[HanCinema's Digest] Travel Bug Bites

See how South Korea is making life for solo foreign travellers a breeze, 10 Magazine puts 5 of Korea's top zoos in the spotlight, learn more about how Korea turned a smelly landfill into a world-class Olympic facility, and catch Korea at a glance with this 1-minute video from Rough Guides.

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"[Weekender] Services to help you make the most of your time in Korea"

Are you travelling to South Korea by yourself? No problem! According to recent research, the number of visitors flying solo to the Land of the Morning Calm reached 75%, and, as this article in the Korea Herald begins, "catering to their needs has become crucial in recent years, all the more so with the hosting of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games next month". There is, for example, the Korea Tour Card, special passes and travel options to take advantage of, as well a number of programmes and tours designed to cater specifically for tourists. And let's not forget about the many informative ebooks and apps available that will help ensure that your time in Korea is priceless.

...READ ON THE KOREA HERALD

"5 FASCINATING ZOOS TO VISIT IN KOREA"

As Io Richter notes in her introduction to this listicle on 10 Magazine, it's a privilege to be able to see wild animals up close. "A day trip to your local zoo is an irreplaceable experience", writes Io, a Korean-German based in Seoul. South Korea has some impressive, and impressively large, zoos that animal lovers will not want to miss. Everland Zootopia, for example, spans over 15,000㎡ and contains the country's only panda, a gift of friendship from Chinese President Xi Jinping. Korea's biggest zoo, Seoul Grand Zoo, which contains particularly spacious enclosures, also boasts an amusement park, a rose garden, as well as a museum of modern art.

...READ ON 10 MAGAZINE

"Great makeover of Gangneung Olympic Park"

Did you know that the new Gangneung Olympic Park was a landfill not so long ago? According to Lee Suh-yoon, writing for The Korea Times, hundreds of tons of trash were dumped in a valley nearby, which was eventually closed due to the smell. Now, since its completion just last year (construction started in 2014), the new complex is one of the structural stars of the Winter Games and will host some of the event's main attractions: figure skating, speed skating, short track and ice hockey.

...READ ON THE KOREA TIMES

"Video: the 1 minute guide to South Korea"

Got a minute? Rough Guides has put together this 60-second video showcasing some of what South Korea has to offer would-be travellers. "Though it may appear deceivingly small compared to some of its gargantuan Asian neighbours, South Korea is packed full of unforgettable things to do". The video covers "the neon-bathed streets of Seoul to the perfect, subtropical beaches of volcanic Jeju Island". If you're on the fence as to whether the Land of the Morning Calm should be next on your travel list, this short and sweet video will swiftly settle the matter. Enjoy!

...WATCH ON ROUGH GUIDES