Travel

A trip to the historic city of Jeonju, home of the bibimbap

Post image for A trip to the historic city of Jeonju, home of the bibimbap

by Kiejo Sarsfield on 15 March, 2013

in Expos and Festivals | Food & Drink | Jeollabuk-do | Travel

My visit to Korea in October 2012 was planned to attend the Jeonju International Fermented Food Expo. Well, when I arrived from Seoul, actually it was more like a busy city market day, with some fermented salted fish stalls and a local food exhibition. I felt slightly let down. But I had not visited this [...]

Looking back at 2012: Culture, tourism and branding stories

by Philip Gowman 22 January 2013

The first of four articles in which we look back at some of the stories which caught our attention during the course of 2012. In this first article we look at cultural promotion, heritage, tourism and related topics. Heritage and Cultural Promotion Korea’s national folk song, Arirang, was listed as world Intangible Cultural Heritage by [...]

Read the full article →

A visit to Seoul’s Noryangjin Fish Market

by Kiejo Sarsfield 11 January 2013

Thumbnail image for A visit to Seoul’s Noryangjin Fish Market

Whenever I am in Korea, I always visit the markets, especially the fish markets. I love looking at all the fish and seafood — the colours and shapes, the noise — all of it. They are my childhood memories. On the third day of my last trip, I went to Noryangjin fish market (노량진 수산시장), [...]

Read the full article →

The Guardian goes to Gangnam

by Philip Gowman 29 December 2012

Thumbnail image for The Guardian goes to Gangnam

The Guardian gets rewarded for its K-pop coverage with a free trip to Seoul – though they feel obliged to spend most of their time in Gangnam covering the K-pop businsess in the resulting travel article. But there are a couple of interesting quotes which sum up the way many people get into Korean culture: [...]

Read the full article →

BA resumes flights to Seoul – but I’ll still fly Asiana

by Philip Gowman 4 December 2012

Thumbnail image for BA resumes flights to Seoul – but I’ll still fly Asiana

British Airways resumed direct flights to Seoul on 2 December 2012 – a service they stopped back in 1998, in the aftermath of the so-called IMF Crisis. That was then. This is now: “We have seen significant growth in customers wanting to travel to Seoul for both business and pleasure,” said BA’s commercial director in [...]

Read the full article →

A look back at 2011 – part 2

by Philip Gowman 29 December 2011

In the second of our articles we look at stories relating to Sports, Tourism, and national branding and marketing. And K-pop and celebrities are never far away when talking of Brand Korea. Sports and Tourism Jeju was provisionally listed as one of the worlds New 7 Wonders, after a multi-month international marketing campaign. Celebrities ranging [...]

Read the full article →

English editor wanted at visitkorea.or.kr

by Philip Gowman 3 November 2011

English Editor wanted at Visitkorea.or.kr. Help promote Korea to a worldwide audience and gain a deeper perspective on Korea and its culture. Apply by 9 Nov. http://t.co/tTlmLUWN

Read the full article →

Win a honeymoon on Jeju Island

by Philip Gowman 24 April 2011

Thumbnail image for Win a honeymoon on Jeju Island

Here’s a nice little promotion which brings together a celebration of the UK Royal Wedding and the promotion of Jeju Island, that favourite of honeymoon destinations, as a candidate for New 7 Wonders. Plan your ideal honeymoon itinerary, and then get a chance to realise it. There’s lots to see on Jeju-do, but one of [...]

Read the full article →

A gift idea for Winter Sonata fans?

by Philip Gowman 4 December 2010

Thumbnail image for A gift idea for Winter Sonata fans?

Bae Yong-joon’s book about Korea — A Journey in Search of Korea’s Beauty — has been translated into English: a Christmas gift idea? http://bit.ly/gobpWT #. The book sold well in its Japanese and Taiwanese versions, according to the Chosun Ilbo.

Read the full article →

A sunny day in Busan

by Philip Gowman 2 August 2010

Thumbnail image for A sunny day in Busan

Haeundae Beach, Busan, 1 August 2010. Now that's what I call crowded, and supports the contention that Koreans like to go on holiday in crowds. But why are all the rubber rings yellow? http://bit.ly/c701UB #

Read the full article →

SNSD at an East Coast resort – a Korean man’s favourite holiday

by Philip Gowman 24 July 2010

Thumbnail image for SNSD at an East Coast resort – a Korean man’s favourite holiday

Korean men want to go on holiday with Girls’ Generation, according to a KBS survey. Now that’s being greedy. http://bit.ly/a4zZ4O # And while on the subject of holidays: doing the arithmetic, does this mean around 6-7 million Koreans will be heading to the East Coast at the end of July? http://bit.ly/9HYiuk #. (47% of a [...]

Read the full article →

The attractions of North Korean restaurants

by Philip Gowman 14 July 2010

Thumbnail image for The attractions of North Korean restaurants

If ever you're on holiday in Cambodia this looks like the restaurant to visit. A North Korean noodle restaurant known for its beautiful waitresses – including the “North Korean Kim Tae-hee:” http://bit.ly/bHmvzR # …but if you work in South Korea you haven't got long to get there: an average of only 4.1 days for your [...]

Read the full article →

Jennifer Barclay talks about Meeting Mr Kim at The Travel Bookshop

by Philip Gowman 10 April 2010

Thumbnail image for Jennifer Barclay talks about Meeting Mr Kim at The Travel Bookshop

Remember that nice bookshop featured in the Hugh Grant rom com Notting Hill? Well it’s a real place, and it’s called The Travel Bookshop. You don’t have to guess too hard as to what sort of books it specialises in. Jennifer Barclay, LKL contributor and author of Meeting Mister Kim, will be talking about her [...]

Read the full article →

Foreigners’ Favorite Korean Souvenirs

by Philip Gowman 26 November 2009

Thumbnail image for Foreigners’ Favorite Korean Souvenirs

Nail clippers – the obvious souvenir of your holiday in Korea: “In China, Korean nail clippers are regarded as luxury goods,” http://bit.ly/5nMSMJ #

Read the full article →

North Korean travel talk at Asia House

by Philip Gowman 5 October 2009

Thumbnail image for North Korean travel talk at Asia House

The Asia House website was down over the weekend, so I only have sketchy details of this, but on Tuesday 6 October there’s a travel talk which includes material on the DPRK. Doors 6.30pm. An evening of expert insights and travellers’ tales on some of the most exciting destinations in Asia, combining of practical advice [...]

Read the full article →

Taekwondo, Technology, Kimchi & more

by Philip Gowman 2 August 2009

Thumbnail image for Taekwondo, Technology, Kimchi & more

In the second Global Korea lecture of 2009, Ramy Salameh from the Korea Tourism Organisation examines what Korea has to offer as a holiday destination: Taekwondo, Technology, Kimchi & more: A touristic overview of South Korea Tuesday 25 August 2009 at 6:30pm Venue: Korean Cultural Centre Culture shock, modern, unique, dynamic, sparkling, friendly, technological, ancient! [...]

Read the full article →

Blog Korea! Visit Korea!

by Philip Gowman 15 July 2009

Thumbnail image for Blog Korea! Visit Korea!

Note. If you have come to this post expecting to see the LKL front page or the LKL BlogWatch service, that’s because you have an out of date bookmark in your browser, or you have been referred by a site which has not updated its links in the last couple of years. Please update your [...]

Read the full article →

Cambridge-based Man U fan wins trip to Seoul

by Philip Gowman 24 February 2009

Thumbnail image for Cambridge-based Man U fan wins trip to Seoul

Seoul is “Official Destination Partner” of Manchester United. Recently they gave away a free holiday to a Man U supporter.

Read the full article →

Excess Baggage goes north of the DMZ

by Philip Gowman 19 July 2008

Thumbnail image for Excess Baggage goes north of the DMZ

After last week’s feature on South Korea with Jennifer Barclay, this week’s Excess Baggage looked at North Korea with Robert Willoughby, author of the Bradt Guide to North Korea (right), and Doris Richards, an avid traveler. Willoughby’s introduction to North Korea was as an English language examiner working for the British Council, assessing the language [...]

Read the full article →

Photos from this year’s Mudfest

by Philip Gowman 15 July 2008

Thumbnail image for Photos from this year’s Mudfest

I just found some great photos over on Flickr, courtesy of pwalks. Here’s a tiny taster, deliberately small so that you go visit the original yourself. Enjoy the full slideshow here.

Read the full article →

Boryeong Mud Festival 2008

by Philip Gowman 14 July 2008

Thumbnail image for Boryeong Mud Festival 2008

The Festival is on around about now. The traffic on my two other posts about the festival is going through the roof. If any reader based in Korea is going along and feels so moved, feel free to send me in some photos and an article to tell everyone how great it is. I’m told [...]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries

Links and navigation
LKL Home Page
LKL on Facebook | Twitter | Flickr | YouTube
LKL's Blogroll and other links
LKL's Category archive page
LKL's Tag archive page
LKL's Monthly archive page
Recent Micro Posts

To mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, LSE IDEAS is organising a conference to discuss the conflict, Monday 3 June 2013, 14:00-18:00. Invited speakers will begin by exploring why the war ended the way it did, and what arrangements were made for the immediate post-war period. The discussion will then [...] (12-May-13)

Why did traffic controller Ri Kyong Sim get rewarded with the title of Hero of the Republic, together with a new flat for herself and her family? Recently she safeguarded the headquarters of the revolution in an unexpected situation by displaying her heroic self-sacrificing spirit of defending the leader resolutely, says the Rodong Sinmun on [...] (10-May-13)

David Guttenfelder is the Associated Press Chief Photographer for Asia. Although he’s now based in Tokyo, last year he spent around 100 days in Pyongyang for AP. His first time on the Korean peninsula was to witness the first of the family reunions between North and South, and his first time in Pyongyang was when [...] (06-May-13)

An interesting Associated Press article on the prevalence of Traditional Korean Medicine (called Koryo Medicine) in North Korea: “Doctors are more interested in Koryo medicine rather than Western medicine because they can get it more easily,” said Ri Hye Yong, who manages [Pyongyang's Man Nyon Pharmacy], opened by the government nearly three decades ago. “It’s [...] (06-May-13)

Each week, Saatchi Online showcases an emerging artist from around the world who is already garnering attention for their work. Taking inspiration from the Saatchi Gallery’s 25-year history of discovering new talent, ‘One To Watch’ presents some of the most exciting artists on Saatchi Online helping collectors to identify strong emerging talent. This week’s ‘One [...] (05-May-13)

It’s the Mayday Bank Holiday weekend, so as usual it’s the B-boy convention at Sadlers Wells. This year, Project Soul is representing Korea, performing on Saturday 4th. More details on the Breakin’ Convention website. (02-May-13)

Via James Pearson of NKNews.org and koreabang.com: North Korean TV is currently broadcasting a concert of Moranbang Band in army uniforms fiddling by a tank. Happy Labour Day! Too fun not to share. (01-May-13)

Go vote for Gate Flowers as MTV Iggy’s artist of the week. Says MTV Iggy: One of the bands we have our eye on is Gate Flowers, winners of both the “Rookie of the Year” and “Best Rock Song” awards in the 2011 Korean Music Awards. Their throwback sound takes the dense guitars of Nirvana-era [...] (21-Apr-13)

There’s a nice interview with Krys Lee, author of Drifting House, on the Asia House website. Drifting House was LKL’s book of the year last year, and so we’re looking forward to seeing Ms Lee at the Asia House Festival of Asian Literature next month. Authors: Krys Lee (17-Apr-13)

At LKL we were lukewarm, but we don’t mind being in the minority. So congratulations to Adam Johnson for winning the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, “for distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life,” with The Orphan Master’s Son. Source: www.pulitzer.org Authors: Adam Johnson (16-Apr-13)

Read more Asides
Monthly Archives
Recent Comments