Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Jeju seeks to lure back Chinese tourists as gov't lifts visa ban

Travelers to Jeju Island enjoy blooming canola flowers in the mountainous southwestern coastal area of Andeok-myeon, Feb. 8. YonhapBy Lee Hae-rinThe southern resort island of Jeju seeks to attract Chinese tourists again by restoring direct flights between the island and China after the Korean government resumed issuing short-term visas to foreign arrivals from China starting Saturday. The Jeju Special Self-Governing Province announced via a press release, Friday, that it “welcomes” the government's decision to reissue short-term visas. It is a “timely measure,” considering China's coronavirus situation and its impact on the island's and the country's economy, the provincial government said.In response, Jeju plans to seek ways to facilitate the entry of Chinese travelers into the island. It will consult with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior and Safety to restore direct flights between Jeju and China. Direct flights from China, Hong Kong and Macau to the Korean resort island have been suspended since the outbreak of the pandemic.Jeju

Feb 13, 2023By Lee Hae-rin

Jeju seeks to lure back Chinese tourists as gov't lifts visa ban

Suncheon seeks to turn into garden city through expo

An aerial view of Ocheon Green Park, one of the key attractions of Suncheonman International Garden Expo 2023 / Courtesy of Suncheon cityBy Lee Hae-rinThe southern coastal city of Suncheon plans to present an eco-friendly future urban planning design that enables carbon neutrality through an international expo that will be held in April for the first time in 10 years. Suncheon held a press conference, Friday, in Seoul, to mark a 50-day countdown to the seven-month Suncheonman International Garden Expo. The 200-billion won ($157 million) international expo is scheduled to kick off on April 1 and run through Oct. 31. “The international expo aims to present a future city model via creative urban planning,” said Suncheon Mayor Roh Kwan-kyu. “In this time of climate change, the expo will present the most realistic and effective solutions to achieve carbon neutrality.”Jointly hosted by Suncheon City, South Jeolla Province and the Korea Forest Service under the Ministry of Environment, the expo is the country's first government-sponsored and authorized international

Feb 12, 2023By Lee Hae-rin

Suncheon seeks to turn into garden city through expo

Myeong-dong regains vitality as tourists return

Myeong-dong, a tourist hotspot in central Seoul, is filled with locals and tourists, Friday. Korea Times photo by Lee Yeon-wooSoutheast Asian tourists fill void left by Chinese visitorsBy Lee Yeon-woo“What will you buy? I want to buy the NCT one,” one woman who wore a lavender-colored hijab said to her friend. “I will buy this, BTS,” her friend answered. The two friends were standing in front of a street vendor who sells popular K-pop themed socks in Myeong-dong, a famous shopping district for locals and tourists in central Seoul, Friday. “We love, love K-pop,” Sri Nuryati, a 31-year-old Indonesian said enthusiastically to The Korea Times. She was holding a black plastic bag which was stuffed with the socks she bought.Nuryati said visiting Korea had been a dream of hers for years. She wanted to experience the country which produced her favorite K-pop artist, NCT.“As soon as COVID-19 ended, I was like 'Now it's time, pack your bag, and go go go,'” Nuryati added with a big laugh.On Friday, Myeong-dong was filled with tourists carrying sho

Feb 11, 2023By Lee Yeon-woo

Myeong-dong regains vitality as tourists return

Air Busan to resume Busan-Kaohsiung route next month

An Air Busan airplane / Courtesy of Air BusanAir Busan, a budget carrier unit of Asiana Airlines, said Thursday it will resume the Busan-Kaohsiung route next month as travel demand recovers amid eased virus curbs.Air Busan plans to provide four flights a week on the Taiwan route from March 29 following three years of suspension due to the pandemic, the company said in a statement.The low-cost carrier also plans to offer flights on the Busan-Nah Trang route from March 26 and on the Busan-Taipei route starting April 20, the statement said.The carrier operated 25 international routes with 25 A321 chartered planes before the pandemic hit the airline industry in early 2020.It currently serves flights on 21 international routes ― 14 from the Gimhae International Airport in Busan and seven from Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. (Yonhap)

Feb 9, 2023

Air Busan to resume Busan-Kaohsiung route next month

Hoiana Resort and Golf offer truly customized service for Koreans

The Hoiana Resort and Golf integrated resort includes Hoiana Shores Golf Club, arguably the best links course in Vietnam. Courtesy of Hoiana Resort and Golf By Kang Seung-wooHOIAN, Vietnam ― Set to provide a true home-away-from-home experience, Hoiana Residences is ready to satisfy Korean guests by offering unique services that cannot be found elsewhere in Vietnam, according to the vice president of Hoiana Resort and Golf.Hoiana Residences is part of a $4-billion (5 trillion won) mega project by Hoi An South Development to build an integrated resort featuring four luxury hotels along with a serviced apartment. It opened its doors in November of last year aiming to provide a luxurious, five-star experience with a touch of home for those who want relaxation and entertainment, thereby bringing the customer experience to a whole new level. Noel Lum, vice president of Hoiana Re

Feb 9, 2023By Kang Seung-woo

Hoiana Resort and Golf offer truly customized service for Koreans

INTERVIEW A touch of authenticity in Korea's Mexican cuisine scene

Jin Woo-bum, the chef and CEO of local food brand Molino Project, poses in front of street taco-style restaurant, La Calle, located in Sindang-dong, Jung District, central Seoul, Jan. 27. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukChef and CEO tries to introduce real Mexican vibe to Koreans through 2 restaurant brandsBy Lee Gyu-leeIn Korea, taco is often used as an equivalent term for Mexican cuisine. Looking up the word “taco” on an online map will show the results for Mexican restaurants nearby whether they sell the dish or not.Molino Project is a local Mexican cuisine brand that offers authentic Mexican food in Korea. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukThe food, made with flour tortillas, often has Korean-sourced ingredients that give it a very Korean twist. The majority of restaurants here try to adapt the food to local preferences, and many customers, therefore, believe that this is what Mexican cuisine is all about.But not Jin Woo-bum, the chef and CEO of a local Mexican cuisine brand, Molino Project.“I always have faith in the foundation. And the foundation of Mexican fo

Feb 2, 2023By Lee Gyu-lee

[INTERVIEW] A touch of authenticity in Korea's Mexican cuisine scene

Saipanese people pin hopes on tourism boom again

Travelers snorkel around the Managaha Island, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Jan. 14. Known as the 'jewel of the CNMI,' the small reef island on the western coast of Saipan offers chest-deep blue water with coral reef and tropical fish, suitable for snorkeling beginners both young and old. Korea Times photo by Lee Hae-rinKoreans take lion's share in foreign tourists in the islandBy Lee Hae-rinSAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands ―- A Saipanese snorkeling guide, who goes by the Korean nickname “Ddung-ddung-yi” (an affectionate term meaning “Chubby” in English) to befriend Korean visitors, spoke in Korean during an expedition program at Saipan's natural cave attraction Grotto, Jan. 12.“Are you scared? No worries. Hold on to Ddung-ddung-yi,” he told a group of Korean tourists. “Hold your breath. One, two, three!”With the help of local guides capable of conversational Korean, a group of about 30 Koreans joyfully explored the cave's diving site connected to the Pacific Ocean ― the world's second largest cave diving destination.

Feb 1, 2023By Lee Hae-rin

Saipanese people pin hopes on tourism boom again

Saipan resort accommodates families, young golfers and partygoers

Saipan resort accommodates families, young golfers and partygoers

Travelers enjoy the evening pool party at Coral Ocean Resort Saipan's Beach Club in this undated provided photo. Courtesy of MRIBy Lee Hae-rinCoral Ocean Resort Saipan seeks to expand the island's traveler target from families to young golfers and partygoers with a wide range of sports and entertainment facilities to revitalize its pandemic-hit tourism.Established in 1988, the resort was acquired by the E-land group's overseas corporation MRI in 2011. Since its reopening in 2013, it went through another round of renovation when the super typhoon Yutu devastated most of its infrastructure in 2018.Before the second renovation, the resort was “an ordinary old-fashioned golf resort” that offered little originality, according to the resort's general manager Park Eun-pyung. Thus, the resort took the chance to differentiate itself from other resorts by expanding its target market to include visitors younger than traditionally associated with traveling to the island, which according to Park and his colleagues, “choose to stay unmarried and childless and have heavy interests

Jan 31, 2023By Lee Hae-rin

Saipan resort accommodates families, young golfers and partygoers

Saipanese people pin hopes on tourism boom again

Incheon-bound Jeju Air plane returns to Hokkaido airport due to engine noise

This photo, provided by Jeju Air on Nov. 19, 2021, shows a passenger aircraft run by the low-cost carrier. Korea Times fileAn airplane belonging to Jeju Air Co., South Korea's biggest low-cost carrier, returned to the airport that it had departed from in Hokkaido, Japan, due to an unusual noise from its engine. The Boeing 737-800 carrying 187 passengers and six crew members returned to New Chitose Airport at 2:45 p.m. after taking off at 1:06 p.m.Jeju Air said the Incheon-bound aircraft circled in the sky to spend fuel in order to meet the required landing weight at which a plane is permitted to land. The passengers were taken to hotels while a safety inspection was conducted, the company said, adding that a substitute plane will depart at noon on Friday. (Yonhap)

Jan 26, 2023

Incheon-bound Jeju Air plane returns to Hokkaido airport due to engine noise

INTERVIEW Partnerships with Korean companies help Delta Air Lines' post-pandemic recovery

Matteo Curcio, Delta Air Lines' vice president of Asia Pacific / Courtesy of Delta Air LinesBy Lee Hae-rinDelta Air Lines was able to stage a spectacular recovery with the number of its Korea-US flights reaching 110 percent of pre-pandemic levels, thanks to close partnerships with Korean carriers and airports, Delta's Vice President of Asia Pacific Matteo Curcio said.Delta, ranked at the top for the second consecutive year in the Wall Street Journal's 2023 Airline Scorecard, along with its Korean partners ― Korean Air and Incheon International Airport Corp (IIAC) were able to “learn from each other and improve safety standards in a timely manner” as the COVID-19 pandemic hit the travel industry hard, Curcio said during a recent interview with The Korea Times.Like any other airline in the travel and tourism industry, Delta was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it tried to maintain trust with its customers by leading social distancing on planes. It was the first U.S. airline to choose not to sell the middle seats in planes from April 2020 and the last to end the d

Jan 26, 2023By Lee Hae-rin

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