Lifestyle - The Korea Times

The pinnacles, sand hills and kangaroos

Kangaroos graze at Yanchep National Park, north of Perth, Australia. / Korea Times photos by Jung Min-hoHow to drive through Western Australia’s beautiful natural wondersBy Jung Min-hoPERTH, Australia ― With endless stretches of red-tinged sand, glaring sunlight and wild kangaroos jumping around, Western Australia is certainly one of the most uniquely beautiful places for world adventurers.Although the state is vast with a total land area of more than 2.5 million square kilometers, a day trip from the state capital, Perth, can give you a glimpse of what it feels like to explore Australia’s wild beauty.The Pinnacles of Nambung National Park. / Korea Times photos by Jung Min-ho The PinnaclesThe Pinnacles refer to thousands of rock spires scattered across the Nambung National Park, which is about a two-hour car ride from Perth.The sight of mysterious pillars in the middle of a golden sand desert is surreal to say the least. As the sunlight changes direction over time, it adds to the mystique of the rocks.In the eyes of geologists, they are limestone formations, som

Dec 29, 2016

My Trip to Aomori, Japan for three nights and four days

A Japanese musician plays the shamisen.By Choi Yearn-hong  AOMORI, JAPAN — It has been many years since I last visited Aomori, Japan. My previous visits were mostly academic, such as research on Japan’s low-level radioactive waste disposal sites in Rokashomura. This time, I was looking forward to this trip purely for pleasure, such as soaking in the hot springs and delighting in the apple pies for which the region is famous. The delicious and sweet Fuji apples produced in this province are known to be among the best. Aomori’s greatest production is of the Fuji variety, which is grown in the area centered on Hirosaki known as the Tsugaru region. Fuji apples have a moderate acidity with a pleasant crunchy texture. Aoni hot spring Fuji apples have a moderate acidity with a pleasant crunchy texture. The taste of fresh apple juice will really open your eyes, too. If you visit Aomori, you may be surprised by authentically delicious apples. way of baking apple pie may be unknown to me, but it is certainly with a pleasant crunchy texture.In the last week

Dec 29, 2016

My Trip to Aomori, Japan for three nights and four days

Korean music stands up at candlelit rallies

Kim Violin of NST and the Soul Sauce drags his bow across his instrument as the band covers Bob Marley’s “Get Up, Stand Up.” They appeared at the Hayaharock stage in front of the Admiral Yi Sun-sin statue in Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul, at midnight after the main protest on Nov. 26. / Korea Times photo by Jon DunbarBy Jon DunbarPerforming for a crowd of 1 million people was "unreal," says Jun Bum-sun.Jun, whose band Jun Bum Sun and the Yangbans released their first album "Revolution Songs" this year, grew up watching Metallica's 1991 live show in Moscow in front of 1.6 million Russians at the end of the Soviet Union."I could only imagine that kind of thing happening in Korea once North Korea gets liberated," Jun told The Korea Times. But then it happened last weekend. It wasn't as rowdy as I expected though. Just a million candles staring at you. But when I asked them all to shout at President Park ...  That's when I realized, 'Damn, this is really happening.'"The Yangbans played on a stage at Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, Nov. 12, the first protest to break 1 mill

Dec 22, 2016

Korean music stands up at candlelit rallies

Dream theme park for K-pop lovers

Visitors check the life-size photos of SM Entertainment stars at SMTOWN@coexartium in southern Seoul. / Korea Times photos by Jung Min-hoBy Jung Min-hoAre you a big fan of K-pop? Are some of your favorite singers from SM Entertainment? If you answer “yes” to these two questions, there is a place you do not want to miss during your visit to Seoul.SMTOWN@coexartium, a five-story building at COEX in southern Seoul, is the place where K-pop fans’ dreams come true, with almost anything and everything about SM stars filling the whole space.From a cafe with traces of stars to a hologram theater that shows lifelike performances, the place is surely a theme park that any fan would love to visit. It charges no entrance fee but offers a plenty of interesting things that cannot be experienced elsewhere.After passing through a welcome zone on the first floor, visitors can go to a “SUM” celebrity shop on the second floor, where they can purchase souvenirs and fashion items hand-picked by stars.There are pillows, tumblers and other merchandise printed with celebri

Dec 22, 2016

Jeju Air soars skyward

/Courtesy of Jeju AirNo-frills carrier eyes continued success in Asian skiesBy Jung Min-hoIt took 10 years for Jeju Air to become Korea’s third-largest airline.The budget carrier, which began operations with one Boeing 737-800 aircraft in 2006, now flies 26 planes, after breaking through the duopoly that Korean Air and Asiana Airlines had over domestic skies for decades.Following its successful stock market debut in November 2015, the airline has been in the black while only showing small growing pains. With more cash and new business strategies, it now aims to fly higher.Next year, the company plans to boost its fleet to 32 planes as well as the number of its regular destinations from the current 39 to 50.With these efforts, Jeju Air expects to transport 10 million passengers annually. By the end of this year, about 8.6 million passengers are anticipated to have used its services, up from 7.19 million in 2015 and 5.55 million in 2014.One of the airline’s short-term goals is to reach 1 trillion won ($855 million) in sales in 2018 to cement its status as the nation’s

Dec 22, 2016

Michelin star chef Pop-up store owner grows into star chef

This is the fifth in a series of interviews with chefs at Michelin star-awarded restaurants in Korea ― ED.By Yun Suh-youngChef Lee Jun / Korea Times photo by Yun Suh-youngThree years ago in March 2013 this reporter first interviewed chef Lee Jun, who at the time was running a small pop-up pasta restaurant in an alleyway in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul.Lee wasn't well-known at the time, except maybe among aspiring students who had read his books about his journey toward becoming a chef, including the records of his days at the Culinary Institute of America.Three years later, we met again, this time at the Michelin one-starred restaurant "Soigne," tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood in Banpo-dong, southern Seoul. Lee is the owner-chef of Soigne which has become a foodie's hot go-to destination now. Soigne was opened just six months after Lee ended his experiment with his second pop-up store, Jun the Pasta, in June, 2013. Three years after its opening, Soigne was awarded with a star last month by the Michelin Guide's first Seoul edition."The pop-ups were experiments to ultimat

Dec 21, 2016

[Michelin star chef] Pop-up store owner grows into star chef

Museum archives 60s star cartoonist Park Ki-jeong

A political cartoon drawn by cartoonist Park Ki-jeong / Courtesy of Korea Manhwa MuseumBy Baek Byung-yeulCartoonist Park Ki-jeong, 81, is a rare figure in Korea’s “manhwa” (comic book) scene, as he found success both as a graphic artist and a political cartoonist.Park made his comic debut in 1956 with “Song of Star” as well as publishing a political cartoon in a daily newspaper in the same year.His breakthrough came in the 1960s when he gained a huge following with a series of sports comics such as “Challenger” and “Wrestler.” “Poktanah” revolves around a Korean spy in the Japanese army during the Japanese occupation in the early 20th century. He also criticized decisive moments in modern Korean history while working as a full-time political cartoonist for local daily JoongAng Ilbo for 33 years from 1978 to 2011.While working as a cartoonist, Park dedicated himself to protecting the rights of his fellow cartoonists by establishing an association of cartoonists in the 1970s.To commemorate his 60-year-long career, the Ko

Dec 15, 2016

Museum archives 60s star cartoonist Park Ki-jeong

hotel briefs

Walkerhill HotelWalkerhill Hotel has recently opened a book cafe, Walkerhill Library, on the second floor of the hotel’s main building.The library has more than 3,000 books, ranging from novels to history, science, art, children and self-improvement. The book cafe has three sections: private zone, cafe and bar, and the internet area. The place has quality coffee for guests, providing the same coffee beans as Paul Bassett, a renowned coffee chain in Korea.In December, the library is featuring a complete collection of Jane Austen works in Korean, marking the 200th anniversary of her death. In one section of the library, guests can also find graphic novels of the Star Wars series until February. For more information and reservations, call (02) 455-5000.Park Hyatt SeoulPark Hyatt Seoul is presenting a seasonal package until Feb. 28, including a one-night stay in a standard room, a bottle of red wine with a box of chocolate truffles or cake. For suite room guests, a complimentary breakfast buffet for two at Cornerstone and one diffuser from Laboratorio Olfattivo, a Italian

Dec 15, 2016

Busan hotel offered rooms free on impeachment day

A platinum room in Hotel 109 / Courtesy of Hotel 109By Kim Se-jeongHotel 109, a business hotel near Haeundae Beach in Busan, made headlines recently.On the day of President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment on Dec. 9, the hotel offered all of its 51 rooms for free. The rooms were booked immediately after the hotel opened for reservations, receiving almost 700 calls.“When the candlelit vigil began, we promised our guests not to charge guests when the President resigns,” Kim Kyoung-hoon, the hotel’s general manager, told the Korea Times in an email interview. “It didn’t happen until her third apology. Then, we decided to make the same offer on the day of her impeachment regardless of the outcome.”Kim said the initiative was possible because of a sense of responsibility shared among hotel managers and owners.“We are also ordinary people with families and children. We couldn’t go out there to the candlelit vigil but wanted to do something.”Kim said a big portion of the guests were families. “Guests thanked us for setting a good

Dec 15, 2016

Busan hotel offered rooms free on impeachment day

Hotel packages enrich your Christmas

Conrad Seoul has rooms with bathtubs overlooking the city. Christmas package guests can stay there for an extra room fee. / Courtesy of Conrad SeoulBy Kim Se-jeongFor those who want to make last-minute Christmas plans in Seoul, hotels are great options.Sheraton Seoul D Cube City HotelSheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel’s “Dear My Christmas” package, available from Dec. 23 to 25, includes a one-night stay, a gift of a Sheraton Christmas D-Bear, a bottle of Chandon sparkling wine and a mini-dessert tower consisting of Christmas panna cotta, cheese cake and fruit tarts.Those who stay in a Club room can enjoy a continental breakfast and beer, wine and snacks during happy hour at Club Lounge located on the 38th floor. Guests also have access to the fitness club and a swimming pool.The package costs 250,000 won, excluding tax and service fees. For more information and reservations, call (02) 2211-2100.Sheraton Grand IncheonSheraton Grand Incheon’s Christmas package is only available on Christmas Eve. The guests can stay in a Deluxe room with a view of the city and enjo

Dec 15, 2016

Travel & Food

Travel & Food

The pinnacles, sand hills and kangaroos

My Trip to Aomori, Japan for three nights and four days

Korean music stands up at candlelit rallies

Dream theme park for K-pop lovers

Jeju Air soars skyward

Michelin star chef Pop-up store owner grows into star chef

Museum archives 60s star cartoonist Park Ki-jeong

hotel briefs

Busan hotel offered rooms free on impeachment day

Hotel packages enrich your Christmas

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