. 9 and shortened its planned 40-day run by about 10 days after ic

Jan 7, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

As winters warm, Korea’s famed ice festivals face uncertain future

Society

Seoul’s landmark soup kitchen faces threat as neighborhood gentrifies

A yearslong legal battle over Babfor, Seoul’s most storied soup kitchen, has ignited a debate over the rising pressures of urban redevelopment and the fraying of Korea’s social safety net. Last month, a court blocked the Dongdaemun District Office’s attempt to demolish the site, handing a temporary reprieve to a Christian charity that has served as a lifeline for some of the city's most impoverished residents since 1988. The conflict comes as Korea grapples with the highest elderly poverty rate in the developed world, with nearly 40 percent of those over 65 living in relative poverty. Against a backdrop of low public social spending, Babfor — Korean for "sharing rice" — remains a critical stopgap, feeding up to 1,000 people daily. Yet as the neighborhood gentrifies, the charity’s future remains precarious, reflecting a broader tension between Seoul’s drive for modernization and its obligation to its most vulnerable citizens. The friction has intensified as Cheongnyangni, a neighborhood in northeastern Seoul, sheds its reputation from a gritty transit hub to luxury high-rise

Jan 7, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Seoul’s landmark soup kitchen faces threat as neighborhood gentrifies

Travel & Food

Everland opens sledding slopes as winter break begins

Everland has opened its signature Snow Buster sledding hill and expanded its winter attractions as schools enter winter vacation and the new year begins, the theme park’s operator said on Tuesday. Samsung C&T said all Snow Buster courses at Alpine Village are now running, following the weekend launch of the Express course, a roughly 200-meter run designed to resemble a white alpine slope. The Express Course seats up to four riders in a giant circular tube, allowing groups to face each other while experiencing a thrilling ride. The Racing Course, which opened last month, offers solo riders a faster downhill run that highlights the speed and excitement of winter racing, the company said. A rail slide next to the sledding area, available year-round, gives visitors another way to race down three different sledding tracks. Everland has also expanded its Snow Playground to some 793 square meters, adding body slides and wooden sleds for visitors of all ages to play freely in the snow. Its Snow Yard area caters to families with young children where they can build snowmen and ride mini sleds t

Jan 6, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Everland opens sledding slopes as winter break begins

Travel & Food

Beyond Seoul, Busan and Jeju, can Korea turn tourism surge into lasting growth?

Beyond Seoul, Busan and Jeju, Korea’s regional cities are emerging as the next hot spots for overseas visitors, buoyed by a global shift toward slower, experience-driven travel that looks beyond marquee destinations. For years, most foreign visitors to Korea have gravitated toward a familiar trio: the shopping streets and royal palaces of Seoul, the beaches and nightlife of Busan and the volcanic landscapes of Jeju Island. Now, with inbound tourism expected to reach record highs, that pattern is beginning to shift. What sets this recovery apart from earlier booms is not just the number of visitors, but how — and where — they travel and spend. Industry tracker Yanolja Research projects that 20.36 million foreign tourists will visit Korea this year, up 8.7 percent from a year earlier and surpassing the pre-pandemic peak, with the figure possibly climbing to 21 million if geopolitical tensions redirect more Chinese travelers from Japan to Korea. Data from travel platform Klook indicates that the number of products targeting foreign tourists in provincial regions has doubled from a yea

Jan 6, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Beyond Seoul, Busan and Jeju, can Korea turn tourism surge into lasting growth?

Travel & Food

Seoul Lantern Festival extended after drawing record 2.7 mil. visitors

The 2025 Seoul Lantern Festival, which has drawn a record 2.77 million visitors in its first 20 days, will be extended by two weeks through Jan. 18 along central Seoul’s Cheonggye and Ui streams, according to the Seoul Tourism Organization. Held under the theme "My Light, Our Dream, Seoul’s Magic," the annual nighttime event has enjoyed booming popularity among both locals and international tourists with its blend of traditional hanji paper lanterns and immersive media art installation that transform the downtown waterway into a glowing corridor. Originally scheduled to end Sunday, Jan. 4, the festival will now continue through Jan. 18 between Cheonggye Plaza and Samil Bridge, a 1.1-kilometer stretch in the heart of the city, organizers said. The festival will be closed on Monday for maintenance and rearrangement of installations before reopening the next day. The extension follows a roughly 60 percent increase in visitors from the previous year. City officials view the festival as a signature winter attraction, part of broader efforts to boost nighttime tourism and to diversify exp

Jan 5, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Seoul Lantern Festival extended after drawing record 2.7 mil. visitors

Environment & Animals

Overseas wildfires linked to severe fine dust alert in Korea: study

Overseas wildfires were among the causes of Korea’s heavy ultrafine dust episode on Nov. 24 last year, when advisories were issued in multiple central and western regions, according to the Seoul Institute of Health and Environment on Friday. The institute said a detailed chemical analysis of fine dust that day showed smoke from biomass burning abroad had mixed with local emissions and long-range industrial pollution to worsen air quality. Using a high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometer, the institute detected a clear fingerprint of biomass burning organic aerosol, or BBOA, in samples collected during the episode, confirming that overseas wildfires were one of several contributors. An official said there were no major wildfires burning in Korea at the time, while large forest fires were reported in China with winds blowing toward the Korean Peninsula, making it likely that the smoke traveled from there. Seoul’s ultrafine dust concentration that day averaged 76 micrograms per cubic meter, peaking at 92 micrograms per cubic meter. The advisory issued on Nov. 24 lasted for 11 hours and

Jan 2, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Overseas wildfires linked to severe fine dust alert in Korea: study

Society

Korea’s running trend shows no signs of slowing in 2026

Korea’s streets, parks and even travel itineraries are being redrawn by the sound of pounding feet, as a nationwide running trend shows no sign of slowing. Once a preserve of a small group of enthusiasts, running has evolved into a mass hobby, with some 10 million people — roughly double the figure from 2015 — now estimated to identify themselves as runners and lace up regularly, according to industry and tourism data. Marathons and road races are multiplying across the country, and running-themed trips, dubbed "run trips," that combine travel and races are emerging as a new form of leisure. For office worker Yoo Jae-moon, 38, the trend began last fall with a suggestion from a colleague. "I used to struggle even with walking fast," Yoo said. "Now I run 5 kilometers very slowly after work or on weekends, and just hitting 30 or 40 minutes feels like a big achievement." Running, he added, has helped him lose weight and feel stronger in his back and shoulders, and he is now considering his first half marathon this year. The appeal for many lies in simplicity and autonomy. After the COVI

Jan 2, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Korea’s running trend shows no signs of slowing in 2026

Travel & Food

Seoul turns Han River swimming pools into snow sledding hills for winter fun

Seoul opened snow sledding hills at three Han River parks on Wednesday, offering residents and visitors a chance to enjoy winter recreation in the heart of the city. The seasonal venues in Ttukseom, Jamwon and Yeouido feature snow slopes made from the swimming pools that are open during the summer season. They also feature play zones and character-themed attractions designed for visitors of all ages. This year’s themed areas will feature popular children’s characters. Yeouido Park will host Zanmang Loopy, Jamwon will showcase Pororo and Friends and Ttukseom will present Pororo and Tayo’s travel adventure zone. The facilities will operate for 50 days without any off days, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Feb. 18. Operations will pause for one hour at 1 p.m. each day for slope maintenance and snow grooming, city officials said. Admission is 6,000 won ($4) for all visitors, granting access to sledding activities, a play area for kids, rest spaces and live character performances. Discounts of 50 percent are available for people with disabilities and their caregivers, people aged 65 and

Jan 1, 2026By Lee Hae-rin

Seoul turns Han River swimming pools into snow sledding hills for winter fun

Travel & Food

Korea’s horse-themed travel spots to celebrate Year of the Red Horse

The Year of the Red Horse, which comes around once every 60 years in the traditional zodiac cycle, invites residents and international visitors to seek out journeys that feel as bold and restless as the animal itself. Leaning into that fiery momentum, the Seoul Tourism Organization (STO) spotlights a trio of horse-themed urban walks in the capital, while beyond Seoul, classic sunrise peaks and "island of horses" Jeju offer their own ways to greet the new year's zodiac animal on the road. New Year dawn hike on Mount Yongma On Seoul’s eastern edge, Mount Yongma rises as one of the city’s most beloved and accessible sunrise hikes — an ideal spot to usher in the new year with energy and promise. Its name, meaning "dragon horse," recalls legends of a mythical steed said to have taken flight from Yongma Park, as well as its historic link to royal stables in the foothills during the 1392-1910 Joseon era. Despite its urban surroundings, Mount Yongma retains much of its natural landscape, where hikers may even spot mountain goats along the trail. Accessibility is another draw: proximity to

Dec 31, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Korea’s horse-themed travel spots to celebrate Year of the Red Horse

People & Events

Marketing veteran appointed new head of Korea Tourism Organization after 2 years of leadership vacuum

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism appointed Park Sung-hyeuck, a former vice president and corporate adviser of Cheil Worldwide, as the new president of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), Wednesday, filling a post that had been vacant for nearly two years. The ministry said Park, 57, will serve as the KTO’s 27th president and begin work immediately, and his official appointment ceremony will take place at a later date. A graduate of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies with a master’s degree in journalism from Chung-Ang University, Park is pursuing a doctoral degree in media communication at his alma mater. Over his 30-year career at Cheil, he led the company’s global operations, including posts overseeing Europe and North America. Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young said Park is "a leader with international marketing expertise and strong management skills," expressing confidence that he will help the KTO reach its goal of attracting 30 million foreign visitors and redefine the "K-Tourism" brand. Park’s appointment came as a surprise to many in the tourism sector, as he h

Dec 31, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Lee Hae-rin

Read more

As winters warm, Korea’s famed ice festivals face uncertain future

Seoul’s landmark soup kitchen faces threat as neighborhood gentrifies

Everland opens sledding slopes as winter break begins

Beyond Seoul, Busan and Jeju, can Korea turn tourism surge into lasting growth?

Seoul Lantern Festival extended after drawing record 2.7 mil. visitors

Overseas wildfires linked to severe fine dust alert in Korea: study

Korea’s running trend shows no signs of slowing in 2026

Seoul turns Han River swimming pools into snow sledding hills for winter fun

Korea’s horse-themed travel spots to celebrate Year of the Red Horse

Marketing veteran appointed new head of Korea Tourism Organization after 2 years of leadership vacuum

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