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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

KTO looks to Singapore, Jakarta to bolster MICE growth

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) launched an intensive Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) promotion campaign in Singapore and Jakarta last week, targeting the Asia-Pacific market through trade events and industry roadshows held Tuesday to Friday. The KTO began its push at The Meetings Show Asia Pacific 2026, held from Monday to Tuesday at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. As the region’s largest MICE trade fair, the event drew about 2,000 participants from 72 countries. The KTO operated a national pavilion with 22 domestic partners — including regional convention bureaus, travel agencies and hotels — and held more than 450 one-on-one meetings with buyers from around the world. The pavilion’s interactive program paired artificial intelligence-driven beauty consultations with tastings of traditional Korean liquors, offering a snapshot of Korea’s past and future. It then staged the “Korea MICE Roadshows” in Singapore on Thursday at the Hilton Singapore Orchard and in the Indonesian capital Friday at the Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta. More than 30 Korea

Apr 17, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
KTO looks to Singapore, Jakarta to bolster MICE growth

K-food guide: Add these healthy touches to your jjajangmyeon

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Jjajangmyeon or Korean black bean sauce noodles is loved not only as a quick lunch for office workers but also as a go-to dining-out dish for special occasions. However, since both the noodles and sauce are high in carbohydrates, fat and sodium, it can lead to weight gain and rapid spikes in blood sugar. Here are some suggestions for healthier ways to enjoy jjajangmyeon. Reduce noodles If you’re watching your weight, start by cutting down the portion of noodles. Reduce it to about two-thirds and instead add vegetables such as onions, cucumbers or cabbage. This helps maintain a feeling of fullness while lowering overall calorie intake. Limit sauce intake Also, avoid mixing in all the sauce — use only a small amount to reduce fat and sodium intake. It’s also best to limit pickled radish (danmuji), which is high in sodium and sugar, to just a few pieces. Eat protein first If your jjajangmyeon comes with an egg on top, it’s better to eat it before the noodles. Consuming protein-rich foods like a boiled egg before the main meal slows gastric em

Apr 17, 2026By Kormedi.com
K-food guide: Add these healthy touches to your jjajangmyeon

KTO aims to attract 2.32 mil. Taiwanese visitors this year

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) is stepping up efforts to attract Taiwanese tourists to Korea’s central regions, launching a familiarization tour this week for travel industry professionals and media from Taiwan as part of a push to reach a record annual visitor target. Taiwan accounted for 1.89 million visitors to Korea last year, making it the third-largest source of inbound tourists, and KTO has set a target of 2.32 million Taiwanese visitors for 2026. The tour, to be held from April 16 to 21, is centered on Korea's central areas — including Gangwon, North Chungcheong and South Chungcheong provinces, as well as Daejeon — and is built around flagship content developed under a KTO Taipei office initiative designating 2026 as "Visit Central Korea Year." KTO plans to use the tour to accelerate the development and commercialization of regionally focused travel packages. Business-to-business meetings between Korean and Taiwanese travel industry representatives will also be arranged to open new sales channels and expand bookings. The initiative follows a sales mission to Taiwan fr

Apr 16, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
KTO aims to attract 2.32 mil. Taiwanese visitors this year

Korea Tourism Organization launches K League-linked football travel package

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) said Monday it will introduce a K League-linked travel package in May, offering train-based trips designed to turn match-day visits into longer regional stays. The "K League Trip Day" program, developed with Korail Tourism Development and K League, was conceived in response to rising fuel costs that have increased the burden of car travel, while also aiming to boost local economies by converting fan travel into extended stays. The package has two formats. The first package targets traveling fans of Daejeon Hana Citizen, with a day trip option timed to home matches on May 5 against Incheon United and May 16 against FC Seoul. Trains will depart Yongsan Station for Seo-Daejeon Station, with two dedicated ITX cars reserved for fans and stocked with cheering banners and club character merchandise. Pre- and post-match itineraries include visits to local bakeries and commercial districts. Each departure accommodates 120 passengers on a first-come, first-served basis, for a total of 240 spots across both trips, with prices starting in the 80,000-won ($54.37)

Apr 15, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Korea Tourism Organization launches K League-linked football travel package

White kimchi wins Texans’ hearts

On March 29, the Asia Society Texas Center drew a diverse crowd of attendees — from engineers at global consulting firm McKinsey to ballerinas and students from Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin. They gathered there for a kimchi workshop, the first of its kind at the center. The program proved far more popular than expected. “Initially we had planned to host a small, intimate workshop, but due to overwhelming demand we had to increase our capacity,” Matthew Fuller, the center’s director of business and policy, said. “We ended up selling out the event and welcoming 70 guests.” Fuller said attendees responded enthusiastically. “They really enjoyed learning about kimchi and Korean culture, as well as the many Korean snacks and drinks we prepared,” he said. The workshop marked a memorable experience for many participants. “It was the first time many of our guests made kimchi, and they had a lot of fun learning. Everyone went home with their own jar of baek kimchi (white kimchi),” Fuller added. “We received incredible feedback afterward, and we’re

Apr 15, 2026By Kang Hyun-kyung
White kimchi wins Texans’ hearts

Gov't launches 3-city roadshow to bolster tourism marketing

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) will hold a three-region roadshow to introduce inbound marketing support services for businesses seeking to attract international tourists to Korea. This year’s roadshow will open April 23 in Busan, covering South Gyeongsang Province, before moving to Jeonju on April 29 for North Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces, and concluding May 12 in Seoul for the greater capital region. Each stop will include tailored consultations and support services for participating businesses. Sessions will include an overview of KTO's inbound marketing support services, lectures on marketing and tourism and one-on-one consultations with tourism specialists. After the consultations, KTO will provide additional follow-up support including familiarization tours organized through its overseas offices and assistance with listings on online travel agencies to help companies achieve tangible results. Local governments, regional tourism organizations, travel agencies and businesses in fields such as medical services, wellness, beaut

Apr 14, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Gov't launches 3-city roadshow to bolster tourism marketing

Korea sees surge in provincial travel as foreign arrivals climb

Key regional tourism indicators rose across the board in the first quarter of 2026, with foreign arrivals through local airports jumping 49.7 percent from a year earlier, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Tuesday. A total of 853,905 foreign visitors entered Korea through regional airports in the January-March period, up from 570,389 in the same period a year earlier, the ministry said. Rail travel by foreign visitors also rose 46.4 percent from a year earlier, to about 1.69 million, while arrivals through regional seaports increased 6.1 percent, to roughly 335,000. The share of inbound visitors traveling beyond the Seoul metropolitan area climbed 3.2 percentage points, to 34.5 percent, according to the ministry. Visitor spending and lengths of stay also increased. Based on preliminary data from the ministry’s foreign visitor survey, total overnight stays by foreign tourists outside the Seoul metropolitan area reached 5.28 million in the first quarter, a 36.2 percent rise from a year earlier. Foreign tourist spending in regions outside Seoul climbed 17.2 percent to $880 mi

Apr 14, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Korea sees surge in provincial travel as foreign arrivals climb

Healthy sausage recipe: Blanch in boiling water first, pair with vegetables

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Sausages are a food many people enjoy. The problem is that processed meats such as sausages, ham, and bacon are classified as Group 1 carcinogens by the World Health Organization and its International Agency for Research on Cancer. This means excessive consumption can pose health risks. Still, everyone needs food that brings a bit of pleasure now and then. Here are some ways to enjoy sausages a little more healthfully. Blanch briefly in boiling water The best way to eat sausages is to briefly blanch them in boiling water for about two to three minutes. During this process, some of the sodium and harmful additives are removed. It also reduces the layer of grease on the surface. Scoring the sausages before blanching is even better. It allows heat to penetrate more evenly, helping more fat and additives to escape. This is especially effective for thicker sausages. It also helps prevent them from bursting when placed in hot water. However, it’s not recommended to cut them in half or into multiple pieces before blanching. Doing so causes the juices

Apr 14, 2026By Kormedi.com
Healthy sausage recipe: Blanch in boiling water first, pair with vegetables

K-food guide: Perilla leaves do more than just highlight Korean BBQ

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Perilla leaves are a vegetable with a strong aroma that people tend to either love or hate. Commonly served with grilled meat, perilla leaves help cut through the heaviness and fat while adding a fresh, herbal flavor. Beyond this, they offer a variety of health benefits. Best for blood sugar control Gastroenterologist Kim Tae-gyun named perilla leaves as one of the best vegetables for managing blood sugar on his YouTube channel. He emphasized their effectiveness, saying, “Compared to other vegetables, they are overwhelmingly beneficial. You could even say eating perilla leaves is always worth it.” According to the National Institute of Crop Science under the Rural Development Administration, perilla leaves are rich in antioxidant compounds such as beta-carotene, caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, luteolin and quercetin. They also contain an abundance of minerals like calcium, iron and magnesium, as well as vitamins A and C. The beta-carotene in the leaves helps protect vision, while magnesium supports bone health. Rosmarinic acid and luteolin h

Apr 14, 2026By Kormedi.com
K-food guide: Perilla leaves do more than just highlight Korean BBQ

Dieting tip: Start your meals with cucumbers and cherry tomatoes, not carbs

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. If you want to manage your weight and blood sugar, you shouldn’t start your meal with carbohydrates, such as rice, noodles, bread or potatoes. On an empty stomach, carbohydrates are digested and absorbed quickly. This rapid absorption can lead to increases in blood sugar and body weight. Instead, try placing cucumbers and cherry tomatoes on the table and eating them first. This habit can help raise blood sugar more gradually and support weight control. Cucumbers and cherry tomatoes are low in calories, making them helpful for weight management. They are rich in dietary fiber, which slows the rise in blood sugar and contributes to vascular blood vessel health. Eating them before rice can create a feeling of fullness, helping prevent overeating carbohydrates. In particular, eating cucumbers on an empty stomach may help protect the stomach. According to the National Institute of Crop Science, a compound called elaterin—responsible for cucumbers’ slightly bitter taste — can help maintain a healthy stomach lining. Both cucumbers and cherry t

Apr 13, 2026By Kormedi.com
Dieting tip: Start your meals with cucumbers and cherry tomatoes, not carbs
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