my timesThe Korea Times
LifestyleTravel & Food

Travel & Food

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
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.

INTERVIEW North Korean defector talks about embracing culture through food

By Jung Da-min INCHEON ―  Food is usually an easy entry to a different culture.When it comes to North Korean food, however, there have been few that represent local recipes, a defector says.Hong Eun-hye, 41, a defector who has been selling various North Korean food from sweets and snacks to abai-sundae ― North Korean-style blood sausage ― through her online shopping mall since 2016, said she wanted to break the prejudice people had toward North Korean defectors by introducing North Korean food in the South.“I wanted to serve the food from my hometown not just for North Korean defectors here but especially for South Koreans, so they could better understand North Korean culture,” Hong said. “I wanted to tell South Koreans that North Korean defectors were also the same people and could also be family members to them.”Born in Hamhung, South Hamgyong Province in 1977 to a family making out of living by baking candies and cookies, she learnt the recipes from her grandmother and mother. They used to make traditional snacks and sweets served at traditional weddin

Feb 6, 2019
[INTERVIEW] North Korean defector talks about embracing culture through food
  • Korea Times reporters try out North Korean food
  • Trying North Korean food in the South

Trying North Korean food in the South

Some of the food on offer at a Food North Korean restaurant named Howolilga in Incheon, Gyeonggi Province. In the center are injogogi rice roll with spices on the top. Injogi is fake or mock meat made from beans and sesame. On the right are hot noodles served with vegetables and spices. Korea Times photo by Jung Da-minBy Jung Da-minINCHEON ―  North Korean food in the South is popular among those who know where to go to try the original version made from the local recipes.Among the restaurants that serve local food from the North, The Korea Times team visited one named Howolilga in South Incheon.The restaurant was rather small ― about 26.4 square meters ― with four tables, each seating four people.Run by North Korean defectors from Hyesan in Ryanggang Province, the restaurant serves food popular in the Mount. Paekdu area. We tried several dishes, including rice rolled inside injogogi ― a sheet of fake or mock meat made from beans and sesame ― hot noodles served with bean sprouts, and herb soup, abai-sundae and potato-rice cakes stuffed with cabbages.Howolilga(胡越一家), a s

Feb 6, 2019
Trying North Korean food in the South
  • Korea Times reporters try out North Korean food
  • INTERVIEW North Korean defector talks about embracing culture through food

'Korea needs to increase inbound flights, offer local experiences'

Lonely Planet spokesman says country has merits to draw foreign touristsBy Kang Seung-wooWhile Asian countries are scrambling to become global travel hotspots in the region, Korea is still struggling with appealing to foreign tourists.Chris Zeiher, Lonely Planet's Asia-Pacific spokesmanFor example, Japan, the neighboring country, drew more than 30 million foreign tourists in 2018, but Korea saw only 15 million. Thus, the Lonely Planet Asia-Pacific spokesman advises the “Land of Morning Calm” to position itself as being value for money and a destination showcasing unique local experiences beyond its capital to become as competitive a tourist attraction as Japan.“I think I can use Australia as an example here. The volume of flights that go to Japan is extraordinary. We have flights going multiple times per day and per airline in and out, which brings the price down, so all of sudden, international travel (to Japan) becomes much more accessible to a wide variety of customers,” Chris Zeiher said in an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul, last week. The Austral

Jan 31, 2019By Kang Seung-woo
'Korea needs to increase inbound flights, offer local experiences'

COEX Aquarium offering holiday events

By Kang Seung-wooOn the occasion of the Lunar New Year holiday, the COEX Aquarium is ready to offer a variety of traditional events from Feb. 1 to 6.In particular, the “Kingdom of Shark” is targeting foreign residents here who will just chill out in Seoul during the five-day holiday unlike most Koreans who will head to their hometowns to catch up with family members.It is offering a hot deal, allowing foreigners to receive 20 percent off admission. “Anyone who presents our event brochure at the ticket office can get a 20 percent discount,” an official said, adding that the brochure has been distributed to cultural centers across the capital and other facilities supporting foreigners. The main draw, among others, will be a program called “A Royal Walk” at its Garden of Korea, in which visitors can wear royal hanbok that kings and queens used to wear and take Instagram pictures of themselves at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.In addition, the “Find Mr. Fortune” is not to be missed. If visitors find a Mr. Fortune who appears at random spots in the aquari

Jan 31, 2019By Kang Seung-woo
COEX Aquarium offering holiday events

Hotel Lobby

By Kang Seung-wooConrad Seoul presents K-pop concert packageThe Conrad Seoul is offering a concert package featuring Seungri, a member of K-pop group Big Bang.The package includes a one-night stay in a room with spectacular views of the Han River and the city, and a buffet breakfast at Zest along with a ticket to a Seungri concert on Feb. 16. Colorful Big Bang light sticks are also presented. The deal is divided into two options: a solo package for one person and a duet package for two.Reservations will be available until Feb. 14 and guests can choose a check-in date that will be available until Feb. 15. Yeouido Marriott launches holiday special menuThe Seoul Marriott Executive Apartments is ready to offer special menus at its Park Cafe on the occasion of the Lunar New Year from Feb. 1 to 15.The lunch set menu includes chef's recommendation soup or strawberry garden salad, Marriott burger, and club sandwich or grilled Australian rib-eye steak, while the dinner menu features pink berry panna cotta and strawberry tiramisu along with all items of the former.Additionally, Park Cafe will

Jan 31, 2019By Kang Seung-woo
Hotel Lobby

Korea, Latvia to open direct air route in May

A panoramic view of the Old Town in Riga / gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoKorea and Latvia will open a direct air route between the two countries in May.According to the Latvian Embassy in Seoul Monday, Korean Air, the country's largest airline, will operate charter flights between Incheon and Riga on May 24 and 31 and June 7 to promote tourism between the countries.Hanjin Travel, one of the largest Korean tour agencies, will organize the special events with support from Latvian government agencies.“These will be the first direct commercial flight between the capital city of Latvia and the Republic of Korea,” the embassy said in a statement.“Koreans are active travelers and are open to exploring new destinations. Since the Latvian Embassy in the Republic of Korea was opened in the late 2015, it has been cooperating with the LIAA Tourism Department, LIVE RIGA and other partners to attract tourists from Korea.”

Jan 28, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Korea, Latvia to open direct air route in May

Health warning: flu outbreak quickly spreads across Japan

People stand by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo, Jan. 21. The number of flu patients in the country has topped 2.1 million. APBy Jung Min-hoAn influenza outbreak is spreading across Japan at an alarming rate.According to media reports Saturday, more than 2.1 million people have been infected with the flu.The average number of patients at 5,000 medical institutions nationwide was 53.91 from Jan. 14-20, up 15 from a week before and the second-highest figure since the health ministry began collecting data in 1999.Meanwhile, the number of patients increased to 2.13 million, up about 495,000.The three most severely affected prefectures are Aichi, Saitama and Shizuoka.The ministry said the H1N1 strain accounted for 60 percent of cases. The strain caused a global outbreak of a new influenza a decade ago.

Jan 27, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Health warning: flu outbreak quickly spreads across Japan

'Tea is essential part of Buddhist culture'

A bloomed flower lies in an empty tea cup on the rock at Geumdun Temple in South Jeolla Province, Jan. 22. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukVenerable Jiheo speaks of life with tea By Park Jin-haiVenerable Jiheo, 77, who has devoted his life to growing green tea plants since he became a monk at the age of 15, says the essence of Buddhist culture lies in tea. “A famous ancient book praising green tea says if one drinks seven cups of tea, that person can become a Buddha. With each cup of tea, one's thirst, loneliness and complaints gradually go away. When the person reaches the seventh cup, he can feel the clear breeze blowing underarm with no wind at all,” said the former chief monk of Seonam Temple. He now runs a small temple Geumdun, just 14 kilometers south of Seonamsa (sa is Korean for temple), with some wild tea fields over 700 years old. “In practicing seon (zen), focusing on the single thought of hwadu, one's body caves in to sleep and distracting thoughts. Teas help eliminate waste matter from the body, clear one's mind and focus on the single subject of hwadu

Jan 24, 2019By Park Jin-hai
'Tea is essential part of Buddhist culture'
  • VIDEO Temple reveals timeless devotion to Buddhism

VIDEO Temple reveals timeless devotion to Buddhism

A fish-shaped wind chime hangs from the exterior corner of Seonam Temple in South Jeolla Province. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk By Park Jin-haiSUNCHEON ― In Seonam Temple located in the foothills of Mount Jogye in South Jeolla Province, every small thing seems to form a bigger picture that Mother Nature has created, from rolling small cobbles on the unpaved road to a little stream, a tree trunk scorched by lightning strike and walls revealing clay and straw that has been standing for over a thousand years. Unlike bigger temples that overwhelm visitors, Seonam Temple, the head temple of the Taego Order, boasts of modest and time-honored beauty. The historic temple, constructed by Doseon in 875, has no vivid decorations or majestic Four Heavenly Kings statues guarding devotees. Instead Seungseongyo, a rainbow-shaped stone bridge designated Treasure No. 400, greets visitors. When crossing the bridge, one is believed to become a Daoist hermit and erase the contamination of the secular world. Seungseongyo at Seonam Temple in South Jeolla Province. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-

Jan 24, 2019By Park Jin-hai
[VIDEO] Temple reveals timeless devotion to Buddhism
  • 'Tea is essential part of Buddhist culture'

Revisiting Yeosu Expo 2012, 7 years later

A statue of a family is seen beneath the Expo Digital Gallery, a massive LED showing marine life on the ceiling of the Yeosu Expo International Pavilion. / Korea Times photo by Jon DunbarBy Jon DunbarIf it were 2012, Yeosu would be at the top of your list of places to visit. That year, this cozy coastal city in South Jeolla Province hosted the 2012 Expo, and it would never be the same after. The crowds moved on as soon as the pavilions shut down, but many of the structures built specifically for the Expo remain. And many have found a new life, while others sit underutilized. Gone are the pavilions offered by companies and participating nations, leaving behind wide open spaces and large-scale structures housing cavernous exhibition rooms. Seen from the Yeosu Venezia Hotel, much of the Yeosu Expo grounds sit over water. The Theme Pavilion, center right, is locked up tight and its exterior is wasting away. / Korea Times photo by Jon DunbarExpo sites around the world have been notorious for leaving behind structures that are useless after the big event closes. Korea already learned its l

Jan 24, 2019By Jon Dunbar
Revisiting Yeosu Expo 2012, 7 years later
previous page
154155156157158
next page

Most Read in Lifestyle