Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Your guide to New Year’s Eve celebrations in Seoul

Whether you’re visiting Seoul for the holidays or calling the city home, the capital offers many ways to welcome the New Year. From centuries-old rituals to large-scale media shows and family-friendly activities, Seoul blends tradition and contemporary culture in its year-end celebrations. For those spending New Year’s Eve in the city — residents and travelers alike — here is a guide to where and how to ring in the New Year. Bosingak bell-ringing ceremony The Bosingak bell-ringing ceremony offers one of Seoul’s most time-honored New Year traditions. Located in the city’s historic center, the event dates back to the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty. Each year, city officials, celebrities and residents ring the bell 33 times before tens of thousands of spectators. The number 33 symbolizes peace and safety in Buddhism. Visitors should expect large crowds and are strongly advised to use public transportation as roads near the venue will be closed. Taking the subway is the best option for getting in and out. The closest station is Jonggak Station on Seoul Metro Line 1 and Euljiro 1-ga Sta

Dec 30, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

Your guide to New Year’s Eve celebrations in Seoul

What Korean travelers will love about Doha’s futuristic city design

DOHA, Qatar — Stepping off the plane in Doha, glass towers rise from the desert, air-conditioned walkways cut through the heat and artificial islands stretch into the Persian Gulf — all signs that the capital of Qatar has reinvented itself from its oil-fueled past. Doha is in the midst of a sweeping transformation, balancing its role as a global diplomatic center with ambitions of becoming a modern urban hub. The result is a city that uses its wealth to create a polished, high‑end environment for everyday life as well as for international visitors. The skyline of the West Bay area is the most visible sign of this shift, with its dense collection of glass towers serving as the financial heart of the country. For a visitor from Korea, this development could be a major point of interest because the city is not only expanding in size but also creating specialized districts for different needs. These projects are part of the country's strategy to diversify the economy beyond energy resources under the Qatar National Vision 2030. Much of this rapid progress was accelerated by the 2022 F

Dec 30, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

What Korean travelers will love about Doha’s futuristic city design

From souqs to architectural marvels: How Doha connects tradition and innovation

Dubai cookies go viral in Korea after celebrity buzz

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. A viral dessert trend known as “Dubai chewy cookies,” or “Dujjonku,” has swept across younger generations in Korea, triggering widespread sellouts and long queues at popular bakeries. The craze intensified after celebrities including Jang Won-young and Kim Se-jeong featured the cookies on their social media, leading to a surge in delivery app searches. Due to their rich, buttery flavor and dense texture that immediately suggest high calorie content, questions have emerged about how these cookies affect blood sugar levels. A Kormedi.com health team conducted a test to find out. The cookies are typically made with pistachio spread, white chocolate, butter-fried kadaif pastry, marshmallows and cocoa powder. Although small in size at about 40 to 60 grams each, they are composed largely of high-fat, high-calorie ingredients. Based on nutrition estimates gathered from social media and diet platforms, a 50-gram cookie contains about 28 grams of carbohydrates, 14 grams of sugars, 4 grams of protein and 13 grams of fat, totaling roughly 245 ca

Dec 29, 2025By Kormedi.com

Dubai cookies go viral in Korea after celebrity buzz

7 winter foods to improve internal body warmth

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. As winter deepens, many people say their hands and feet remain cold no matter how many layers of clothing they wear. Doctors explain that this is not only due to low temperatures but also to reduced physical activity, slowed blood circulation and decreased metabolic energy during the colder months. Improving internal warmth can help relieve fatigue, cold sensitivity in the extremities and weakened immunity, which is why dietary changes can make a meaningful difference. Here are seven winter foods that may help warm the body from the inside. Ginger, a classic ingredient that supports peripheral circulation Ginger contains compounds that expand blood vessels and stimulate peripheral blood flow, which can help ease cold sensations in the hands and feet. It is especially recommended for people who feel chilled easily. Drinking warm ginger tea, sometimes with honey, may also help soothe the stomach and reduce nighttime cold discomfort. However, people with sensitive stomachs should avoid consuming it on an empty stomach. Sweet pumpkin, a carbohydra

Dec 25, 2025By Kormedi.com

7 winter foods to improve internal body warmth

Hotels roll out winter strawberry afternoon tea experiences

This winter, Korea’s top hotels are offering strawberry afternoon tea for a limited time, turning the country’s iconic seasonal fruit into a lavish dessert experience for both locals and international visitors. These offerings reflect broader lifestyle trends, such as the "seasonal core" and "buy-now-or-miss-it" movements, which emphasize enjoying ingredients at their peak freshness. At Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Namdaemun, the premium bakery cafe The Twenty Two Namdaemun Bakery is offering its Red Atelier afternoon tea service featuring strawberries sourced from different regions around Korea. The set, which serves two for 90,000 won ($60) through late February, includes four strawberry desserts, welcome drinks and coffee as it highlights regional varieties such as Sancheong, Janghee and Geumsil strawberries. JW Marriott Hotel Seoul’s The Lounge is offering a Berry-holic afternoon tea through March 30, pairing five strawberry desserts with five savory bites, including lobster canapes and deviled eggs. Guests can opt for tea and coffee selections or add a strawberry Bellini cock

Dec 24, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Hotels roll out winter strawberry afternoon tea experiences

AI and experience-driven choices to redefine travel in Korea next year

As Korea’s tourism industry looks toward 2026, it is sharpening its focus on personalization, regional travel and experience-driven spending, shaped by shifting traveler behavior, the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and a weaker won that has affected some overseas demand. Industry data and global surveys suggest that both inbound and outbound travelers are moving away from rigid itineraries in favor of trips that reflect their identities, values and even fantasies, increasingly relying on AI to help decide where to go, what to do and whom to travel with. More diverse inbound routes and regions Travel platform Trip.com expects overseas demand for travel to Korea to continue broadening in 2025 and into 2026, with visitors coming from a wider range of departure cities rather than just major hubs. Bookings to Korea are rising not only in traditional markets like Japan, mainland China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Hong Kong, but also from secondary cities such as Tokushima, Datong, Kagoshima, Kumamoto and Tashkent, where new or expanded direct flights have improved access. This suggests

Dec 24, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

AI and experience-driven choices to redefine travel in Korea next year

Visitors to Korea to hit record 18.7 mil. this year, outpacing pre-pandemic high

Korea is on track to welcome a record 18.7 million visitors by the end of 2025, surpassing the previous high of 17.5 million set in 2019, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Tuesday. The surge comes as the country continues to recover from the pandemic-era dip in travel, with international tourists returning in large numbers and a growing interest in Korea’s cultural attractions and shopping districts driving the historic rebound. This year’s strong inbound momentum came from robust growth across major markets. Visitors from China rebounded sharply, while arrivals from Taiwan grew 27 percent compared to last year. Japanese travelers surged to 3.61 million, the highest in 13 years. Middle East and Asian markets expanded by 11.8 percent, and visitors from Europe and Oceania increased by 14 percent. The achievement marks a full rebound of the country’s tourism sector after years of pandemic-induced decline, driven by the global appeal of K-culture and diversified marketing efforts targeting key international markets. The record number translates to roughly one visit

Dec 23, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Visitors to Korea to hit record 18.7 mil. this year, outpacing pre-pandemic high

Temples offer screen-free winter activities for kids

As winter vacation approaches, many parents are searching for ways to keep their children engaged — and away from screens. One option worth considering is Buddhist temples, which offer templestay programs for young participants, featuring a range of hands-on activities. Naksan Temple in Yangyang, Gangwon Province, is currently recruiting participants for a templestay program that includes curling practice. The three-day program features a nearly four-hour session of practice for the winter sport, along with meditation, bowing practice and a tea ceremony. Naksan Temple is also known for its scenic setting overlooking the East Sea. The earliest session begins Dec. 26 with reservations now open. Naeso Temple in Buan, North Jeolla Province, is offering a three-night program introducing hanja, or Chinese characters, to fourth- through sixth-grade students. The program aims to teach the basics of hanja, an important component of the Korean language. Eight hanja workshops are interspersed with games, arts and crafts sessions, short walking trips, meditation, yoga and campfire activities to

Dec 22, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

Temples offer screen-free winter activities for kids

How European Christmas treats became winter staples in Korea

Every December, Seoul embraces the seasonal festivities with widely advertised Christmas-themed specials. Through the years, Christmas in Korea has evolved from a small religious affair to an extravagant celebration of the end of the year with family and friends. Christmas became popularized in Korea as different forms of Christianity spread in the 18th and 19th centuries, and emerged as a secular celebration in the 20th century. The celebration was first designated a national holiday in 1945 under the U.S. military government. As the holiday’s spirit of joy, love and hope resonated, get-togethers, gift-giving and festive celebrations became more widespread, especially among younger Koreans. These are now part of the local Christmas culture, but draw heavily from European and North American traditions. As the air turns crisp and city streets glow with lights, many Koreans find themselves thinking of Europe’s Christmas markets. Scenes that once required flights no longer feel so far away, with snow-dusted public squares, warm mulled wine and sweet treats found in spots all over Seoul

Dec 22, 2025By Ahn Seo-hyeon

How European Christmas treats became winter staples in Korea

‘Kimchi’s effect goes this far?’: Study finds it not only boosts immunity but fine-tunes it

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. As seasonal respiratory infections such as colds and influenza increasingly overlap, attention is shifting from foods that simply “boost” immunity to those that can precisely “regulate” immune responses. Against this backdrop, researchers at the World Institute of Kimchi have reported, for the first time at the single-cell level, that kimchi finely tunes the human immune system. According to reports by ScienceDaily and other science outlets, a research team led by Lee Woo-jae at the World Institute of Kimchi, a government-funded research institute under the Ministry of Science and ICT, published clinical and genomic findings analyzing how kimchi consumption affects the function and balance of human immune cells. The team said kimchi does not indiscriminately activate immune responses but instead enhances defense against pathogens while suppressing excessive immune reactions, demonstrating an immune-regulatory effect. The study was conducted over 12 weeks with 39 overweight adults. Participants were divided into three groups: a placebo

Dec 20, 2025By Kormedi.com

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