Korea Travel News

Visitors from outside Korea planning an extended stay can enjoy the creature comforts of home while receiving the first-class service expected at a hotel, at the Han Suites Serviced Residences.

  The Han Suites offer more space than a hotel room, with living area and kitchen. They offer 24-hour front desk service and security, and cleaning services, broad-band ADSL hookup, regular phone for low-cost calling, clothes washer-dryer and dishwasher. Breakfast is served free, and attached are a restaurant, state-of-the-art business center and fithess center.

  The suites are located right downtown near Chungmuro Station, Seoul Subway Lines 3 and 4. Nearby are Mt. Namsan and Myeongdong. Rates and detailed information are available on the websitel.

The International Convention Center Jeju (ICC Jeju) opens March 25, 2003, to host major international conventions, assemblies, lectures, galleries, concerts, and sports events. It has muchin its favor, and is certain to contribute greatly to Korea's convention industry. The prime location on Jeju Island, easy access by air, and several surrounging hotels make it a great arena for hosting large-scale international events.

  With the vast pacific Ocean at its fore and the majestic Mt. hallasan behind, the convention center is comprised of seven levels, two underground and five above. The architectural inspiration was the island itself, and the building blends in beautifully with its surroundings, unobtrusive and well-placed in nature.

  The interior uses the Intellinent Building System for first-class security and fire prevention centrally monitored and regulated. In preparation for the extensive needs of the conventions of today, it includes an innovative simultaneous translation system and visuals system. The facilities are engineered to provide maximum comfort to the handicapped.

The first in a series of new train tour packages that combines a relaxing train ride with great food. the "Myeongpum Matjib Train Tour-Seomjingang" has been introduced to travelers with an adventurous taste in food.

  The tour leaves evey Tuesday morning from Seoul Station 7:50 AM, for two days and one night. The train pulls into Namwon Station at 12:18 PM, and travelers begin the tour with chueotang or mudfish stew. This hearty dish combines delicious spices with long-simmered mudfish(a small catfish) from the clear waters of Mt. Jirisan. It is one of Namwon's representative folk dishes.

  After a short Jirisan tour, the next stop is Cheongmaesil Farm (Green Plum Farm) for a chance to taste the finest of Korean beef. The three-year-old cows have been fed on the special plums produced on the farm. The beef is truly a rare treat for the palate, and the spicy side dishes that are served with it only enrich the experience.

  Travelers spend the night in a clean motel and begin the next day with a tour of the Boseong Tea Plantation, after which they feast on fresh short-necked clams from the Korea Strait. They are served raw. sliced up with a bit of seasoning, and cooked in savory soup.

  The final part of the trip consists of a tour of Seonamsa Temple, then back on the train by 3:58 PM, and a wonderful Jeonju bibimbap is srrives back at Seoul Station at 9:30 PM, an end to a satisfying journey.

  The southern region in Korea is noted for its great food. This package offers exciting sights, fine cuisine, and costs 129,600 won, a bit over a hundred dollars.

There's a special kind of tour available at the Magoksa Temple in Gongjum Chungcheongnam-do. It originated from a city program that lends bicycles free of charge to temple visitors so that they can ride around the path at the Magoksa Temple entrance. The path begins at the parking lot and offers superb views of the taegeuk-shaped valley nearby. Taegeuk is the round symbol on the Korean flag, representing yin and yang.

  Gongju City Government provided 40 bicycles around the Magoksa Temple property, letting them out to anyone who wishes to tour grounds.

  Magoksa Temple was built in 620 and contains many ancient treasures including a five-story stone pagods. It is especially pretty when the spring perennials cover the area with colorful flowers.

A new ski resort opened on December 7, the thirtenth in Korea, but Gangchon Resort is unique in that it is the only one that can be reached by train. From Cheongnyangni Station in Seoul take the Gyeongchunseon Line along the Bukhangang River and get off at Gangchon Station. A shuttle to the resort runs every hour.

  The resort has ten ski slopes-two beginner, six intermediate, and latest equipment. The ski lifts can transport up to 13,000 people an hour. There are 2,400 sets of skis for rent, 300 snowboards, and 300 ski suits.

  Other facilities include the Food & Joy and Deli & Joy restaurants, and the Alp House restaurant which offers an nice view of the Bukhangang River. The 12 other ski resorts in Korea include Gangwon-do's Yong Pyong Resort and Jeollabuk-do's Muju Resort.

The 3rd annual Diamond Mountains Marathon will take place form February 21 throught 23, 2003. It is a sports/tourism event held in the spirit of peace on the Koean peninsula through tourism exchanges between North and South Korea. Marathon runners from all over the world are expected to compete.

  The slogan for this year is "Enjoy the Diamond Mountains at a Run." The event provides marathon lovers and ordinary tourists with a unique chance to combine the exhilaration of running with the legendary scenery of the Diamond Mountains. The Samilpo course (full marathon course) will even take you past a North Korean village, where you can witness the lives of North Koreans from afar. Those new to running, children, and even the elderly can run or walk the 10-km course and enjoy the beauty of North Korea that way.

So successful was the Korean drama serial, "A Winter Sonata," in touching the hearts of viewers each week that a growing number of travelers have been requesting for tours to visit the locations featured in the program.

  Currently, some of the travel agencies in Singapore and Malaysia have included these sites as part of a standard group tour itinerary to meet the demand. However, and increasing number of tourists traveling independently to Korea have prompted the development of day tours from Seoul to these sites catered to die-hard romantics.

  A minimum of four passengers is required and tour fares start from 70,000 won per person.

The tour starts at 8:00 A.M. where passengers are picked up at their hotels or designated meeting points in Seoul. A standard tour includes a visit to Chuncheon's Myeongdong district, barbecued chicken district and the underground shopping center. The tour then continues to Namiseom Island and ends at 5:00 P.M. where passengers will be transported back to Seoul.

  For reservations and enquiries, please email, fax of phone. All reservations must be made seven days prior to tour date and confirmed three days prior to tour date.

Netizens in Korea have voted Seoul Tower as their favorite spot for enjoying a wintry date.

  Seoul City Tour Bus conducted the online poll among Korean internet user, and the top five, in order, were: Seoul Tower, Jongno and Insa-dong Streets, Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbokgung Palace, Jeongdong-gil and Deoksugung Palace, and Myeongdong.

  When it snows couples can be seen hand-in-hand stepping through the whitened sidewalks of any these popular places.