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Experience best relaxation at W

Spa-savvy urban dwellers and travelers are welcomed to AWAY Spa at the W Seoul-Walkerhill, an exclusive world of sensory spa experiences destined to ignite and delight the senses. The W Seoul Walkerhill is part of W Hotels, the world’s “foremost style” hotel brand of Starwood Hotels and Resorts, which offers some of Asia’s most stunning getaway venues with up-to-date spa facilities and quality service. The spa check-in is on the third floor, along with restaurant Tonic, hair salon Style Lab, spa retail Take Away, fitness center SWEAT and indoor swimming pool WET. Spa treatment areas and the sauna Water Zone are located on the second floor. The first of its kind in Korea, AWAY Spa offers 5,000 square meters of pure luxury guaranteed to wow both the soul and senses. State-of-the-art technology and natural elements meld in perfect harmony in this cool, ultra-modern chill-out zone. Highlighted in the spa are private label products for the body designed with natural essential oils and ingredients, such as a W formulated scent from Eve Taylor oils. Newly launched product

Jun 29, 2011By Lee Hyo-sik

Oakwood, total living solution

Oakwood Premier Coex Center Seoul, the first deluxe furnished serviced residence in Seoul, claims its reputation from not only the luxury facilities but also premium service to provide a total living solution for expats. By offering flexible and easy-to-use custom solutions it meets any temporary housing need. Oakwood Premier Coex Center’s staff of trained professionals, with innovative technologies and unparalleled customer service, has made the property the best choice in temporary housing solutions. Combining luxurious hotel services with the spaciousness of a private home, the property has 280 furnished apartments ranging from studio and one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments to regal penthouses. Each of the residences, accessible by key-operated elevators, has separate living, dining and sleeping areas, along with a fully equipped kitchen. These residences meet high expectations in terms of products and services and are also designed to host gatherings or business meetings. Some of Oakwood’s signature amenities and services include a 24-hour concierge, s

Jun 29, 2011By Lee Hyo-sik

Somerset Palace brings comforts of home

The name Somerset Palace Seoul comes from the picturesque Gyeongbok Palace located just about 100 meters away. As the palace was the center of the Joseon Kingdom’s capital and still is at the heart of Korea’ capital, Somerset is surrounded with many of Seoul’s diplomatic, business and financial institutions. Aside from those institutions, numerous restaurants, shopping arcades and entertainment outlets are also right in the vicinity, including those in Insadong, Jongno and Gwanghwamun. But Somerset Palace Seoul is more than just location. Along with spacious surroundings and up-to-date facilities, professionally-trained staff are there to meet and fulfill guests’ every need and provide an unrivalled level of luxury and comfort ― whether they are on business or enjoying a holiday with the family. The property is a good choice for families. Somerset knows the importance of keeping a balance between work and family life. It respects guests’ privacy and freedom to live as they want, whether they are working, relaxing or just spending time with family. Somerset’s apartments r

Jun 29, 2011By Lee Hyo-sik

Imperial Palace, No. 1 choice for businesspeople in Gangnam

In the heart of Gangnam, Imperial Palace Hotel is the ideal place for those doing business in southern Seoul. Operating under the motto, “The Best of Everything,” the hotel’s convention center has two grand ballrooms and five small and medium-sized conference rooms, suitable for events of all kinds, including weddings, family gatherings, seminars and international conferences. Duhbe Hall, capable of accommodating up to 1,000 people, and Selena Hall, up to 500 people, both offer state-of-the-art audio-visual facilities. Reception areas of the halls feature an antique-style dining room with a cozy atmosphere. The hotel has 430 guest rooms and 13 restaurants and bars. Aiming to be a total cultural experience beyond just lodging, works of art fill the halls and lobbies. In a European decor, guest rooms are equipped with up-to-date facilities, such as 42-inch LCD or PDP TV and high-speed, wireless Internet service. Rooms on the fifth to ninth floors have been recently renovated, with iPod stations in each room. The hotel boast splendid suites; the Royal Suite for VIPs

Jun 29, 2011By Lee Hyo-sik

Finest convention at Grand Hilton

Since the opening in 2001, Grand Hilton Seoul’s Convention Center has been the first choice for domestic and international meetings and conventions. The hotel is the ideal venue because it offers not only a peaceful locale but also the convenience of being just 15-minutes drive away from Seoul City Hall and other business institutions. Facing directly across from the main hotel building, the separate, four-story center houses a large convention hall along with small and medium-sized banquet halls and conference rooms. Unlike most other hotels where meetings and conventions are held at grand ballrooms inside the hotel buildings, Grand Hilton’s purpose-specific convention center offers a separate facility within a minute’s walk of the hotel. Featuring a spacious lobby and reception area, the center offers a quiet and tranquil atmosphere which facilitates smooth transitions between cocktail receptions, meals and meetings ― the all-in-one concept highly recognized by event organizers. The Convention Hall, the largest room, offers a contemporary atmosphere combined with state

Jun 29, 2011By Lee Hyo-sik

Exceptional haven hidden behind prison fame

By Kwaak Je-yup CHEONGSONG, North Gyeongsang Province ㅡ Ask any Seoulite about Cheongsong: they will respond, “Oh, you mean the prison?” Even the people of North Gyeongsang Province, where the county is located, do not know much about what the place has to offer other than maximum security for convicts. Furthermore, taking four-and-a-half hours by car or bus to reach and with no train connection, Cheongsong is one of the hardest places to get to from Seoul. This physical distance, sparse habitation (27,000 people in an area bigger than Seoul), and especially the not-so-flattering reputation of the prison that have kept most tourists or developers away have preserved the county’s local character. And that makes it a place worth visiting and discovering. In fact, at first glance, Cheongsong does not stand out as the closely-located big-name UNESCO World Heritages of Gyeongju or Andong do. The list of tourist attractions promoted by local authorities alone would turn few heads at best: a mountain, which is also a national park, quite a few temples, an age-old reservoir o

Jun 23, 2011

Korea, emerging market in US tourism

By Kwon Mee-yoo The United States is making harder-than-ever efforts to boost tourism and Jim Evans, new CEO of the Corporation for Travel Promotion (CTP) has pledged to market “Brand America,” making the U.S. one of the most sough-after tourist destinations in the world. "It is an exciting time for the travel and tourism industry, for our country and for me personally as the challenge of promoting the United States will require great skill, creativity and dedication to build a program that brings billions in new spending and millions of jobs to the U.S. economy," said Evans at a press conference during the 2011 International Pow Wow (the travel industry's premier international marketplace and the largest generator of “Visit USA” travel) in May. Before becoming CTP CEO, Evans mostly served in the hospitality industry, including positions at Jenny Craig International, Best Western International and most recently Ardent Hotel Advisors. Evans listed three priorities for CTP ㅡ building a world-class organization by hiring top talent in marketing, sales, partnerships and ope

Jun 23, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo

Local winery presents tasting tour

By Kwon Mee-yoo Kenneth Kim Vineyards in Anseong, south of Seoul, offers a wine tasting event, Saturday. The local winery produces red and white wines, a sherry and a port for the domestic market, using locally-grown Muscat grapes. The tour embarks at 9:30 a.m. at Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul and visits a historic catholic mission before arriving at the winery. Kim will give a brief lecture on wine making, while guests can taste wine straight from aging barrels. Kim is a wine expert who also has vineyards in Santa Cruz, California, and contributed wine columns to The Korea Times in the 1990s After the wine tasting, a lunch of Korean food paired with wine will be served, followed by a Korean folk dance performance. The tour will arrive back in Seoul at 5 p.m. The event costs 80,000 won. For more information, visit www.anseongwine.com or contact ken@kennethkimvineyards.com.

Jun 23, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo

Hotel Lobby

Lotte Hotel Seoul Lotte Hotel Seoul’s French restaurant Pierre Gagnaire a Seoul offers the New Conceptual Cuisine menu prepared for summer. The menu features three- to seven-course dinners prepared with seasonal food ingredients using creative techniques. It is priced between 130,000 won and 220,000 won depending on the number of courses. The restaurant also has 60 kinds of wines at a 20 percent discount through July 31, selected by sommelier Lee Yong-moon who was awarded the first prize at the 2011 Best Sommelier of Korea Competition. Lunch is available between noon and 3 p.m. and dinner, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, call 02-317-7181. Grand Hyatt Seoul Grand Hyatt Seoul’s J.J. Mahoney’s presents “J.J.’s Races” party on June 24 and 25. The total entertainment outlet will be transformed into a refreshing world of a motor race way. Upbeat rhythms of live music by J.J.’s band Magenta and guest DJ Zuui will bring the party to a pitch. A dance contest, lucky draws and more events are prepared along with a complimentary welcome drink and coffee. The

Jun 23, 2011

Opening new era of Jangseogak

A new building of the Jangseogak Archives will reopen on July 5 at the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province. / Courtesy of Academy of Korean StudiesFrom Joseon royal library to global archive, Jangseogak reopens on July 5 By Chung Ah-young The Jangseogak Archives which hold the time-honored royal records of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) will reopen on July 5 in a new building at the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province. This is the first time for Jangseogak to have its own building since its inception. King Gojong attempted to establish a royal archive to house some 100,000 volumes of books scattered around various institutions around the nation, which included the annals of the past kings and other royal house-related records under the name of the “Imperial House Book Collection” in 1908. However, as Korea was forcibly annexed by Japan one year later in 1910, the project was abandoned. In February 1911, a new government agency called “Iwangjik” was created by the Japanese colonial government and took ov

Jun 23, 2011
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