Category: K-Travel

Travel platform Agoda combed through its first-half 2026 booking data and found Seoul ranking fourth among Asian cities travelers keep coming back to. Tokyo took the top spot, unseating Bangkok, Thailand, which had held the No. 1 ranking the year before. Bali, Indonesia, also moved up, cracking the top three for the first time. Rounding out the top 10 behind Seoul were Osaka, Da Nang, Kuala Lumpur, Fukuoka, Taipei and Johor Bahru.

What keeps pulling people back to Seoul, according to the data, is a mix of K-pop, festivals, food, beauty and wellness offerings, and shopping. City figures show foreign arrivals to Seoul grew more than 21% in the January-to-July period compared to the same stretch last year. A separate survey by the Seoul Tourism Organization found the repeat-visit rate among foreign tourists climbing steadily too, from the low 40% range in 2023 to 53.6% last year — and topping 70% among Japanese visitors alone in 2025.

Among Korean cities, Busan came in second for repeat visits, followed by Incheon and Daegu. Busan also climbed four spots in Agoda's overall Asia ranking compared to last year, and in July, the city logged more than 500,000 foreign visitors in a single month for the first time — a new monthly record. Incheon has leaned on a campaign built around real lost-and-found items from its festivals to spotlight local attractions, paired with repeat-visit discount coupons, while Daegu has been adding flight routes to Chinese cities to win back foreign travelers.

On the flip side, the overseas destination Korean travelers return to most often is Nha Trang, Vietnam. Tokyo, Da Nang, Fukuoka, Bali, Okinawa and Bangkok followed, while Sapporo and Phu Quoc cracked the top rankings for the first time this year. One airline's Incheon-to-Sapporo route ran at a mid-90% average load factor in certain months during the first half of the year, reflecting just how much demand there is.

A short clip shot from an airplane seat is setting online communities on fire. The video shows Seoul's skyline stretched out below a dark night sky, with fireworks bursting in bright colors one after another. It's a completely different vantage point than the ground-level view most people know — a bird's-eye look at the whole city that's hard to come by.

The person who posted it wrote that they stumbled onto the show mid-flight and felt genuinely moved by it. They also admitted, half-joking, that they'd hoped the plane would sit on the runway a little longer — but it took off right on time anyway. Commenters piled on, calling the angle one you almost never get to see, with plenty saying they wished they could stumble into a moment like that themselves.

Behind the clip is a two-day festival. On Sept. 4, a preshow fireworks and drone display lit up Yeouido and Ichon Hangang Park, drawing a solid crowd. The next day, the main event — the Seoul International Fireworks Festival — took over Yeouido Hangang Park, pulling in a far bigger turnout along the riverbank.

On the night of Sept. 5, Yeouido Hangang Park was packed with crowds craning their necks at the sky. Organizers estimated roughly 1 million people turned out for the 22nd edition of the festival, which brought together a fireworks team from Hanwha Corp. representing Korea alongside teams from the US and UK. The roughly 13 billion won ($9.7 million) price tag was covered entirely by organizer Hanwha Group, with no outside funding.

Representing Korea, Hanwha Corp. built its show around the theme "Puzzle of Light," inspired by Van Gogh's "The Starry Night." The centerpiece was a "decalcomania" effect — fireworks mirrored symmetrically on either side of Wonhyo Bridge — plus tower-shaped bursts that used the bridge itself as a canvas, along with fireworks spelling out the city's name and the company's slogan. Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn reportedly sent employees a message ahead of the show, saying he hoped to share the joy with everyone looking up at the night sky. About 300 households of veterans and their families, including national merit recipients, were invited as special guests.

Safety was a major focus. The event deployed more than 5,000 safety and crowd-control personnel — a record — including roughly 1,200 Hanwha employee volunteers. The safety budget alone came to 4.5 billion won ($3.4 million), about 17% more than last year's. A joint command center ran alongside the Seoul city government, the fire and disaster headquarters, and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, backed by a real-time crowd-density app and a 5G-linked CCTV network. The livestream peaked at 260,000 concurrent viewers and racked up 2.68 million total views.

The festival's economic ripple reached neighborhood businesses, too. Convenience stores in Yeouido, Yongsan, Ichon-dong, and Banpo reported sales on festival day up anywhere from roughly tenfold to more than 100 times what they'd see on the same weekday a week earlier. Instant meals like lunch boxes and gimbap, plus ice, bottled water, and beer, flew off shelves — and because this year's festival landed about a month earlier than usual, shoppers grabbed ice and umbrellas rather than hand warmers. After the fireworks ended, Hanwha's volunteer corps stayed out late into the night cleaning up the park.

Hanwha Group's marquee fireworks show returns to the skies above Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul on the evening of September 5. It's become one of Korea's biggest annual draws — pulling in over a million spectators most years — and this edition marks its 22nd run. Organizers moved the date up by about three weeks from its usual slot this year, both to avoid overlapping with the Chuseok holiday and to better serve the crowds of foreign tourists visiting Korea. Three national teams are competing: host country Hanwha, alongside teams from the US and UK, all under this year's theme, 'In Search of Your Light.'

The show kicks off at exactly 8 PM. The UK team goes first, timing its display to 'Soda Pop,' the breakout track from the Netflix animated hit 'KPop Demon Hunters.' The US team follows with a display set to the sweeping strains of the classical piece 'O Fortuna.' Hanwha closes out the night with a sequence inspired by Van Gogh's paintings, plus a more lyrical segment set to a ballad by singer Lee So-ra. New this year: fireworks now launch symmetrically from both sides of Wonhyo Bridge, widening the sightlines so spectators farther from the river still get a full view.

With such a massive crowd expected, Seoul city has assembled a joint safety task force with the fire department, police, local district offices and Hanwha to manage congestion and respond to any incidents — deploying roughly 6,800 personnel for crowd and safety control. Traffic restrictions are extensive: part of Yeouidong-ro will be fully closed from the afternoon until midnight, and Wonhyo Bridge will be shut in both directions for more than a day to allow for setup and teardown. Between 7 and 10 PM, trains will pass straight through Yeouinaru Station without stopping.

Hangang Citizen's Park was already packed the day before the show. Picnic mats claiming prime viewing spots have spread across not just Yeouido but the Ichon park across the river, prompting Seoul city to warn that it will clear away any mats left purely to reserve space before noon on festival day. Online resale listings are offering up prime spots for anywhere from a few tens of thousands of won to around 300,000 won (roughly $220). Some residents of river-view apartments have gone further, selling viewing access or parking passes to their units. One riverside restaurant listed two VIP seats with unlimited barbecue for 6 million won (about $4,300) — pricing that drew its share of criticism as excessive.

Convenience stores near the venue are bracing for a rush of their own. Some locations have stocked up more than 100 times their usual inventory, with big jumps in orders for beer, bottled water, ready-to-eat meals and cups of ice to beat the heat. Last year, ten stores around Yeouido and Ichon saw sales jump as much as 850% on festival day compared to the same weekday a week earlier, with the biggest surge around 5 PM. CU reported its own sales peak closer to 6 PM, while 7-Eleven boosted its ice and beverage orders ahead of a forecast high of 28°C (82°F) for the day.

For the first time, the city of Busan surveyed foreign tourists through face-to-face interviews rather than relying on statistics or big data. Interviewers spent three days in the fourth week of August visiting spots across the city, including Yongdusan Park, Gamcheon Culture Village, and Haeundae Beach — some of Busan's signature tourist draws. In total, 34 people took part, each spending roughly 30 minutes sharing their travel experience.

Among respondents, Chinese-speaking travelers made up nearly half at 16, followed by 13 English speakers and 5 Japanese speakers. Most — 22 people — were visiting Busan for the first time. By area, 15 participants were interviewed in eastern Busan, the most of any zone, followed by 10 in the old downtown and 9 in western Busan.

The most common complaint was a shortage of trash cans around the city and unclean public restrooms, cited by roughly a quarter of all responses. Plenty of travelers also struggled with public transit — many said they simply didn't know Busan's subway offered passes, and some had trouble hailing taxis. Insufficient foreign-language signage and limited card-payment acceptance each drew four complaints.

Frustrations varied by nationality. Chinese-speaking travelers wanted more merchants to accept WeChat Pay and Alipay, and asked for taxi-availability information in multiple languages. Japanese visitors pointed to smells from public restrooms, a foul-smelling sewer near Seomyeon, and cigarette butts littering the streets. Visitors from Germany, France, Italy, and Canada said it was hard to find Busan travel information on Google Maps and that they weren't familiar with the Visit Busan Pass.

It wasn't all complaints. Tourists broadly praised the scenery where mountains meet the sea, the variety of food, and the city's lively atmosphere — and many said Busan's friendly locals were the main reason they'd want to return. The city plans to hand the findings to relevant departments and district offices to map out fixes. Once a third supplementary budget clears the city council, Busan intends to roll out quick wins like adding trash cans at tourist sites first, and if the approach proves effective, is considering making these in-depth interviews a regular practice starting next year.

The Bank of Korea's Monetary Policy Board met on August 27 and voted to raise the base rate by 0.25 percentage points, lifting it from 2.75% to 3.00%. It's the second straight increase since the board's last hike on July 16. Six of the seven board members backed the move; only Hwang Geon-il dissented, arguing for a hold.

This marks the first time the BOK has raised rates at back-to-back meetings immediately after pivoting into a tightening cycle. Consecutive hikes right after a policy shift are themselves rare — this is only the fourth such instance, following 2007, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. Governor Shin Hyun-song said the back-to-back move was a deliberate departure from convention, meant to send markets a clear signal that the central bank is serious about reining in inflation.

The board pointed to a buildup of higher global oil prices and rising consumer spending fueled by income growth as reasons inflation could keep climbing through next year. Household debt breaking the 2,000 trillion won mark for the first time, along with persistent home-price gains across the greater Seoul area, also weighed on the decision. Governor Shin said acting early — before inflation spreads further — would ultimately keep the cost to the broader economy lower.

In its statement, the board said it would keep monitoring inflation and growth conditions to decide the pace and scale of any further hikes, signaling the tightening cycle isn't over. Some market watchers expect one or two more hikes by next February, pushing the rate to somewhere between 3.25% and 3.5% by mid-year. Higher policy rates typically filter through to market lending rates, meaning bigger interest burdens ahead for households and businesses with loans.

The world's biggest gaming trade show, Gamescom 2026, has kicked off its five-day run at Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany. This year's edition is shaping up to be the largest yet, with more than 1,600 companies from 67 countries in attendance, the entire large-format exhibition space sold out for the first time, and roughly 70% of exhibitors coming from outside Germany. Fans and industry insiders from around the world packed the venue for the preview show ahead of the official opening.

TV host Geoff Keighley emceed the Opening Night Live kickoff, where the roughly 5,000-seat venue filled up two hours before showtime, with latecomers stuck standing in the back. On stage, Keighley predicted this year's on-site attendance would top 350,000, and noted that despite layoffs, studio closures, and a spike in memory chip prices squeezing the industry, developers are still pushing out ambitious new games.

The show delivered a steady stream of major reveals. China's HoYoverse unveiled a new dark, live-action-style co-op action game. Microsoft dropped a trailer for its Xbox-exclusive shooter, locking in an October 6 release date. NetEase confirmed a global launch next January for its subculture-style game. Finland's Remedy showed off an action title launching September 24, while Ukraine's 4A Games revealed a new trailer for its next 'Metro' entry. 'Path of Exile 2,' published in Korea by Kakao Games, confirmed a full launch on December 11, and the show was rounded out by sequels, remakes, and reboots of racing, shooter, and strategy-sim franchises. Square Enix had the director of its Final Fantasy remake trilogy personally introduce the trailer for the series' final chapter, confirming a spring launch next year, while CD Projekt Red drew a huge ovation for announcing a fully overhauled remaster of its flagship title on September 29 — free for existing owners.

Korean publishers made their presence felt throughout. NCsoft locked in the official title for its space-broadcast-themed shooter, previously known only by a codename, now called 'Like or Die,' alongside a new MMORPG trailer and a lore reveal for its upcoming third-person shooter. Krafton showed five titles in total, including a sequel to its flagship franchise, plus a shooter set in the forests and small towns of the Pacific Northwest that blends battle royale with rules that shift from match to match. Pearl Abyss skipped a new-game announcement altogether, instead demoing 'Crimson Desert' on Samsung's booth using a new 6K gaming monitor; the title landed nominations in two Gamescom Awards categories, with winners set to be announced August 28. A Kakao Games subsidiary showcased a zombie-survival game set in medieval England at the business matchmaking hall, while the Korea Creative Content Agency ran a joint pavilion with 13 small and indie studios. Several National Assembly members also visited the show to check out global industry trends firsthand.

Chef Anh Sung-jae gained mainstream fame after appearing on a Netflix cooking competition show and has since run Mosu Seoul, a two-Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant in Seoul. The latest controversy involves a customer who handed their car to the restaurant's valet service — only to be fined for illegal parking.

On August 20, a user posted photos on social media that included an illegal-parking notice issued by the local district office. The poster, who also voiced disappointment with the food, called it absurd to be fined despite having used valet service. The exact timing of the violation and who was actually driving the car at the time remain unclear from what's been made public.

Mosu Seoul's lunch course runs about 320,000 won (~$230) and dinner about 420,000 won (~$300), with a corkage fee of up to 200,000 won (~$145) for guests who bring their own wine. Given those prices, online reaction has leaned sarcastic, with many joking that fine dining apparently comes with fine-sized bills at every turn — pointing to the irony of an unexpected parking cost on top of an already expensive meal.

This isn't the restaurant's first service controversy. In April, it emerged that a customer who ordered a 2000-vintage wine was instead served a 2005 vintage worth roughly 100,000 won less. The customer noticed and complained, but rather than apologizing immediately, the staff member reportedly offered to let them taste other vintages instead — a response that fueled criticism. Chef Anh later apologized on social media, saying the employee had been removed from wine-service duties.

Last December, a driver from an outside valet company hired by the restaurant reportedly scraped a customer's car against a building wall while parking it. The valet company initially covered 20 million won (~$14,500) in repairs, but a closer inspection later found more extensive damage, pushing the total repair estimate to around 70 million won (~$51,000) and triggering a dispute over who should cover the difference.

Seoul has been stuck under its highest-tier heat warning for four straight days, with tropical nights — when temperatures refuse to drop — running for more than two weeks. On August 6, an automated sensor in Yeongdeungpo District logged 40.0°C (104°F), while the official weather station reading hit this summer's high of 37.9°C (100.2°F). It's the first reading above 40°C since 41.8°C was recorded in Gangbuk District in August 2018, eight years ago — though because the sensor sits on a rooftop, it's treated as unofficial.

Experts point to the asphalt and concrete covering the city as the reason the heat won't break, even overnight. These surfaces don't absorb rainwater, so they lose almost none of the cooling effect that evaporation would otherwise provide — instead, they slowly release the heat they soaked up during the day well into the night, warming the air around them. By the city's own count, this kind of impervious surface grew from 28,613 hectares in 2000 to 30,353 hectares last year — an increase alone equal to roughly six times the size of Yeouido island.

Meanwhile, the street trees that could help cool things down are disappearing. Seoul's street tree count fell from 303,144 in 2015 to 288,877 in 2024, a 4.7% drop, and London planetrees — which cast wide shade and hold a lot of water — fell by more than 35% over the same period. Chinese fringe trees, which provide comparatively little shade, nearly doubled in number instead, a shift experts say has actually weakened the city's heat resilience.

Heatstroke cases and deaths are climbing fast, too. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency data show cumulative heatstroke cases at 2,665 through August 5, including 23 deaths — both already above last year's full-year totals. The heat forced the KBO to scrap all 15 games scheduled across five stadiums from August 7 through 9, with play set to resume August 11, and President Lee Jae-myung has classified the situation as a national-scale climate disaster, directing officials to concentrate resources on protecting vulnerable populations.

A weekend dip in the upper-level pressure trough should bring temperatures down slightly, though they'll still run above the seasonal average. Next week, Typhoon Dolphin — the season's 13th — could shave off another 2-3°C as it passes through the East China Sea, but forecasters warn the heat may snap back once it clears. The Korea Meteorological Administration expects daytime highs around 35°C (95°F) to persist across the greater Seoul area for roughly the next ten days.

As of August 6, 2026, an extreme heat warning covers roughly 20 areas across the greater Seoul metro region and Jeolla provinces. The Korea Meteorological Administration says daytime highs could reach 39°C (102°F) with a heat index above 38°C (100°F) — hot enough to pose a genuine risk to life.

The heat isn't letting up after dark, either. Seoul is now on its 13th consecutive tropical night — a stretch when overnight lows never dip below 25°C (77°F) — and the nationwide streak is closing in on a record. Last night, Seoul's low held at 29.1°C (84.4°F), the highest anywhere in the country, followed by Seogwipo (29.0°C/84.2°F), Cheongju (28.8°C/83.8°F), Incheon (28.4°C/83.1°F) and Jeju (28.1°C/82.6°F); Jeonju and Busan both stayed in the high-27°C (81°F) range. Even usually milder spots on the east coast and in the mountains couldn't escape it — Gangneung (25.6°C/78.1°F), Hongcheon (25.2°C/77.4°F) and Sokcho (25.1°C/77.2°F) all crossed the tropical-night threshold.

By day, Yangju in Gyeonggi Province hit 40.4°C (104.7°F) and Hanam reached 40.1°C (104.2°F), both above the 40°C mark. Seoul climbed to 39.2°C (102.6°F) and Gwangju in South Jeolla Province hit 39.8°C (103.6°F). That's roughly 9°F hotter than the typical range of 28-33°C (82-91°F) for this time of year. With no rain in the forecast for the next 10 days or so, forecasters expect the heat to persist. President Lee Jae-myung reportedly called the heat wave a national disaster-level event and ordered an all-out response.

The Seoul city government tightened its emergency operations after a heat warning that had been limited to the southeast and southwest of the city three days ago expanded citywide within a single day. Outdoor work on city-contracted projects has largely been suspended, street-cooling water trucks have increased their runs, and officials are focusing outreach on vulnerable residents. Nationally, both the number of heat wave days and tropical nights this summer are tracking toward record territory, fueling concern that the climate crisis has crossed from an abstraction into everyday life.

Even so, Han River Park has been packed after dark as people look for relief. Past 8 p.m., with temperatures still above 30°C (86°F), the Yeouido Han River outdoor pool was crowded with swimmers dancing to music blasting from speakers. One visitor with a young child said she felt comfortable bringing her kid since only non-alcoholic drinks are sold there. A visitor in her 20s, on her third trip, said the pool made the heat far more bearable. Nearby, under Seogang Bridge, the Han River 'Bam-ping' night-camping area was dotted with tents lit up under bright lights; one father who came with his kindergarten-age son said the water made things noticeably cooler than during the day.