2016년 3월 29일 화요일

Foreign tourists's 50 wishlist of things to do while traveling in South Korea.


From March 2 to 13, the KTO(Korea Tourism Organization) conducted '50 Unique Must-Try Experience in Korea' survey on 4,369 foreign visitors online(multiple responses) at www.english.visitkorea.or.kr.

 Survey asked respondents their wishlist of things to do while traveling in South Korea.
Of these, 54. 2 percent put street food at the top of their to-do list, followed by staying in traditional "hanok" housing and shopping at traditional markets and visiting a "jjimjilbang," or public bathhouse.

Foreign tourists also look forward to try contemporary Korean food, such as nighttime food delivery and "chimaek,"(Korean style fried chicken+beer).

By nations, Japanese preferred staying in a hanok, receiving a medical checkup at a traditional herbal medicine clinic and watching the sunset or sunrise. Chinese wanted to try street food and experience a hanok and Korean traditional cloth "hanbok."

Tourists from english speaking countries favored street food and visiting an ancient palace and a traditional market most.

2016년 3월 24일 목요일

Korean celebrities who overcame rare illness

Juju Club's Ju Dain (lead vocalist) confessed that she suddenly quit her singing career due to a rare blood cancer on JTBC entertainment program aired on Tuesday.
She showed bright smile as if she has never suffered from illness during her recent TV appearence.

When it comes to health, celebrities are just as vulnerable as the rest of us.
What all the celebs have in common is a fighting spirit to live and inspire others.
Here are few celebrities who suffer from rare diseases.


Actor Yoo Ji tae and Han Ji min suffered from a condition called Meniere’s disease:

“A disorder of the inner ear that can affect hearing and balance. It is characterized by episodes of dizziness and tinnitus and progressive hearing loss, usually in one ear. It is caused by an increase in volume and pressure of the endolymph of the inner ear.” –Wikipedia

Management agency revealed their condition, stating that their ailment isn’t severe, but leads to vertigo and dizziness when get tired.


Singer Yoon Jong Shin shocked fans by confessing that he is suffering from a rare incurable disease few year ago.
He was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, a rare illness that leaves him helpless against inflammation of digestive system.
Yoon appeared on SBS talk show "Healing Camp" and admitted he was suffering from the disease.

Patients with Crohn's disease develop small sores next to the anus, which spread to the intestines, stomach, duodenum and other digestive organs. The cause of the illness remains a mystery, and no cure has been found.


Actor Shin Dong Wook is suffering from a rare disease called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is a disease that causes excruciating pain anywhere in the body. CRPS can be caused by damaging the nerves or it can appear with no apparent reason. This disease has no known cure yet, but it can be slowed down.

While Shin Dong Wook was in the army he was diagnosed with the disease and was discharged from the army after only one year of service.

Shin Dong Wook has acted in dramas like “Soulmate”, and “Wish Upon a Star”


Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurring panic attacks , causing a series of intense episodes of extreme anxiety during panic attacks.

Panic disorder is also called 'Celebrity disorder' nowadays because many celebs such as Kim Gura, Lee Kyung Kyu, Kim Jang hoon, Cha Tae Hyun, Kim Ha Neul, Shinhwa's Jun jin and Lee byung hyun are suffering from this mental illness.








2016년 3월 18일 금요일

Prime Minister of Thailand talks about Korean drama "Descendants of the Sun,"


According to the Thai local media, Prayut Chan-ocha who became Prime Minister of Thailand through a military coup against the government called on Thai citizens to watch the Korean drama "Descendants of the Sun,"

At recent Thai government event held on 17th, Prayut said the drama "Descendants of the Sun,"which is mega popular in Korea as well as Southeast Asia and China has a sense of patriotism and sacrifice for one's country.

"What I have seen is that they have included a sense of patriotism, sacrifice, obeying orders and being a dutiful citizen."

"So please watch it and if anyone wants to make such a drama I will financially sponsor it to make people love uncorrupt government officials and make the Thai people love each other."

He also mentioned Song Joong Ki who played male role as Captain Yoo, "He is very handsome and look young but being a captain means having much more responsibility. Therefore, the actual captains are rather looks much older".






2016년 3월 15일 화요일

LG's sponsorship of Lee Se-dol paid off in Korea.


While Go champion Lee Se-dol and AlphaGo, the AI program developed by Google's DeepMind unit are having a match of century, LG Electronics is enjoying a successful marketing through official sponsorship of Lee Se-dol in Korea.

LG already gained few million dollars worth of publicity from this three out of  five matches.
Industry's analysis is that LG enjoyed enormous publicity as well as Google, regardless of the game's win or loss.

LG aired various G5 commercials during live matchs on national TV.
Also, Lee Se-dol wore a costume engraved with G5 logo and 'LG G Watch Urvane Second Edition' smart watch for this match.

LG's publicity is expected to grow since Lee's first victory after three straight loss.
Fans and viewers are looking forward to final game 5 on March 15.




2016년 3월 13일 일요일

Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are selling relatively well in South Korea.


Combined sales of Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 edge reached more than 100,000 units within the first two days of its official launch in South Korea.

According to the outlets, Sales of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge reached a combined 60,000 on Friday and 40,000 on Saturday after the smartphones hit South Korean market on Friday.

The initial pace of sales is roughly on par with demand generated when the Galaxy S6 series phones reached the market last year.
The Galaxy S7 Edge accounted for some 40 per cent of the two-day sales.

A industry official said, "Unlike Galaxy S6, S6 edge launch, Galaxy S7, S7 edge customers see the actual product in 2,000 stores nationwide before they buy it." "Samsung Electronics recently opened S7, S7-edge large-scale experience center at Yeongdeungpo Times Square and showcased the Galaxy club which is Samsung's first rental phone service to boost sales," he added.

2016년 3월 12일 토요일

Most popular overseas destination for Korean tourists in 2015


Recent research shows that Osaka, Japan was the most popular destinations for Korean tourists last year.

According to hotel price index report from online booking site, Hotels.com, Korean visited Osaka most and Tokyo was second, followed by Hong Kong and Bangkok, Thailand in 2015.

Costwise Korean spent most money, ₩ 327,000($300) for one night accommodation at Cancun, Mexico followed by Honolulu, United States(₩ 284,000) and New York(₩ 270,000).





2016년 3월 7일 월요일

Sacred animal of Korea, new born Korean tigers were shown to media

Siberian tiger babies which were born on November 4 last year were shown to media at Daejeon City Zoo on 6th.
Siberian tiger babie sisters, Alkong and Dalkong will meet visitors at Zoo after adaptation training on 15th March.

In Korea, Siberian tiger are called 'Baekdu Mountain Tiger'
Koreans often compare the shape of the Korean Peninsula to a crouching tiger ready to leap upwards at any moment.
Since ancient times, Baekdu Mountain has been regarded as the ancestral home for all Koreans and has been worshipped as a sacred and spiritual mountain.
Of the many animals that reside in the sacred mountain, Baekdu tigers are the most renowned. Also known as the Korean tiger or Siberian tiger, they are famous for their enormous stature and the beauty of their distinct fur patterns. Though tigers are the most familiar animal to Koreans throughout history, they are now only found in the Mount Baekdu area. Currently, North Korea has designated Mount Baekdu as a protection zone for tigers.

Siberian tigers are the world's largest cats. They live primarily in eastern Russia's birch forests, though some exist in China and North Korea. There are an estimated 400 to 500 Siberian tigers living in the wild.