Reality check: How diverse is Korea really? Women in politics (1)

Half of Korea's population are women, yet in the realm of politics, women are a minority group. In the current 21st session of parliament, the representation of female lawmakers stands at 57 out of the total 300 members -- only 19.1 percent. This percentage places South Korea significantly below average in terms of gender diversity in politics compared to other nations. The average among the 38 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development member nations is 33.8 percent, while the

Jan. 21, 2024

[LLG] She was his homeroom teacher, now they share a life together

In a country where love often bends to fit societal expectations, the captivating tale of Kook Hye-min and Park Min-hyeok has emerged, defying conventional social norms. With clickbaity titles like “The story of marrying your high school homeroom teacher at age 21," the couple’s Instagram account has amassed over 30,000 followers in a mere four months. As their unconventional love story has unfolded, reactions from the public have varied. Some see it as unacceptable according to

Jan. 17, 2024

Apps extend shelf life of New Year resolutions

Are your New Year's resolutions still on track? If so, you have at least passed the initial three-day hurdle of maintaining a new habit or commitment, which the Korean saying “jaksim samil” warns about. While the phrase underscores the tendency for ambitious plans to falter within three days, there are also a range of tips and apps out there to help people adhere to their goals. For Park Ji-yeon, a 36-year-old office worker in Seoul, mastering English was a recurring New Year

Jan. 16, 2024

[Life in Korea] Dice and Comics Cafe: A home away from home for role-playing and board game enthusiasts

A 5-meter-tall, bloodthirsty, gelatinous cube is slowly edging nearer and attempting to engulf you whole -- what do you do? Such a strange scenario might be familiar to those engaging in tabletop role-playing games, or TRPGs. As the name suggests, TRPGs are usually played around a table in a small group. In contrast to other board games, role-playing games can be played with a set of peculiar dice or figurines similar to those one might encounter on a movie set for "The Lord of the Rings

Jan. 13, 2024

[Korea Quiz] Korean box office smash hits

Find the answer at the bottom. A movie that sells over 10 million tickets in South Korea is considered a box office smash hit. In contrast to the global cinema benchmark of 1 billion dollars in worldwide box office sales, the Korean standard for a film's commercial success focuses on the number of tickets sold here -- specifically the figure of 10 million. This threshold holds importance for Korea's filmmakers as it signifies that approximately 20 percent of the country's po

Jan. 10, 2024

[AtoZ into Korean mind] 'Aegyo': The psyche behind childlike adults

“Cuteness or charm, esp. of a sort considered characteristic of Korean popular culture. Also: behavior regarded as cute, charming or adorable. Cf. kawaii n.” – Oxford English Dictionary Ever encountered someone deliberately using or prolonging their “ng” or “o” sounds to sound cute? Like saying, “hajang,” instead of “haja” (let’s do it). This intentional mispronunciation, akin to baby talk, functions as one form of "

Jan. 9, 2024

[Pressure points] Babies crying on flights. Should we blame parents?

Air travel has become a common affair for many -- not just for grown-ups, but also for tiny tots. Yet, as more families travel with young children, the number of those who feel irritated by the presence of little ones on flights seems to have risen in recent years. In August 2022, a 46-year-old man on an Air Busan flight, enraged by a crying baby, hurled insults and threats at the child's parents. When the flight landed, he was arrested on charges of violating aviation security laws. Crying

Jan. 9, 2024

[Korea Quiz] 2024 is the year of which animal?

Find the answer at the bottom. Which animal do you see featured on many calendars for the new year? In a number of East and Southeast Asian countries, including South Korea, each year is symbolized by one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, known as "tti" in Korean -- the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig -- together forming a 12-year cycle. Every person is designated a zodiac animal based on their birth year, ensuring that those

Jan. 3, 2024

[LLG] It's complicated: Our love-hate relationship with Seoul

It is the pulsating heart of everything – from business and fashion trends to education and culture. Seoul's dynamic energy is infectious, drawing people from all corners of the country and beyond. Yet, the city is also a place where life is often consumed like a commodity, where the pace of life operates in overdrive. We asked nine people whose lives have intersected with the city what Seoul meant to them. A family’s ticket to wealth Kim Hee-yong’s move to Seoul 1 1/2

Jan. 2, 2024

In nation of heavy drinkers, a thriving business of hangover cures

"I really shouldn't have drunk so much last night” is a common reflection worldwide the morning after a night of indulgence. In Korea, this sentiment often includes an additional regret: “I should have at least taken one of those hangover cures." As one of the world’s heaviest drinking nations -- particularly of liquor -- this Northeast Asian country has a thriving market for hangover remedies, available in all imaginable forms, flavors and price points. A typica

Dec. 31, 2023

[Korean History] 2014 ferry disaster left scars that never healed

South Korea has lived through a series of disasters and tragedies, but the sinking of the Sewol ferry with the loss of over 300 passengers and crew nearly 10 years ago left a lasting mark on Korea's collective psyche. The failure to save hundreds of people trapped in the slowly sinking ship, shown live on TV, and learning that it was another humanmade disaster caused by corruption, incompetence and a chronic insensitivity to safety enraged and saddened South Koreans to the point of what f

Dec. 29, 2023

[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

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

[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

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

[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

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

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

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

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