Bijin Beach in Tongyoeng, Gyeongnam (photo from www.visitkorea.or.kr)

Bright yellow forsythias (which are harbingers of spring), azure waves crashing on pallid sand, red tinted leaves and golden rice fields, green pines covered in white snow, these colors help create the striking milieus of Korea’s famous Koreanovelas Filipinos have come to love. And while the popularity of Korean pop culture has invaded the screens and minds of viewers worldwide, the country’s resplendent four seasons and exciting festivals are also sure to make fanatics, and non-fanatics, say Aja!

In commemoration of the 60th year of diplomatic ties between the Republics of Korea and the Philippines, tourism directors and top tour operators from South Korea recently visited the Philippines to attend the first-ever Korea Tourism Night to promote Korean tourism in the country.

Spearheaded by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), a government-invested corporation commissioned to promote Korea’s tourism destination, the event encouraged the Philippine travel industry to aggressively promote Korea as an alternative tourist destination. In 2008, a total of 276,000 Filipinos travelled to Korea including overseas workers.

“The Korea Tourism Night is part of a Korean travel road show to promote our country’s top destinations and tourist attractions. We would like to take this opportunity to strengthen tourism relations with the Philippines and showcase new tourism developments and strong points of Korean travel destinations,” said Kim Keehun, KTO managing director for Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines.  During the event, a delegation of 20 Philippine tour operators was invited to exchange notes with Korean operators to further develop the emerging Philippine tourism market in Korea.

“We are aware that a lot of Filipinos are interested in coming to Korea to visit the drama locations of their favorite Korean dramas but aside from that, Korea has a lot more to offer like our four seasons, shopping centers, theme parks and special interest tours. Not to mention we offer cheaper travel costs as compared to other four-season countries,” Kim shared.

KTO’s main focus on tourism promotions is Korea’s four seasons: Spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The changing faces of Korean landscapes to the tune of the peninsula’s four seasons, are definitely a must see.

Spring fiesta

Flowers are in full bloom in Korea every spring. Cherry blossoms, apricot flowers, and cornus fruit trees start to bloom right at the beginning of March when the air is still slightly chilly. From mid-March, the warm season sees a host of festivals taking place in Korea where visitors can stroll amidst the glorious blossoming flowers and really see the country at its best.

Every year, nearly four million people visit the Hangang Yeouido Spring Flower Festival, one of the most famous festivals in Seoul. During the festival period, visitors can admire gorgeous spring flowers such as cherry blossoms, azaleas, forsythias, and royal azaleas set against the backdrop of the Hangang River.

Refreshing summer

In the hot and humid days of summer, the clean and clear air of Korea’s lavish forests is very refreshing. The main draw for visitors during this season is the opportunity to take refuge in the beautiful valleys located inside the forests and witness the abundant wildlife in their natural habitat.

For beach lovers, the annual Boryeong Mud Festival at Korea’s popular Daecheon Beach attracts thousands of people from all over the world looking for that rare opportunity to have fun getting dirty and healthy at the same time.

Boryeong’s famous mud contains minerals known to aid skin care. It is believed to cleanse the skin by removing toxic wastes and slow aging in the process. Some believe it even surpasses Israel’s legendary Dead Sea mud in its health and cosmetic properties.

Scenes of autumn

Korea’s best autumn travel destinations are the mountains colored with autumn foliage. The skies turn cobalt blue and the leaves a deep crimson color creating a beautiful contrast. The best time to see the autumn leaves change color is from mid-October to mid-November. Koreans enjoy the autumn foliage during this particular time of year with their friends, families, and loved ones in the form of hiking trips.

Autumn is known as “festival season” for theme parks in Korea, starting with Lotte World’s “Octoberfest,” Everland’s “Happy Halloween,” and Seoul Land’s “Chrysanthemum Festival.” For music and entertainment enthusiasts, autumn is also the season for music, film and dance festivals.

Winter wonderland

Discover a world painted in white during Korea’s most exciting season. Tourists from around the world see Korea’s ski resorts as an ideal winter getaway, whether they go for the sports or just to relax and enjoy the snowy winter panorama from a steamy hot tub. Most ski resorts in the region are located in Gangwon-do Province. It is the first area of Korea to greet winter so the ski season there starts the earliest and lasts the longest. Resorts generally open in mid-November or early December and operate until March or April. The Daegwallyeong Snow Flower Festival is one of Gangwon-do’s most popular winter festivals.