SEOUL, Jul. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of foreigners visiting South Korea recovered to nearly 96 percent of pre-pandemic levels last month, the state-run tourism promotion agency said Monday. South Korea welcomed about 1.42 million international tourists in June, marking a 47.5 percent increase from a year ago, according to the Korea Tourism Organization. [...]
SEOUL, Jul. 26 (Korea Bizwire) – In the quiet countryside of South Korea, a surprising trend is emerging. Towns like Gurye in South Jeolla Province, Yangyang in Gangwon Province, and Hadong in South Gyeongsang Province are experiencing a tourism renaissance, despite their dwindling official populations. These rural communities, each with fewer registered residents than a single [...]
SEOUL, Jul. 26 (Korea Bizwire) – A recent survey conducted by KB Kookmin Card has shed light on South Koreans’ attitudes towards summer vacations, revealing a nation split on the necessity of travel. The study, released on July 25, found that 56.6% of respondents believe “travel is necessary” during the summer break, while 43.4% feel it [...]
SEOUL, Jul. 25 (Korea Bizwire) – Kyowon Group, a major South Korean conglomerate, is entering the pet hotel business with the launch of Kinock, a pet-friendly hotel brand designed for travelers accompanied by their animal companions. The name Kinock is inspired by the image of pets pawing at doors, embodying the brand’s philosophy of harmonious coexistence [...]
SEOUL, Jul. 22 (Korea Bizwire) – As the peak summer travel season approaches, South Korea’s tourism industry finds itself facing an unexpected challenge: a sharp decline in bookings that has left travel agencies and airlines scrambling to fill seats. “I’m being called into the CEO’s office every day because peak season reservations aren’t coming in,” confided [...]
SEOUL, July 20(Korea Bizwire) – The number of international passengers traveling via Incheon International Airport has leaped nearly 40 percent in the first half of 2024 from a year earlier, the airport’s operator said Friday. A total of around 34 million passengers traveled on international flights at Incheon International Airport in the first half, up [...]
ANDONG, Jul. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – An on-site assessment to review the possible designation of a geopark on the country’s southeastern coast as a UNESCO global geopark is under way, officials said Thursday. The four-day field inspection, set to run through Sunday, will cover some 2,693 square meters of Gyeongbuk Donghaean Geopark spread across the southeastern [...]
SEOUL, Jul. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — A 40-meter-long swimming pool with two water slides will open to the public in Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul later this month, the city’s tourism promotion agency said Monday. The “2024 Seoul Summer Beach” is set to open from July 26 until Aug. 11 in a size twice as [...]
SEOUL, Jul. 3 (Korea Bizwire) – In a groundbreaking move, Seoul’s Jongno district has designated the iconic Bukchon Hanok Village as South Korea’s first “Special Management Area,” introducing strict regulations to balance tourism with residents’ quality of life. The new measures, set to take effect as early as March next year, will limit tourist access and [...]
SEOUL, Jul. 1 (Korea Bizwire) – With the summer vacation season approaching, many South Koreans are finding themselves priced out of their usual holiday plans, opting instead for “staycations” or scaled-back trips due to persistent inflation and high interest rates. Lee, a 29-year-old office worker in Seoul who asked to be identified only by their surname, [...]