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Soo Kim is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. She covers various lifestyle stories, specializing in travel, health, home/interior design and property/real estate. Soo covered the COVID-19 pandemic extensively from 2020 to 2022, including several interviews with the chief medical advisor to the president, Dr. Anthony Fauci. Soo has reported on various major news events, including the Black Lives Matter movement, the U.S. Capitol riots, the war in Afghanistan, the U.S. and Canadian elections, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Soo is also a South Korea expert, covering the latest K-dramas—including the breakout hit Squid Game, which she has covered extensively, including from Seoul, the South Korean capital—as well as Korean films, such as the Golden Globe and Oscar-nominated Past Lives, and K-pop news, to interviews with the biggest Korean actors, such as Lee Jung-jae from Squid Game and Star Wars, and Korean directors, such as Golden Globe and Oscar nominee Celine Song. Soo is the author of the book How to Live Korean, which is available in 11 languages, and co-author of the book Hello, South Korea: Meet the Country Behind Hallyu. Before Newsweek, Soo was a travel reporter and commissioning editor for the award-winning travel section of The Daily Telegraph (a leading U.K. national newspaper) for nearly a decade from 2010, reporting on the latest in the travel industry, from travel news, consumer travel and aviation issues to major new openings and emerging destinations. Soo is a graduate of Binghamton University in New York and the journalism school of City University in London, where she earned a Masters in international journalism. You can get in touch with Soo by emailing s.kim@newsweek.com . Follow her on Instagram at @miss.soo.kim or X, formerly Twitter, at @MissSooKim .Languages spoken: English and Korean
Life and Trends Reporter
Over more than three decades of travel, exploring 83 countries and all seven continents, James Ian has seen more of the world than most.
But when asked to pick a favorite destination, the New York-based traveler admits it's a tough choice.
"That's a very difficult question—it's like trying to choose a favorite child," Ian told Newsweek. But if he had to choose? "Maybe Ecuador."
Ian, 56, is the founder of Parks Collecting, a website offering guides and itineraries for U.S. national parks. Originally from Australia, he has also lived in the U.K., Japan, and even on a cruise ship in the Caribbean.
"I've been traveling for 35 years. I spent 14 years backpacking solo around the world, and the past 21 years more settled but still traveling each year," he said.
Why Ecuador?
What makes Ecuador stand out among the dozens of countries he's visited? For Ian, it's the sheer variety of landscapes and experiences packed into one small country.
"It's a small country but has so much variety of landscapes and experiences," Ian said. "There's traditional Andean culture, tiny villages on the mountains, a modern city, active volcanoes, hot springs, the Amazon rainforest, and, of course, the Galapagos Islands."
Ecuador's diverse offerings make it an ideal travel destination, whether for first-time visitors or seasoned explorers.
According to Ecuador's official tourism website, visitors can enjoy everything from adventure sports and whale watching to archaeology, gastronomy and wildlife experiences. The country is home to four distinct natural regions, each offering unique attractions.
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Travel to Reach New Record Highs
Ian's love for travel aligns with global trends, as international tourism is experiencing a major boom.
According to a 2025 report by Oxford Economics, global travel demand is expected to increase by 12 percent year on year, reaching a record 1.75 billion arrivals.
The report noted: "Global inbound arrivals are now effectively recovered to the same level as the prior peak in 2019, and 2025 will see new record levels being reached across most destinations."
Americans are fueling much of this travel demand. A TripAdvisor report released in November found that 96 percent of Americans plan to travel as much or more than they did last winter, with 53 percent planning to increase their travel budget.
With global travel surging, more people are seeking unique, immersive experiences, especially among millennials and travelers from Generation Z, who are foregoing Instagram-worthy, picture-perfect hotspots and seeking more authentic, local cultural escapes.
Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
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