Latest news with #KoreaTourismOrganization
Time Business News
18 hours ago
- Time Business News
Why South Korea Should Be Your Next Travel Destination in Asia
Planning a trip to Asia can be exciting but also confusing. There are many countries to choose from—Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and more. But have you ever thought about South Korea? Many travelers skip it because they believe it's just about K-pop or high-tech cities. But South Korea is much more than that. This country offers a mix of old traditions and modern life. You can explore ancient palaces in the morning, enjoy street food in the afternoon, and watch a K-drama filming location in the evening. It's safe, clean, and easy to get around—even if you don't speak Korean. When people think about traveling to Asia, they usually get stuck choosing between big names like Japan, Thailand, or Vietnam. With so many countries offering beaches, temples, and street food, it's easy to overlook one that's just as exciting— South Korea . Many travelers skip Korea because it's all city life, K-pop concerts, or too expensive. Some don't know what to expect. Others think they need to speak Korean to enjoy the trip. As a result, South Korea often ends up lower on the 'Asia travel' list—even though it shouldn't be. Not considering South Korea might be missing one of Asia's most balanced travel spots. It's got modern cities, historic villages, mountains, beaches, and famous food—all packed into a country about the size of Indiana. It's also safe, clean, and has one of the best transport systems in the world. A report from the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) in 2023 showed that over 17.5 million visitors came to South Korea that year. The numbers grew sharply after borders reopened following COVID-19, especially among solo travelers and digital nomads. The same study showed that visitors most enjoyed: Street food markets like Gwangjang in Seoul like Gwangjang in Seoul Historical palaces and temples Public transportation ease (over 70% use buses or subways daily) (over 70% use buses or subways daily) Korean pop culture experiences, from K-dramas to music tours Here are real, practical reasons why South Korea should be your next stop in Asia: 1. Easy to Get Around You don't need to rent a car or speak Korean to move around. South Korea's public transport system ranks among the top 5 worldwide. The KTX (high-speed trains) connect major cities like Seoul, Busan, and Daejeon. Subways are color-coded and have signs in English, Chinese, and Japanese. ✅ T-money card works across buses, subways, and even some taxis. ✅ Subway rides in Seoul cost about KRW 1,400 (just over $1). ✅ Trains are punctual, clean, and safe even at night. South Korea ranks high in safety. The Global Peace Index has listed Korea as safer than many Western countries, especially for solo and female travelers. In Seoul, you can visit a 1,400-year-old palace in the morning and then explore a virtual reality café in the afternoon. There's a real connection between tradition and modern life here. Korean food is delicious, affordable, and easy to find. Most meals at local restaurants cost between KRW 6,000 and 9,000 ($4.50 and $7). You can get bibimbap, bulgogi, or jjigae (Korean stew) served with free side dishes called banchan . Don't miss: Gwangjang Market (Seoul) – try mung bean pancakes and spicy rice cakes – try mung bean pancakes and spicy rice cakes Jagalchi Market (Busan) – fresh seafood at outdoor tables – fresh seafood at outdoor tables Jeonju – known for its bibimbap and food alleys If you like K-pop, K-dramas, Korean skincare, or even martial arts like taekwondo, you'll find places that let you see it up close. Fans can visit filming spots, K-pop dance classes, and themed cafés. Even big cities are never far from hiking trails, beaches, or temples. Within one hour of Seoul, you can reach: Bukhansan National Park for mountain hikes for mountain hikes Namhansanseong Fortress for forest walks and history for forest walks and history Incheon's Eurwangni Beach for a quick seaside day Further out, you can enjoy: Seoraksan National Park (3 hours from Seoul): stunning in autumn (3 hours from Seoul): stunning in autumn Jeju Island: Korea's volcano island with lava tubes, waterfalls, and beaches No matter when you visit, something is going on—from cherry blossom festivals in spring to lantern and mud festivals in summer and fall. ✅ Example: Jinju Lantern Festival lights up an entire riverbank in October ✅ Example: Boryeong Mud Festival brings thousands together in July for games and fun on the beach ✅ Example: Gwangju Biennale features international art every two years South Korea is the answer if you're planning your next trip to Asia and want something safe, rich in culture, affordable, and easy to explore. Whether walking through royal palaces, eating hot tteokbokki at a street stall, hiking in national parks, or joining a K-pop fan tour, Korea lets you mix and match your trip to fit your style. You don't need to speak Korean or have a luxury budget. All you need is a curiosity to experience real places, meet kind people, and enjoy a country where everything, from food to festivals, is built to welcome travelers. So skip the confusion. South Korea should be your next Asian stop—it might be your favorite yet. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
New Korean pop culture space opens at Incheon Airport
A space promoting Korean culture, from K-pop to beauty, opened Thursday at Incheon Airport's Terminal 1 transportation center. The state-run Korea Tourism Organization launched HiKR Station, featuring different areas for creating K-pop-focused YouTube shorts using extended reality technology, taking photos against the backdrop of Korean landscapes and trying Korean makeup. 'The zone isn't just about promoting everything that's Korean. It's where we strategize delivering the best impression of Korea when foreign arrivals set foot here,' said Seo Young-choong, acting president of the KTO. 'We will continue to come up with ways to make Korea travel memorable,' Seo added. English-speaking staff are available at all times at HiKR Station, which is open free of charge from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, closing on the last Wednesday of every month. Through Monday, the HiKR Station will host dance performances and hand out souvenirs to raise awareness of its opening, according to the KTO. Other cultural establishments like the K-Culture Museum are also located in Terminal 1. The opening of HiKR Station at Incheon Airport has been prompted by the growing popularity of HiKR Ground, a hands-on experience zone advancing Korean culture from music to art at the KTO's Seoul branch in Jung-gu. The space, which opened in July 2022, has since drawn over 2 million visitors, much higher than the initial estimate by the KTO, the agency said.
Korea Herald
20-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Korea showcases medical and beauty tourism at Kuwait Health & Beauty Festa
The Korea Tourism Organization and South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism hosted the 2025 Korea Health & Beauty Festa in Kuwait from Thursday to Saturday, spotlighting Korean health care, beauty products and medical tourism to Middle Eastern audiences. The event aimed to promote South Korea's growing health and beauty tourism industry, particularly targeting high-income travelers in oil-producing nations like Kuwait. These travelers often take extended trips abroad and show increasing interest in wellness and cosmetic services. According to the KTO, the number of Kuwaiti tourists visiting South Korea in 2024 rose 27 percent compared to prepandemic levels. Among them, many medical tourists sought treatment at dermatology clinics, Korean medicine clinics and plastic surgery centers. The festival, held at The Avenues — the second-largest shopping mall in the Middle East— drew more than 400,000 visitors. Attendees experienced a wide array of offerings, including Korean beauty products, personal color consultations, AI skin diagnostics and nail art demonstrations. On May 16-17, the festival's business-to-business consultation event took place at the Jumeirah Hotel Kuwait, bringing together more than 100 professionals from both countries' health care and tourism sectors. Discussions focused on expanding cooperation in the medical tourism industry. The three-day event resulted in 2,481 on-site consultations and led to 189 contracts and memoranda of understanding, with projected revenue of approximately 3 billion won ($2.15 million). 'Middle Eastern visitors to Korea spend an average of $3,637 per person, more than 70 percent higher than the average international visitor. This makes the region a high-value, emerging market," a KTO official said. The official added that the festival marked a turning point for medical tourism in the region, shifting the focus from treatment of serious illnesses to services like dermatology and cosmetic skin care, especially amid growing social openness and wellness interests among Middle Eastern women.
Kuwait Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Korea Health & Beauty Festa launched to boost medical tourism ties
KUWAIT: The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kuwait inaugurated the first-ever Korea Health & Beauty Festa, held from May 15 to 17, 2025. The landmark event spotlighted Korea's growing global reputation in advanced healthcare, cosmetic medicine, and wellness tourism, offering Kuwaiti audiences an immersive experience of the country's thriving health and beauty sectors. Speaking at the B2B session held ahead of the public opening, Korean Ambassador to Kuwait Park Chong-Suk emphasized the significance of the event in light of increasing people-to-people exchanges between the two nations. 'We are very pleased to host the inaugural Korea Health & Beauty Festa in Kuwait,' he said. 'This event comes at a time when we are witnessing a rapid rise in travel between our countries, particularly from Kuwait to Korea.' The Ambassador noted that more than 4,400 Kuwaiti nationals visited Korea in 2024, marking a 65 percent increase from the previous year and a 27 percent rise compared to pre-pandemic figures in 2019. 'Today's B2B event is aimed at fostering partnerships between stakeholders in the healthcare and travel sectors, as we explore new avenues for cooperation,' he added. The main event was held on May 16 and 17 at The Avenues, Kuwait's premier shopping and lifestyle destination. An official opening ceremony took place on May 16 at 7 pm, attended by VIP guests and dignitaries. Korean Ambassador to Kuwait Park Chong-Suk is pictured with the participants. Dancers and singers perform during the event. More than 20 leading Korean institutions and travel agencies specializing in medical tourism participated in the festival, showcasing the latest innovations in skincare, wellness treatments and healthcare services. Visitors had the opportunity to engage in on-site consultations, AI-powered skincare diagnostics, and Korean-style massage therapies. Beauty demonstrations were also held, providing a first-hand look at Korean cosmetic trends. In addition to its medical and wellness focus, the festival featured vibrant cultural activities, including traditional Hanbok dress-up sessions, Korean craft workshops, and a series of live performances such as K-pop showcases and the internationally acclaimed non-verbal performance Nanta. Organized in collaboration with the Korea Tourism Organization, the initiative aims to strengthen tourism and medical partnerships between Korea and Kuwait, while positioning Korea as a leading destination for wellness, beauty and cultural enrichment.
Arab Times
17-05-2025
- Health
- Arab Times
Korea fest in Kuwait to bolster health, medical tourism bonds
KUWAIT CITY, May 17: Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Kuwait Park Chung-suk has affirmed his satisfaction over the inauguration of the Korea Health and Beauty Festival in Kuwait through the concerted efforts of the embassy, Korea Tourism Organization and Korea Trade Promotion Corporation (KOTRA). Speaking at the event, Park underscored the significance of the event in bolstering bilateral relations, particularly in the fields of health and medical tourism. He stated, 'it is with great pleasure that we extend to the Kuwaiti people a comprehensive South Korean experience that reflects substantial progress in the domains of cosmetic medicine, sophisticated healthcare and medical tourism, alongside the rich cultural heritage that imparts a distinctive character of South Korean health and beauty services.' He said the festival, held on May 16-17 at The Avenues Mall, is considered a commercial landmark in Kuwait; including interactive and experiential activities like health consultations, AI-driven skin diagnostics, live cosmetic demonstrations, massage sessions, displays of the 'hanbok' -- a traditional attire, handicrafts, musical performances featuring K-pop and the renowned Korean show 'Nanta'. He pointed out that the event transcended service introductions, as it is a platform for connecting leading South Korean enterprises in the health and beauty sector with their Kuwaiti counterparts. This was made possible through the 'Korean Medical Tourism Evening' held on May 15 at the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Resort, with more than 100 participants, including officials, experts, and representatives from the health and travel industries. The evening featured presentations by prominent South Korean hospitals, live consultation sessions, and a keynote address by a Kuwaiti influencer, sharing personal experiences in South Korea. Park added, 'The demand for medical and beauty travel to South Korea among Kuwaitis has been witnessing a remarkable growth -- 65 percent increase in 2024 compared to the preceding year. We are optimistic that this festival will contribute to the establishment of new avenues for collaborative engagement and enhance the image of South Korea as a preferred destination for those seeking quality and excellence in healthcare.' He affirmed that the South Korean culture has evolved beyond entertainment, serving as a conduit for intercultural connection through practical and humanitarian fields such as health. He said his nation remains committed to maintaining this productive collaboration with the State of Kuwait. Meanwhile, Secretary General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) Dr. Mohammad Al-Jassar has stressed the importance of cultural events in fostering rapprochement and mutual understanding. Al-Jassar commended the organization of the festival, the participation of South Korean and Kuwaiti artists, and the presence of distinguished cultural and artistic professionals
