Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Esports venues emerging as attractions for foreign tourists

People watch a "League of Legends" Champions Korea match at LOL Park in Seoul. / Courtesy of Riot KoreaBy Kang Seung-wooAmid a worldwide craze for esports, Korea, which has long been regarded as the Mecca of esports, is a pilgrimage destination for fans of professional video gaming. As a result, it is not uncommon to find international travelers visiting the country to stop by esports stadia, as evidenced by reality TV shows showing quite a few foreigners who include the places in their itineraries.Taking the growing interest into account, the government has stepped up efforts to take advantage of it as a new front for hallyu to attract more foreign tourists, announcing a plan to build up to five new esports arenas here by 2022 along with designating 100 internet cafes as esports facilities.Here are some destinations for esports fans to visit when they are in Korea.LOL Park In 2018, Riot Korea, the Seoul office of video game developer and esports tournament organizer Riot Games, opened an exclusive “League of Legends” (LOL) themed complex named LOL Park. Located on the th

Sep 5, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Esports venues emerging as attractions for foreign tourists

Alitalia, Malta Tourism Authority aim to double Korean tourists to Malta

Valletta, Malta Courtesy of Malta Tourism AuthorityBy Kim Hyun-binThe Republic of Malta, a small Southern European island country, is not well-known among Korean travelers, and many are even unaware of its existence. To better promote the beauty of Malta to Koreans, the Malta Tourism Authority held the 2019 Product Seminar together with Italy's flagship carrier Alitalia, at the Westin Chosun Seoul, Tuesday.The Malta Tourism Authority aims to double the number of Korean travelers to the island country with the goal of attracting 9,000 this year“The island attracts 2.5 million travelers worldwide each year, which includes 4,518 Korean tourists for 2018, but we are targeting to attract 9,000 Koreans for this year,” said Shingo Endo, representative of Japan and Korea for the Malta Tourism Authority. “A report states a 237 percent increase (of Korean tourists) between January to May this year compared to the same period of last year due to BTS visiting. We believe BTS played a key role in the surge.”K-pop boy band BTS visited Malta last year to film part of its tra

Sep 3, 2019By Kim Hyun-bin

Alitalia, Malta Tourism Authority aim to double Korean tourists to Malta

Festivals Calendar - September 2019

Andong International Mask Dance Festival / Andong City GovernmentThe following are the major cultural and tourist festivals to be held in South Korea in September. Hyoseok Cultural FestivalWhen: Sept. 7-15Where: PyeongChang, Gangwon ProvinceLee Hyo-seok (1907-1942) was one of the most famous Korean novelists of the 20th century. The highland town of PyeongChang is famous as his birthplace and for the gorgeous buckwheat flowers that cover the land in autumn. The festival commemorating the novelist, the author of "Buckwheat Season," offers various programs amid the backdrop of the village. They include performances of traditional folk plays, re-enactments of traditional marketplaces, performances of traditional and modern music and dance, and writing contests. Visitors will also have the chance to taste local specialty dishes made from buckwheat flour.For more information, call (033) 335-2323/4 or go to www.hyoseok.com.Baekje Cultural FestivalWhen: Sept. 28-Oct. 6Where: Buyeo, Gongju and Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province This festival, one of the oldest cultural festivals in the count

Aug 31, 2019

Royal palaces, museums in Seoul to remain open through upcoming Chuseok holiday

Changdeok Palace / Courtesy of Cheong Wa DaeFour Joseon-era royal palaces in Seoul will remain open throughout the extended Chuseok holiday next week and admit visitors free of charge, the government said Saturday.The four palaces ― Gyeongbok, Changdeok, Deoksu and Changgyeong ― as well as the UNESCO-recognized Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty in the capital and its surrounding areas and major heritage sites will temporarily drop admission fees during the traditional Korean holiday from Sept. 12 to 15.The move is part of the government's effort to promote domestic tourism during the long holiday weekend.As part of the policy, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art will also open up its outlets in central Seoul and Gwacheon, and Deoksu Palace for free from Sept. 12 to 14, while the National Science Museum will give a 50 percent discount on ticket purchases during the holiday.Two national parks ― Mount Bukhan and Mount Jiri ― will be part of the campaign, providing a 30 percent discount for admission.During the holiday, a variety of tour programs featuring 20 heritage vill

Aug 31, 2019

Royal palaces, museums in Seoul to remain open through upcoming Chuseok holiday

Gov't targeting global OTAs' 'unfair request' over hotel rate

By Kang Seung-wooPeople who have attempted to book a hotel know that the booking rate is the same on all online booking apps, and on the hotel's website as well. This is because of an agreement called rate parity, and the government is now set to take a closer look at what hotels call an “unfair practice.”Rate parity is a deal between hotels and global online travel agencies (OTAs) that provide hotels with online exposure and a booking platform. Under the agreement, properties must offer the same rate for the same room on all distribution platforms as well as on their own websites. In other words, customers cannot get any discounts no matter where they book. “As the rate parity agreement does not allows hotels to undersell all distribution channels, the practice is highly anti-competitive,” a government official told The Korea Times. “In addition, it bans hotels from providing rooms at lower rates on their websites, restricting consumer choice for cheaper deals.”According to the government, the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) and the Ministry of Cultur

Aug 30, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Gov't targeting global OTAs' 'unfair request' over hotel rate

Daegak Temple, Buddhist center of Korea's independence movement

Ven. Dongbong, chief monk of Daegak Temple in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times, Aug. 21. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Kwon Mee-yooThe year 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement, which provided a catalyst for the Korean independence movement. Over 2 million took part in the demonstrations and some 47,000 people were arrested and taken into custody.Thirty-three representatives, consisting of various people including prominent members of the Catholic Church and Protestant Church as well as distinguished Buddhist monks, gathered and signed the Korean Declaration of Independence. The two delegates representing Buddhism were Han Yong-un, a Buddhist monk and poet better known as Manhae, and Baek Yong-seong, or Ven. Yongseong. Among the two, Han is more widely known due to his poetry, which is included in Korean literature textbooks. The other figure, Ven. Yongseong (1864-1940), who established the foundation of the Jogye Order, the largest sect in Korean Buddhism, was based at Daegak Temple, which is in the he

Aug 29, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo

Daegak Temple, Buddhist center of Korea's independence movement

Hanagae offers beach for city dwellers

Two people search for sea life on the tidal flat at Hanagae Beach on Muui Island. / Korea Times photo by Jon DunbarBy Jon Dunbar and Hong Seo-hyunNot enough Seoulites know there are actual beaches accessible through the metro system. All it takes is a visit to Incheon International Airport, a transfer to the maglev, and then one more bus connection. The number of beaches within the Seoul Metro public transit network's reach increased by one in 2018, with the addition of Muui Island's Hanagae Beach. Hanagae only received its beach designation last year, and the opening of Muui Bridge earlier this year made the beach even more accessible. The beach is on the western side of Muui Island, facing away from the airport and toward the sunset. It stretches about 800 meters along a small cove here, part of which is underneath a towering zipline called Sky World. There are restaurants and stores crowded around the one beach entrance, and about 50 beachside cabins for visitors to spend the night. Camping is also permitted. There are typical beach facilities including public washrooms and shower

Aug 29, 2019By Jon Dunbar

Korea to hold promotional events of halal restaurants

By Bahk Eun-jiThe nation's tourism authorities will hold events to promote halal restaurants across the country next month, to help Muslim tourists locate halal restaurants here, according to the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), Wednesday.A poster of the 2019 Halal Restaurant Week Korea which will start on Sept. 1 and continue for two months. Courtesy of Korea Tourism OrganizationThe KTO and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism have been holding the Halal Restaurant Week Korea event since 2016 for the convenience of Muslim visitors and to address one of the biggest hurdles they face while visiting Korea. Halal restaurants do not sell pork and have some halal foods on their menus. Halal means “lawful” or “permitted” in Arabic, which means the food is prepared in accordance with religious rules. The annual event will last for two months through Oct. 31. During the event, Muslim visitors will enjoy discounts at 152 KTO-designated halal restaurants and 40 major tourist destinations across the country. Visitors can bring coupon books, which will be distribu

Aug 28, 2019By Bahk Eun-ji

Korea to hold promotional events of halal restaurants

Hotel Lobby

By Kang Seung-wooJW Marriott Dongdaemun offers perfect Chuseok getaway Inspired by the search for the perfect urban break for the Chuseok holiday, the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul is set to provide its “Artractive Holiday” experience, a unique vacation available from Sept. 1 to 15.It combines a one-night stay in a deluxe room with a buffet breakfast at Tavolo 24 for two adults and two children and complimentary use of the hotel's indoor pool and fitness center.Also, it gives up to three tickets to L'Atelier, a cultural destination featuring works by 19th-century French artists, which is located near the property. Signiel Seoul bar gains global recognition Signiel Seoul's Bar 81 has made the list of Forbes Travel Guide's World's Best Hotel Sky Bars.It was a lone achievement by a Korea-based bar to join 11 other global bars, including The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong's Ozone, the Marina Bay Sands's Ce La Vi Skybar and the Shanghai Edition's Roof.“Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook a breathtaking panorama of mountains, the Han River and skyscraper-filled Gangnam,&rdqu

Aug 28, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Korea issues travel warning for protest-hit Hong Kong

An anti-extradition bill protester carries a barricade for blocking the road during a protest in Hong Kong, Aug. 25, 2019. ReutersSouth Korea has issued a travel warning for Hong Kong, citing increasing risks from escalating violence in deepening anti-government protests, Seoul's foreign ministry said. A "navy warning", which calls for caution and is the lowest of the four-phase travel warning system, has been imposed on all of Hong Kong, effective as of Monday, the ministry said in a release. The decision was made to ensure the safety of South Koreans staying in or planning to visit Hong Kong, as physical clashes from the demonstrations are intensifying, it said. The ministry will keep close tabs on the protests and security situation there so as to promptly react with appropriate travel warning measures, it added. Anti-government protests in Hong Kong took another turn over the weekend as riot police fired warning shots at protesters and later defended their moves. The ballooning pro-democracy protest, sparked by opposition to a new extradition bill allowing transfers of suspects t

Aug 27, 2019

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