Lifestyle - The Korea Times

What to taste, shop for in Gyeongju, from Hwangnam bread to crown-inspired souvenirs

With the APEC summit bringing visitors from all over the globe to Korea's historic southeast, Gyeongju is ready to show that its charm goes beyond royal tombs and stone pagodas. Once the seat of the ancient Silla Kingdom (57 BCE-935 CE), the city in present-day North Gyeongsang Province remains a living showcase of history — but it's also a place where travelers can enjoy regional flavors, trendy souvenirs and creative reinterpretations of the past. Sweet beginnings No visit to Gyeongju begins without its signature Hwangnam-ppang, also known as Gyeongju-ppang, a golden, round pastry with a thick filling of sweet red bean paste. Chalbori-ppang, a kind of sticky barley bread also filled with the same bean paste, is another popular local treat. The pastries were developed by local family-run bakeries in the first half of the 20th century, but their popularity has endured and expanded with time. Now sold almost everywhere in the city, from train stations to boutiques to rural shops, these sweet treats offer visitors a simple way to sample the region's identity. The treats come packaged for

Oct 28, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

What to taste, shop for in Gyeongju, from Hwangnam bread to crown-inspired souvenirs

Seoul cafe ignites backlash over ‘No Chinese customers’ policy

A cafe near Seoul Forest has come under fire after posting a “No Chinese customers” notice on its Instagram page, sparking accusations of racial discrimination, as the district’s mayor pledges to intervene and convince the owner to remove the message. Seongdong District Mayor Chong Won-o said Monday on social media that he was aware of the issue and would “make every effort to persuade the establishment.” His post was in response to a citizen’s question asking whether the district could take action against such “racist behavior.” Chong wrote, “I deeply share your concern. As Seongsu-dong has become one of Korea’s representative tourist destinations for both locals and foreigners, we will do our best to convince the café to reconsider.” Divided reactions online The controversy began when a cafe in Seongsu-dong updated its Instagram bio in English to say, “Sorry, we do not accept Chinese customers.” Soon after, several Chinese visitors posted accounts on social media saying they were turned away. The issue went viral after Henry, a Chinese influencer living in Kore

Oct 28, 2025By Hankookilbo

Seoul cafe ignites backlash over ‘No Chinese customers’ policy

Gimcheon gimbap festival draws huge crowds, doubling town’s population

What began as a playful idea has blossomed into a full-fledged phenomenon in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, as more than 150,000 visitors flocked over the weekend for the second edition of the gimbap festival —ballooning the city's usual population of 130,000. The two-day festival, which ran Saturday and Sunday, transformed the quiet city into a bustling food hub celebrating Korea’s beloved seaweed rice roll. Over 30 vendors offered 50 varieties of gimbab, from trendy frozen rolls to regional specialties and award-winning competition creations. Local food company Daejung operated an open kitchen on-site, rolling out up to 1,000 gimbap per hour. The city’s success traces back to a savvy approach to cultural branding. When Gimcheon surveyed young Koreans in 2023 about the first thing that came to mind regarding the city, the top answer was gimbap — a nod to Gimbap Cheonguk (Gimbap Heaven), a nationwide chain often associated with Gimcheon. Rather than dismiss the connection, officials embraced it, using it as the foundation for their tourism campaign. The festival’s debut l

Oct 27, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Gimcheon gimbap festival draws huge crowds, doubling town’s population

Gyeongju, Korea’s enduring heart of travel and heritage

As the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit approaches, the host city of Gyeongju is reaffirming its standing as one of Korea’s premier travel destinations — a distinction it has held for decades, sustained by both deliberate national planning and enduring public affection. Nestled in North Gyeongsang Province, Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C.- 935 A.D.) for nearly a thousand years, and its streets, gardens and ancient mounds still carry echoes of that golden era. The city’s fame as “the museum without walls” was established long before an ambitious government project in the 1970s, which included the creation of the Bomun Tourist Complex, helped lay the foundation for today’s tourism-driven economy. In 1971, President Park Chung-hee toured the region and underscored the need to preserve and promote Gyeongju’s Silla heritage, which had endured for nearly a millennium. He unveiled the Gyeongju Comprehensive Tourism Development Plan, which envisioned the city’s transformation into an international cultural destination while still protecting

Oct 25, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Gyeongju, Korea’s enduring heart of travel and heritage

Koreans No. 2 globally in instant noodle consumption — which country is top?

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Koreans love ramen noodles. A recent report shows that the average Korean ate 79 packs of instant noodles last year, making the country the world’s second-largest consumer after Vietnam. However, ramen is far from a health food. Experts say adding vegetables, eggs or other ingredients can offset the drawbacks from its refined carbohydrates and salty soup and help prevent sudden blood sugar spikes. According to the World Instant Noodles Association, Vietnam topped the list last year with an average of 81 servings per person, followed by Korea with 79. Thailand (57), Nepal (54), Indonesia (52), Japan (47), Malaysia (47), Taiwan (40), the Philippines (39) and China, including Hong Kong (31), rounded out the top ten. Until 2020, Korea ranked first, but Vietnam overtook it in 2021. Ramen’s popularity is easy to understand — it’s tasty and convenient. But its nutritional profile leaves much to be desired. Most noodles are made from white wheat flour, a refined carbohydrate with a high glycemic index, and many varieties are fried in palm oil

Oct 25, 2025By Kormedi.com

Koreans No. 2 globally in instant noodle consumption — which country is top?

Gyeongju to showcase tourist events blending Korea's heritage, innovation during APEC

As world leaders gather for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, the host city of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, and the surrounding region have launched tourist events highlighting Korea’s heritage, technology and traditions to expand the global reach of K-culture and showcase the nation’s tourism potential. With one week left before the summit, the city has launched programs designed to promote Korean traditions and cutting-edge creativity. Officials from the central government, the provincial government and the Gyeongju city government announced the opening of the Daereungwon Media Art exhibition on Friday. The large-scale event will continue through Nov. 16. The project uses state-of-the-art digital technology against the setting of the ancient royal tomb complex to reimagine the brilliance of the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C.-A.D. 935) under dazzling lights and immersive media art. Visitors can also engage in interactive cultural programs such as caricature drawing, stamp tours and paper lantern making, while the iconic Cheonmachong Tomb welcomes guests

Oct 24, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Gyeongju to showcase tourist events blending Korea's heritage, innovation during APEC

6 unlicensed tour guides caught leading foreign tourists in Seoul

Seoul authorities have caught six unlicensed individuals guiding foreign tourists in popular districts such as Hongdae, Myeong-dong and Gyeongbok Palace, the city government said Thursday. The crackdown, conducted from Oct. 15-17, targeted areas with high tourist foot traffic and involved officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, local districts, the Seoul Metropolitan Police’s mobile patrol unit and the Korea Tourist Interpreter Association. Under Korea’s Tourism Promotion Act, only licensed tourist interpreters are permitted to guide foreign visitors. However, some travel agencies have hired unqualified guides who provide inaccurate information about history and culture or prioritize sales-oriented itineraries, raising concerns about declining tourism quality in Seoul. Inspectors used a digital verification app on-site to check credentials, confirming 62 valid licenses and uncovering six cases of unauthorized activity. The city plans to impose fines on the unlicensed guides and levy penalties or administrative sanctions on their employers. According to the law, first-time o

Oct 24, 2025By Hankookilbo

6 unlicensed tour guides caught leading foreign tourists in Seoul

Officials prep Korea Welcome Week for APEC summit, tourists

The government is launching Korea Welcome Week, from Thursday to Nov. 9 at major entry points to capitalize on the expected surge in visitors ahead of the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Thursday. Co-hosted by the ministry and the Visit Korea Committee, Korea Welcome Week is designed to welcome and assist overseas tourists. The event features welcome booths at key transportation hubs — including Incheon International Airport, Gyeongju Station, Gimhae International Airport and Busan Port — offering various benefits and conveniences related to shopping and transportation. Korea Welcome Week is scheduled to coincide with the 2025 APEC event, which will take place in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. The tourism ministry expects the APEC event to act as a springboard for both qualitative and quantitative growth in the inbound tourism sector. "As the inbound tourism market is rapidly revitalizing, we will continue to use the welcome week and similar initiatives to ensure foreign visitors can travel more

Oct 23, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Officials prep Korea Welcome Week for APEC summit, tourists

Grand Korea Leisure passes ISO 45001 safety management review

Grand Korea Leisure Co. (GKL), the state-run operator of Seven Luck, the country’s largest casino serving only foreign visitors under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said Tuesday that it had cleared the post-certification review to retain its ISO 45001 safety management certification. ISO 45001, established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 2018, is the world’s leading occupational health and safety standard. It assesses whether companies have effective management systems and goals in place to protect workers’ safety and health. GKL first obtained ISO 45001 certification in December 2020. The recent review evaluated areas including organizational context, leadership and policy, roles and responsibilities, competence, operational planning and control, and employee awareness of safety and health. GKL received compliance ratings in all categories. "Safety for our customers and employees is our top priority," said the company's president Yoon Doo-hyun, "We will continue striving to create a safe GKL with zero serious accidents and to lead in b

Oct 23, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Grand Korea Leisure passes ISO 45001 safety management review

How Gwangjang Market is attracting new generation of shoppers

Suzy and her two friends from Taiwan wandered through Gwangjang Market in central Seoul on a crisp autumn afternoon. All professional dancers, they visited Korea for dance lessons and stopped by the market to try its famous yukhoe (marinated raw beef). After sharing a bowl of raw beef topped with egg yolk and pear slices at a food stall on the eastern end of the market, the trio energetically explored the hip new additions to the market. At Off Beauty, a warehouse-style beauty outlet, one of them picked up a hand cream by Vareli, a Korean lifestyle brand. Their itinerary reflects the changing face of one of Seoul’s oldest traditional markets. Once dominated by small vendors selling hanbok (traditional Korean clothing), textiles and street food, Gwangjang Market is now embracing corporate-owned fashion and beauty shops, convenience stores and coffee shop chains, catering to a new wave of tourists. For Afiqah Razak, 32, a visitor from Brunei traveling with her husband and friends, the market’s transformation was striking. She stopped by to purchase silk for baju kurung — Bruneian tr

Oct 23, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

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