Most Popular
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Over 80,000 millionaires, 20 billionaires in Seoul: report
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Korean battery makers heave sigh of relief over 2-year IRA reprieve
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Yoon apologizes over first lady’s Dior bag scandal, but accuses special probe attempt as political maneuvering
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Young Korean doctors seek plan B: cosmetic dermatology or overseas
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South Korea open to Indonesian proposal to cut KF-21 payments
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Girl hanging on bridge, police trying to rescue her both fall off; rescued immediately
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Coupang earnings hit hard by losses from ailing Farfetch
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[K-pop’s dilemma] Time, profit pressures work against originality
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Why femicide and dating violence are growing issues in S. Korea
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DP urges Yoon to accept proposal on cash handouts, special counsel probe over Marine's death
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[Korea Quiz] BTS's military salary
Find the answer at the bottom. All seven members of BTS are currently doing their military service, putting their lives as globetrotting K-pop stars temporarily on hold. This means that except for Suga -- who is doing alternative service at a community center in Seoul -- they train, work and sleep in the barracks alongside other conscripts. Also, they eat the same food and get the same pay. Among the seven, the member earning the highest monthly salary in the military is Jin, or Sergeant Ki
Dec. 27, 2023
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A closer look into Korea’s suicide statistics
It is no longer news that South Korea has a high suicide rate. With 25.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2022, the country topped the 38-member Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in terms of suicide rates. This rate is more than double that of the OECD average of around 10-11 deaths per 100,000. But under the headline numbers, when, where and how do most suicide attempts occur here? A recently released set of data encompassing crucial information from first response records t
Dec. 26, 2023
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[Weekender] From hearth to oven: Coal mining history baked into ‘yeontan’ bread
SABUK, Gangwon Province -- “Never kick a lump of used coal briquette; has your heart ever burned for someone?” reads one of the most beloved Korean poems by poet Ahn Do-hyun. The resonance of this three-line-stanza poem in Korean draws its depth from the commonplace “yeontan” -- the perforated, cylindrical briquettes that fueled the hearths of most Korean households in the mid- to late- 1900s. A few years ago, the symbolic power of yeontan became a hit for 37-year-
Dec. 23, 2023
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Commuters rise early to avoid rush hour
Nearly 1 in 4 South Korean workers beat the morning traffic rush by leaving home before 7 a.m., according to data released Thursday by Statistics Korea and SK Telecom. Analyzing data from 7.12 million commuters, the findings revealed that 24.6 percent hit the road before 7 a.m., with the figure swelling to 50.8 percent by 8 a.m. These early birds spend an average 34.7 minutes commuting one way, and those living in cities surrounding Seoul endure even longer journeys, averaging 40.3 minutes. That
Dec. 22, 2023
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[Korea Quiz] Hoesik etiquette
Find the answer at the bottom. Alcohol is often served to encourage freer social interaction, but being aware of local drinking customs is also recommended for avoiding awkward situations. The end of the year is a common time for group or office dinners in Korea, where following a drinking etiquette developed from Korean Confucianism -- with its formal displays of respect for elders and those of higher status in a group -- is often considered important. At after-work group dinners called &q
Dec. 20, 2023
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Five facts about Korea's spicy affair with ramyeon
Korean ramyeon holds a special place in Koreans’ hearts, not just their stomachs. The iconic phrase, "Do you want to join me for some ramyeon (at my place)?" -- playfully employed in the 2001 film "One Fine Spring Day" to extend a late-night invitation to a romantic interest -- speaks volumes about its place in the Korean psyche. Affordable, simple to make and scrumptious, ramyeon is without doubt many Koreans' soul food. From its birth some 60 years ago to the lat
Dec. 19, 2023
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English name policies at work: top-down policy or horizontal culture?
A team led by Andrew, comprising James, Chris and Lisa, engages in lively conversations about work while addressing each other by their first names. This atmosphere is something that some Korean companies are trying to emulate by mandating all employees to use their preferred English name while at work. The rationale is that they need to move away from the Korean language’s emphasis on honorifics, position titles and other formalities, to facilitate horizontal communication. The thinking
Dec. 18, 2023
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3 in 10 new couples embrace DINK lifestyle
Nearly 30 percent of Korean couples who have been married for less than five years both work and have no children, according to a report released Monday by Statistics Korea. Among the 815,357 such couples, 28.7 percent were “dual-income, no kids” couples, or DINKs. It represented more than a 10 percentage point increase from 2015. The shift toward the DINK lifestyle is attributed to various factors, including the increased participation of women in the workforce, a growing societal
Dec. 18, 2023
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From receiver to giver - a survivor’s tale of transformation
When foreign nationals come to South Korea, they often face the challenge of navigating various cultural differences. For Ju Chan-yang, a Korean from across the border, the disparities she had to grapple with were more intricate and subtle. In light of Human Rights Day, The Korea Herald spoke with Ju, who defected from North Korea in 2010. Life in North Korea Life in North Korea for Ju was riddled with hardships from the start. Three years after her birth in 1991, North Korea faced its worst f
Dec. 16, 2023
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[Korean History] In 2012, K-pop makes leap from 'Gangnam' to the world
South Korean bands claiming a spot on the top global charts is by no means a surprise at this point, with acts like Blackpink, NewJeans and BTS commanding massive international fan bases. But just a little more than a decade ago, even cracking Billboard's top 100 singles chart would put a K-pop act in the national headlines. And it could be argued that BTS and its contemporaries owe just a bit of their worldwide success to the first K-pop song to enjoy worldwide success: Psy's 2012 meg
Dec. 15, 2023
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[Korea Quiz] Dokdo, jewel in East Sea
Find the answer at the bottom. The South Korean island of Dokdo is an ecological jewel, situated furthest from the mainland. Comprised of two islets and 89 surrounding rock outcrops, the entirety of Dokdo is designated a natural monument and is under protection. The waters surrounding Dokdo are home to various marine creatures and rare marine plants, including band-rumped storm petrels, streaked shearwaters and black-tailed gulls. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, as of Aug
Dec. 13, 2023
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All Koreans need for Christmas is ... a cake?
Ever wondered what Koreans most enjoy on their Christmas dinner tables? While the classic yuletide meal of turkey and stuffing are hard to find and there's no specific Korean Christmas dish, people often turn to a special treat enjoyed on other special occasions: cakes. Sharing a cake after a Christmas meal, which could be anything from a takeaway pizza and fried chicken to a more special menu, has become a cherished holiday tradition for many Korean families, with some splurging upwards
Dec. 12, 2023
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[Korean History] Deadly sinking of Navy ship in 2010 marks worst postwar military disaster
On the night of March 26, 2010, an explosion was heard by crew members on a South Korean Navy corvette which had been patrolling off the country’s west coast near Baengnyeong Island in the West Sea. Five minutes later, the 1,200-ton Pohang-class patrol ship named the Cheonan was broken in half, and the rear half sunk into the ocean, killing 46 Navy personnel inside. “I heard a loud bang at 9:22 p.m. that night, with which the ship tilted to the right, and my body was flung up in the
Dec. 6, 2023
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[Korea Quiz] Voluminous traditional Korean porcelain
Find the answer at the bottom. Large, voluminous and round white pottery vessels known as “moon jars” stand as quintessential examples of South Korea’s Joseon-era porcelain art. Originating from the late 17th century, these distinctive porcelain jars maintained their popularity through the late Joseon period, setting themselves apart as unique creations not replicated in China or Japan. The term "moon jar" is a relatively recent invention, created by Korean mode
Dec. 6, 2023
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Storing away for a more compact life
The sense of constriction has become more palpable for Kim Min-hyung, a 30-something office worker in Seoul, as his belongings have piled up in his studio apartment over time. While buying a closet might be a straightforward and conventional solution, it carries the risk of further reducing his already confined living space. So Kim is contemplating using a self-storage service. "While renting a storage unit may appear unnecessary, I believe it's a sensible option considering Seoul&
Dec. 5, 2023
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[Korea Beyond Korea] Korean Studies gaining traction at Complutense University of Madrid
MADRID -- The Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) in Spain's capital boasts a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1293. As one of the world's oldest universities, it recently added Korean as a minor course within the Department of Asian Studies in 2021. Professor Yang Eun-sook, who has led Korean Studies at the university for 15 years, expressed a renewed sense of excitement for the future during an interview with The Korea Herald in October. Yang anticipates that Korea
Dec. 4, 2023
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[Korea Beyond Korea] Chae Man-sik expert delivers Korean literature to Spanish readers
When Alvaro Trigo Maldonado came to South Korea in 2012, he only spoke basic Korean. Having studied Arabic and East Asian studies in Spain, Trigo did a master’s degree in Korean history and culture at the Academy of Korean Studies in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, at the time, and completed a two-year program at the Literature Translation Institute of Korea. He then did his Ph.D. back in Spain, writing a thesis on Korean novelist Chae Man-sik (1902-1950), and is now teaching Korean literatur
Dec. 4, 2023
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A decade of YouTube and Korea in the World of Dave
In the vast landscape of YouTube, where content creators rise and fall, Dave Levene Jr. stands out as one of the first-generation YouTubers in Korea with over a million subscribers on his YouTube channel, “World of Dave.” Levene’s entry into content creation is a tale of randomness and unexpected viral success. In 2013, a video he posted on his personal Facebook account for his friends to watch went viral overnight, reaching over 40,000 likes and thousands of comments. This unp
Dec. 2, 2023
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[Korea History] In 2009, a suicide forces Korea's political pendulum to left
On the morning of May 23, 2009, the South Korean public received shocking news that altered the country’s political course for years to come: Former President Roh Moo-hyun died after throwing himself off a cliff near his retirement home in Bongha Village in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province. The deceased leader, then 62 years of age, had been under investigation concerning corruption allegations of his family members and those around him. While there was no conclusive evidence suggesting
Nov. 29, 2023
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[Korea Quiz] Neighborhoods with exotic vibes
Find the answer at the bottom. Some districts in South Korea are representative of a certain foreign community, providing visitors with a distinctive cultural experience, marked by exotic surroundings, and a more hospitable, homelike atmosphere for some foreign nationals. On South Gyeongsang Province's Namhae Island, an annual Oktoberfest beer festival takes place in Namhae German Village there every October. This event offers visitors an immersive experience in different aspects of G
Nov. 29, 2023