[Weekender] Hiking a national pastime with benefits, consequences

Hiking is a hugely popular pastime in Korea, with 32 million of the 51.6 million population said to visit a mountain at least once a year. Hiking’s popularity, and older generations’ apparently love of hiking attire for everyday activities, has led to a massive market for “outdoor” clothing, peaking at over 6 trillion won ($5.2 billion) in 2014. The popularity of hiking also comes with a downside. The sheer number of hikers comes with environmental concerns, especially with trash left behind by

Social AffairsOct. 18, 2018

[Weekender] Keeping the mountain trails alive

Every autumn, a chunk of the population rushes to the mountains to enjoy the breathtaking hues of the fall foliage, but a number of environmentally unfriendly habits that they bring along have been polluting South Korea’s ancient slopes for more than a decade. In recent years, eating meals packed in plastic containers and drinking bottles of rice wine at the summit has become a ritual for the hikers of South Korea. Hikers climb Seoraksan or Mount Seorak in Yangyang in South Korea`s northeastern

Social AffairsOct. 18, 2018

[Weekender] Mountaineering clothing climbs down to city life

Korea is a mountainous country with mountains taking up 70 to 80 percent of the land mass. Though downtown areas may barely hint at the presence of mountains amid the skyscrapers and traffic, there are some visual reminders that Korea is a nation of mountains: middle-aged people dressed in mountaineering clothing without a hiking plan on their mind. The “athleisure” look of wearing clothes for athletic activities in everyday life has settled itself as more than a passing trend in the fashion sce

Arts & DesignOct. 18, 2018

[Weekender] Why BTS matters: From desert to ocean to world

In June, BTS’ “Magic Shop” blared through a crisis residential center in the central US. And it wasn’t a BTS fan who requested the song full of a hopeful message. A 20-something male survivor of a suicide attempt had asked the center’s consultant to play the Korean song during a music therapy class. Describing it as “beautiful,” he sang along to the song. This instance reported by Korean media outlets in September shows that BTS’ success goes beyond its performance on charts and sold-out world c

PerformanceOct. 12, 2018

[Weekender] What’s behind BTS’ iconic message of ‘Love Yourself’

When BTS gave a speech themed on self-love at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in late September, fans were proud to see their idols at such a high-profile event that further propelled them onto the global stage. During the speech, RM (Kim Nam-joon) encouraged people to speak up for themselves regardless of who they are, where they are from, their skin color and their gender identity.The speech landed the group on numerous headlines worldwide, but not everyone was sure why the boy

PerformanceOct. 12, 2018

[Weekender] Rapidly-expanding universe of BTS merchandise sweeping global market

As BTS’ rising global presence sends its brand value soaring the group is putting out an ever-expanding array of merchandise.At the forefront of the endeavor is Line Friends’ BT21 -- a collection of characters created by BTS members and related merchandise. BT21’s official site says BTS falls in line with the global character brand’s keywords: global, millennials and trending.Fans formed a line from early dawn when BT21 was officially released at Line Friends flagship store in Itaewon on Jan. 8.

CultureOct. 11, 2018

[Weekender] Natural, matte and rose for this fall

In line with the #MeToo movement in Korea, there have been ongoing efforts among women here to break free of their “social corsets” either consciously or subconsciously. The metaphorical corset has found its way into modern slang. Korean women call the movement to reject the requirement to wear makeup and dress a certain way “tal-corset,” “tal-co” or “corset-free.” But not everyone feels the same, and even some of those who reject the obligation might wear occasional makeup. So it still wouldn’t

Arts & DesignOct. 4, 2018

[Weekender] Beauty from a Korean perspective

Western cosmetics giants have dominated the beauty industry for a long time, but Korean brands are increasingly setting new standards of beauty, driven by the worldwide popularity of K-pop. A growing number of people, regardless of gender and age, are investing time and money on beauty products from Korea’s cosmetic shops. This includes a large portion of foreigners searching for K-beauty -- a new norm referring to a wide range of skin care and makeup products that originate from Korea, and the

IndustryOct. 4, 2018

[Weekender] Korean makeup companies paint new face of beauty

For beauty-trend followers around the world, “glass skin” has become a buzzword in recent years, as Korean skin care and makeup trends took social media by storm.Glass skin, a term used to describe crystal-clear, flawless, almost transparent skin has been a sought-after beauty ideal in Korea and fans of Korean tyle trends.Korean makeup is having its moment in the sun. What began as a skin care sheet mask has now expanded into a 10 step Korean beauty regimen, commonly known as the “glass skin rou

IndustryOct. 4, 2018

[Weekender] Fall walks to art museums near Gyeongbokgung

The fall has arrived and so has the season for strolling. In downtown Seoul, the area near central palace Gyeongbokgung is the favorite haunt of locals and tourists alike looking to enjoy fine culture and dining alike.On either side of the massive Gwanghwamun Square in front of the palace are the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History and Sejong Center. The two large cultural institutions within close walking distance are perhaps ideal spots to start an “art walk” in Seoul. An installati

Arts & DesignSept. 27, 2018

[Weekender] Seoul spots for a stroll

Cars and people are not the only things the megalopolis is bustling with, as the fall has the Korean capital colored scarlet with falling leaves accompanying the cool breeze.There are a number of walking spots in the city for the season to be savored.Dalmaji ParkThe Chuseok holidays that ended Wednesday were marked by the full moon. Dalmaji Park, which means “moon welcoming park,” got its name for being one of the best places in Seoul to enjoy the sight of the moon.Located between Oksu-dong and

TravelSept. 27, 2018

[Weekender] In fall, Seoul offers bit of tradition, flair for fun

Breezy, sunny and cool, fall is arguably the best season to explore Seoul -- the capital filled with tradition, history and a flair for fun.　As the fall weather is ideal for outdoor activities, the city is offering an array of festival and events -- from traditional music festival to those that feature international cuisine in Itaewon.　For those who would like to get a taste of Korea’s traditional music and dance, Seoul Arirang Festival, which is taking place at the Gwanghwamun Plaza in central

CultureSept. 27, 2018

[Weekender] Planning your Chuseok escape

 The three days of Chuseok this year and adjoining weekend mean most working people in Korea will have at least a four- or five-day break for the holiday. Some lucky souls may even say why bother and take the whole week off. But if you haven’t planned it yet, you may be hard-pressed to go anywhere with your time. Chuseok is especially reputed as the time of year the mega-metropolitan capital Seoul empties, as people drain from the city to their historic hometowns and reunite with family -- and w

TravelSept. 20, 2018

[Weekender] The Chuseok experience: It all depends on the family

The big Korean holidays are notorious for daughters-in-law. While their husbands enjoy the luxury of being banished from the kitchen, some women spend several solid days cooking and washing dishes before going back to work. Others married to less traditional families have an easier time. For women from overseas, the language and cultural barriers are another potential issue. “It really depends on the family, if you are lucky, you get a better Chuseok,” said Katherine Corteza, who has spent 12 ye

Expat LivingSept. 20, 2018

[Weekender] Central Asians celebrate Chuseok at ‘home away from home’

During the Chuseok holiday, many Koreans gather to honor ancestors, reconnect with family members and eat festive meals together. But for non-Koreans, the holiday is different: Many family members live abroad, and more plainly, it lacks cultural significance. This year, the Korean traditional holiday begins Sunday and runs through Sept. 25. Many Korean restaurants and businesses will be closed, with some resting one or two days in addition to the designated days. Even the most bustling streets a

CultureSept. 20, 2018

[Weekender] Celebrities rush to YouTube bandwagon

In a competitive entertainment world where self-promotion is essential, celebrities have long sought for new strategies to brand themselves. Previously, stars like Jisook of Rainbow showcased her hidden talents in a blog and comedian Song Eun-yi embarked on a second career as a content creator by launching a podcast. With the boom of new media and the ever-expanding realm of YouTube, however, celebrities have been making their voices heard via the popular streaming service beyond the silver scre

CultureSept. 13, 2018

[Weekender] The secret to YouTube success

YouTube stars are often described as self-made celebrities with bright ideas and irresistible content. They are considered brave pioneers whose outstanding creativity propelled them to success on this unconventional media platform. YouTube creators are now role models for youngsters. Increasing numbers of elementary school students dream of becoming YouTubers. Videography classes and workshops are extremely popular. A content creator shoots a video at Jamong Media Space in southern Seoul. (Media

TelevisionSept. 13, 2018

[Weekender] Lucrative new world of YouTube

We are living in a world where a vast array of online videos are grabbing the eyes of everyone from toddlers to retirees. And increasingly YouTubers are making a living out of producing viral videos. The views, likes and subscribers add up, as advertisers pay to have their ads shown in such videos.“You get a certain percentage of an amount. Not only that, you are also asked to work with brands, and in other promotions YouTubers can create synergy to bring in cash from their channels,” said Yum-c

TechnologySept. 13, 2018

[Weekender] People in Noryangjin-dong talk about 2019 policy

Policymakers announced in late August that the government would hire 36,000 new civil servants in 2019, drumming up excitement among South Koreans studying to land a job in the sector.According to the Finance Ministry’s budget blueprint for next year, there will be 21,000 national government job vacancies and 15,000 in regional public service. The news is expected to further buoy the civil service job boom, as the stable nature of such jobs attracts young people and the country is suffering its

Social AffairsSept. 6, 2018

[Weekender] The place where exam season never ends

“It is not filial piety to visit your parents over the weekend or bring them carnations on parents’ day,” says a slogan at a cram school for gongshisaeng in Noryangjin-dong, Seoul. “Good sons and daughters have good grades and attend classes.” Gongshisaeng refers to those preparing for public service examinations. It is a compound word made up of the Korean words for public servants, tests and students -- gongmuwon, siheom and haksaeng, respectively. Noryangjin, located close to Yeouido and the

Social AffairsSept. 6, 2018