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North Korea Inviting South Korea Over For The Weekend

Who's game for a nice little package trip to North Korea? Anyone? Bueller?

It was announced yesterday that Kim Jong-il is feeling a little neighborly lately and less bomby, and wants to restart family reunion trips from South Korea. Although South Korea hasn't yet said yes to allowing their people to venture over the border, North Korea is re-opening an enclave for reunions at Mount Kumgang, which was once a major money generator for the poor country.

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Tags: International Airports / Changi Airport / Seoul / South Korea Travel / Asia Travel / → All Tags

Survey Says: All The Best Airports Are In Asia

The results are in, and Incheon Airport near Seoul in South Korea has been crowned the best airport in the world. The Skytrax survey people say they've spent ten months surveying almost nine million passengers and Incheon wins.

No doubt it helps that Incheon Airport has a casino, golf course and indoor gardens; we've only flown in and out of there twice but have nothing but good memories—the airport advice counter actually found us a great place to stay even when we arrived without a booking in the middle of the World Cup a few years back.

And if you're after a good airport experience, this survey definitely says that you've got to stick with Asia. Hong Kong International Airport came in at a close number two, and Singapore's Changi Airport was put in third place by just a few votes. Three more Asian airports made it into the top ten, with Zurich, Munich, Amsterdam and Auckland getting the other big votes.

Related Stories:
· Seoul's Incheon Airport Voted Best [CNN]
· Big Korean Airport Makes Friends With Jin Air [Jaunted]
· Changi Airport Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: riNux]

Tags: Plastic Surgery Travel / South Korea Travel / Medical Travel / → All Tags

South Korean Housewives Forced To Live With Fewer Facelifts

The economic crisis won't even spare the real housewives of South Korea: After riding high on Botox and nose jobs, newly frugal plastic surgery aficionados are, ahem, cutting back on procedures as clinics are closing down for lack of business.

In Seoul, where The New York Times reports there are more than 600 plastic surgery clinics, 20 or so have already closed, with more posting "for sale" signs in the windows. Says one surgeon:

In hard times, people always cut back on luxuries like eating out, jewelry and plastic surgery. If this is a normal recession, then these desires will eventually get reignited, and our patients will come back.

If this downturn is like the Great Depression, then we are all going to get killed off.

The good news--for those of us spending dollars, anyway--is that South Korea has gotten about 25 percent cheaper in the last six months, as the financial crisis has shored up the value of a buck. And now that you can get more than 1,200 won for a dollar--and clinics are desperate for customers--now might be the time to check out a swanky destination hospital or clinic in Korea.

Related Stories:
· Economy Blunts Korea’s Appetite for Plastic Surgery [NYT]
· Turns Out South Korea Is Just As Shallow As Thailand [Jaunted]
· Plastic Surgery Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: DanMelinger]

Tags: Christmas Alternatives / Christmas / South Korea Travel / Winter Travel / → All Tags

Seoul Says Celebrate Here

When we plan a Christmas getaway, Seoul isn't the first destination that springs to mind, but the South Korean tourism peeps are telling us it should be.

About 15 percent of Koreans are Christian--and with 60 percent saying they don't belong to any religion at all, that's a fair chunk of believers--so the whole Christmas thing doesn't get ignored like it would in neighboring Asian countries.

On the contrary: There's plenty of Christmas shopping to be done at the big Seoul malls like Lotte World, you can skate on the outdoor ice rink that opens December 12 and at night you can admire the "Lucevista" street lights through the city center.

But the weirdest bit is Piano Street. In true Korean techno-geek style they're installing a road-sized piano keyboard and while you stroll around admiring the Christmas lights, your feet will be playing a tune--just like in "Big!"

Related Stories:
· Korea Sparkling [Official Site]
· Christmas Alternatives coverage [Jaunted]
· Seoul Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: wish I had an SLR]

Tags: Spas / South Korea Travel / → All Tags

Lounging In The Jjimjilbang Is As Cool As It Sounds

The Korean Jjimjilbang is even more fun than trying to spell it. Think of it as a 24-hour Peewee’s Playhouse--but giant-size and minus the psychosexual disorder.

Thousands of Jjimjilbang’s fill Korea. They’re large, gender-segregated complexes complete with spas, pools, video arcades, massage parlors, snack bars and play centers for kids. The main draw of the centers are the heated hardwood floors, once a fixture in traditional Korean homes but forced out by the modern high rise and the arrival of the padded bed.

Since most Koreans live in tight quarters with their extended family members, the Jjimjilbang is a wholesome way for parents and kids both to retreat to their own favorite activities and get away from each other. It’s also a place for a foreigner to learn the surprising joys of laying on a hot, hard floor.

Related Stories:
· For All Kinds of Good, Clean Fun, Koreans Turn to Bath Houses [NYT]
· Learn The Monk’s Life In South Korea [Jaunted]

[Photo: IHT]

Tags: South Korea Travel / Japan Travel / → All Tags

Pacific Island Name Games: Takeshima or Dokdo?

What you call these Pacific isles depends on who you are: Named the Liancourt Rocks for a French whaler that was almost marooned there, they are currently the subject of a bitter border dispute between Japan and South Korea, so it matters whether you call them Takeshima (Bamboo Islands) or Dokdo (Solitary Island).

Japan unofficially assumed control of the islands during World War II, but it was only recently that natural gas deposits were discovered underneath the territory, making them potentially much more valuable.

Both countries' claims have inspired T-shirt slogans and ringtones, neither of which were available in previous border disputes--otherwise we might all be humming "54'40" or Fight!"

Related Stories:
· Who Owns These Islands? Map [Jaunted]
· Disputed Korean Rocks Bring Banking, Ring Tones [AP]

[Photo: nolisiso]

Tags: South Korea Travel / Starbucks Alternatives / Coffee / Coffee Shops / → All Tags

Starbucks Alternatives: The Coffee Mill

In Seoul, where the locals generally prefer their morning brew to be of the hazelnut-flavored and watery persuasion, finding a decent cup of coffee can be an endeavor. Cafes here are often pricey with plush, tacky decor, so stumbling upon a simple spot to while away a rainy summer afternoon is even more rare. Which is why we were delighted when we came upon The Coffee Mill.

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Tags: South Korea Travel / Student Travel / Budget Travel / Deals / → All Tags

South Korea Travel: Cheaper Than Ever (For Students)

Although North Korea might be a tad risky for some, neighboring South Korea is a much friendlier destination--especially for students.

If you're still in college and can get your hands on an official student identity card like the ISIC card, South Korea wants you to visit--and the country's giving out all manner of discounts to entice you.

The new "Benefits of Korea" booklet gives info on cheap student prices for Korean rail passes plus discounts of up to 50 percent on museums, restaurants and accommodations. We like the sound of these benefits and are busily figuring out how to dummy up some fake student cards!

Related Stories:
· Korea Tourism [Official Site]
· North Korea Travel: Not Entirely Safe [Jaunted]
· South Korea Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Carrie Marie]

Tags: Spas / Beauty / Asia Travel / South Korea Travel / Japan Travel / America's Next Top Model / → All Tags

Asian Spa Fish Feast on Human Flesh

Fishy foot baths are all the rage in spas throughout the Far East. The bizarre trend started in Turkey where people pay to be immersed in a pool teeming with "doctor fish" that eat away at dead skin.

The treatment, which is also known as "fish reflexology," apparently results in super-smooth feet. Recently, doctor fish spas have popped up in Japan, Malaysia, Korea, Singapore and Croatia. After the jump, check out video footage of these flesh-eating fish in action.

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Tags: Movie Travel / Theme Parks / Amusement Parks / Resorts / Family Travel / South Korea Travel / → All Tags

Movie Studios Invade South Korea

On Tuesday, Paramount Pictures unveiled plans to open a theme park in South Korea, a country that's already crammed with movie studio resorts. Six months ago, Universal Studios announced its intent to open a similar venture. The trend started back in 2006 when MGM revealed plans for their Studio City theme park and film academy. All three theme parks will be located within an hour of Seoul.

The movie studios see South Korea as a "fast-growing and attractive market" because it's popular with Chinese tourists. The execs also cite the almost magical hold Korean pop culture has on the rest of Asia. Paramount expects to host over 5 million visitors during their first year in South Korea with attractions based on movies like "Mission: Impossible" and "Tomb Raider."

Paramount's "Movie Park" and MGM Studio City will both be neighbors in Incheon, a city that's about a half-hour west of Seoul. The Universal Studios park will be headquartered to the South in Hwaseong, which is connected to Seoul by subway. When all of the construction is completed in 2012, South Korea will offer visitors a world-class combination of theme park entertainment and barbecue the likes of which has not been seen anywhere in the world since Dollywood opened its doors in Nashville in 1961.

Related Stories:
· Paramount Movie Park Korea Planned for 2011 [LADN]
· MGM Plans £585m South Korea Theme Park [Guardian]
· Universal Studios to Build Theme Park in Korea [IHT]
· Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of Seoul's Lotte World: randomwire]

Tags: South Korea Travel / Asia Travel / Health / → All Tags

By the Numbers: South Korea Fightin' the Bird Flu

The South Korean government has been struggling with this bird flu thing. Early attempts to contain a fresh outbreak back in April were unsuccessful, and last weekend all the poultry in Seoul--about 15,000 birds--was killed in an attempt to curb the disease.

Now health officials are announcing plans to build a massive plant capable of producing a bird flu vaccine should the disease spread to humans, at a rate of 20 million doses per year. Which is great--though the plant apparently won't be finished until the end of 2009.

This isn't the first time South Korea has wrestled with the virus. The first local case was reported in 2003, and the country killed 5.3 million birds. During another spate of the disease in 2006-2007, only half that number were killed. In the past two months, South Korea has culled 7 million birds.

Worldwide the H5N1 strain of the bird flu has killed 240 people, according to the World Health Organization, and none of those deaths have been in South Korea. (Media scare says what?) Still, if you're in the country, probably shouldn't feed the ducks.

Related Stories:
· S. Korea to Build Bird Flu Vaccine Plant [Yonhap]
· South Korea Culls All Fowl in Seoul [Reuters]
· South Korea Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: riNux]

Tags: Flight Attendants / South Korea Travel / → All Tags

South Korean Flight Attendants Still Glam

It's been a long time since young ladies in hot pants were strutting down the aisles of planes in the United States. But they do things a bit differently in South Korea: Being a beautiful flight attendant is such a posh gig, women sign up for classes to improve their odds of getting the job.

The ANC Flight Attendant Academy is one such school, where 20-somethings practice cabin announcements in English--and how to apply makeup. Since its such a competitive field, students say, women will diet, get skin treatments and even try plastic surgery to up their chances of getting hired.

While that may sound bad to some feminists, the norm in Korea is for women to be given limited responsibilities in the workplace. So even though appearance may play a part in getting hired, at least one potential FA doesn't mind:

[Being a] flight attendant is a professional job for a woman, so it's good for us.

Related Stories:
· South Korean Flight Attendants [The World]
· Deltina. True Love. [Jaunted]
· Flight Attendants coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: John Swords]