“Let’s go to Hongdae -- Hongik University” is quite commonly heard in Seoul, although it doesn’t mean they are going to the campus. They go to the place stretching out from the university to dine out, go shopping and enjoy concerts. 　Here in Seoul, some entertainment districts featuring cafes, theaters, cinemas and concert venues are formed near college campuses, although the mood is slightly different from place to place.Currently, the busiest college district is the Hongdae area in the western

Aug. 7, 2015

South Korean students tend to have high hopes about their campus life, giving them something to look forward to as they trudge through years of cramming and countless tests. Membership training is one of the campus events that boosts freshmen’s expectations.The “MT” ritual is designed to help freshmen adapt to campus life. Staying at a simple resort, usually in the woods or along a river, for a day or two, students can make new friends and build rapport with each other, as well as exchange infor

Aug. 7, 2015

A couple reunites at the completion ceremony after a five-week basic military training course held at the Republic of Korea Army Training Center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province. (Yonhap)After a resounding shout emanating from a bunch of shaved heads echoes across the grounds of the military training camp in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, the camp is suddenly filled with sobs and sniffles. With short good-bye hugs, the men march back to their squads.Since all able-bodied Korean men ove

Aug. 7, 2015

An off-campus jachui roomIn Korea, college students’ accommodations are an important factor that determines their lifestyle. There are three major types of housing for Korean students -- “jachui,” dormitory and family home -- each of which comes with its own set of pros and cons. “I don’t like to tell people that I’m a ‘jachui-saeng’ because then they would target me as an ‘easy’ girl,” said a university student who declined to give her name. The Korean word “jachui-saeng” refers to a student wh

Aug. 7, 2015

International humanitarian assistant Han Bi-ya carries many names.She is called a saint or angel who helps people whenever and wherever in need without conditions.She is often referred to as the Korean Mother Teresa.Han Bi-yaA traveler at heart and a passionate relief worker who has been to over 100 countries -- she is most widely known as “baram-eui ddal” or “daughter of the wind” in Korea.But Han now wants to translate the Korean word “baram” to hope, and become the Daughter of Hope to spread

Aug. 7, 2015

Romantic dinner courseat Sheraton Grande Walkherhill (Sheraton Grande Walkerhill)　Sheraton Grande Walkerhill is introducing grill restaurant Clock 16, which offers a range of authentic grilled dishes. All dishes are seared atop the finest local hardwood charcoal for a rustic, savory flavor. The restaurant also offers a sparkling night cityscape and a sophisticated interior.For couples, a seven-course meal titled “Romantic Anniversary Dinner” will be served. The menu will start with a grilled sea

Aug. 7, 2015

For some, summer might mean a time to strip down and get toasty in the sun; Koreans, however, have developed a myriad of ingenious ways to shield themselves as much as possible from the harsh rays. Granted, the aversion to sun may not be as great as it is in China, where vacationers frequently don “face-kinis” -- rubber masks that cover the skin of the entire face -- when going to the beach, according to recent news reports. A woman veils her face with a scarf to escape the sun in this July 2015

Aug. 5, 2015

Every summer, Koreans are faced with relatively few options to beat the scorching heat.Some hop on a plane and travel overseas for sightseeing and shopping, while others stay in the country and drive long hours to beaches like Haeundae to enjoy a splash of ocean waves and a suntan.And there are those who would rather work in their air-conditioned office and save their vacation for later, rather than travel and rub shoulders with the crowd.A fresh option is beginning to gain attention ― hotels.No

Aug. 5, 2015

Rare pieces of Korean traditional art, spanning from the Bronze Age to the 19th-century Joseon era, have been brought together to present the exquisite beauty of Korean art this summer. The Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art showcases national treasures of Korea and valuable Korean artifacts on loan from leading foreign art institutions that highlight lavish features, exquisite details and refined artistry.  Crown, 5-6th century, Gaya (Leeum)In contrast to the Leeum exhibition exploring the opulence o

Aug. 4, 2015

The first Korean musical shown on Broadway and London’s West End, the first Korean musical to perform more than 1,000 shows and the first Korean musical to reach an audience of more than 130 million worldwide -- “The Last Empress” -- is now on its 20th anniversary open-run in Seoul.After premiering in 1995 at the Seoul Arts Center, the historical production became an unforeseen local and international success never-before experienced in Korea, setting milestones in the country’s relatively short

Aug. 2, 2015

There’s nothing quite like sitting down to a cup of tea with a cat on your lap. These days, with the advent of cat cafes, you don’t even need your own cat to experience it. While they have been around in South Korea for some time, the rest of the world is beginning to catch on, and the trend that was once the cultural domain of Japan and Korea is spreading globally. 　Although the first cat cafe was founded in Taiwan in 1998, the concept blossomed in Japan and Korea, particularly in the last deca

July 28, 2015

When you accidentally find a boarding pass from your last trip, it instantly reminds you of the time and place you had been, bringing an urge to leave everyday work behind and travel to an exotic place. This may be what visitors to the Plateau Samsung Museum of Art feel when they walk into new exhibition “Aeroport Mille Plateaux.” The exhibition hall has been transformed into an airport by artist duo Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset. The admission ticket looks just like a boarding pass.  Exhib

July 26, 2015

An international cultural forum in Seoul in late summer will assemble the world’s creative opinion leaders to experience, discuss and globalize Korean culture. The Culture Communication Forum, organized by the Corea Image Communications Institute, will be held from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, inviting 14 influential figures, including a festival director, dance director, museum director, performance producer, policy advisor, architect, curator, journalist, former broadcaster, cartoonist, musician, singe

July 23, 2015

The Ascott Limited is gearing up to open the Citadines Haeundae Busan next month, marking not only the first Citadines in Korea, but also the largest Citadines-branded “apart’ hotel” in its vast stable of global properties.The soon-to-be opened 468-room, fully serviced residence Citadines Haeundae Busan will officially open its doors on Aug. 15 and will become the property of its kind in the port city. “We will be the first international serviced residence brand in Busan,” said Max Phillips, are

July 20, 2015

THEATRE   MUSICAL 'ARIRANG' - A scene from "Arirang," a musical adaptation from the epic novel of the same title by Jo Jung-rae, currently playing at LG Arts Center in southern Seoul (Seensee)“The Last Empress”: After premiering in 1995, “The Last Empress” musical is considered to be the first big-time hit Korean original musical. The story tells the 19th-century tale of the first wife of the nation’s first king -- Empress Myeongseong, who was considered as a strong opponent of Japan’s colonial

July 17, 2015