[Weekender] No time for gym? Try ‘home training’

Park Seu-mi, a mother of two sons, once suffered from a crippling lack of self-esteem. The extra weight she had gained from having kids never melted away. The busy mom battling two children at home had no time to spare for going to a gym. The frustration drove Park to make an exercise routine on her own, focusing on moves that could be easily done inside the house.“I started to exercise alone at home after putting my sons to bed every night,” Park said in an interview with The Korea Herald. “I’v

April 13, 2018

[Herald Interview] A transformation from model to shaman

Pang Eun-mi has chosen a very dramatic career change: from model to shaman. She is “mudang,” a modern-day shaman practicing Korea’s oldest folk religion.Skepticism lingers over the role and authenticity of Korean shamans who are known to harness their powers from nature. They allegedly interact with the dead, communicate with the spirit world and allocate the mysterious energies into the human world. Korean mudang also perform a ritual dance called “gut” to dispel evil spirits. Embattled individ

April 13, 2018

[Weekender] Crushing stereotypes, Pilates not ‘for girls only’

Ed Sheeran’s chart-topping “Shape of You” blasted throughout King Fit, a private gym in Apgujeong-dong in southern Seoul. With summer just two months away, the treadmills were occupied with exercisers trying to shed the extra pounds no longer to be hidden beneath winter’s trendy long, padded jackets. Moving further to the back of the gym, Pilates head Instructor Lee Su-yeol, 39, opened the door to his small, private studio, where he holds his one-on-one Pilates class. In contrast to the upbeat a

April 13, 2018

[Eye Plus] Travel back in time in Seochon

Just a few blocks off the busy streets near Gwanghwamun Plaza are clusters of Korean traditional houses -- or hanok -- that have stood the test of time in Seochon. Seochon, which means west village in Korean, is a collection of districts west of Gyeongbokgung, including Cheongun-dong, Hyoja-dong, Ogin-dong and Sajik-dong. People of varying classes resided in this area in the Joseon period, while, in the modern era, its residents included writers and artists.Today, it is also a popular tourist sp

April 13, 2018

Korean anchorwoman with glasses sparks sensation

A female news presenter of one of the three major TV networks here appeared wearing glasses on air, sparking interest online. Lim Hyeon-ju, who delivers the news on MBC’s morning news program “MBC News Today,” wore a pair of round-rimmed glasses on air Thursday.While male news presenters in Korea have often been seen wearing glasses on air on major TV networks, including KBS, SBS and MBC, it is the first time for a female presenter to do so.“Anchormen are free to wear glasses, but why not anchor

April 12, 2018

[Photo News] The end of spring cold spell

After the brief cold spell Korea meets every year in spring, temperatures have turned mildly warm once more. Cherry blossoms were in full bloom on Wednesday afternoon, which saw highs of 18 degrees Celsius, at the Seokchon Lake Park in Songpa, southern Seoul. Nearby residents and passersby were seen strolling along the park amid the flowery trees, welcoming the return of spring. Written by Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com) Photos by Park Hyun-koo (phko@heraldcorp.com) 

April 11, 2018

Olympics for magicians to kick off in July in Busan as organizers anticipate NK's participation

BUSAN -- More than 110 top guns of the magic world will gather in the South Korean coastal city of Busan this summer to take part in the World Championships of Magic competition, organizers said Tuesday.The organizing committee for the competition, which is hosted by the International Federation of Magic Societies, said the triennial event will bring together 113 top-notch magicians from 22 countries -- 56 from five European countries, 22 from five North and South American countries, 34 from Asi

April 10, 2018

Truth committee: More than 9,000 politically active artists blacklisted under ex-President Park

The former Park Geun-hye government maintained a list of more than 9,000 artists deemed critical of the government and used it to disadvantage them from various state support programs, a civilian-government truth committee said Tuesday.During a press conference in Seoul, the committee for finding the truth behind the "artist blacklist" unveiled a government document that includes a total of 9,473 names allegedly excluded from various programs to support artists. (Yonhap)They were disadvantaged s

April 10, 2018

Seoul city embarks on project to expand Gwanghwamun Square

The Seoul city government and the national heritage agency announced a joint initiative Tuesday to redesign the pedestrian plaza at the heart of the capital as part of urban planning aimed at bolstering public convenience and restoring history.Gwanghwamun Square, located in the middle of the 10-lane Sejongro main street in central Seoul, will be turned into a new space that nearly quadruples the current area, according to the plan unveiled by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Cultural He

April 10, 2018

Hangeul exhibition explores Korean script‘s beauty in art form

The latest art exhibition in Seoul will showcase how the writing system of Korea is not only an efficient means of communication, but also admirable for its artistic value.“SoundXHangeul: Variation Of The Korean Alphabet” opened Monday at the Special Exhibition Hall at the National Hangeul Museum where it will run until June 3. It was planned by the state-run NHM as part two of a three-part project demonstrating the excellence of Hangeul. Visitors view “SoundXHangeul: Variation Of The Korean Alp

April 9, 2018

[Eye Plus] ‘Pink clouds’ of blooming cherry blossoms

Every spring for the past five years, the song “Cherry Blossom Ending” has topped the local music charts. Released in 2012 by local band Busker Busker, the track is recognized as Korea’s national spring song. People often say, the track will tell our descendants what spring was like for us when the delightful season disappears from severe global warming, as cherry blossoms are a symbol of Korea’s spring. It’s almost an annual ceremony to step outside to enjoy walks under small pinkish-hued flowe

April 6, 2018

[Video] Barbershop offers a cultural space for gentlemen

The barbershop has been slowly fading into a place of the past, only rarely shown on TV as a symbol of the bygone era. But there are signs of it being reborn into a hip place for Korean men.(Shot and edited by Park Ju-young / The Korea Herald)The revival of the barbershop is being driven by a set of carefully redefined features and services reserved for male clients. One factor is a pressure-free interaction atmosphere between customers and barbers. “Older barbers in our parents’ time even knew

April 6, 2018

[Weekender] Where styles are made

It does not take long to realize that Koreans care a lot about looking good. Just take to the streets of Gangnam, Hongdae or Itaewon to find a parade of the fashionably -- and sometimes scantily -- dressed.Perfectly maintained hair plays a crucial part in style too, to which Koreans have turned to beauty salons, beauty parlors or beauty shops for help.The inside view of Uncle Booth located in Yeongdeungpo(Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)Prior to the 20th century, the Confucianism that dominated t

April 6, 2018

Korea Language Village receives $5m donation

Luxury handbag manufacturer Simone Corp. donated $5 million to begin constructing a larger, culturally authentic Korean language village in the US.The company will be supporting constructions for the expansion of the current Korean Language Village at Concordia Language Villages, the world-language and culture education program announced Tuesday.This gift represents the single largest donation in support of Korean language education in North America, Concordia Language Villages said in a stateme

April 5, 2018

Showcase of halal products kicks off in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR – The global halal industry’s eyes are on Malaysia, as World Halal Week 2018 takes place in the nation’s capital, Kuala Lumpur.The opening ceremony of World Halal Week 2018 was held Wednesday, stressing the aim of bringing halal brands around the globe together and gather insight, under the concept of “Building for the Future.”Halal, meaning “permissible” in Arabic, refer to what can be permitted in Islam. It can apply to any aspect of life, including food and beverages, finance, co

April 4, 2018

[Photo News] Cherry blossom season has arrived

Cherry blossoms are in full bloom near the Yeouido area in Seoul, as of Wednesday. The cherry blossom festival of Yeouido, a popular event in early spring, begins Saturday and runs until April 12. There is a flower-filled road located around Yunjung-ro, near the National Assembly Station on Subway Line No. 9. People usually stroll along the road prior to the festival, amid the flourishing trees. Written by Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com)  Photos by Park Hyun-koo (phko@heraldcorp.com)

April 4, 2018

[Newsmaker] Government launches sexual violence center for culture sector

In response to the #MeToo movement resonating within the country, the Korean government has launched a response center for sexual violence occurring within the culture and entertainment sector. The Korea Creative Content Agency and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism jointly held an opening ceremony for the gender equality center “Bora” on Thursday. Bora’s function includes taking reports of sexual violence cases and providing professional psychological help, therapy and legal counseling

April 1, 2018

Less is more for Koreans renting lifestyle products

One of 33-year-old newlywed Nam Ji-hyun’s newfound hobbies of late is to cook roasted meals for herself and her husband after work, using her rented oven.　　Nam, who lives in a two-bedroom apartment with her husband of one year, rented the Balmuda Toaster oven for one month at 21,900 won ($20.45). The oven retails for over 300,000 won ($277.16). Not an everyday home cook, she found it wasteful to splurge on a full oven, but wanted to try a few simple recipes for two. Renting seemed like the best-

March 30, 2018

[Photo News] Anatomy of string instruments

Approaching the violin studio, visitors can smell a mix of scents lingering in the alley. Maple, spruce and the varnish applied to them that fill the air inside of the workshop spill out over into the alley through the front door. Located in central Seoul, the workshop run by master violinmaker Kim Dong-in, offers an unusual atmosphere.　Hung on the walls by the necks, the violins wait to be diagnosed by a “geigenbaumeister” -- or master violinmaker -- with notes that include the owners’ names an

March 30, 2018

[Herald Interview] ‘Small is beautiful’

It was over a meal with a foreign friend that Yeol Chairwoman Kim Young-M’Young’s interest in conserving Korean culture was sparked. Today, what originated from three friends brainstorming has grown into a non-profit organization with the mission of conserving, developing and promoting Korean cultural heritage with some 620 members. Yeol Chairwoman Kim Young-M’Young poses at the organization‘s headquarters in Bukchon, Seoul, on March 22. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)“We wanted to start small,

March 30, 2018