Congratulations to Incheon International Airport for winning the Best Overall Airport in the World prize

The Incheon International Airport Corporation won the Best Overall Airport in the World prize at this year’s Global Traveler Tested Reader Survey Awards.

The awarding ceremony took place on Dec. 15 (local time) at the Peninsula Beverly Hills LA. Earlier this year, Seoul's main airport was also declared "Best Airport Asia-Pacific" and "Best Airport 25-40 Million Passengers" in the most recent Airport Service Quality Awards. With the prize, the Incheon International Airport became the only airport in the Global Traveler Hall of Fame.

Earlier, the airport had topped the Airport Service Quality of the Airports Council International for nine consecutive years. Approximately 26,000 people participated in the assessment.
It was followed by Changi Airport in Singapore and the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Opened in 2001, the Incheon International Airport has recorded an annual average growth rate of 6.4 percent, and 400 million people have used it until August this year.

The number exceeded 40 million in 2014 alone, too. At present, it is connected to 188 cities in 55 countries around the world, and its cargo and passenger transportation volumes are the third and ninth-highest in the world, respectively.

How to Send a Gift by Using Korean Mobile Gifticon(a mobile gift voucher)

Many Koreans use a mobile gift shop application to send a gift to their families, friends and to coworkers. You need to buy gifts for coming Christmas but don't have time for shopping? Then why don't you use the Korean mobile App store as it is very easy and convenient to use.

1. Using 'Gifticon Syrup'

This easy to download mobile App recommends you appropriate items to select showing several possible occasions.

You can choose the (list of) receiver(s) from the contact list of Kakaotalk or Facebook.

① Personal authentication is essential. Click the 'Identifying to Use' and choose 'mobile Identification' on the left side.

② Read and accept all the policy terms and enter your name, gender and date of birth. And then click 'requesting authentication' after choosing your mobile carrier.

③ After entering the verification code number sent to you, click 'next' button. If you accept all the policy terms of Gifticon click ‘next’ button again. Here, you can set up your password for Gifticon App.
                          

Now, it’s time for shopping. If you click one of the theme shops (birthday, baby shower, cheering up, etc.) you’d like to visit, recommended items are shown according to each occasion. 

Besides the theme shops, brand shops categorize goods by items. For example, if you choose the coffee/drink, you will see the product list with diverse brands, types and sizes.

Choose one of the items you want, pick an e-card with a brief message. And then choose the receiver designating the route that the gift delivers: text message, Kakaotalk or Facebook messenger.
                         

2. Using the Mobile Gift-shop in Kakaotalk

You can also send a gift at Kakaotalk which Koreans use a lot. The good point of this shopping is easy and convenient.

① Click 'See more' in Kakaotalk to find a 'gift shop' tab.

② In 'recommended theme' corner are shown the items appropriate for occasions: birthday, Christmas, anniversary, marriage, etc.

                       

Hybrid Taxis to Help Keep Seoul's Air Clean

                            

Toyota's Prius hybrid taxis will start plying the streets of Seoul in mid-December. Toyota Korea on Thursday said the carmaker will deliver a dozen Prius taxis in mid-December, with another 30 booked for delivery later.

The taxis were launched on Aug. 20, but delivery took longer than expected because of the time required to re-spray them in the requisite colors and fix the components.
Prius taxis are expected to take some time to establish themselves here over the cheaper LPG taxis. A Prius taxi costs around W26 million (US$1=W1,116), up to W10 million more than the LF Sonata, the most common kind of taxis here.

Toyota started mass production of the Prius in 1997 and has sold a total of 3 million units around the world. The taxi versions can be found on the streets of Austria, Croatia, Japan, Singapore and the U.S.

Sweet treats at Garosugil

                           
Sweets can be found in almost every nook and cranny of Garosugil and its adjoining streets.

In fact, one can practically gauge the latest dessert trends of the city by taking a stroll through the scenic area that is located in Seoul’s Sinsa-dong. 

There one will come across at least three different takes on soft serve, uber-popular roll cakes, variations on the bingsu and other delights. 

                                         


One will also find sister shops of established dessert stops, like sibling stores Pumpkin Terrier Cake Shop and Hey. J, both of which spin out tasteworthy confections.

Pumpkin Terrier Cake Shop, which opened in June, derives its homey cake aesthetic from Glamorous Penguin, a dessert cafe that opened in 2012 in Seoul’s Hannam-dong.
Layer cakes can be found at Pumpkin Terrier, including a particularly memorable raspberry meringue confection, where layers of cake boasting a slightly big crumb are sandwiched around a sweet raspberry curd. 



                                         


The whole towering affair is then covered in sugary, marshmallow-like meringue for the kind of dessert that goes great with a piping hot cup of coffee. 

1F, 534-8 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
(070) 7627-0057
Open 1:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily
Cookie chou costs 3,500 own each, matcha soft ice cream costs 3,900 won, matcha soft shiratama costs 4,800 won