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Korea Owns 455 Civil Aircraft

By Kim Rahn Staff Reporter Korea has 455 civil aircrafts as of June 30, up nearly 6 percent annually from 257 a decade ago, according to the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. Among them, 213 are passenger and cargo airplanes operated by airlines ― Korean Air has 124 planes, Asiana Airlines 66, Jeju Air eight, Air Busan five, Jin Air and Eastar Jet four each, and Hansung Airlines, which suspended operation, two. Those owned by Korean Air and Asiana Airlines are 8.9 years old on average, which is lower than the average ages of American carriers' planes ― nine to 15 years ― and those of European ones ― nine to 13 years. ``The large increase of the total number is partly due to the launch of low cost airlines in Korea, which are actively adopting more aircrafts,'' a ministry official said. Another 37 airplanes and 71 helicopters are used for aerial photography or survey. They include those operated by companies providing irregular helicopter transportation service ― nine choppers by Tongil Air Systems, 12 by Helikorea and 11 by Hongik Air Service ― and tho

Jul 9, 2009

Worlds Quirkiest Hotels for Exciting Holidays

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter It is officially holiday season with tens of thousands of people rushing overseas to cool off from the heat and enjoy an exotic summer. There is a trend in traveling, too, though everyone has his or her own idea about a good vacation. If you want to know what other people in the world are up to in terms of traveling, one good way is to see where they stay, because hotels often tell the needs and focuses of the travelers. The Korea Times requested www.hotels.com, one of the largest hotel reservation sites in the world, to sort out the trends of traveling through hotel searching and booking. They may not all be the flashiest or the state-of-the-art hotels but they can surely be ``reasonable'' hotels and tell you where people are visiting this summer to cool off from the heat. The Web site, which has contracts with more than 100,000 hotels worldwide, has also selected five of the ``world's quirkiest hotels,'' for colorful and exciting days out. Asia and the U.S. The hotel that made the most deals through the site in the world was Trad

Jul 9, 2009

Hotel Lobby

JW Marriott JW Marriott Seoul presents the ``sambok'' package until Aug. 31 for corporate events, conferences or meetings in sambok, the hottest period of summer in Korean tradition. The package, designed to beat the unbearable heat, consists of three different set menus ― breakfast, lunch and dinner. The nutritious foods includes black sesame and milk porridge, beef and bamboo sprout soup, fresh ginseng salad, and chicken and ginseng soup. The menus are priced between 29,000 won and 53,000 won and cover between 15 and 80 guests for a social event or corporate meeting. For more information, call (02) 6282-6214.

Jul 9, 2009

Pose And Everything Will Come Eventually

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Many may consider yoga a diet routine, just one of the numerous ways to lose weight and tone their bodies to gain the so-called ``S'' line everybody aims for. For Ven. Hyun Chun, 50, however, it's more than about just getting the perfect body. ``Yoga is part of meditation. It is based on Indian tradition and should be done free of any religion as a universal practice,'' he told The Korea Times during an interview last week at his yoga center. Ven. Hyun Chun is the head of the Iyengar Yoga Center and has been practicing yoga for more than 20 years. Iyengar Yoga was created by B.K.S. Iyengar and is a form of yoga practiced all over the world. Known as the modern form of ancient yoga, it is famous for using various props, such as belts, wooden blocks and even sand bags as aides in performing the poses, or ``asanas.'' ``The yoga boom flourished in the 2000s, mainly by top Hollywood stars and celebrities. But the boom started to dwindle, probably because it was boring and difficult,'' he said. B.K.S. Iyengar invented special yoga t

Jul 9, 2009

Hotel Lobby

Sheraton Incheon Hotel A five-star Sheraton Incheon Hotel will open in Songdo International city on Aug. 1. Just a 40-minute drive from Seoul and a 20-minute drive from Incheon International Airport once the Incheon Bridge construction is completed, the hotel is expected to be positioned as a business and leisure hotel in the port city of Incheon. The Sheraton Incheon has 26 stories with 319 rooms, nine banquet halls, a fitness center and a spa. The whole building is designated as a no-smoking zone. Financed by Kumho Asiana Group and managed by Starwood, it is the only top class hotel established in Songdo.

Jul 3, 2009

Enjoy Top-Notch Hotel Services

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter Have you ever walked into a hotel, checked in, had shower and then went to bed only to wake up the next morning and check out again? Then maybe the next time you visit, you might consider experiencing the “exquisite” services the hotel offers from simple shoe-shining, to the concierge service booking your concert tickets and fetching you amenities. Hotel services are, however, sometimes very detailed and you may not even notice it until you really pay attention or request them. Those services provided by personnel are included in your room rates and you may not want to miss any of the juicy details of being in a hotel. The Korea Times looked into the services provided at Park Hyatt Seoul, one of the two sixstar hotels in Seoul alongside W Walkerhill Seoul. Greetings If you are driving to the hotel, located in a corner of Samsungro business district in southern Seoul, a valet parking assistant will step up to park your car. He will, surprisingly, call you by name and greet you. “Sir, welcome.” In front of the elevator to the lobby located at

Jul 2, 2009

Experience Flavors of Bulgaria at Zelen

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Few may be familiar with the southeastern European country of Bulgaria, much less the cuisine, but those who are will know that yogurt is perhaps the most recurring ingredient in its dishes, due in part to a popular yogurt brand. So to satisfy our curiosity about Bulgarian food, we decided to check out Zelen, described as an authentic Bulgarian restaurant, located in Itaewon. Step inside the restaurant, and you may feel as if you’ve been transported to Bulgaria. The walls, chairs and tables are done up in warm red and green (the colors of the Bulgarian flag), while fake vines of leaves cover the ceiling. There’s even a fountain with a statue in the middle of the room. Gaudy decorations aside, we were there for the food. There’s an extensive menu, but we decided to go with the lunch specials that come with an appetizer, main dish and dessert for only about 18,000 won each (excluding tax). First came the appetizers. The vegetable cream soup was rich in flavor, and even though it was warm, it didn’t leave a heavy feeling. (We must

Jul 2, 2009

Grand Hilton -- Best Place for Conventions

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter Choosing a place for business meetings, seminars, award ceremonies or other big event is never easy. But the Grand Hilton Seoul may provide some ideas. Winner in the best convention category, it has the newest and finest convention center, which opened in late December 2001. Since then, it has been chosen for both domestic and international meetings and conventions. Located directly across from the main hotel, the center houses a large convention hall as well as small- and medium-sized banquet halls and conference rooms. Prior to the opening of the new building, meetings and conventions were held in the hotel's Grand Ballroom, but the new purpose-built center gives the Grand Hilton an independent, separate facility within a minute's walk of the hotel. There is a spacious lobby and reception area, which offer a quiet and tranquil atmosphere that facilitates smooth transitions between cocktail receptions, meals and meetings. The all-in-one concept is a strong selling point, which event planners would appreciate. On the fourth floor,

Jun 29, 2009

InterContinental Gets Thumbs Up in Luxury Service

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter If you are planning to visit Seoul and want to stay in the top-rated hotel in Gangnam, southern Seoul, the Grand InterContinental could be the answer. The hotel, the winner in the Luxury Hotel category, is located near the airport bus terminal, convention centers, duty-free shops and COEX Mall, one of the largest indoor shopping malls in Asia, showing every part of the ``Soul of Asia.'' But location isn't its only attribute. The hotel is famous for both state-of-the-art facilities and a distinctive Korean style of ambience. The InterContinental has one of the largest guest rooms and is fully equipped with the latest modern technology, set amid traditional decor and furnishings. It has 15 function rooms of varied sizes, allowing freedom to select the space that suits smaller meetings, large-scale conferences, weddings, receptions or social gatherings. Customers can enjoy the collection of modern and authentic restaurants offering exotic and eclectic choices in world cuisine, including French, Japanese, Mediterranean and Italian. It

Jun 29, 2009

Millennium Hilton: One Size Fits All

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter It's very easy to see why the Millennium Seoul Hilton was chosen as the winner of the best business hotel in the downtown Seoul category _ it has nearly everything tailored to the needs of businessmen, tourists and inbound guests. With its fabulous location near Seoul Station, right next to Mt. Namsan, the hotel has an exquisite view and easy access to every major spot in the city, and possibly even across the country. The hotel first opened its doors over a quarter of a century ago in 1983. Over the years, the hotel has built up its reputation as the premier corporate hotel in Seoul. Modern facilities, decor and outstanding service helped the 22 story-hotel become a hub of business and entertainment leisure. All 681 guest rooms and suites introduce new standards of luxury to the hotel's guests. With every modern convenience and luxurious amenity, the hotel is a virtual home away from the workplace. Catering especially to business guests, the Millennium Seoul Hilton offers special rooms furnished with extra-large work desks, computers

Jun 29, 2009
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