[Korea Quiz] What are “cagongjok?"

Find the correct answer at the bottom of the page. Cafes are found in almost every nook and cranny of Seoul, as well as elsewhere throughout the country. A common sight in these establishments is individuals sitting at tables meant for four, engrossed in intellectual activity -- predominantly studying -- with their headphones on. These individuals have come to be called "cagongjok," a blend of the words "cafe," "gongbu" (studying) and "jok" (tribe). Th

July 5, 2023

[Korean Dilemma] Does Korea need more doctors?

Like a lot of things, the controversy over increasing the admissions quota of medical colleges in South Korea, unchanged for 18 years at 3,058 students per year, sounds like an argument over whether the country should lean more toward Europe or more toward America. The solution to such problems for a country is usually to go its own way by learning from others’ mistakes. According to statistics of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the number of practicing physician

July 4, 2023

Korea’s latest mixology trends blend coffee, whiskey and more

A Starbucks at the foot of Bukhansan National Park in Seoul serves fruit-flavored icy blended drinks in whiskey glasses, combining lemonade, Earl Grey tea and non-alcoholic cognac syrup. The whiskey-inspired mocktails are offered only at the Bukhansan location. A 26-year-old graduate student surnamed Hong was among the guests enjoying the mocktails against the backdrop of panoramic mountain views. Hong, introducing herself as a fan of highballs made with whiskey and soda, commented, “Thi

July 4, 2023

[Hello Hangeul] Multilingual generation rising: Migrant children growing presence at schools

ULSAN -- Marwa Sadiqi, a fifth grader at Seoboo Elementary School in the southeastern port city of Ulsan, came to South Korea from Afghanistan nearly two years ago, and now she speaks better Korean than her parents. But her Korean still needs improvement to follow along in subjects like science, so she learns the language in a separate class for non-native speakers four hours a week during school hours. “Speaking is okay, but writing is hard, especially spelling Korean,” said Marwa

July 2, 2023

[Subway Stories] Busan's forgotten hot springs town

South Korea’s second-largest city, Busan, entices tourists with its delectable cuisine, vibrant beaches and dazzling cityscape. However, few visitors know that the city’s main attraction used to be its hot springs. Oncheonjang Station, a stop on Busan metro's Line No.1, is wher e the origin of the city’s history as a hot spring destination lies. With the bathhouses and hotels that once adorned the area mostly gone, a replica of the streetcar that once transported visitors

July 1, 2023

[Weekender] 'Dive into fantasy': Korean aquaphiles turn to art of mermaiding

One of Kim Sun-min's new joys in life is to visit the local diving pool in Ilsan, a northwestern satellite city of Seoul. It is where the 42-year-old content marketer can become the mythical creature of her dreams -- a mermaid -- for at least a few hours a week. "Mermaiding might seem like wearing a costume and posing for a photo underwater to outsiders," Kim told The Korea Herald at the Mer Freediving Center in Ilsan. "But it's actually a combination of art and sports -

July 1, 2023

[Korea Quiz] Drinking manners maketh man

Find the answer at the bottom of the page. South Koreans are famous for consuming the largest amount of alcohol in the world. Koreans consume 8.7 liters of pure alcohol per capita, according to latest data by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Its unparalleled love for liquor has morphed the nation's own unique drinking culture. One of the most common customs when drinking is that the youngest of the group has to pour the drink into the glasses of their older count

June 29, 2023

[Korea History] School grades a matter of life and death ... literally for some

“Happiness Does Not Come in Grades.” This is the title of a Korean teen movie released in the summer of 1989. The film went on to become the third highest-grossing film of that year. Just like any typical teen movie, the film weaves together a budding romance, friendships and the trials of school life. Set in Korea in the 1980s, the film ends in tragedy -- the lead character, played by then-17-year-old Lee Mi-yeon, kills herself under immense pressure for academic excellence. The f

June 28, 2023

[Survive & Thrive] Amenities, customs unique to public spaces in S. Korea

Among the more tech-savvy and rapidly changing countries in the world, South Korea in recent years has adopted various technologies and amenities in public spaces or for commuters that are hard to find anywhere else. Priority seats for the pregnant A number of mass transit systems across the world have priority seats for people whose mobility is temporarily or permanently impaired, namely the elderly, those with disabilities, the injured or pregnant women. While it is generally accepted that p

June 27, 2023

No more ‘chimaek’ picnics by Han River?

  For some, a picnic in Seoul is synonymous with “chicken and beer by the Han River.” The combination of fried chicken and beer is so popular in Korea that it even has its own term -- "chimaek," a combination of "chicken" and "maekju (beer)." And relaxing on picnic mats or in pop-up tents along the river while enjoying chimaek has long been a cherished summer ritual for many. Hungry Seoulites can order chicken to be delivered to their location at an

June 27, 2023

Revisiting Korea's journey to finding sex crime victims' rights

In 1964, then-18-year-old Choi Mal-ja became a convict for fighting off an attempted rapist by biting off a part of his tongue, with the prosecution and court waving off her claims of self-defense. This case, for which she currently seeks a retrial, stands as a landmark in wrongful convictions and serves as a reminder of the abysmal state of women's rights during that era. Since then, the rights of women or sex crime victims in South Korea have undergone several changes. These include the

June 25, 2023

[Korean History] 1989: The year Koreans started traveling abroad

  A passport was once something reserved for a privileged few in South Korea until the government began allowing all citizens to travel freely overseas on Jan. 1, 1989. To prevent an outflow of foreign currency that would weaken the Korean currency against the dollar, as well as to minimize Koreans’ contact with communists, international travel was only permitted for certain groups of people who had special reasons for it. These included company officials or businesspeople who need to

June 21, 2023

[Korea Quiz] Bye-bye Korean age

In Korea, it has traditionally been the case that a person is considered to be one year old when he or she is born, counting the time spent as a fetus in his or her mother’s womb as the first year of life. A person ages one year at the turn of the calendar year, instead of on his or her birthday. For instance, if a person is born on Dec. 30, 2023, he or she is a year old. Two days later, on Jan. 1, 2024, they will turn two and then three on the next New Year’s Day -- Jan. 1, 2025. Da

June 21, 2023

[Survive & Thrive] Apps that help travelers get around Seoul

Among the basic practical issues when travelling to another country are luggage and transportation logistics. This edition of Survive & Thrive will take a look at apps that help you rent lockers for your bags or public bikes in Seoul. Luggage storage In nearly every subway station in Seoul, there are self-service lockers that one can use for a fee. T-locker -- also known as Ttota Locker -- is an app that allows you to use them. The “Ttota” icon on the app’s map refers to

June 21, 2023

What 'cagongjok' reveal about Korean culture, psyche

South Korea may not be the birthplace of coffee and cafe culture, but its passion for both is extraordinary, rivaling that of cafe meccas such as Italy and France. Cafes are found in almost every nook and corner of Seoul, as well as elsewhere throughout the country. A common sight in these establishments is individuals occupying tables meant for four, engrossed in their intellectual activities, predominantly studying, with their headphones plugged in. These individuals are called "cagongj

June 20, 2023

[Subway Stories] Busan Station, where Korea's Eurasian dream lives on

Busan, South Korea’s second-biggest city renowned for its vibrant beaches and delectable cuisine, has its own subway network. Much like Seoul Station, which acts as the main entry point for visitors to the capital, Busan Station serves as the gateway for those arriving in the city, doubling as a stop for the bullet train and a subway station. The subway stop is part of Line No. 1 that connects passengers with major tourist spots in the northern and western part of the city, including the

June 18, 2023

Bustling Jongno pocha street is a regulatory minefield

For avid viewers of Korean dramas, the sight of a lead character nursing a bottle of soju at a "pojangmacha," a makeshift roadside eatery, is a familiar trope. Venture beyond this well-worn cliche, and you will find that the Jongno 3-ga Pojangmacha Street pulses with a more vibrant atmosphere. The 200-meter stretch from Exit 5 to Exit 6 of Jongno 3-ga Station transforms from daily calm into a lively nighttime spectacle, with plastic tables and stools overflowing onto the pavements from

June 18, 2023

[Korea History] In 1988, world comes for Olympics to Seoul, sees it has grown by leaps and bounds

The year 1988 was a memorable year in many ways. The Iron Curtain was slowly collapsing, the first World AIDS Day was held, the concept of the World Wide Web was first discussed in Switzerland, while denim jackets and Nintendo were all the rage. South Korea celebrated its first democratically elected administration in 16 years together with its most high-profile international event as of yet: the Summer Olympics. “XXIVth Olympiad begins: The world comes to Seoul” reads the front page

June 15, 2023

[Korea Quiz] Special days only for Koreans

Find the answer at the bottom of the page. Valentine's Day on Feb. 14 is celebrated all across the world but in South Korea, it is widely regarded as a day when women give chocolate to men. As such, White Day, a month later on March 14, is when men reciprocate by gifting candy to women. Neither of these "traditions" started here. It was actually in 1970s Japan when giving chocolate on Valentine's Day became exclusively for women, and an "answer day" of White Day

June 14, 2023

[Survive & Thrive] On Korea's streets, Naver beats Google

As one of the most tech-savvy countries in the world, South Korea has a number of useful mobile apps that can aid everyday tasks, ranging from delivery and transportation to administrative services. For the next few weeks, Survive & Thrive will introduce free apps that provide such services in English, or those that foreign residents and tourists might find useful. Naver Map To navigate the streets of the massive concrete jungle that is Seoul, Google Maps may not be the best idea. A loca

June 13, 2023