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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.

5 ideal hotels for restful stay during autumn

By Jun Ji-hyeDespite the continued uncertainty in travel conditions due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, people may not be able to stop wishing to travel to see the incredible fall colors in Korea.Korea boasts vibrant autumn colors such as reds and oranges as tree-covered mountains account for nearly 70 percent of its territory. For those seeking a travel experience to help them relax and unwind, Booking.com, a global online travel agency that offers various accommodation options around the world, has selected five hotels here where travelers can find moments of peace and rest during the holiday season.Haevichi Hotel & Resort JejuHaevichi Hotel & Resort Jeju / Courtesy of Booking.comHaevichi Hotel & Resort Jeju located in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, is a perfect place to relax while enjoying Jeju's autumn scenery with Mount Halla and the ocean in the background.Especially, as the hotel is situated near coastal roads, tourists can easily go for a drive and have the tranquil sea in their sight. In addition, the hotel features various facilities such as restaurants that offer

Nov 12, 2020
5 ideal hotels for restful stay during autumn

Builder-turned-barista settles down on small island

Kim Myung-jin brews coffee at his cafe on Daeijak Island, Incheon. / Courtesy of Kim Myung-jinBy Jun Ji-hyeFinding quality hand-drip coffee in remote areas can be a challenge, especially when the remote area is an island with fewer than 300 residents.However, thanks to builder-turned-barista Kim Myung-jin, who opened a cafe, called Hackberry House, dedicated to hand-drip coffee on Daeijak Island, Incheon, the location is a savior for traveling coffee fans and caffeine addicts. “I studied civil engineering in university and worked for a construction company, participating in various projects including former President Lee Myung-bak's controversial Four Rivers Restoration Project, before returning to my hometown in June 2014,” Kim said in an interview with The Korea Times. “But I always dreamed of running a small cafe that has good music all the time.” The island is about two hours away by ship from a ferry terminal in Incheon. After graduating from the elementary school on the island, the only school there, Kim had to move to Incheon alone to continue his

Nov 12, 2020
Builder-turned-barista settles down on small island

3 ways to experience Finland in Korea

A Moomin statue stands in front of Moomin Museum in Tampere, Finland. / Courtesy of Visit FinlandBy Jun Ji-hyeAs the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has prevented vacationers from traveling overseas, an increasing number of travelers are seeking ways to enjoy a wide variety of cultures while staying within the boundaries of their everyday life. Visit Finland, the Finnish travel promotion organization, introduces some of the ways to experience bits of Finland that Finns hold dear to their hearts ― Moomins, design, and nature ― without leaving Korea.Meet Finnish icon, MoominsThe white, hippo-like Moomins, created in the 1940s by writer-artist Tove Jansson, are probably the best-known Finnish literary characters.Encountering Moomins is not a difficult task in Finland since they are a part of the Finnish identity today, but the only Moomin Museum in the world can be found in Tampere, Finland. The museum holds a collection of more than 2,000 works by Jansson including a model Moominhouse built by Jansson herself, presented in modern and experiential surroundings. In September, Moomins also fo

Nov 5, 2020
3 ways to experience Finland in Korea

Hotel Lobby

By Jun Ji-hye13 Marriott properties offer unique chance to enjoy overseas destinationsAs people around the world have been confined to their own countries for almost a year amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, Marriott International properties have come together to offer a unique opportunity, launching a promotion offering guests in each country the chance to experience the cultures of neighboring regions. As Thailand has been a popular destination for Korean travelers, the JW Marriott Hotel Seoul has been transformed into the JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa, offering guests an unprecedented opportunity to relive the pleasures of Thailand in the heart of the Korean capital. The JW Marriott Hotel Seoul's “Enjoy Khao Lak in Seoul” promotion is a campaign bringing the healing benefits and pleasures of the hotel's new namesake resort for two months from Nov. 1. Upon arrival, guests will be greeted by associates dressed in traditional Thai clothing, offering greetings in Thai. Those choosing accommodation packages during the promotion will enjoy an immersive Thai experi

Nov 5, 2020
Hotel Lobby

ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL Technologies permeate into MICE industry amid pandemic

A robot that assists in awards ceremonies is showcased during the Korea Tourism Organization's MICE conference held in Suwon Convention Center in Gyeonggi Province, Dec. 5 last year. / Courtesy of Korea Tourism OrganizationBy Jun Ji-hyeThe government as well as local administrations here are paying keen attention to the meetings, incentive trips, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) sector as the industry has been cited as a future growth engine that could contribute to both enhancing the competitiveness of Korea and its cities and boosting their global image.The Seoul Metropolitan Government is pushing to build a MICE complex in Jamsil, while Busan Metropolitan City is developing the Haeundae area into an international exchange venue. The MICE industry has already come to attention around the world for creating jobs and revitalizing local economies in regions such as Singapore and Hong Kong.The sector, however, has faced a crisis amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic as meetings, incentive trips, conventions and exhibitions are usually planned as face-to-face experiences. Following the

Nov 1, 2020
[ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL] Technologies permeate into MICE industry amid pandemic

Seoul Lantern Festival kicks off at new venues amid pandemic

Scene from the 2018 Seoul Lantern Festival in Cheonggye Stream, central Seoul/ Korea Times fileThe annual Seoul Lantern Festival kicked off Friday for a 78-day run across four special tourism zones hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, the city government said.The venue was moved from Cheonggye Stream in central Seoul to four neighborhoods ― Jamsil, Itaewon, Dongdaemun and Myeongdong ― that saw a sharp decline in tourism this year, the government said in a press release."We hope that through this event, our citizens who are exhausted from COVID-19 will receive comfort and that businesses in the special tourism zones will overcome this difficult time," Joo Yong-tae, a city official overseeing tourism, said.The festival will run in succession in Jamsil (Oct. 30 - Nov. 6), Itaewon (Nov. 4 - Dec. 31), Dongdaemun (Nov. 6 - 15) and Myeongdong (Nov. 13 - Jan. 15).Each zone will showcase lanterns made from traditional mulberry paper and featuring the neighborhood's distinct characteristics.Jamsil will decorate a walking trail with lanterns shaped like maple and gingko leaves. Itaewon will fe

Oct 30, 2020
Seoul Lantern Festival kicks off at new venues amid pandemic

Gov't resumes discount coupon program for travel, dining sectors

Autumn scenery in Nami Isand, one of the most popular tourist spots in Gangwon Province/YonhapThe government on Friday resumed a national discount coupon program aimed at resuscitating the domestic travel and dining industries that have suffered severely from the COVID-19 pandemic.The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters said the government will start releasing discount coupons for travel programs, restaurants and lodging facilities around the country, in stages at 2 p.m. Friday, as part of a 90.4 billion-won ($76.2 million) project to revitalize domestic spending.The program was first introduced in August but was soon suspended due to a resurgence of new virus clusters.The travel coupons will offer 30 percent discounts on 1,112 tour products. Also if a person dines out three times, a 10,000 won refund will be offered on the fourth occasion.Separate coupons that offer 30,000 won to 40,000 won discounts for hotels and other lodging facilities will be distributed to 1 million customers starting Nov. 4. In light of concerns that the program, which promotes social gath

Oct 30, 2020
Gov't resumes discount coupon program for travel, dining sectors

Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival adopts 'online + offline' format

The Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival, organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, will go ahead with an “online + offline” format from Nov. 11. / Courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourism BoardBy Jun Ji-hyeThe Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival, which will kick off next month, has adopted an “online + offline” format for the first time amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, to give audiences at home and abroad a new gastronomic experience not bound by time or geographical constraints, according to tourism officials in Hong Kong. The festival, organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), will run for five weeks from Nov. 11 through Dec. 15, featuring a wealth of exciting online experiences, including an online wine cellar, gourmet at home menus and live-streamed cookery and wine-tasting master classes in a new one-stop online platform. Offline experiences include special deals and gastronomic events offered by hundreds of dining outlets across the city for consumers to enjoy.For the global audience, the highlight of the event is a diverse series of 34 online master clas

Oct 29, 2020
Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival adopts 'online + offline' format

Four drivable destinations to explore this fall

By Jun Ji-hyeFollowing months of limited local and international travel amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, Koreans are now looking forward to planning the perfect getaway to have fun and relax with family or friends this fall.According to a recent survey conducted by Agoda, one of the big online travel agencies, 63 percent of Korean travelers are most comfortable traveling up to three to four hours from home, and driving oneself to a destination was the second-most preferred form of transportation after air travel. Moreover, 38 percent of Korean travelers chose beaches as their biggest reason to travel, followed by nature at 33 percent.Based on the survey, Agoda shared four domestic destinations with beautiful natural scenery and beaches accessible in a less-than-four-hour drive from major cities in Korea.BuanBuan in North Jeolla Province on the West Sea is a great destination for those who want to wander the great outdoors. The Byeonsanbando National Park is the only national park in Korea where travelers can admire both mountains and the sea at the same time. Chaeseokgang Cliffs

Oct 29, 2020
Four drivable destinations to explore this fall

'Travel companions more important than destination'

A man and woman sit on a bench, watching the sunset. The majority of Korean travelers think “who you travel with” is more important than “where you go,” according to a study from global online travel agency Expedia. / Courtesy of ExpediaBy Jun Ji-hyeCompanions are considered one of the most important factors in planning a trip, as the experience could be either amazing or miserable depending on who you travel with. With a kindred spirit, travelers can feel happy no matter where they go or what they do, but with someone they do not click with, they may find every moment awkward, even at the most magnificent sites. A study from global online travel agency Expedia revealed that 63 percent of Korean travelers think “who you travel with” is more important than “where you go.” The Expedia Travel Companions Study surveyed 300 respondents aged between 20 and 39 from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5. Eighty percent of travelers said their travels were more meaningful with good companions, while 38 percent said they'd experienced cases when traveling with an i

Oct 22, 2020
'Travel companions more important than destination'
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