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korea


Taekwondo park and museum, Korea looks set to attract more Taekwondo fans from across the globe. Skiing and other winter sports may well be next to follow: Korea will further consolidate its reputation as a winter sports destination in the run-up to the 2018 Winter Olympics.


What’s new  Attractions: Namhansanseong Fortress was


declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in June, taking the number of heritage sites in Korea to 11. The earliest parts of the fortress, which in its heyday could accommodate up to 4,000 people, date back to the seventh century, although it was extensively rebuilt in the 1600s. The fortress lies in


Gyeonggi Province and is easily reached from Seoul.  Airlines: Cathay Pacifi c (cathaypacifi c.com) now offers


departures to Seoul from Manchester.  Accommodation: Park Hyatt Busan (busan.park.hyatt.


com) is the latest Korean luxury hotel.  Marketing: The Korean Tourism Organisation (visitkorea.or.kr) is currently primarily focusing its marketing strategy on medical tourism, cruise business and MICE. Cycling, taekwondo and cuisine also remain important areas. The KTO launched a new online training tool for travel agents


(gokoreatraining.com) in June.  Transport: Korail’s KTX Express trains began operating on June 30, connecting Incheon airport with major cities outside Seoul. It removes the


need to transfer and improves journey times.  Operators: Bales Worldwide/Virgin Worldwide Journeys (balesworldwide.com/virginholidays.co.uk) have a new 10-day/eight-night Highlights of South Korea tour for 2015, taking in Seoul, Busan and Jeju Island. Wendy Wu Tours (wendywutours.co.uk) will run its


fi rst dedicated South Korea tour in 2015 (the fi rst departures are in March).


Tourism talk “There has been a growth of interest in Korea and a much greater awareness of the destination is being refl ected in


increased passenger fi gures.


“Lots of new programmes from tour operators are also refl ecting the interest. Korea is the ideal stopover destination, which has long been the case. Also, Korean food is popular right now, with more restaurants opening and enjoying the support of many celebrity chefs. The KTO launched a new online training site for travel agents in June.” Changho Cha, Director of the Korean Tourism Organisation, UK


Where to book it  WENDY WU TOURS – 0844 875 2436


The new 10-day South Korea tour starts from March 2015. Prices start from £2990pp and include fl ights, domestic transportation, accommodation, meals, guided tours, entrance fees and visa fees.


wendywutours.co.uk �EMERALD TOURS – 020 7725 6774 The six-day/fi ve-night Korea Culinary Delights tour is priced from £1849pp, including return fl ights from Heathrow, fi ve nights’ accommodation, lunches and dinner, all admission fees, transfers and an English-speaking guide. The tour focuses on markets, restaurants and culinary experiences.


Clockwise from top left: Beomeosa Temple; cycling in the Yeognam Alps; Korean-style noodle soup; Haechi and Gwanghwamun Gate at the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul


Departures until December 6 2014. etours.co.uk/korea  CHINA LINKS TRAVEL – 0843 506 4028 The 11-day Wonders of Korea tour starts from £1999pp, taking in six different areas. Included are three- and four-star accommodation, transfers and transportation, daily breakfasts, English-speaking guide and entrance fees – but international fl ights are not included. chinalinkstravel.co.uk


sellingtravel.co.uk


SEOUL FOOD BY ANNA MARIA ESPSÄTER “I have long been a committed fan of Korean food, but sitting down to a meal at Korea House in Seoul was a revelation, making me, if possible, even more of a fanatic! My legs creaked gently as I took my seat on the floor, but these seats, lo’ and behold, had backs and very comfy cushions, even if they were ‘legless’. The meal started off with a series of appetizers: glass noodles, persimmon in a lightly spicy sauce, sesame parsley – and washed down with water and green tea. Next up was dried squid, dried persimmon, chestnuts, walnuts and sesame cake. There was salad with white crab meat, grilled catfish, pumpkin porridge, pan-fried vegetable pancakes – and we hadn’t even got to the main dishes! These included a so-called royal hotpot with seafood and noodles, braised abalone, grilled scallop with kimchi, grilled beef with mushroom, rice, of course, and soups. Finally the meal was rounded off with three different desserts and citron tea. All in all, a most beautiful and successful


exercise in how to stuff a travel writer in 25 courses!”


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