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Category: K-TRAVEL

  • New ‘Three Ribbon’ Restaurants in Seoul Unveiled by Blue Ribbon 2026

    The Blue Ribbon Survey, Korea’s first domestic restaurant guide, has unveiled its “Seoul’s Best Restaurants 2026,” naming six new “Three Ribbon” establishments.

    Among the honorees are modern kaiseki “Kagen,” Chef Ahn Seongjae’s “Mosu Seoul,” sushi specialty “Sosuhon,” modern Korean “Soul Dining,” high-end sushi “Hane,” and Chinese master Chef Hu Deokjook’s “Hobin.”

    This year’s rankings, determined by over 70,000 readers, now feature 43 three-ribbon restaurants, an increase of two from last year. The prestigious culinary spots in Seoul, known for their trustworthiness, maintained high ratings.

    Restaurants across various genres, including Kwonsuksoo, Muoki, Mingles, Jeong Sik Dang, and Alla Prima, once again secured places at the top of the list, demonstrating strong competitiveness in French, kaiseki, new Korean, sushi, and Chinese cuisines.

    Despite the diversity of genres, the shared standard of “highly refined dishes and stable operations” stood out in this year’s selection.

    Additionally, 10 newly recognized restaurants, including New Korean “Giwakgang” and “Mukjeong Seoul,” steakhouse “Smith & Wollensky,” dessert shop “Patisserie Mieu,” and modern Japanese “Hakushi,” reflect the changing dynamics of the food industry.

    The 2026 edition includes 1,560 restaurants in total, with a slight reduction in the overall list, but a stronger emphasis on top-ranked spots, showcasing the evolving food map of Seoul.

  • Korea’s Most Popular Autumn Destination Drew 170,000 Visitors

    Gangcheonsan County Park in Sunchang, Jeollabuk-do has been named Korea’s most stunning fall foliage destination of the year, attracting roughly 170,000 visitors between late October and late November.

    Gangcheonsan’s signature “high-density foliage,” created by layers of colorful maple varieties, lasted longer than usual as the peak season arrived later this year. The extended operating period alone drew tens of thousands of additional visitors, reaffirming the park’s status as one of Korea’s top autumn travel spots.

    Operational improvements also contributed to the positive response. Four seven-seater unmanned road trains operated during peak periods to reduce visitor fatigue, and free parking improved accessibility.

    Local markets near the park generated over 50 million KRW in sales of seasonal produce such as chestnuts, persimmons, and sweet potatoes, providing an economic boost to the region.

    Winter-season operating hours were adjusted to 7 a.m.–5 p.m. (4:30 p.m. starting December), reflecting more efficient, seasonal management.

    Building on increased interest, Sunchang County plans to upgrade infrastructure, including access roads, expanded parking, and improved guidance systems, positioning Gangcheonsan as a year-round tourist destination.

    Located about four hours from Seoul and three and a half hours from Korea’s west coast, the park is also appealing for day trips.

    Despite the brief peak foliage period, Gangcheonsan showcased the depth of Korea’s autumn scenery and is expected to continue welcoming visitors with new seasonal landscapes.

  • CHICOR Opens New Hongdae Store Following Myeongdong Launch

    CHICOR will open its Hongdae store on the 11th in Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, with a floor area of approximately 495㎡.

    Earlier on the 5th, the brand also opened a new 330㎡ store in Myeongdong, further expanding its footprint in major commercial districts.

    Both stores showcase one of the largest lineups in Korea, featuring around 230 beauty brands. The selection includes popular names such as TIRTIR, JUNGSAEMMOOL, and d’Alba, alongside rising brands like dasique, ARENCIEL, and isoi, allowing customers to experience a full spectrum of K-beauty trends. The Myeongdong store, known for its high volume of foreign visitors, highlights CHICOR’s strengths with a “Lip & Cheek Bar” and dedicated zones for skincare, perfume, and hair-body categories.

    The first floor of the Myeongdong store features a “Lip & Cheek Bar” offering over 20 lip and cheek products, presenting an interactive way to explore the latest makeup trends. The second floor includes skincare, perfume, and hair-body zones designed to accommodate the preferences of international shoppers.

    The Hongdae store presents a “K-Perfume Station” on the first floor with over 20 Korean fragrance brands, reflecting the rapid growth of the perfume market. The store layout continues with a makeup and tools zone on the second floor and a skincare-focused third floor.

    Both branches offer 1:1 K-makeup services and CHICOR’s “Beauty Lab,” where AI scalp diagnostics are available. To celebrate the grand openings, special gifts and promotional discounts will be offered based on purchase amounts.

  • Netflix’s K-pop Demon Hunters Pop-Up Opens in Seoul

    The official Seoul pop-up for Netflix’s animation K-pop Demon Hunters opened on the 3rd in Seongsu-dong, offering an immersive offline experience that expands the show’s universe into a physical space.

    The pop-up spans three entire floors, each connected as one continuous world-building journey.

    On the third-floor showroom, visitors can experience the product concept before the main tour begins. The second floor features themed OST zones such as “How It’s Done” and “Soda Pop,” along with various exhibition and interactive areas that deepen immersion into the full storyline. On the first floor, guests can pick up purchased items, customize keyrings and patches, and conclude their visit at the “Golden Stage,” where they complete “혼문 (Honmun),” the core narrative of the universe.

    The pop-up also includes multiple special events.

    These include a stamp mission where collecting four stamps earns visitors an exclusive “Deopy Balloon” reward, a random draw event for emoji purchasers, and a photo frame zone where fans can take pictures with characters from the animation.

    BeMyFriends, Netflix’s official partner overseeing the pop-up, stated, “Since this is being held in Seoul, the birthplace of K-POP, we prepared meticulously to showcase the essence of K-POP fandom culture.” They added, “This pop-up isn’t just an exhibition, but a fully integrated fan-experience space that combines platform, merchandise, and on-site events. We mobilized all our global fandom business expertise to create a deeper connection between the show and its fans.”

  • New Landmark: Incheon’s Record-Breaking Bridge to Open Soon

    A new route connecting the city and nearby islands is about to be unveiled in Incheon. Set to open early next year, the Incheon 3rd Crossing Bridge is drawing attention not just as a transportation link but as a rare experiential tourism bridge in Korea.

    The bridge offers more than a simple roadway. Its signature feature is a 184.2-meter-high main-tower observatory, already certified by the World Record Committee (WRC) in the United States as the world’s highest observatory on a sea bridge, gaining worldwide attention even before the opening.

    Building on this recognition, the city of Incheon is now seeking official registration with Guinness World Records, raising expectations that the observatory could become a major landmark for both domestic and international visitors.

    Complementing the observatory, a waterfront deck path and nighttime lighting display will create a new scenic route where visitors can enjoy the glow of the city from above the sea. In particular, the sunset-to-night lighting show is expected to deliver an atmosphere never before seen in existing sea bridges.


  • WOWPASS K-POP Payment Card Becomes a Must-Have for Foreign Tourists

    The K-POP payment card launched by WOWPASS, a payment platform designed for foreign visitors, is gaining explosive popularity among global travelers coming to Korea. More than a simple payment tool, the card offers the joy of “carrying your favorite idol in your wallet,” adding emotional excitement to the travel experience.

    Orange Square, the operator of WOWPASS, stated that its K-POP card created in collaboration with JYP Entertainment is receiving strong responses from foreign tourists. Although shaped like a photocards, it functions as an all-in-one prepaid payment card with built-in currency exchange and transportation features, making it a meaningful collectible on its own. Versions featuring JYP artists such as DAY6, TWICE, Stray Kids, ITZY, Xdinary Heroes, and NMIXX have been released, quickly becoming a “must-have travel item” for fans worldwide.

    On social media, reviews such as “I’m happy every time I pay with my favorite idol’s picture” and “It feels like I’m closer to them” continue to spread. As advance purchase requests from fans increased ahead of their trips to Korea, WOWPASS introduced the nation’s first ‘payment-type photocard international delivery system’. This not only meets the needs of global travelers but also gives fans an early sense of excitement for their upcoming K-POP pilgrimage, contributing to inbound tourism growth.

    Orange Square plans to continue offering collaborations that blend K-POP emotion with travel experiences, aiming to provide visiting global fans with an even more special journey in Korea.

  • KPop Demon Hunters Announces Seoul Pop-Up Dates and Exclusive Merch

    The Netflix animated feature KPop Demon Hunters has unveiled the full lineup of official merchandise that will be available at its Seoul pop-up store.

    The pop-up will showcase a wide variety of items inspired by key characters from the film, including HUNTR/X and Saja Boys. Highlighted products include Duppy & Seo plush dolls and keyrings, apparel and accessories, K-pop–style goods such as random photocards, photocard holders, and collect books, as well as CD keyrings featuring themed artwork. Several items will be offered exclusively as Seoul pop-up limited editions.

    The official Seoul pop-up will run from December 4 to 28 in Seongsu-dong. Pre-reservations open on November 18 at 11 a.m. through the official fan community, while general reservations begin on November 20. Each reservation allows entry for the ticket holder plus one accompanying guest.

    In addition, an online pre-sale will be available from November 25 at 11 a.m. until midnight on November 30 through the film’s official fan community. Online buyers may collect their purchases on-site using the “pickup at venue” option. Direct in-store purchases will also be available starting December 4.

  • Seoraksan National Park Warns Against Illegal Climbing at 1275 Peak

    The Korea National Park Service has issued a public appeal urging hikers to refrain from entering Seoraksan’s 1275 Peak, emphasizing that the area is an officially restricted zone.

    Located along the Dinosaur Ridge, 1275 Peak is not part of the designated hiking trail, yet it has gained popularity on social media as visitors climb it to post photos from the summit. This has caused growing concern for park authorities. The rocky peak rises about 20 meters above the official route and lacks safety installations such as stairs or fixed ropes, making it a highly dangerous area. In September, a man in his 60s who went missing near the site was later found dead, and last June, a hiker in his 30s suffered injuries after falling from the ridge.

    On October 11, the Seoraksan National Park office posted an announcement on its official social media accounts, stating: “Seoraksan’s 1275 Peak is not a stage for ‘likes’ — it is a restricted area that needs protection, not selfies.” The park also urged users to delete all photos and videos related to the site to prevent further copycat visits and secondary accidents.

  • Gwangjang Market Reinvented as Seoul’s New K-Fashion Hotspot

    Seoul’s historic Gwangjang Market in Jongno District is rapidly transforming from a traditional food market into a new hotspot for K-fashion and K-beauty.

    As Korea’s first permanent market, Gwangjang has long been a must-visit destination for tourists seeking authentic Korean street food like yukhoe (beef tartare) and bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes). But in recent years, its atmosphere has shifted dramatically — now, locals joke that visiting famous bakeries and then shopping at brands like Matin Kim or Kodak Apparel has become the new “Gwangjang course.” The market is buzzing again, fueled by young visitors and foreign tourists.

    Today, major fashion and beauty names such as Matin Kim, Setter, Frot of the Room, Kirsh, and Kodak Apparel have opened stores within the market, alongside beauty outlet OFFBEAUTY. According to Daemyung Chemical, the company behind OFFBEAUTY, “We wanted to merge the market’s traditional charm with the youthful energy of K-fashion, expanding our connection with global customers and revitalizing a 100-year-old market.”

    This trend is supported by rising tourist numbers. In the first half of 2024, 8.83 million foreign visitors came to Korea — up 14.6% year-on-year — and around 1.4 million of them visited the Gwangjang area, ranking it 14th nationwide. Industry experts say Gwangjang Market’s mix of affordable rents, textile infrastructure, and tourism growth has reinvented it as “a K-fashion hub where tradition meets trend.”

  • South Koreans Shift Travel Habits Amid High Inflation

    In the era of high inflation, significant changes in travel spending patterns have been observed in South Korea.

    An analysis of South Korean travelers’ search data from January 1 to September 30 revealed a growing trend toward cost-effective group travel, rather than solo trips. Additionally, instead of long-haul European vacations costing over 1 million KRW, there has been a notable shift towards more affordable trips to Japan and Southeast Asia, priced between 300,000 to 400,000 KRW. This “value-for-money” trend is becoming more prominent.

    The most notable change is the surge in searches for flights to Japan.

    Japan overwhelmingly ranked first, with search volume 2.7 times greater than that of Vietnam, which ranked second. There was particularly high demand for major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka. Thanks to the continued weak yen and excellent accessibility, Japan has become a favored and affordable destination for South Korean travelers.

    Vietnam ranked second, with its low airfare and affordable local food and transportation costs allowing for budget-friendly trips. In particular, Da Nang has become a popular cost-effective vacation spot, offering a combination of beach resorts and the ancient town of Hoi An for around 300,000 KRW.

    In addition, demand for group travel has increased.

    Searches for flights for 3 or more people have risen by 77% compared to last year, and searches for flights for 2 people have increased by about 37%. Meanwhile, searches for solo flights have decreased by 11%, indicating a clear trend toward traveling with others rather than solo trips.