Pokemon Card Shop at HDC IPark Mall For those particularly passionate for Pokemon -- perhaps the digital Pokedex is already full several times over and you've already consumed 25 years of the anime -- the next format to collect them all in is cardboard. And nowhere is better than the eighth floor of HDC IPark Mall in Yongsan, central Seoul. Pokemon Card Shop, which opened in August 2023, is where Pokemon Korea -- the Korean branch of Nintendo-owned The Pokemon Co. -- beckons Pokemon fans wi

Culture Oct. 18, 2024

Legoland Korea Resort unveils new seasonal program Legoland Korea Resort in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, presents a new hands-on activity this autumn until Nov. 10. Children can participate in the pumkin-making contest at Bricktopia's Build & Test, where they can get creative with thousands of yellow- and orange-colored bricks. The contest takes place every day from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The winning work will be put on display and named “The Best Pumpkin,” and the winner will

Travel Oct. 18, 2024

Since his decision to start a part-time job at a local guest house in the bustling neighborhood of Hongdae as a university student in 2017, Lee Dong-woo -- CEO of the hanok stay platform Butler.Lee -- knew that he had a great passion for the hospitality business. “I felt that offering other people a place to sleep meant something special,” Lee said in an interview with The Korea Herald at Bukchon Lounge in Jongno-gu, central Seoul on Oct. 10. As a former music major at Korea Nation

Travel Oct. 16, 2024

Korea's regional beers, wines and liquors are still working to build awareness in the local and global markets, but for the curious, there are some highly recommended places you can go to experience the making of Korean alcoholic beverages -- from local craft beer to “makgeolli,” or Korean rice wine -- and try some samples. The Korea Tourism Organization recommends five destinations outside of Seoul that might pique the interest of those in search of a local tipple. MontBeer i

Travel Oct. 12, 2024

Local food festivals, which usually take visitors on a gastronomic journey with an array of savory dishes, this year offer an additional feast for participants’ eyes -- live performances from the chefs of “Culinary Class Wars." “Culinary Class Wars” is Netflix’s latest hit cooking reality show, where the country’s top chefs and local restaurant owners are divided into two teams to compete in multiple elimination rounds. Chefs Jung Ji-sun, one of the show&

Travel Oct. 11, 2024

The 27th Pocheon Silver Grass Festival will take place at Myeongseongsan’s silver grass colony and in areas surrounding Sanjeong Lake in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, from Saturday to Oct. 27. The annual festival, the city’s representative autumn event, features diverse cultural programs, including concerts, stamp tours, a quiz show, flower exhibitions and photo zones in the silver grass fields. Holidaymakers can explore the seemingly unending 150,000-square-meter grass field and take

Travel Oct. 11, 2024

WE Hotel presents nature-friendly promotion WE Hotel, a premium health resort located in Seogwipo, on the southern side of Jeju Island, is offering a new eco-friendly package. The “Go, Green Package” includes a one-night stay in WE Hotel’s superior room with a view of the island's iconic volcanic mountain Hallasan, breakfast for two, and all-green-rated vegan amenities. Guests who arrive at the hotel using public transportation or electric vehicles receive a 30,000-won vou

Culture Oct. 11, 2024

The 20th edition of the Cheonan World Dance Festival showcased awe-inspiring performances by some 4,000 dancers and crew members from 54 countries, reaching an all-time high number of participants since its launch in 2003. The event, which ran from Sept. 25 to 29, entertained 880,000 spectators from South Korea and abroad with diverse dance competitions, parades, cheerleading shows and more. As the 28 dance troupes from around the world competed in the International Dance Competition at Cheonan

Culture Oct. 8, 2024

With the country experiencing chilly fall weather in recent days, peak fall foliage will arrive a little earlier than last year. According to WeatherI -- a Korea Meteorological Administration-associated weather forecasting company -- the first autumn leaves were spotted at Seoraksan, one of the highest mountains on the Korean Peninsula, spanning over multiple cities and counties in Gangwon Province, on Sept. 29, two days ahead of 2023. The weather company added that the country’s central r

Travel Oct. 7, 2024

From outdoor book festivals to fireworks and flower exhibitions, a wide range of festivals are set to entertain visitors wanting to savor the cooler weather while taking in the autumn atmosphere with friends and family. Ganak-gu and Gangnam-gu -- two districts located in southern Seoul -- plan not to leave furry friends and their owners out of the fun. Nakseongdae Park will become a small theme park for pet dogs where they can enjoy various activities. Dogs and their owners can build precious me

Travel Oct. 5, 2024

Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel presents a new gastronomic journey Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel, located in Incheon’s Songdo-dong, welcomes autumn with the “Culinary Journey of Yue.” The promotion, held at the hotel’s fine dining restaurant Yue, offers various Chinese dishes made with seasonal ingredients such as abalone, natural pine mushrooms, oysters and more. The highlight of the upcoming promotion is steamed lobster covered with black bean sauce, according to the hotel.

Food Oct. 4, 2024

Julien Perrinet, Hyatt’s executive pastry chef for the Asia Pacific region based at the Park Hyatt Tokyo, aims to offer a stunning gastronomic experience to those with a sweet tooth at an upcoming chefs’ collaboration between Park Hyatt Seoul and Park Hyatt Tokyo. The French-born Perrinet, 42, has honed his pastry skills across multiple countries -- France, Canada, Qatar, China, Singapore, India and more -- and did not hesitate to share some of his concerns before showcasing desserts

Travel Oct. 3, 2024

Hanwha Life Esports completed its David-and-Goliath story and shocked many spectators by defeating Gen.G in the League of Legends Champions Korea Summer finals, winning the title for the first time in September. Not only did HLE upset the team expected to win gold this year, but its victory ended T1 and Gen.G's dominance in the LCK finals, with the two teams having enjoyed a total of five consecutive championship victories since 2022. But Choi “Dandy” In-gyu, the head coach for

More Sports Oct. 2, 2024

YEONGDONG, North Chungcheong Province -- Travelers choosing to explore Korea outside the Greater Seoul area -- consisting of Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province -- often head to well-known tourist destinations such as Busan, Daegu, Gyeongju and Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. Small counties and towns, like Yeongdong, a county located in the southern part of North Chungcheong Province, do not typically make it to the list of must-visits. However, the introduction of the Digital Tour ID Card -- a

Travel Sept. 28, 2024

Grand Hyatt Seoul entertains guests with moon photo zone Grand Hyatt Seoul, located in Yongsan-gu, central Seoul, presents a full moon-themed photo zone for guests to capture an autumn moment with family and friends. The light installation, available since Sept. 13, continues to be a great photo spot for the guests at the hotel’s Waterfall Garden until Oct. 20. While the Waterfall Garden is open exclusively for hotel members and guests from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. until Sept. 23, it will be av

Travel Sept. 27, 2024