[HanCinema's Digest] Travel Bug Bites

Published on 2017/07/09

Explore Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon City, The Korea Times puts Ulsan's incredible eco-transformation in the spotlight, Cyclists rejoice as Korea plans multimillion dollar bike path, and LG's new robots released on Korea's largest airport.

"South Korea beyond Seoul: Fortress-hiking and food tripping in Suwon City"

South Korea is a largely mountainous country that proudly contains an exciting variety of hiking trails and walks all around the peninsula. One outdoor destination you won't want to miss is a visit to Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon (aka 'The City of Filial Piety'). Located just a subway ride outside of Seoul, this "historical wonder" is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts thousands of visitors each year. The beginning of the trail is a little tough, but it does ease into a relaxing walk after that. "Along the way, detailed signs mark each of the architecture and engineering feats that made Suwon Hwaseong the kingdom's most innovative fortress at the time".

...READ ON RAPPLER

"Green and blue: new colors of Ulsan"

Ulsan has undergone a serious makeover in the last 20 years or so. Once the industrial heart of Korea, Ulsan has since managed to transform into a friendly world-class eco-city that is no longer plague by poor quality water quality, pockets of crime, and heavy industrial activity (the city is, after all, home to Hyundai Motor and SK Innovation, two of the country's largest corporations). Places like the Taehwagang Grand Park and Ulsan Grand Park (Korea's largest urban park) are now top national attractions...

...READ ON THE KOREA TIMES

"Travel / S. Korea paths offer peaceful cycling"

South Korea is constructing a multimillion-dollar bike network that will offer cyclists a "peaceful passage through massive cities and snakes through bike-only mountain tunnels with smooth pavement, solar-powered air tire pumps, bathrooms built in the shape of bicycles, and even London telephone booth-style 'certification centers' every 20 kilometers where riders can stamp the location's logo in special-issue passbooks". The path is planned to stretch 5,000 kilometres and will "pass beaches and waterfalls, rice paddies, garlic farms, persimmon orchards and pagodas". Bike tour vacations are gaining popularity in Korea, and with innovative initiatives like this, it's easy to see why.

...READ ON THE JAPAN NEWS

"Robots to aid tourists, clean floors at South Korean airport"

Don't be surprised if you see people following 'teen-sized' robots around Korea's largest airport, Incheon. LG Electronics has recently deployed its new self-driving robots, "Troika", to help travellers locate boarding gates, to get basic information, as well as to help keep the place spotless. The robots also respond to their names, and by the end of this month they'll be speaking English, Korean, Chinese and Japanese. It is hoped that the technology will impress for the upcoming Winter Games in PyeongChang.

...READ ON WTOP