Beyond just cute, these pets have unique stories, and huge followings

In YouTube’s vast sea of content, one particular subgenre is gaining traction among Koreans: video chronicles of the lives of pets, particularly dogs and cats. Catering to viewers looking to escape life's stresses by watching adorable animals, pet videos have cultivated a large and devoted community of fans who regularly tune in for lighthearted moments. Some of these famous animals offer more than just cuteness -- they have a unique vibe, backstory or personality. Here are four of th

Hashtag KoreaOct. 26, 2024

Civil servant’s death linked to workplace bullying

A 38-year-old civil servant, who died just two months after being hired, was found to have been bullied at the workplace by a superior, according to the findings of a provincial audit Thursday. The North Chungcheong Province audit office concluded that the deceased, identified only by the surname Kim, was subjected to an excessive workload and inappropriate treatment by his immediate superior at the Goesan Country Office. As a result, the provincial office requested the county office to enforce

Social AffairsOct. 26, 2024

[Herald Interview] K-pop’s 'best years are ahead of us': Spotify’s general manager for Asia Pacific

Countering concerns of many local music critics who believe K-pop has already reached the peak of its growth, Gautam Talwar, Spotify’s general manager for Asia-Pacific, suggests that K-pop’s best years are yet to come. “We’re a data-driven platform and our data suggests that the best years are ahead of us. More Korean artists are being discovered than ever before, more streams are being generated than ever, and more royalties are being generated for the Korean music indus

K-popOct. 26, 2024

[What to Stream] 3 thought-provoking documentaries to dive into

As the days turn cooler and shorter, grab your blanket, a warm drink and settle in for a perfect autumn weekend with some great documentaries. Whether you’re seeking to dive into real-world subjects and gain deep insights or just want to lose yourself in thought-provoking stories, these well-made documentaries will meet all your needs while you stay cozy and warm indoors. "What Jennifer Did" on Netflix This true crime documentary delves into the harrowing story of Jennifer Pan,

TelevisionOct. 26, 2024

[New in Town] Nothing standard about ‘Standard Bun’

Mocha buns, the once-popular sweet treat with a crispy outside and abundant cream filling, seem to have all but disappeared from Seoul’s streets in recent years, perhaps pushed out by the arrival of newer, more creative desserts. At Standard Bun, a cafe in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, that opened in early October, mocha buns have been transformed in a surprising way. Each bun's crispy coffee layer is decorated with a topping that matches its generous filling. Everything from the usual milk cr

FoodOct. 26, 2024

Yoon calls for measures to protect Koreans amid escalating Iran-Israel conflicts

  President Yoon Suk Yeol called for all-out measures to protect Korean nationals amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, the presidential office said Saturday. Earlier in the day, Israel launched a series of airstrikes against Iran in return for the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile barrage on Israel earlier in the month. "The top priority is to protect Korean nationals (in Iran and Israel), and all necessary measures should be drawn up to prepare for worsening situations

PoliticsOct. 26, 2024

Blackpink Rose's 'APT.' hits No. 4 on British singles chart

"APT.," a new song released by Blackpink's Rose in collaboration with global superstar Bruno Mars, ranked No. 4 on Britain's Official Singles Chart this week, hitting the highest-ever spot by a K-pop female musician. The song, a prerelease track for Rose's upcoming solo album, claimed the fourth spot, following "Taste" by Sabrina Carpenter, "Sailor Song" by Gigi Perez, and "Die with a Smile" by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, according to the ch

K-popOct. 26, 2024

N. Korea slams Seoul-Washington joint air exercise

North Korea lambasted South Korea and the United States on Saturday for staging a joint air exercise, accusing Washington of driving the Korean Peninsula into an "uncontrollable" situation. The Freedom Flag exercise kicked off this week to run through next Friday, with the air forces of South Korea and the US, as well as Australia, participating. The two-week joint drill, which is taking place for the first time, replaces regular large-scale air exercises between South Korea and the

North KoreaOct. 26, 2024

Culture icons recognized with national medals

Author Yi Mun-yeol, 76, and theater director Kim Jeong-ok, 92, received the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit, the nation's highest honor is given to artists, on Friday. The two legendary cultural icons were honored for their contributions to literature and performing arts, respectively. Since his debut in 1979, Yi contributed to the popularization and advancement of Korean literature by crafting over 90 works spanning various themes and subjects that have garnered wide public acclaim. His w

CultureOct. 26, 2024

Lions defeat Tigers for 1st win in Korean Series

The Samsung Lions homered their way past the Kia Tigers 4-2 at home on Friday for their first win in the Korean Series after dropping two straight games. The Lions launched four solo home runs to tie the Korean Series record to back starter Denyi Reyes, who threw seven innings of one-run ball and struck out eight at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, 235 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The Lions will look to even the best-of-seven series in Game 4, which starts at 2 p.m. in Daegu. They are tryi

BaseballOct. 25, 2024

N. Korea says troop dispatch to Russia, if true, falls in line with int'l law

North Korea's foreign ministry said Friday any alleged deployment of North Korean troops to Russia would align with international law, making the first official comment over the issue. A senior official from North Korea's foreign ministry said in a statement issued through the Korean Central News Agency if international media's reports about North Korea's troop dispatch were accurate, such action would "comply with international law and norms." The official respon

North KoreaOct. 25, 2024

‘Hansik’ needs to focus on fostering future talent: culinary experts

The future of hansik, or Korean food, needs increased focus on the training and nurturing of future talent in the industry, according to culinary experts attending a food symposium in Seoul on Friday. Yang Jong-jip, a professor at the Culinary Institute of America, said the industry needs to approach the nurturing of talent from an institutional and educational level, during Hansik Conference 2024 at Samcheonggak in Seoul on Friday. Held for the second time, the annual hansik symposium was joint

FoodOct. 25, 2024

Lions slugger Park Byung-ho ties KBO postseason home run record

Samsung Lions slugger Park Byung-ho tied the Korea Baseball Organization postseason home run record with his 14th career dinger Friday. Park belted a solo home run off Kia Tigers reliever Jeon Sang-hyun in the bottom of the seventh inning in Game 3 of the Korean Series at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, 235 kilometers southeast of Seoul. With 14 homers, Park has pulled into a tie with the retired Lions legend Lee Seung-yuop. Park has one home run in the wild card round, nine in the first ro

BaseballOct. 25, 2024

Seoul urges Pyongyang to confirm status of S. Korean detainees

The foreign ministry on Friday submitted a questionnaire to the United Nations human rights office, urging North Korea to disclose the whereabouts of South Korean detainees. The document was submitted to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ahead of the Universal Periodic Review on North Korea, scheduled for next month, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The UPR is a mechanism requiring each UN member state to undergo a peer review of its human rights

Diplomatic CircuitOct. 25, 2024

Zelenskyy says Ukraine expects N. Korean troops to be deployed in battlefield in few days

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday intelligence indicates Russia is expected to deploy the first batch of North Korean soldiers in combat zones within a few days. Zelenskyy shared the assessment on social media platform X, citing a report from Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. "According to intelligence, the first North Korean soldiers are expected to be deployed by Russia to combat zones as early as Oct. 27–28," Zelenskyy wrote. "This is a c

Diplomatic CircuitOct. 25, 2024

Lions legends participate in Korean Series pregame ceremony

Two of the greatest players in Samsung Lions history participated in a pregame ceremony before the first Korean Series game in a new home stadium. Former Lions ace Kim Si-jin threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and his former catcher Lee Man-soo crouched behind the plate to do the catching before Game 3 of the Korean Series against the Kia Tigers at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, 235 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Jang On-yu, grandson of the late Lions outfielder Jang Hyo-jo, stood in th

BaseballOct. 25, 2024

FT Island's Choi Min-hwan under investigation for allegedly soliciting prostitution

FT Island's Choi Min-hwan is under police investigation following allegations of soliciting prostitution, Friday. The Gangnam Police Station confirmed on Friday that it has launched an internal investigation into Choi on charges related to the Act on the Punishment of Arrangement of Commercial Sex Acts. The case began after a complaint was filed through the national petition platform. The allegations first came to light when Choi’s ex-wife, Yulhee, a former member of girl group La Bou

Social AffairsOct. 25, 2024

Blackpink's Rose and Bruno Mars' 'APT' sparks surge in related stocks

Blackpink’s Rose is making waves with her latest single, “APT,” a collaboration with American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars, which is not only topping global music charts around the world but also boosting related stock prices. South Korea’s leading soju maker, HiteJinro, saw its stock price climb by 6 percent to 21,200 won ($15.26) on Thursday, marking its biggest gain since February. Trading volume surged past one million shares -- over eight times the previous day&rsquo

MarketOct. 25, 2024

Empowering women is vital to long-lasting peace: UN military adviser

What Tyson Nicholas of the Royal Australian Navy experienced in South Sudan in 2015 as part of the United Nations peacekeeping mission changed the course of his career and solidified his commitment to advancing gender equality in armed conflicts. In South Sudan, Nicholas witnessed firsthand the ways conflict disproportionately affects women and girls. “It was a moral injury,” he recalls, describing the emotional and ethical burden of seeing widespread sexual violence exploited during

Social AffairsOct. 25, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Ateez will be back on Nov. 15

Ateez will bring out 11th EP “Golden Hour: Part 2” on Nov. 15, said agency KQ Entertainment Friday. It is the second installment for its “Golden Hour” series that began with previous EP, which came out in May and hit Billboard 200 at No. 2 and stayed on it for seven weeks straight, a record for the eight-piece act. The band has set the bar high for the upcoming album, having placed its all four preceding albums among top three on the main albums chart including the second

K-popOct. 25, 2024