There are people who have been chronicling Seoul over the past decade, at their own pace and moving in their own directions. They have formed Amateur Seoul, which has been putting together maps of fascinating places in Seoul and their stories. There, you will find tidbits about Seoul that you won’t find on tourist maps. When you own Amateur Seoul’s maps, new Seouls will appear.

Let’s visit the world of fairy tales, all built by Hans Christian Andersen. H.C. Andersen’s House, a museum built on 12 of Andersen’s most famous stories, including < The Snow Queen >, < The Ugly Duckling > and < The Little Mermaid >, has opened.

First and foremost, it is comfortable and safe. Private jets are emerging as a new way of traveling in the post pandemic era. We look into various aspects of using a private jet, which could be an ideal and logical choice depending on the traveler’s purpose and needs.

Jeju is the one region in Korea that has kept its traditional culinary culture alive. Ha Mi-hyun, who specializes in ipmal food (food whose ‘spoken recipes’ are passed by word of mouth), met with 123 Jeju natives and farmers over 452 days to explore the history of Jeju cuisine. We joined Ha on the journey to discover the real taste of Jeju.

The Korea Tourism Organization has recently selected 56 representative architectural works in Korea. We’ve narrowed it down to 10 locations that are great for travel right about now.

A dreamy, delicate scenery on the border between real and imaginary worlds greets us. Here are things to see and enjoy in the Vietnamese version of Shangri-La, Ninh Binh.

Ancient nature is still alive in the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia’s Far East. We embark on a journey to one of the few pristine wilderness areas of the world where civilization has yet to overtake mother nature.

Sapa is a mountain village located between the northern tip of Vietnam and its border with China. By visiting a minority group in Sapa maintaining a traditional way of life, you can better understand how they coexist with nature. Also near the village stands the tallest mountain in Vietnam. Mount Phan Xi Pang, nicknamed as ‘the Roof of Indochina,’ rises over 3,000m above sea level. Sapa offers a perfect environment for a walking trip as its trails deliver picturesque mountain landscapes.

Korean swimmer Jung You-in’s day is packed with training sessions. Jung leads a life centered on swimming but once a week she gets to have a day off when she returns to Seoul from her training camp for the weekend. We introduce places Jung frequently goes during her respite in the Metropolis.

Fashion model Ji Hyeon-jung, who is in her 20th year since debut, introduces herself as a fashion model and yogini on her Instagram. Working at the core of the flashy fashion industry and pursuing a quiet, meditative routine do not seem to go well together, but Ji navigates between the two realms like a professional surfer. Where does she go in Seoul to unwind or recharge?

Having traveled to Lapland, Finland, where everything is covered in snow, photographer Melmel Chung wrote an email that starts with a sentence “Snow can be any color.” As a result, a postcard book titled < Lappi > was born. Lappi in Finnish means Lapland.

New York-based fashion illustrator Kelly Beeman left for St. Petersburg for a new edition of Louis Vuitton <Travel Book> collection. She’s got 21 days in the Russian city to rediscover and interpret what’s familiar to the localities from a foreigner’s viewpoint. Want to find out what the cultural capital of Russia full of exotic scenes has instilled in the American artist and how she internalized it?

From long ago, young people who are trendsetters of a city would gather at a bookstore. Now the young Vietnamese in Hanoi are flocking to ‘Bookworm’ and ‘Nha Nam Books N’ Coffee.’

Vietnam is a multiethnic nation made up of 54 distinct groups. The Viet people account for the largest portion of the population at over 85 percent. The rest of the 53 ethnic minorities have unique lifestyles, each with its own language and culture, residing in rural or mountainous areas. Travel writer Jeon Hye-in who lives in Hanoi gives us an overview of the minority culture of Vietnam, including an introduction to the food, clothing, shelter, and religion of ethnic groups, as she tours the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. The last remaining piece of a puzzle to truly understand Vietnam is none other than the 15-percent ethnic population. Here are their stories.

Buyeo was the last capital of Baekje. When the excavation of the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong yielded massive amounts of relics, it helped shed a new light on Baekje’s culture. For the most part, though, Buyeo and Baekje remain on the periphery. Lee Neogg, an art historian who has served as the director of the Buyeo National Museum, extols virtues of the great Baekje culture and tells us why we should visit Buyeo.

Instead of getting on a plane with a suitcase and a travel guide, how about putting on your favorite sneakers and stepping outside? Here’s a map for an affordable world tour in the city of Seoul.

Vietnamese pottery is famous across the world. Its birthplace, surprisingly, is a small village named Bat Trang in the vicinity of Hanoi.

A single egg can show you the ultimate jewelry craftsmanship. So how did the Easter tradition lead to the world’s most beautiful eggs?

Summer has arrived. Let’s try on ‘galot,’ a traditional garment of Jeju Island. Now is the right time to dress up in this special seasonal clothing made of fabric dyed in summer.

Days like today, where skyways have been shut down, in Hamburg, there’s a landmark where you can take a sneak peak at the cities around the world and their daily lives. Such place is called Hamburg Wunderland, where all the tourist sites are gathered in one place. Enjoy your fantasy trip to another new eutopia.

Kim Young-geon runs a bookstore that has been a family business owned by his grandfather and father and has in-depth knowledge on the history of Sokcho where the bookstore is based. From a town of displaced civilians to a tourist city, Kim has witnessed first-hand the transformation that the coastal city has experienced. We asked him about some lesser-known charms of Sokcho.

What’s the perfect way to enjoy a summer night in Hanoi? How about some live jazz performances?

Glass pieces wave beautifully along the light. And what creativity and imagination by the artist who’s in love with glass! Chihuly Garden and Glass is your ultimate art destination in Seattle, a city already full of wonders.

At sunset, we hike toward the top of Oreum, a volcanic cone, moving in the opposite direction to those descending from it. Patiently awaiting the nightfall as we brace ourselves against the chilly island winds, our goal is to witness the curtain of stars in the sky above Yongnuni Oreum. We are on a night trekking journey involving this particular Oreum, one of over 360 parasitic cones, a natural wonder unique to Jeju Island.

Where permanent snow melt, plants and trees grow only to be decimated by months-long wildfires. Protecting our planet and its environment has become a vital element in every aspect of our life. Traveling is no exception to this. In the age of responsible tourism, we introduce a variety of activities in Seoul that are in compliance with sustainable travel trends.

A city steeped in a thousand-year history embraces those maintaining their ancestors’ slow-paced way of living as if to reenact a glorious moment from the past. We look into the 36 streets in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, Vietnam, to figure out a secret behind the charm that brings the contemporaries to the ancient district.

Spring in Jeju it filled with sweet scent. Looking at the recent trend, Jeju is filled with tourists and newly-wed couples. Let’s take a look into LOTTE HOTEL JEJU’s fresh offerings to add more romance in Jeju.

Russia was the world’s first to dream of space travel, and it cherishes the traces of its decades-long efforts and challenges aimed at exploring space.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put more distance between people, while making borders even clearer than before. But there are still many different ways we can enjoy art and culture. You can still enrich your life amid social distancing. You can visit the iconic Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia, right on your computer or smartphone, thanks to a five-hour, one-take cinematic tour shot on an iPhone. Here are some other art museums and concert venues that are offering virtual tours and free performances.

You’d be seriously mistaken if you had some ordinary, old-school bathhouse in mind. Bathhouse, a modern spa where you can experience wellness and socialize with others in casual atmosphere, is turning heads among trendsetters in New York.

The Han River you see while running alongside it is quite different from the Han River seen through windows of your car or subway train. When you’re running, you become part of the landscape, too. The Han River then becomes so incredibly beautiful as to be miraculous.

Seattle has two famous structures: the Seattle Central Library by Rem Koolhaas and the Museum of Pop Culture by Frank O. Gehry. The two are both cultural spaces but they differ vastly when it comes to the architects’ perspectives on their creations.

The name “Da Lat,” came from Latin word called “Dat Aliis Laetitiam Aliis Temperiem,” where it means “It Gives Pleasure to Some, Freshness to Others." Once you see the rich flowers, vegetables grown under cool temperature at the highlands as well as the lake, that just looks like the sky, you’ll nod your head to its meaning.

Russia, located somewhere between Europe and Asia. Of their unique cultures, let us introduce you their dessert culture.

There are about 1,500 small and big galleries in New York. We’ve selected a handful of galleries with a potential to survive in the fierce competition among art businesses and lead the New York market in the future.

A trip to the peak of Korea to see snow flowers. What is the winter charm of Hallasan?

Jamsil, where SIGNIEL SEOUL and LOTTE HOTEL WORLD are located, is home to Songnidan-gil, a neighborhood that is currently emerging as the place to be in southern Seoul. After strolling the streets of Songnidan-gil eating and drinking everything in sight, We’ve come up with this list of nine cafes, restaurants and bars to check out in the area.

The annual New York City Marathon kicks off on the first Sunday of November. Every year, the five boroughs of the city, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island, become flooded with runners from all across the world and spectators cheering them on.

Jeju’s Gotjawal are the only forests in the world where northern and southern plants live side by side. There’s a family that takes care of a Gotjawal, opening it up to people. To meet them, I visited Hwansang Forest Gotjawal Park.

She's a translator, an essayist and a gallerist. And she's also a New Yorker. These are places in New York that are close to the heart of Mimi Park.

Industry City is an old shipping, warehousing and manufacturing complex near Brooklyn Sunset Park. The old complex was redesigned to create a dynamic community of small local businesses, artist studios and start-ups, making it one of the hottest new business districts of New York.

New York’s new landmark that has attracted over 120,000 visitors in the opening week, Hudson Yards is transforming the West Side landscape. Check out everything you can see, feel, and enjoy there.

Art book publishers Assouline and Taschen as well as fashion house Louis Vuitton all have one thing in common: they have published a book about New York. These books include everything about the Big Apple, from art and culture to the lifestyle of New Yorkers. Travel the American metropolis through written words and photos.

During summertime in Korea, Yangyang in Gangwon Province bustles with surfers. We want to introduce you to Yangyang’s top six surf spots. Don’t be afraid of experiencing new oceans and waves or mingling with new people. One of the surefire ways to enjoy surfing is to explore new surf spots.

One of the vacation trends these days is going on a babymoon during pregnancy before the birth of a child. LOTTE HOTEL GUAM has a perfect babymoon planned for you.

Over the past dozen years, violist Richard Yongjae O'Neill has spent one season in Seoul. Born in the state of Washington and based in New York, O'Neill has been visiting Seoul every June since 2007 as a member of his ensemble, DITTO. We asked him his favorite places in the city.

The New York Philharmonic’s “Concert in the Park” series will begin like a summer night’s respite in the middle of a forest.

Lotus flowers begin blooming in early summer and peaks in July. The lotuses and water lilies in full glory at Gungnamji Pond in Buyeo are not just for pleasure to the eyes. They are repurposed as an ingredient for a savory yeonnipbap, or sticky rice steamed in a lotus leaf.

Fashion house Gucci has launched a space offering an experience of the culture and arts of Soho as well as its brand philosophy through books in New York City. Gucci’s Wooster Bookstore has over 2,000 books including rare and out-of-print editions and secondhand titles on genres not limited to fashion.

Galerie Quynh is located in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, the heart of the town. Quynh Pham, founder and director of the gallery, has unearthed many experimental-minded artists and contributed to the progress of Vietnamese contemporary art. She has witnessed, first-hand, the dynamic development of the city, and we asked her some of the city's hidden charms. She takes us to places that tourists may otherwise miss out.

L7 HOTELS, Korea's first lifestyle brand hotel launched by LOTTE HOTELS & RESORTS, currently operates three locations in Korea. L7 MYEONGDONG opened first in 2016, followed by L7 GANGNAM and L7 HONGDAE. These L7 HOTELS boast 80 to 90 percent occupancy rates annually. How have they become the hippest hotels in Seoul in just three years?

Seoul Botanic Park has opened its doors. Spanning 504,000 square meters in total, the Park is the size of 70 soccer fields. Its greenhouse is the largest in Korea.

Baekje was one of the Three Kingdoms that fell in 660, and Buyeo was Baekje's last capital. We headed out to the historical city where time stands still. We took a day trip as we traced the history of the ancient kingdom.

There are people who document moments they stand and breathe in nature. Wild Photography Holidays teaches you new ways to navigate the world inside the lens off the beaten path.

Here's a hotel that has transformed itself into a dynamic playground. 'PlayTopia' at Lotte Hotel Jeju will make your dream come true.

Diphda Jeju, a team of environmentally-conscious divers committed to reducing marine waste, discusses ways to travel the island of Jeju while protecting the natural beauty of its seas.

Grocery stores fully stocked with beautiful kitchenware and delicious flavors that will enrich the stories about unfamiliar cities and our tables.

Choose LOTTE HOTEL for your honeymoon this year and get a chance to celebrate your first wedding anniversary like no one else. LOTTE HOTEL has launched a special package for newly-weds, giving a free stay voucher at an overseas LOTTE HOTEL branch next year for those who spend their honeymoon at a Korean LOTTE HOTEL this year.

Where did BTS shoot that photobook? Let’s start this month’s journey with this question.

Although it is known as the most beautiful in the world, there’s a sad story behind Guam’s ocean floor: a number of wrecked ships sunk down during the World War I and II. Perhaps, this is another reason why a lot of scuba divers around the world visit Guam, to find those wrecked ships.

We are introducing a list of extraordinary shopping venues that will double the fun for travelers in Hanoi. Vietnamese chocolate made from cacao grown and processed locally, handicraft made by minority groups with great care, and snacks to remember Hanoi by can all be found in the places featured below.

In April 2001, American businessman Dennis Tito became the world’s first ever space tourist, as he paid his own way onto the International Space Station by boarding a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. Years after that historic visit, commercial space travel is no longer a distant dream, but now a very real prospect for the near future.

'Colorless, odorless and flavorless.' To Russian people, vodka is a way of life and a liquor of their spirits. They don't just drink vodka to battle bitter cold. Russians enjoy ice cold vodka anytime, anywhere. There's a reason a vodka museum can be found in many different cities in Russia.

St. Petersburg is home to one of the world's greatest art museums, an iconic ballet theater and other spectacular buildings. Russia's second-largest city and its old capital, St. Petersburg is never short on tourists.

Artist Yang Ji-yoon who makes installation artworks using Korean traditional paper ‘hanji’ gave us an interview on how nature heals us while travel gives us comfort.

July is a good time to see our galaxy in the night sky. Travel photographer Kim Daehyung presents us with six best places in Korea to see the Milky Way, along with his photographs of stunning night skies.

Moynihan Train Hall was created to improve the travel experience at Penn Station. Penn Station was known as the busiest intercity railroad station in the Western Hemisphere.

Functions of hotel are changing. They used to be places for tourists and business travelers to stay a short while. Now, they get to enjoy living experience there. LOTTE HOTEL is at the forefront of that shift.

A railway travels along the coastline between Haeundae Beach and dense pine groves, offering a stunning coastal scenery throughout the entire route. Hop on the Haeundae Beach Train to take in the history and nature of Busan.

When asked about a Korean city offering the best coffee these days, you can say Busan. The port city presents many unique cafes including Momos Coffee where Jeon Joo-yeon, first Korean barista to win the World Barista Championship in 2019, works. Why don’t we travel to Busan with the keyword “coffee” in mind? Coffee columnist Cho Won-jin, who wrote < 19-Year-Old Barista Roasts Stories > and < Practical Coffee Book > guides us.

Ulsan is known as an industrial town. But is it really that bad of a travel destination? We went searching for places that you could visit with friends, lovers and family.

When you are traveling in a foreign country, you often become curious about the daily lives of people there. Especially these days when the Coronavirus is forcing us to stay home longer than before, you are tempted to find out what kind of food they eat everyday. So we embarked on a little journey to learn about and taste “homemade food” of various nations. Here are five restaurants serving international home-style cuisines in Seoul.

There are several different reasons you pick your travel destination. And many people will visit certain place to enjoy some great food. LOTTE HOTEL and SIGNIEL have just the right places for such travelers. Come join us for a tour through Michelin-starred restaurants.

A translator can probably best understand foreign authors as she rewrites their texts in the second language. We requested Youn Jinhi, an expert translator of Russian literature, to give us an account of her Moscow literature tour following the traces of Leo Tolstoy, Russia’s literary legend. As we read her travelogue sentence after sentence, we could feel Tolstoy’s breath and see the faint image of his back.

Just how do we enjoy architecture of cities without traveling there? It’s easy. You can Google up names of buildings you’d like to see, and the search will take you to the other side of the world. It’s all through photography. Kim Yong-kwan is a photographer who takes pictures of buildings. He has captured Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, the old National Museum of Korea, the new building for Seoul City Hall, and the Stone, Wind and Water by Jun Itami. Kim has documented many of Korea’s famous buildings, including ones in Seoul, which has been going through rapid changes, with the rapid rotation of construction and demolition, since Kim began taking architectural photos in the 1990s.

What if you can’t travel overseas? Let’s have a summer vacation going around the country with your children. To guide them through the family vacation, LOTTE HOTEL provides “Summer Kid’s Day” package. There’s an added feature to the package, as they’ll be able to find a new charm at cities within Korea, which they’ve never realized.

In the movie “Midnight in Paris,” the main character wanders the streets of Paris at midnight, gets in a strange car, and travels back in time. At Peninsula Lounge & Bar, LOTTE HOTEL SEOUL located in Sogong-dong, downtown Seoul, an unexpected presence of a waterfall leads us to the past of 400 years ago. With a special cocktail in one hand, we embark on a time travel to dig up the truth about the waterfall.

Russia’s Vladivostok could be considered the closest part of Europe to Korea. Just a two-hour flight takes travelers to this eastern outpost where they can enjoy Western and Oriental beauty.

Amir Timur, the great conqueror who ruled over Eurasia in the 14th century, picked Samarkand, lying in the heart of the Silk Road, as the capital of his empire. We traveled to Samarkand, once the center of the universe, to trace the glory of the old empire.

The Cafe Delicious Art was created in collaboration with London’s National Gallery and has become a popular haunt for fans of art and travel.

Eastern Tibet is the real Tibet. It’s where disciplinants, who have spent years practicing asceticism, travel to discover their eternity.

In Hanoi, time seems to flow slowly. The Vietnamese capital offers a blend of the Oriental and Western nostalgia. Relying on the most primitive form of traveling, we walked through Hanoi to get a closer look at the city's retro landscape.

It makes our mouth water. Time travel in search of black pig!

If you think that a normal travel routine — sightseeing, eating and resting — is boring, the solution is finding something to do. With a 1.5 kilometer-long zip line tour, Japan’s biggest tubing course and plenty more opportunities for adventure, LOTTE ARAI RESORT is the perfect tourist destination.

“K-Beauty” is on the list of keywords describing the Korean Wave (Hallyu) trends of 2019. With Korea’s beauty industry expected to show even stronger growth after surpassing $13 billion (equivalent of 14.7 trillion Korean won) in market value last year, we introduce you to a list of shopping items you must keep in mind if you travel to Korea.

A European style premium mountain resort is the crown jewel of Niigata, a Japanese prefecture famous for its snow. After two years of renovation, Lotte Hotel has finally unveiled Lotte Arai Resort in Niigata. It has been reborn as a ski resort with only the finest facilities, making it a dream destination for winter travelers.