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[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

By Choi Si-young

Published : Feb. 16, 2024 - 09:01

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‘Royal taste’ at Korea House

Through February, Korea House in central Seoul is offering a “royal desserts” special.

The traditional snacks associated with the Joseon era (1392-1910) include rice cakes and jeonggwa -- dessert prepared by boiling dried fruits like apples or edible plants like ginseng in honey. Citron stuffed with jujubes or pomegranates, also braised with honey, is also part of the assortment of royal desserts that are served with mandarin orange tea.

A single serving is priced at 25,000 won and seats fill up quickly, so reservations are required. Guests can stay up to two hours, and reservations can be made at booking.naver.com/booking/12/bizes/375663.

Jeju Canola Festival

Canola flowers on Jeju Island herald the start of spring. Following the winter camellia festival, the resort island now invites visitors to its canola flower festival, which will run until the end of April.

At Hueree Park, visitors won’t just find a field of yellow canola flowers. Red plum blossoms and hydrangea, set to bloom as early as April, will render a more spring-like ambiance. Pets on leashes are allowed.

Admission costs 13,000 won for adults, 11,000 won for middle and high schoolers and 10,000 won for children in elementary school and below. Admission is free for those 2 years old and under. Visit m.hueree.com for updates.

Ansan Star Village

Marking its 10th anniversary this year, a light festival that runs year-round in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, is perfect for those seeking a break from the noise of city life.

An 8,000 won entrance fee is all it takes to take a tranquil escape to Ansan Star Village. The park, which includes a garden and animal installations, opens from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., with the lights turned on every day at 5 p.m. from November through February.

Admission is priced at 5,000 won for grade schoolers and younger, as well as for seniors and people with disabilities. Children less than 2 years old will not be charged any fee. Guests must present identification to claim the discounts.

Bumper car racing is also available for 3,000 won. Check out the latest details at ansanstar.net.

Theme park with farm at E-World

At E-World in Daegu, a one-day 49,000 won pass, the most expensive option, unlocks access to everything from attractions and a cinema to a farm.

Start with classics like go-karts, roller coasters, monorail tours and merry-go-rounds while also trying out arcade games and a cinema. Parades also take place at intervals, and there is even a farm with alpacas and birds.

All-day tickets for those aged 20 and older are 49,000 won. Those aged between 14 and 19 will be charged 44,000 won, while those younger pay 39,000 won. Starting from 5 p.m., prices are reduced to 35,000 won for adults and 33,000 won for teenagers and children.

Attractions are subject to change, so check for the latest updates at eworld.kr.

Strawberry picking at Yulbom

Come to Yulbom, a botanical garden in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, to pick your own strawberries. Visitors have 30 minutes to pick up to 1 kilogram of strawberries at the daily market price, which is charged on top of the 5,000 won entrance fee.

Making strawberry jelly or jam costs 15,000 won for a 600-milliliter bottle of jelly or 500-gram jar of jam. Tomato picking is priced at 15,000 won for 1.2 kilograms, and making tomato gochujang, a Korean fermented chili paste, is 11,000 won for 500 grams.

Tomato harvesting is open all year round, while strawberry picking ends April 28. Reservations have to be made online in advance at yulbom1107.modoo.at.

Visits before April earn a complimentary Americano or animal feed to treat the nearby farm animals.