The choices of Korea’s veteran travelers

SOUTH KOREA’S Korean Air Lines (KAL) is one of the top 20 airlines in the world in passengers carried. It provides service to 130 cities in 45 countries, and is one of only eight airlines with regularly scheduled flights to all six continents.

Thus, KAL’s cabin crews working international flights have the opportunity to visit the world’s most glamorous cities and popular tourist destinations. Their work takes them to so many different places, it would stand to reason that their tastes in travel have become somewhat jaded.

Last month, questionnaires were distributed to the crews that asked them to rank the world’s cities they most liked to visit. Topping the list of their favorites was Sapporo, in Japan, and Fukuoka City was fourth. The reasons they liked Fukuoka included the local hot springs and the shopping.

This information was included in a short article in the Nishinipppon Shimbun, which is published in Fukuoka City. That’s probably why more detailed information wasn’t included on the crew members’ rankings of other cities, such as the other eight destinations in the top ten. They certainly have a lot to choose from, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, New York, London, Paris, Rome, Honolulu, Hong Kong, and three Australian cities.

Do you keep reading that Koreans dislike Japan? The facts show otherwise.