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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.

A retreat in Gangnam ― Find peace at Bongeun Temple

By Kim Rahn Cars pass, dispersing exhaust gas, on roads near the COEX in Gangnam, one of Seoul’s busiest business and entertainment districts. But taking a walk into the back streets, in a moment you are transported into a green world of tranquility and pureness. Such a sudden, but agreeable environmental change takes place when you enter Bongeun Temple. The temple, originally built 1,200 years ago, is located in the middle of Gangnam where one of the nation’s largest entertainment complexes, the COEX Mall, is just across the street. The trendy Cheongdam and Apgujeong areas are near, and the business Mecca of Teheran Street is one block away. Whether you seek spiritual peace and religious worship, or just want a rest and to stroll between business hours, Bongeun Temple may be the right choice. New district surrounds historic temple Easily accessible, Bongeun Temple has many young visitors compared to other temples located in mountains in provinces, including businesspeople from nearby firms and foreign tourists who drop by during shopping trips in Gangnam.

May 19, 2011By Kim Rahn

Welcome to Muju, land of purity

By Yi Whan-woo MUJU, North Jeolla Province ― Care for a glass of wine with fireflies glowing under the clear summer night sky? If so, welcome to Muju, the land of purity where intact nature is ideally mixed with fascinating tourist attractions. The county in North Jeolla Province has recently invited a group of Korean and non-Korean tourists in line with “Korean Tourism Supporters,” a network formed by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). The supporters’ program is designed to promote attractions in Korea, especially unknown places. On top of its intact, pure nature, the rural area gives visitors the chance for a unique experience of tasting wine made with "meoru," Korean wild grapes produced in the region The wine is kept in the Meoru Wine Tunnel, located on Mt. Jeoksang 500 meters above sea level. It holds over 5,000 bottles with five kinds to choose from, including Gucheong-dong Meoru that was named the best local product in 2007. Muju has been putting greater efforts to catch up with the quality of European wine by learning technology from Germany, accord

May 12, 2011By Yi Whan-woo

Hotel Lobby

Grand Ambassador Seoul The Grand Ambassador Seoul’s international dining restaurant Cafe de Chef celebrates Mediterranean cuisine in a special promotion through June 20. The menu prepared by Australian chef Wayne Golding focuses on a healthy diet with fresh ingredients, natural spices and low-oil grill recipes. Over 20 dishes are available from appetizers to main courses of grilled lamb, beef, chicken and salmon, along with desserts. A la carte items are priced between 10,000 won and 45,000 won, while lunch and dinner sets at 70,000 won. Two set menus comprising a salad buffet and a la carte choices are 48,000 won and 65,000 won. For more information call 02-2270-3131. JW Marriott Seoul The JW Marriott Seoul’s Italian restaurant Olivo presents special menus from Lazio, Italy, throughout June 30. Lazio is a central Italian region famous for ingredients from the nearby bountiful coastline, pastures and mountains. The regional menus include lentil soup combined with beef stock and thyme, sauteed baby cuttlefish with anchovy and artichokes, spicy bucatini pasta, salt

May 12, 2011By Kim Rahn

Westin Chosun reborn anew with remodeling

By Kim Rahn New and modern features grace the Westin Chosun Seoul after a five-month renovation. American interior designer and architect Adam Tihany, who focused on creating more dynamics in space and harmony between modernity and Korean tradition, held the magic wand in creating the fresh aesthetics for the historically significant hotel. In 2008, Tihany was in charge of the hotel’s lower lobby floor renovation including the buffet restaurant Aria, European kitchen Vecchia e Nuovo, and the flower shop. “The lower lobby, in essence, was the first step in the renovation of the entire hotel. It added a more contemporary and fresh look to the hotel. My inspiration for the hotel was ‘modern corporate zen comes back to Seoul.’ I incorporated materials and textures that evoke Korea’s traditions in a contemporary way. The renovation also brought the hotel’s valuable food, beverage, and retail area into the 21st century,” Tihany said in an email interview with The Korea Times. In this recent round, the designer renovated the main lobby, second and third floors, including t

May 12, 2011By Kim Rahn

Hotels offer one more night promotion

This is the third in a series of introductions featuring hotels that offer a ``one-more-night promotion,’’ under which guests who stay for three or four nights are given one-night complementary accommodation. The series will introduce three hotels each at a time biweekly. A total of 36 hotels across the country will be presented over the next six months. This is part of a nationwide campaign to promote the ``2010-2012 Visit Korea Years.’’ — ED. Grand Ambassador Seoul Grand Ambassador Seoul associated with Pullman celebrates the ``2010-2012 Visit Korea Years’’ and presents a special promotion exclusively for foreigners through end of 2011. The ``One-More-Night’’ promotion features a 3+1 free night (4 room nights for the price of 3) with online reservation via http://www.visitkoreayear.com. This offer is valid for superior rooms, deluxe rooms and suites and includes free access to the swimming pool and the fitness club as well as free in-room Nespress coffee and many more benefits. This promotion cannot be combined with any other offers and is subject to a

May 5, 2011By Lee Hyo-sik

Hotel Lobby

Millennium Hilton BBQ Happy Hour is back at Millennium Seoul Hilton’s English-style bar Oak Room. At the patio garden between 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. every day except Sundays, a variety of barbecued meats including German sausage, beef brisket with Korean “galbi” sauce, Mongolian spicy chicken and lamb cutlet will be offered. Side dishes including salads and pasta will also be available, along with unlimited draft beer or wine. The special BBQ is priced at 34,700 won and 44,000 won for those having premium wines, (exclusive of a 10-percent value-added tax and 10-percent service charge). For more information, call 02-317-3234. Grand Hyatt The Chinese Restaurant at Grand Hyatt Seoul offers dim sum selections from May 7 to 22. Dim sum selections include shark’s fin, shrimp, Shanghai-style steamed pork dumplings, along with fruit spring rolls, egg rolls and many other delectable selections. Lunch and dinner courses as well as side dishes such as jellyfish salad, steamed abalone and sauteed pine mushrooms are available. Lunch is served between 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and di

May 5, 2011

Enjoy family month at hotels

By Kim Rahn May is called “family month” as Children’s Day, Parents’ Day and Teacher’s Day are all in it. It is a headache to find the right presents for the special days. Hotels here offer various packages and programs which will delight all family members. The Sheraton Grande Walkerhill suggests packages combining “The Legend of Flower,” the hotel’s show featuring an all-original Korean performance. The package includes a one-night stay in a deluxe room, breakfast buffet at The View and two tickets to the show, with the price starting from 252,000 won. The Legend I package adds dinner during the show to the package at 328,000 won. For those wanting a stay in a Club deluxe room and have breakfast at the Club Lounge, the Legend II package is available at 386,000 won. For parents who want to give their children a valuable experience, fun-packed and educational the Little Hotelier package is the choice. Child guests will experience the life of a hotelier by participating in general hotel duties at the door, the bell desk and the front desk and learn the ba

May 5, 2011By Kim Rahn

Won Buddhism

This Very Mind is My own Creator Great Enlightenment and Founding Day Message By Ven. Kyongsan-Head Dharma Master of Won-Buddhism Today we greet the Great Enlightenment Day, 96 Won-Buddhist Year. I wish that the light of Ilwon, which Sotaesan has shown us, spreads to all parts of the world so that paradise is realized and in full bloom. I sincerely pray for peace in the world and the reunification of the two Koreas by the merit of this celebration. Sotaesan taught us the dharma of realizing the fundamental principle of the universe, and our minds, and to use our minds well. May we all become Bodhisattvas who lead all people that we meet in paradise, by finding and utilizing the Mind Buddha which resides in our own minds. Right at this moment, there is something that can listen and see. What is this? It is our original mind and the main character. All the things that we listen to, think about, speak of, and act upon, are a function of our mind. Depending on how we use our mind, we may gather the fruit of happiness or the fruit of misery. What causes war is the mind

Apr 28, 2011

One world, one truth

By Chung Ah-young IKSAN, North Jeolla Province — This year marks the 96th anniversary of the foundation of Won Buddhism. Sotaesan (Park Chung-bin), the founder and great master of the religion, attained great enlightenment to the truth of ultimate reality on April 28, 1916 after some 20 years of study and meditation. The religion has a relatively short history compared to other major religions in Korea but since its birth it has rapidly grown into one of the top four — with more than 700,000 believers — alongside conventional Buddhists, Protestants and Catholics. Ven. Munsan (Kim Jung-yong), 86, and Ven. Atawon (Chon Pal-khn), 82, who are among the few remaining disciples personally taught by the founding master, talked about his teachings and the future of the religion to commemorate the Enlightenment and Founding Day of Won Buddhism. “The founding master was a timeless leader who was enlightened to the truth of the universe through spiritual practices, with the mission to make a better world. He always taught that the core of spiritual culture li

Apr 28, 2011

Grand Hyatt leads Koreas wine culture

By Kim Rahn The Grand Hyatt Seoul aims to become the wine ambassador to Seoul and the mission is actively promoted by Till Martin, executive assistant manager for food and beverage (F&B). The hotel is holding various wine events this year, including a casual gathering, Wine Club, and an exclusive gourmet dinner, Winemaker’s Table. The F&B expert from Germany says more and more Koreans seek wine and want to know about the foreign alcoholic beverage. “Twenty years ago, there was Ballantine’s whiskey on each table, then wine followed in a dramatic fashion. People are expressing strong interest in wine and many young people are so passionate about it. They want to learn and experience wine, spend so much on wine. A huge generational change is going on,” Martin said. He said that’s why he presented the Wine Club and why its last two events were so successful. The Wine Club is an event where people can enjoy a variety of wine without limits in a casual atmosphere under specific themes. The theme in March was Shiraz, and guests could enjoy some 40 kinds of wine made fro

Apr 28, 2011
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