YouTube’s top five Korean teachers for English-speaking viewers

Buoyed by the popularity of Korean cultural products, a Korean language learning frenzy is spreading around the world. Unlike in the past, when most Korean learners studied for practical reasons like for academic research or jobs, more people now seem to do so out of interest in the country itself. As of 2020, some 1,669 elementary, junior high and high schools in 39 countries have opened and operated Korean classes, with about 160,000 students enrolled, according to Education Ministry data. I

April 6, 2022

'Crash Landing on You' couple Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin wed in private ceremony

Top actors Hyun Bin, 39, and Son Ye-jin, 40, were married in a private ceremony Thursday afternoon. The couple’s parents, relatives and friends attended the ceremony at the Grand Walkerhill Seoul in Gwangjin-gu, eastern Seoul, that was held under tight security. “Actors Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin are holding their wedding ceremony, taking their first step as a married couple,” Son’s agency MSTeam Entertainment said in a press statement Thursday afternoon. “Conside

March 31, 2022

[Reporter’s notebook] What Youn Yuh-jung has taught us: It’s OK to be yourself

My first memory of Youn Yuh-jung dates back to 1991 when she played the role of a talkative and fussy mother in the television series “What is Love,” which holds the record for the third-highest average viewership of any Korean television broadcast here. In the eyes of a 9-year-old child, Youn looked far from the stereotypical Korean moms that I’ve seen on TV before. It was not just because of the snobbish role she played. It was more about her stiff appearance and husky v

March 31, 2022

‘Crash Landing on You’ couple Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin to wed in private ceremony

Top actors Hyun Bin, 39, and Son Ye-jin, 40, are getting married in a private wedding ceremony Thursday. Set to be held at Grand Walkerhill Seoul in Gwangjin-gu, eastern Seoul, Hyun and Son’s parents, relatives and friends will be attending the wedding starting at 4 p.m. While most details about the stars’ wedding have not been released, actor Jang Dong-gun, a long-time friend of Hyun, is reportedly delivering a congratulatory speech. After co-starring in the film “The Nego

March 31, 2022

Korea Herald, Peninsula agree to enhance media cooperation in Gulf region

DOHA, Qatar -- The Korea Herald signed a memorandum of understanding with the Peninsula, an English-language daily newspaper published from Doha, Qatar, to enhance media cooperation between Korea and the Gulf region at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort and Convention Hotel in Doha on Sunday. Signed on the sidelines of 20th Doha Forum, the agreement is aimed at creating and exchanging journalistic content, boosting Korea-Qatar friendly relations and solidifying people-to-people contact by hosting e

March 30, 2022

YouTube’s top five English teachers for Korean viewers

Long gone are the days when we had to sign up for early morning in-person English classes to learn from native speakers. YouTube, which has countless videos with a focus on English education, has emerged as the most useful tool for those who want to outgrow textbook-based language learning. Offering a wide range of subjects from scripts of US television series to video blogs of daily life in English-speaking countries, many channels target general learners who need a guide to English grammar

March 29, 2022

Veteran broadcaster Heo Koo-youn elected new KBO commissioner

A longtime baseball commentator Heo Koo-youn has been formally elected the new commissioner of the South Korean professional league. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced Friday that its board of governors, made up of the 10 club owners, unanimously approved Heo's nomination the previous day. Heo, 71, had been put up for the position by the team presidents on March 11. He needed at least a three-quarters majority to be elected. (Yonhap)

March 25, 2022

Yoon suggests Moon should keep his dogs, gift from NK leader

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol suggested Wednesday that President Moon Jae-in should keep his local breed Pungsan dogs, which were gifted to him by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The dogs, named Gomi and Songang, were given by Kim during the Inter-Korean Summit of 2018 as a symbol of peace in the peninsula. The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae confirmed hours earlier that the dogs belong to the state, as the gifts were for the president of South Korea, not Moon himself. “If (Moon) were

March 23, 2022

Ex-Navy SEAL and YouTuber Rhee Keun posts from Ukraine

Former Navy special warfare officer Rhee Keun, who recently left South Korea to fight as a volunteer soldier in the war in Ukraine, said in an Instagram post that he is alive in Ukraine. Denying recent rumors about his death after the Russian Defense Ministry’s announcement that around 180 pro-Ukrainian volunteer soldiers on Ukrainian training bases had been killed, Rhee posted “I’m alive” via social media on Tuesday. “My teammates withdrew safely from Ukraine. I

March 16, 2022

Five things about Korea’s president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol

Whether you like it or not, South Korea voted for Yoon Suk-yeol to lead the country for the next five years as the president. Here are some fun facts about him, from the book that changed his perspective on the economy to his favorite home-made comfort foods.  1. Avid baseball fan Proclaiming himself as an avid fan of baseball, President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol used to frequently visit baseball stadiums with colleagues when he worked as a local prosecutor in Daejeon, Daegu and Gwangju. &ld

March 10, 2022

Ex-Navy SEAL and YouTuber Rhee Keun to ‘join fight in Ukraine’

Rhee Keun, a former Navy special warfare officer who gained popularity as one of the trainers in the YouTube series “Fake Men,” on Sunday claimed that he has left the country to fight as a volunteer soldier in the war in Ukraine. The Navy SEAL-turned-YouTuber, also known as Ken Rhee, posted on Instagram photos that appear to be taken at an airport, with the caption, “When the Ukrainian president called for help from all over the world, ROKSEAL (Rhee Keun’s YouTube channe

March 7, 2022

Koreans extend helping hand for war-ridden Ukraine

Ordinary Koreans are also joining in on donating to help Ukrainians affected by the invasion. But with news of fake charity websites swindling people’s donations, people were advised to take caution when sharing information while making contributions online. A user named zXie on the IT information community Giggle Hardware recently posted a screengrab of his donation to the Ukrainian Red Cross, with instructions on how to do it. “I usually make monthly donations to the Doctors Wit

March 2, 2022

Actor Park effectively wraps up active-duty Navy service

Actor Park Bo-gum began his final military vacation Monday, effectively ending his active-duty service as he is not required to return to his base under an antivirus guideline, Navy officials said. Earlier in the day, Petty Officer Second Class Park left his Navy unit in the Gyeryongdae military headquarters, 160 kilometers south of Seoul, as he started the vacation that would last until his official discharge date on April 30. Troops were usually obligated to be present at their bases on the fi

Feb. 21, 2022

[Herald Interview] French expat seeks to connect place and people through shared community

Living in a foreign country, finding hidden cultural gems is not easy and in these pandemic times, such discoveries are even rarer. But Cristina Clisson, 50, felt the charms and beauty of Korean handicrafts the moment she set her eyes on Insa-dong, an old Seoul neighborhood known for its alleys of craft galleries and art shops. In 2017, two years after her arrival, Clisson co-founded Les Francaises Consulting company with a colleague, to promote and support independent Korean craft designers

Feb. 14, 2022

Farming evolves with the help of IT, AI

Becoming a farmer carries a high risk, with volatile weather and soil conditions affecting farm crops in a blink. The risk, exacerbated by global warming, has been mitigated for Lee Kyung-ju, a former IT office worker-turned farmer who has been growing cucumbers with the help of a smart farm system since 2020. He kicks off his day by checking his smartphone application showing the farming weather forecast and agricultural commodity prices. He then arrives at his 6,000 square-meter farm in C

Feb. 11, 2022

‘Crash Landing on You’ stars Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin to wed in March

Star actors Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin are tying the knot after a two-year relationship. The actors’ agencies confirmed Hyun and Son’s upcoming marriage with a press release Thursday night, announcing the wedding will take place in March in Seoul. Son announced the upcoming wedding first in an Instagram post earlier Thursday night. In the post with a picture of a miniature white wedding gown, she wrote that she “found someone to spend the rest of my life with.” Hyun sha

Feb. 11, 2022

Actor Lee Byung-hun tests positive for COVID-19

Actor Lee Byung-hun has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, his management agency said Wednesday. "Lee got tested for COVID-19 since he didn't feel well and received a positive result on Monday," BH Entertainment said. "He currently has no serious health problems." He is fully vaccinated and boosted, according to the agency. The infection immediately halted the filming of the new tvN drama "Our Blues," starring Lee. All other members of the cast and the crew

Feb. 9, 2022

[Herald Interview] Korea’s first professor for influencers: Find your own attractiveness and they will follow you

Self-assessment of one‘s attractive qualities is a critical step to becoming a successful influencer, according to Ryo Chu-hyeop, a 36-year old YouTuber and South Korea’s first professor of “influencer affairs.” In order to make other people follow you online, aspiring influencers need to ruminate on their own ideas and thoughts and what kind of attributes they have to attract others. “Attractiveness does not necessarily mean (physical) beauty. It can be somet

Jan. 26, 2022

[Video] Do you remember Korea’s top beatboxer Bigman who appeared on the Ellen show?

Bigman dropped by our studio and shared his story with us! Check it out! By Team Konnect Kim Min-jung (minjung.kim@heraldcorp.com) Jung Ji-eun (jungje@heraldcorp.com) Choi Jeong-yoon (jychoi@heraldcorp.com) Kim Jeong-ryul (ryul@heraldcorp.com)

Jan. 10, 2022

[Herald Interview] Korea culture promotion agency seeks bigger role in elevating national branding

Despite being founded 50 years ago to promote Korea’s national brand, Korean Culture and Information Service is far from a household name within Korea, though it intends to change that this year. The organization plans to push for greater cultural exchange with Korea‘s partner nations, according to Park Jung-youl, the director of the KOCIS, who took the helm in September 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of Hallyu. A veteran government official, Park told the Korea He

Jan. 7, 2022