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Hotel Lobby

Millennium Seoul Hotel A branch of the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) educational institute is to open at the Millennium Seoul Hilton. Established in 1910, AHLA represents all sectors and stakeholders in the lodging industry, including hotel companies, student and faculty members and industry suppliers, and its educational institute has been the premier source of hospitality training resources worldwide. For more information, call (02) 317-3771. The Shilla Seoul The Shilla Seoul is presenting a ``Summer Escape Package'' from July 1 through Aug. 31. The package offers a one-night stay in a Deluxe room, free entrance to outdoor and indoor pools, welcome drinks for two people, free access to the fitness club, a travel kit from Amore Pacific and a Shilla beach bag. The price starts from 229,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2230-3310. W Seoul Walkerhill W Seoul Walkerhill is hosting a tennis camp for children and teenagers. Four sessions of the four-night, five-day camp will be held between July 20 and Aug. 14 for elementary to high school

Jun 26, 2009

Hoteliers Spill Beans on Hotel Life

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter A hotel is a place where a guest can sleep, eat, exercise and enjoy a number of other activities. But hidden beneath these services are the sweats and toils offered by the hundreds of staff day and night _ a hotel is truly ``a building that never sleeps.'' Grand Hyatt Hotel at Mt. Namsan in central Seoul is one of the city's top-notch hotels. With 601 rooms, including a presidential suite _ the most expensive room in Korea _ 11 restaurants and bars, and the most expensive fitness center, it is one of the busiest hotels here. However, within the Grand Hyatt, there are also the lives of about 900 staff_ their achievements, toils, pleasures and, much more, their emotions. The Korea Times listened to the life stories of five staff members and heard what it is like to be a ``hotelier'' and what a hotel is to them. The life of a hotelier is beyond imagination. Overseeing the 24-hour operation of what is essentially a ``small town,'' staff work in three-rotations, watching over day and night. They take service lessons more than once a week, mem

Jun 26, 2009

Carriers to Offer Summer Discount

By Kim Rahn Staff Reporter Foreign and domestic air carriers have unveiled a string of discounted fares for the summer months. Cathay Pacific Airways is offering discounts in business class for a group of two or more travelers when they make reservations on the same flight schedule. The roundtrip fare between Seoul and Hong Kong starts at 650,000 won ($510) per person when two or three people travel together, and 600,000 won for between four and nine people. The promotion is available until the end of August, and passengers can stay in Hong Kong for up to seven days. Special fares are available for Southeast Asia when a group of two to nine people travel: Tickets for Bangkok and Manila are 700,000 won per person; for Cebu, 750,000 won; Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, 800,000 won; Phuket, 850,000 won; and Bali, 900,000 won. Passengers can stay for up to 15 days. Cathay is also offering another ``Happy Hour'' promotion between 6 p.m. and midnight every Friday for three weeks, starting from today. Those making reservations on the carrier's Web site, www.cathaypacific.com/kr,

Jun 26, 2009

Camping Around Korea

Quick and Simple Guide to Some Camping Spots By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Unleash your inner adventurer by going camping this summer. Booking a room in a hotel and resort may seem like the more comfortable way to enjoy holidays or weekends, but now many are turning towards camping for a more environmentally friendly and interesting trip. Before leaving, campers should prepare to the fullest, although some noted that having to struggle a bit in unexpected situations is one of the charms of camping. Gyeonggi Province Gyeonggi Province offers various choices for those who are not driving a long way to camp; Seoul Grand Park being one of them. Located in Gwacheon, the park has a total of five camping sites where you can sleep in a tent, play basketball and also chat with friends and family near the crystal-clear creek. The site is surrounded by various cultural venues, including the National Museum of Contemporary Art and also an amusement park. Admission costs from 1,000 won to 2,000 won. The park also rents out tents for 15,000 won. Reservations are preferred

Jun 25, 2009

Japanese Curry at Coco Ichi Banya

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter In Korea, curry had long been synonymous with ``ka-re’’ imported from Japan _ a spin-off of British manufactured curry powder that was introduced in Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1912) when India was under British rule. Japanese curry, a dark brown concoction served with sticky steamed rice, evolved here again to take on a more diluted taste and hue, and this ``golden ka-re’’ became a staple instant meal. With the rise in popularity of Indian eateries _ and the accompanying shock that curry can be green and is served with Basmati rice _ the local kind was rejected as ``fake.’’ The Nippon strain of curry, however, has risen back as a wholesome dining-out menu, rather than something that comes in a box for a quick fix. One particular ``authentic’’ Japanese curry place attracting a cult following is Coco Ichi Banya, which means ``this is the best place’’ in Japanese. The worldwide chain has over 1,000 stores in Japan and another 1,000 scattered around the world from Hawaii to Shanghai and Taipei, and two chains have finally opened in Seoul i

Jun 25, 2009

KoreaToday Chos Recommendation : Japchae (Pan-Fried Glass Noodle)

As one of the Korean dishes traditionally well received by foreigners, japchae has long been served here on festive days or celebrations. Cho says this particular item, by offering variations made with different ingredients such as seafood and meat, can be shared by people across the world. “Noodles are enjoyed all around the world, by young and old, and regardless of walks of life,” Cho said. “And as a special kind of noodle, it could be easily accessed by citizens around the world.” Ingredients 50 grams of beef (top round), 10 grams (2 sheets) of brown oak mushrooms, 3 grams of Jew’s ear mushrooms, 70 grams of cucumber, 30 grams of carrot, 30 grams of skinned bellflower roots, 150 grams (1 head) of onion, 30 grams of mung bean sprouts, 400 grams (2 cups) of water, 60 grams of egg, 60 grams of glass noodle (made of potato starch), 26 grams (2 tablespoons) of oil * Seasoning sauce (1): 9 grams (1/2 tablespoon) of soy sauce, 2 grams (1/2 teaspoon) of sugar, 2.3 grams of minced green onion, 1.4 grams of minced garlic, 1 gram of sesame salt, 2 grams of sesame oil, 0.1 gra

Jun 24, 2009

KoreaToday Going High-End Helps Globalize Korean Food

By Kim Hyun-cheol Staff Reporter Food Culture CEO Suggests More Engagement From Conglomerates Korea wants its food, hansik, known and enjoyed in more parts of the world, but opinions still vary about this possibility. Some say it is possible at any time once it gains more exposure overseas, while others are endlessly skeptical about its gaining credits other than in some limited parts of the world. On this issue, the opinion of Cho Tae-kwon, CEO of local ceramic ware maker Kwangjuyo, is provocative but straight to the core. The entrepreneur says an ``inferiority complex'' within Korea and its people, as well as prevailing self-complacence, is the highest hurdle in the way to the globalization of Korean cuisine. ``I'm afraid to say the concept of 'globalization of hansik' is sort of misleading here,'' Cho told The Korea Times. ``It should not be just about showing off some exotic-looking dishes like a speed date. It should make global citizens feel interested and enchanted in what we usually eat and drink.'' And interestingly, he claims the real globalization of Ko

Jun 24, 2009

KoreaToday Saving Hansik Restaurants

By Kim Hyun-cheol Staff Reporter The irony is that, despite efforts to globalize Korean food and make it part of the world’s dining table, big Korean restaurants at home are disappearing. Their disappearance also means that foreigners are being deprived of chances to get acquainted with hansik in its most general form and taste. Of the 18 highest-ranked hotels in Seoul, currently four of them are running a Korean restaurant, according to data from the Korea Hotel Association (KHA). Except for Mayfield, Lotte (Euljiro), Sheraton Grand Walkerhill and Renaissance Seoul, the rest of the luxury hotels have given up operations because of pressure from cost reductions. In most renowned hotels in Korea, restaurants specializing in overseas cuisine have been replacing those of Korean food over the years. At the Shilla Hotel, its representative food amenity is its Chinese restaurant “Palseon.” Also, a French restaurant substitutes for a now-defunct Korean restaurant at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. “It’s the trend in luxury hotels in Korea, with losses growing,” a KHA official said.

Jun 24, 2009

KoreaToday Korean Style to Be Promoted at Fair

By Kim Hyun-cheol Staff Reporter Making distinction has emerged as a head issue of late in the country’s culture-related industries on the grounds that low recognition is keeping more people outside Korea from embracing the country’s culture, let alone understanding and loving it. More policymakers are rolling up their sleeves for better promotion of various disciplines in Korea’s traditional culture, as well as mixing its components into the modern trend here, as calls are rising on more supports from the government. As part of such efforts, next month will see the third edition of the Korea Style Expo, a culture fair which inaugurated in 2006. This year’s event, to be held at the COEX in southern Seoul and hosted by the the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Land and Maritime Affairs, will display a variety of cultural products, goods and information in six categories of Korean traditional culture. Korean style in six categories ? the Korean alphabet, traditional clothes, Korean cuis

Jun 24, 2009

Hotel Lobby

Paradise Hotel Busan The Paradise Hotel Busan will present Summer Vacation Package from July 17 to 29. The package includes a one-night stay at deluxe room, breakfast for two, free access to the outdoor spa and swimming pool, a 50-percent discount for the indoor sauna, a 10-percent discount at restaurants, a 20-percent discount for Busan Aquarium and more. The cost is 235,000 won without tax and service charges, and additional charges are added on Friday and Sunday. For more information, call (051) 749-2111. Hilton Namhae Golf & Spa Resort The Hilton Namhae Golf & Spa Resort features tonic foods that will stimulate guests to fight the summer heat. In July, it offers abalone sashimi, which is protein and vitamin-rich, at market prices, while in August, ``samgyetang'' (chicken and ginseng soup) with abalone is offered at 22,000 won. Until June 30, ``Garlic Island, Garlic Festival'' features various garlic dishes, including stir-fried mushroom with garlic and parmesan cheese, bass steak with mashed potato and garlic, and abalone grilled with garlic butter.

Jun 18, 2009
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