Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Lotte Hotel Seoul rolls out specialized packages reflecting latest trends

Peninsula Lounge at Lotte Hotel Seoul / Courtesy of Lotte HotelBy Lee Hae-rinThe number of inbound travelers has grown rapidly since the government eased most travel restrictions earlier this year to boost the travel and tourism industry.According to Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC), which operates the country's largest and busiest international air transport hub, the number of overseas travelers spiked to over 3.93 million in the first half of this year, more than doubling from a year ago.Also, the airport forecasts the number of overseas travelers to reach 70 percent of the pre-pandemic level with a daily average over 85,000 during the summer peak season between July 22 and Aug. 10. To attract tourists, Lotte Hotel Seoul presents a variety of packages with bundled services that reflect the latest lifestyle trends through the following six keywords.UpcyclingThe hotel presents the “Share Your Love: Dear. Heroes” package in collaboration with domestic social enterprise 119 Rescue Each Other (REO). The company is known for upcycling firefighters' protective gear i

Jul 15, 2022By Lee Hae-rin

Lotte Hotel Seoul rolls out specialized packages reflecting latest trends

Cote's founder shares taste of Korean culture

Simon Kim, owner of Cote, a Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse in New York City / Courtesy of CoteBy Betsy KimNEW YORK ― When the doors open at 5 p.m. at Korean steakhouse Cote in Manhattan's bustling Flatiron district, the first stream of guests celebrating family birthdays and graduation dinners arrive into a crisp and modern room filled with subdued music. Two hours into the night, the atmosphere gradually transitions as professionals come in after work and start filling the tables. Then at around 9 p.m. is when the music gets loud and guests ready to party start to arrive, donning fancy, night-on-the-town clothes. This is a typical night at Simon Kim's acclaimed Michelin-starred New York City restaurant. Its Miami location which opened last year recently also won the Michelin epicurean badge of honor. But although Cote has catapulted Korean barbecue into today's latest trend, it still reaffirms how Koreans respect the full cycle of life.“We don't want to forget about anyone,” Kim said. “I don't want to work at a restaurant that grandmas and children cannot come

Jul 14, 2022

Cote's founder shares taste of Korean culture

Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul to reopen on Aug. 6

An expected view of a fully-refurbished Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul / Courtesy of Seoul city governmentA fully-refurbished Gwanghwamun Square, a landmark in central Seoul, will open to the public on Aug. 6, city government officials said Tuesday.The Seoul city government said an opening ceremony will be held with the participation of some 1,000 people. Construction began in November 2020 to expand the square and turn part of it into a park with new historical and cultural attractions.The park will also be used for an event to celebrate the Aug. 15 Liberation Day, with the participation of President Yoon Suk-yeol.The park will include displays of artifacts from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) era and the construction of a waterway resembling the drainage system of the time.However, the opening of some parts of the park will be delayed, as the rest of the construction will take until December 2023.Works include the restoration of a Joseon-era platform that used to stand in front of Gyeongbok Palace, north of the square, and two statues of "Haechi," a mythical four-legged creature, at th

Jul 12, 2022

Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul to reopen on Aug. 6

Incheon airport prepares to handle tourism rebound

Terminal 1 at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, is crowded with travelers arriving in the country, Wednesday. YonhapBy Lee Hae-rinIncheon International Airport, the country's busiest international air transport hub, will expand services and personnel to meet the recently eased travel restrictions for the summer holiday season, Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC) announced, Thursday. In the first half of this year, the airport saw more than 3.93 million international passengers, which is a 233.2 percent increase compared to the same period last year, the IIAC said at a press conference, Thursday.The country eased self-isolation requirements for vaccinated travelers in April and for unvaccinated arrivals in June. Also, the government approved reopening time slots, lifting the flight curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.During the first half of the year, the airport saw a steep increase in inbound travelers from Southeast Asia at 447.1 percent, the Americas at 211.7 percent and Europe at 237 percent. Meanwhile, travel from China went down by 31.2 percent due to the country's c

Jul 7, 2022By Lee Hae-rin

Incheon airport prepares to handle tourism rebound

Travel and tourism to create 49,000 jobs every year in Korea: WTTC

GettyimagesBy Lee Hae-rinAn average of 49,000 new jobs will be created in the country's travel and tourism sector over the next decade, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) said on Monday.The latest Economic Impact Report (EIR) by WTTC released in May shows that about half a million jobs will be created in the next ten years and will reach a total of 1.8 million by 2032, outpacing other sectors in the economy.According to the report, the nation's GDP in travel and tourism is expected to grow at a yearly average rate of 4.8 percent in the coming decade, which is significantly higher than the country's overall growth forecast of 1.8 percent.Such growth is supposed to yield 116.9 trillion won ($89.5 billion), occupying 4.6 percent of the country's economy. Before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country's tourism industry contributed 4.4 percent, or 87.5 trillion won ($67 billion) to the country's GDP and provided 1.3 million jobs.However, the pandemic devastated the sector, nearly halving its GDP and economic contribution to 2.7 percent with 54.2 trillion won.In 2021,

Jul 7, 2022By Lee Hae-rin

Travel and tourism to create 49,000 jobs every year in Korea: WTTC

Cruelty-free tourism: tour companies end programs accused of animal abuse

A traveler splashes water on an elephant in Chiang Mai, Thailand, during Hana Tour's animal-friendly program. Courtesy of Hana TourBy Lee Hae-rinHana Tour, the nation's largest travel agency, has gotten rid of travel programs accused of animal exploitation in response to the public's growing awareness of the welfare of captive animals.The company said on Monday that it has scrapped all domestic and international tour packages that received negative consumer feedback (involving animal cruelty), which include riding captive elephants and animal circuses.“I felt bad during the whole journey for making an animal suffer,” one of its customers said, while many urged the company to develop new tours that protect both the environment and the animals.Modu Tour, the country's other key travel agency, also stopped selling elephant trekking and cow cart rides on package trips to Thailand earlier in March and replaced them with elephant sanctuary visits. Several international travel platforms have set regulations for the protection of wild animals and for abolishing the forced labor o

Jul 6, 2022By Lee Hae-rin

Cruelty-free tourism: tour companies end programs accused of animal abuse

Seoul gov't promotes veganism to fight climate crisis

Reusable tote bags, bread and vegetables are part of how one can pursue vegan and zero-waste lifestyles. GettyimagesbankCampaign introduces foods, fashion items and supports startupsBy Ko Dong-hwanThe Seoul Metropolitan Government is launching a campaign to raise awareness of veganism by promoting diverse food choices and incentives for related startups.The Citizens' Environmental Cooperation Division under the city government's Climate and Environmental Headquarters announced on Tuesday that the government has several campaigns to promote veganism in near future. The city government stressed the importance of veganism in lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, citing a U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization report released during the U.N. Climate Change Conference 2021 which showed that agriculture and food accounted for 31 percent of the world's total GHG emissions in 2019.The city government first plans to disseminate what veganism means and why people should adapt to it, as the majority of the public are still unfamiliar with it. They will use the city's communicative platform o

Jul 6, 2022By Ko Dong-hwan

Seoul gov't promotes veganism to fight climate crisis

Beach crowded with vacationers

Haeundae Beach in Busan teems with vacationers, Sunday, as a heatwave scorched the country throughout the weekend. The temperature soared up to 34.2 degrees Celsius in Seoul, which was the highest so far this summer, while Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, posted 37.8 degrees Celsius, becoming hottest city in Korea on Sunday. Yonhap

Jul 4, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo

International aviation body to hold Asia-Pacific conference in Incheon

The poster for the 57th Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation, Asia and Pacific Regions, in Incheon / Screenshot from the International Civil Aviation Organization websiteBy Nam Hyun-wooThe Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will jointly host a conference of Asia-Pacific civil aviation chiefs in Incheon this week, the ministry said Sunday.The conference, the 57th Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Asia and Pacific Regions, will take place from Monday to Friday at the Incheon Paradise City Convention Center, with civil aviation chiefs from 41 countries gathering to discuss aviation policies in the region.This is the third time for Korea to hold the conference and the first in 21 years since it was last in Korea. The 2020 and 2021 editions of the conference were skipped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the theme of Strengthening Regional Cooperation for the Restoration of Air Network with No Country Left Behind, the conference will include civil aviation chiefs of ICAO member coun

Jul 3, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo

International aviation body to hold Asia-Pacific conference in Incheon

Former hair designer shares life, art at L'art de la vie

The huge rock that forms the topography at the center of L'art de la vie complex in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. Courtesy of L'art de la vieBy Kim Ji-sooICHEON, Gyeonggi Province ― Sitting for lunch at L'art de la vie in eastern Gyeonggi, one was left envying the trees that were “cut and designed” by retired hair designer Lee Sang-il. The big pine trees were neatly trimmed with just a little touch of flair ― a signature trait that the former hair designer used to demonstrate on his client's hairstyles.Then the envy grows when you realize that this person has created a world of his own. L'art de la vie is Lee's and his wife's residence, but also an open museum. Sprawling for over 3,300 square meters here amid the golf clubs and rice fields, the compound offers 11 spaces for accommodation, an art gallery, restaurants, a bakery, an art studio and a convention center. He bought the land 17 years ago before his retirement. When he retired in 2012 after 3 years as a top hair designer, to the despair of his clients, including this writer, he turned to build the cultural space comp

Jun 30, 2022By Kim Ji-soo

Travel & Food