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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.

Shinsegae to operate first Jeju-based hotel

The Kensington Jeju Hotel will close its doors in May, and Shinsegae Chosun Hotel will operate it with a new name after remodeling. / Courtesy of Kensington Jeju HotelBy Kang Seung-wooThe Kensington Jeju Hotel, one of tourists' favorite properties on the resort island, will close its doors in May.However, it will be revived as a brand new hotel that will be operated by Shinsegae Chosun Hotel, which aims to place itself as one of the locally grown hospitality giants along with Hotel Shilla and Lotte Hotels and Resorts.“Until the end of May, the hotel will be operated in the name of the Kensington hotel,” a Kensington official said. “After that, Shinsegae will take over the business and the name is probably likely to be changed.”In February 2018, E-Land Group sold the Kensington hotel and a nearby site allotted for building the Sangrok Hotel to B&M Development, a subsidiary of SK Group's real estate developing unit SK D&D, for 128 billion won ($114 million) in a bid to improve its financial stability.Even after selling the Kensington, it has still remain

Feb 28, 2019By Kang Seung-woo
Shinsegae to operate first Jeju-based hotel

Seoul to promote 'peace tourism'

Banners for the Korea Grand Sale are put up in Myeongdong, Seoul, Feb. 17. / Korea TimesCity government unveils plans for foreign touristsBy Kang Seung-wooIn order to put itself on the map as a global tourist destination, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has come up with a fresh tourism policy, mainly targeting international travelers.Seoul logged solid numbers of foreign tourists to the capital in each of the past two years ― 10.5 million in 2017 and 12.1 million in 2018 ― that both accounted for nearly 80 percent of the total overseas travelers to the country. This year, the local government aims to attract 13.5 million foreigners to the capital.However, compared with main cities in neighboring countries and others in the region, the capital of Asia's fourth-largest economy is still regarded as a tourism underachiever.In that respect, the city government plans to concentrates its efforts on inventing and expand distinct tourism content, while boosting its competitiveness in global tourism. “The new tourism policy is expected to contribute to boosting Seoul's reputation as a

Feb 21, 2019By Kang Seung-woo
Seoul to promote 'peace tourism'

Hotel Lobby

By Kang Seung-woo Shilla Seoul named Forbes Travel Guide five-star hotelThe Shilla Seoul has been included in the five-star hotel club of Forbes Travel Guide, released Wednesday (local time). The achievement carries extra weight as Shilla is the only Korea-based hotel to earn the highest status given to 210 properties worldwide. The Four Seasons Hotel Seoul and the Park Hyatt Seoul received four stars.“Though it’s the oldest luxury hotel in Seoul, the Samsung-owned Shilla is an up-to-date, modern treasure with world-class amenities,” Forbes said. Shilla made its Forbes debut in 2017 with a four-star rating.JW Marriott Dongdaemun hails new GMThe JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul has named Lee Joong-ho as its new general manager.The JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul has named Lee Joong-ho as its new general manager.Lee's experience in the hospitality industry spans 25 years. He began his career at the sales team of the Grand Ambassador Seoul in 1994 and has also worked for scores of global hotel brands, including the Grand Hyatt Seoul and the JW Marriott Seou

Feb 20, 2019By Kang Seung-woo
Hotel Lobby

Incheon airport's global passenger volume ranking moves up 2 notches to fifth

The global ranking of Incheon International Airport in terms of international passenger traffic has jumped by two notches to fifth. Korea Times fileThe global ranking of Incheon International Airport, the gateway to Seoul, measured in terms of international passenger traffic, jumped by two notches to fifth last year, its operator said Tuesday.Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC), citing a report from the Airports Council International (ACI), said that the number of international passengers handled by the busiest airport in South Korea rose 10 percent to 67.68 million in 2018.The ACI announces airport rankings annually based on international passenger numbers.In 2017, Incheon airport ranked seventh by handling 61.52 million international passengers. Last year, the airport overtook Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (66.38 million passengers) and Singapore Changi Airport (64.89 million passengers) to reach the fifth place for the first time since its opening in 2001.According to the ACI report, Dubai Airport ranked first with 88.89 million international passengers, followed by Londo

Feb 19, 2019
Incheon airport's global passenger volume ranking moves up 2 notches to fifth

World's one and only sesame oil sommelier

Yeonnam Sesame Oil is made with a recipe researched by Lee Hee-jun, the world's one and only sesame oil sommelier. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukLee Hee-jun quantifies sesame oil, pursues globalizationBy Kwon Mee-yooLee Hee-jun, contents director of Yeonnam Bangatgan in Mapo-gu, Seoul, is the only sesame oil sommelier in the world. He visits master sesame oil makers around Korea and quantifies each recipe to preserve and promote it. He also opened Yeonnam Bangatgan, a cafe and food culture space, last year to share the Korean sauce with a wider audience including the younger generation and foreigners.Sesame oil, also called "chamgireum" in Korean, is a popular vegetable oil consumed across the globe, but Korean sesame oil has unique characteristics."There are only three countries that eat aromatic sesame oil ― Korea, Japan and China. Its distinct amber color and smell come from roasting sesame. Other countries in the Middle East, America and Europe consume unroasted, cold-pressed sesame oil," Lee explained during an interview with The Korea Times, Tuesday. Korea is one of the co

Feb 14, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo
World's one and only sesame oil sommelier

Jeju losing luster as tourist destination

Visitors walk through a field of rape blossoms on southern resort island of Jeju, Wednesday. YonhapMore locals traveling overseas over resort islandBy Kang Seung-wooA mother of two children, identified as Kang, used to travel to Jeju Island in late December to celebrate New Year's Eve, lured by its natural attractions and convenient accommodation.However, the southern resort island no longer makes her list of year-end vacation destinations as she is turning her attention to other sightseeing spots in nearby countries.“Whenever we visited Jeju Island, it was same old, same old. Even though it is recognized as the No. 1 tourist destination in Korea, I think it is not living up to that reputation,” she said. Like her, more Koreans as well as foreign tourists are turning their backs on Jeju due to a lack of content to encourage tourists to revisit the island. “Despite its natural advantages, I think Jeju is failing to take advantage of them at all. Even some museums such as the Teddy Bear Museum, the Hello Kitty Museum and the Museum of Sex and Health bear no relation t

Feb 14, 2019By Kang Seung-woo
Jeju losing luster as tourist destination

Hotel Lobby

By Kang Seung-wooImperial Palace Seoul offers new strawberry desserts Delmar, the Imperial Palace Seoul's European-style cafe, presents a strawberry-themed promotion.The Strawberry in Love dessert, comprised of four menu options, is an upgrade from its customer-favorite afternoon tea set. Its signature menu is “Strawberry after Dinner with Tea” that features a three-layer tray loaded with strawberry desserts and a tea tray set decorated in European style, accompanied by coffee or a Ronnefeldt tea. For those who prefer champagne, the facility also offers two other options that replace the tea tray set with two types of champagne.The promotion will be available from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., every day until April 30.Vista Walkerhill launches pet-featured packageThe Vista Walkerhill Seoul has come up with a package featuring an exclusive room for pets and their owners all year round. Its Oh My Pet promotion allows owners and their pets to stay in a pet concept room along with a breakfast buffet for two. As its name suggests, it offers toys for pets and dog poo bags.The room is

Feb 14, 2019By Kang Seung-woo
Hotel Lobby

Touring DMZ with North Korean defector

Tourists get an overview of North Korea through binoculars at Dora Observatory. North Korean defector Jeong refused to be photographed for this story to protect his family who are still in the North. Korea Times fileBy Kwak Yeon-sooPAJU ― “I'm a dead man in my hometown,” a North Korean defector, who uses the alias Jeong Sang-soo to protect his identity, said during a Korea Times interview in the middle of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) tour. “I had to fake my own death so that my wife and children who are still in the North could live on.”Jeong left his home in North Korea in August 2016, crossed the border into China through Mount Paektu and then fled to Laos before arriving in Thailand over the Mekong River. In Thailand, he surrendered to the police. After several trials, the North Korean escapee was taken to a refugee camp, where he applied for political asylum to South Korea. Three months later, he finally landed here.“The border lines of China were all blocked, so I chose to cross through Mount Paektu,” Jeong said. “I knew the route

Feb 7, 2019By Kwak Yeon-soo
Touring DMZ with North Korean defector

Hotels rolling out Valentine's Day packages

Lotte Hotels and Resorts run a variety of promotions in time for Valentine's Day at its properties. / Courtesy of Lotte Hotels and ResortsProperties lessen sweets, expand romantic lineupBy Kang Seung-wooThe Lunar New Year holiday is in the books and now local hotels are rushing out new packages featuring Valentine's Day to court guests in the low season.Putting aside the tired box of assorted chocolates, hotels are unveiling promotions that are luxurious yet relatively affordable. Some of the hot deals are presented exclusively during February, but others are available year-round.Each property is offering a variety of benefits for those who want to cherish unforgettable moments on Feb. 14, promoting their facilities as the best romantic getaway for one of the most, if not the most, significant days for sweethearts. Starting Thursday, the Grand Hyatt Seoul Hotel is offering its “passion-filled” Romance Package allowing couples to celebrate this day of love in a grand room, with a complimentary bottle of wine and cookies. The promotion also features breakfast buffet for two

Feb 7, 2019By Kang Seung-woo
Hotels rolling out Valentine's Day packages

Hotel Lobby

By Kang Seung-wooGrand Hilton Seoul presents theme park packageThe Grand Hilton Seoul is offering a promotion featuring free access to a theme park.Its Lotte World Undersea Kingdom package includes three tickets to Lotte World Undersea Kingdom as well as a one-night stay in a deluxe room. In addition, three people can receive a 30 percent discount at the hotel's buffet restaurant.The Undersea Kingdom is located on the third floor of Lotte Mall in northwestern Seoul, within a 20-minute driving distance of the hotel.Also, guests can use the property's indoor swimming pool and fitness center.The package is available until March 3.No corkage fee at Millennium Hilton's TaipanTaipan, the Millennium Seoul Hilton's Chinese restaurant, will waive all corkage fees every Friday for both lunch and dinner.The promotion comes as the restaurant recently hailed its new chef, Tiao Nai Hsing. Tiao, who also worked for 14 years at the Westin Chosun Hotel, has 37 years of experience in the industry.Taipan is renowned for its innovative cuisine that showcases the complex flavors of China with its extensi

Feb 7, 2019By Kang Seung-woo
Hotel Lobby
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