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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.

Unique 'school' on secret island

On arriving at the JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay, guests are welcomed by a high-ceiling, stylish reception desk. / Courtesy of JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald BayJW Marriott Phu Quoc drawing attention to Vietnam's hidden gem By Kang Seung-wooPHU QUOC, Vietnam -- Phu Quoc, the largest yet idyllic Vietnamese island, is starting to gain recognition as a new hot getaway destination in tourist attraction-rich Southeast Asia.Ty Collins, the general manager of the JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald BayIts postcard-perfect setting and beaches with powder white sand and emerald sea are breathtaking, paving the way for the island to develop into a must-visit sightseeing spot.And the JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay, the first international luxury hotel brand there, is further contributing to putting the island on the map as the property allows travelers to fully discover Vietnam's “best kept secret.”Phu Quoc is located 45 kilometers off the Southern coast of Vietnam ― a 40-minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City. The sprawling beachfront hotel opened its doors in January 2017 after famed Am

Oct 4, 2018By Kang Seung-woo
Unique 'school' on secret island

Office worker shares Himalayan experience

Lee Su-ji on the Annapurna Circuit Trek / Courtesy of Lee Su-jiBy Kim Bo-eunLee Su-ji, 33, relives her travels as she writes about them, but also aims to share the charms of the places she visits to inspire potential travelers.“It is pointless to tell people how great the Himalayas are, to tell them to visit,” Lee says in the prologue of her latest book.“My wish is for this book, which records our experiences, to instill in you a dream of the Himalayas.”After her book was published last month, she received an email from a reader.“He said he bought a ticket to Nepal at the age of 60, after reading my book,” Lee said.“I was thrilled to think my experiences and essays moved the heart of someone to leave for the Himalayas.”Lee is a trekker and writer, but currently works at an office job. She finds time to write after work and travels when she takes a break from working.Lee recalls the five months she spent in the Himalayas with her husband in 2012 as sheer happiness.Snow-covered mountains, milk tea, wooden mountain cabins, yaks, whiteouts

Oct 4, 2018By Kim Bo-eun
Office worker shares Himalayan experience

Lotte Hotel relaunches customer-friendly website

By Kang Seung-wooAmid the growing appetite for solo travel and value-added vacations, Lotte Hotel has newly relaunched its overhauled official website showing off personalized services for reservations and membership processes.Lotte Hotel renewed its official website recently. / Courtesy of Lotte HotelLotte, the nation's largest hotel operator with 30 properties, 19 in Korea and 11 abroad, announced Thursday that it completed improving the website, Aug. 30, loading it with a variety of customer-friendly features, on par with those of global hotel brands such as Hyatt and Marriott. “The renewed website will help Lotte reach its goal of joining the top three hotel brands in Asia,” a Lotte official said.The most outstanding features of this upgrade are the significantly increased customer-friendly functions. Customers can search based on their preferences by filtering packages with various keywords such as breakfast, spa and membership as well as by comparing at a glance up to four rooms or package deals from a list on the website. When customers find products or events that

Oct 4, 2018By Kang Seung-woo
Lotte Hotel relaunches customer-friendly website

Inter-Korean detente driving DMZ's peace tourism

A DMZ sculpture at the Third Tunnel (infiltration) in Paju / Korea Times fileSome tasks still need to be addressedBy Kang Seung-wooFollowing the second inter-Korean summit last week, a grand plan to turn the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) into a hub for peace tourism is gaining momentum.This is another bigger step forward after tour programs to the world's most dangerous border have been drawing attention since the first summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in April. Behind the conciliatory vibe, the government has formed a task force handling the security-related tourism, while looking at a budget of tens of billions of won for next year to promote the plan.However, critics say DMZ tour programs will fail to live up to their potential due to the lack of diverse attractions.In addition, despite the Moon administration's ambitious project since its inauguration in May 2017, a closer look shows that it is only big-picture thinking that has little details in terms of an action plan, as evidenced that it launched a council to develop the heavily fortified bo

Sep 27, 2018By Kang Seung-woo
Inter-Korean detente driving DMZ's peace tourism

Hotel Lobby

By Kang Seung-wooLotte Hotel Seoul named 'Best Business Hotel in Seoul'The Lotte Hotel Seoul has been named the “Best Business Hotel in Seoul” for the ninth consecutive year by Business Traveller, one of the world's leading travel magazines.The property, located in Myengdong, ranked first in the magazine's ratings, nudging past the Grand Hyatt Seoul and the Westin Chosun Seoul. The annual prize has been awarded since the travel magazine began in 1976 to celebrate the world's best hotels and airlines based on subscribers' assessments and expert reviews. The hotel, established in 1988, features 1,015 rooms in various types and 14 banquet halls. On Sept. 1, it unveiled the newly renovated six-star Executive Tower.Alcove Hotel Seoul to open next monthThe Alcove Hotel Seoul is set to officially open its doors on Oct. 15.The property, which will stand in the trendy Gangnam district, features 108 rooms in seven styles along with an American bistro and a rooftop dining bar that offers a commanding view of the UNESCO World Heritage Site _ Seonjeongneung, or the royal tombs.Plus, i

Sep 27, 2018By Kang Seung-woo
Hotel Lobby

Koreans warned of deadly bootleg liquor danger in Malaysia

A bottle of liquor seized in police operations are displayed during a press conference by the Royal Malaysia Police in Kuala Lumpur on Sept. 19. AFPBy Jung Min-hoWith the death toll rising from bootleg liquor poisoning in Malaysia, the Korean government has warned its citizens there to take extra care.“Koreans who are living or traveling there should use extreme care when buying liquor,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Facebook on Sept. 22.The statement came after dozens of people were hospitalized with methanol poisoning. The latest reports say 29 people died after drinking the contaminated alcohol.Cheap homemade liquor has become popular among poor migrant workers in the country, which has high taxes on alcohol.Most victims had shown early signs of methanol poisoning, such as abdominal pain, headache, nausea and blurred vision, with some developing shortness of breath, cramps and sudden unconsciousness.Police said the victims are believed to have consumed two brands of whisky and a brand of beer. Local reports have identified the three brands as Mandalay Whisky,

Sep 26, 2018By Jung Min-ho
Koreans warned of deadly bootleg liquor danger in Malaysia

Hotel Lobby

By Kang Seung-wooGrand Hilton unveils Chuseok promotionThe Grand Hilton Seoul is presenting the Chuseok Package” that will be available until Oct. 10. The one-night promotion includes a breakfast buffet for two and a 20 percent buffet discount voucher. In addition, package guests will be given free access to the swimming pool and the fitness center as well as a 50 percent discount at the property's sauna.Furthermore, the Grand Hilton Seoul also offers benefits for long-term stays: if a guest stays more than two nights during the holiday season from Sept. 17 to Oct. 10, a complimentary one-night stay will additionally be given.Conrad Seoul removes plastic straws The Conrad Seoul has launched the “Plastic Straws Disposal” campaign as part of its efforts to protect the environment.Starting September, the property is replacing all plastic straws with biodegradable paper straws. The successful initiative is part of Conrad Seoul's support towards a sustainable life as the hotel continues to implement these and other global environmental protection activities, in addition

Sep 20, 2018By Kim Rahn
Hotel Lobby

Paradise City opens new facilities today

Chroma is the largest nightclub in Northeast Asia. / Courtesy of Paradise CityBy Kang Seung-wooINCHEON — Paradise City, the first integrated resort complex in Northeast Asia, is set to unveil the second phase of its facilities focusing on entertainment today, aimed at drawing in foreign tourists as well as locals.Facilities from the second phase of its 330,000-square-meter development project include a boutique hotel, spa, nightclub, art gallery, shopping mall, film studio and indoor theme park. Paradise City opened a five-star luxury hotel and resort, casino and convention center in its first phase in April 2017.Paradise City CEO Park Pyung-yong speaks during a press conference in Incheon, Sept. 13. / Courtesy of Paradise CityParadise City is a joint venture between Korea's Paradise Group and Japan's Sega Sammy Holdings. The 1.5 trillion won ($1.3 billion) resort is the size of 46 football stadiums.“The second-batch of facilities are mainly focused on adding entertainment,” CEO Park Pyung-yong said in a press conference last week.“Our differentiated tour

Sep 20, 2018By Kang Seung-woo
Paradise City opens new facilities today

Korean-American finds home on Jeju in 'Stone House'

Brenda Paik Sunoo sits in front of her renovated stone house in the Jeju Island village of Aewol. / Courtesy of Brenda Paik SunooBy Jon DunbarFor photojournalist Brenda Paik Sunoo, life has gone full circle. She now finds herself in her 70s, living with husband Jan in a stone house in the land of her ancestors.Paik Sunoo is known for her deeply personal books, which explore the world around her while coming to terms with her grief over losing her 16-year-old son Tommy in 1994. In her 2006 book “Seaweed and Shamans: Inheriting the Gifts of Grief,” she explores the continuance of life through 21 essays inspiring hope, comfort and renewal. Her 2011 book “Moon Tides: Jeju Island Grannies of the Sea” explores her growing affinity for Korea's southernmost island territory.For her latest book, “Stone House on Jeju Island: Improvising Life Under a Healing Moon,” she offers 25 essays on finding her new home on Jeju Island. Broken into three sections _ “Seduction of Jeju Island,” “House Construction” and “Village Immersion&rdquo

Sep 16, 2018
Korean-American finds home on Jeju in 'Stone House'

Koreans opting for hotel stays over Chuseok

By Kang Seung-wooJin Hyon-ho, a 41-year-old father of two daughters, is currently busy surfing the internet, looking for better hotel packages for the upcoming Chuseok holiday. “After visiting my parents and parents-in-law, I plan to have a one-night stay in a hotel with my family,” said Jin, who often stays in hotels during traditional holidays.“Staycations during holidays appear to becoming a new trend as many people I know have similar plans.”As Jin said, hotels, not parents' homes, are transforming into a new destination for Koreans during Chuseok as more are opting to spend the traditional holiday at comfortable and convenient places.Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving Day, is one of the nation's biggest holidays, during which people travel to their hometown to spend time with their family and hold memorial services to honor their ancestors. However, many are gradually trending toward ducking out of, or shortening, family gatherings and other “stressful” ancestral rites; instead opting to check into hotels to enjoy the extra-long ho

Sep 13, 2018By Kang Seung-woo
Koreans opting for hotel stays over Chuseok
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