[Weekender] Noryangjin, a home turf of test-takers’ soul food

Noryangjin, a cluster of private cram institutes for various national exams, is home to some 40,000 Korean test-takers in their 20s and 30s. As most of its students tend to stay near their cram schools from early in the morning to late at night, the area’s dining culture has also evolved along the life patterns of the students. Portions are much cheaper and larger than in other Seoul neighborhoods, while the restaurants, vendors and cafes also tend to serve food quickly to save students’ time. 

FoodSept. 6, 2018

[Weekender] Homemade dosirak, a healthy alternative with bragging rights

A neatly rolled omelet, half-cut cherry tomatoes and sprouts salad, fried cubes of meat and tofu in a packed meal, or “dosirak” in Korean, show off the delicate culinary skills of the cook. As one-person households increase and people prefer quicker meals, the variety of ready-to-eat meals has become more diverse than ever. However, some still prefer the old way, packing their lunchboxes at home for themselves and for their loved ones.  (On the courtesy of instagram user @ciny_diet)For Ciny, an

FoodAug. 30, 2018

[Weekender] Rise of the convenience store dosirak

The word dosirak has a number of meanings in Korean. The word can mean any meal packed to be carried, the container specially designed for carrying packed lunches, or a Japanese style bento. However, in recent years the word has become almost synonymous with factory produced, ready-to-eat meals on offer at the convenience stores that occupy every nook and cranny of major Korean cities. “Young men seem to pick these up a lot more than young women. I think it might be because there are a lot of pe

FoodAug. 30, 2018

[Weekender] Dosirak, evolution of packed lunches

From transporting meals in bamboo wicker baskets during the Joseon dynasty, packed lunches, or dosirak in Korean, have evolved with the times, and become a source of nostalgia for some, and a convenience and necessity for others. “Lunch was a big part of school life when I was young. It may sound cliched, but checking out friends’ dosirak and sharing the food was one of the more fun parts of going to school,” Lee Mi-sook, a 56-year old housewife, said, adding that her high-school-age nephews had

FoodAug. 30, 2018

[Weekender] Riding solo: Koreans embrace personal mobility devices for urban travel

When 30-year-old Kim Young-hoon started a new job at a tech firm in Pangyo this year, he decided on a practical investment: an electric scooter for his daily commute from his home in Seohyun-dong located about 5 kilometers away.　After all, whizzing to work on electric scooters seemed to be the popular thing in Pangyo, a tech-savvy neighborhood south of Seoul known for its quickness to adopt new technologies and trends.　Five months into scootering to work, Kim is beyond satisfied with his purchas

TechnologyAug. 23, 2018

[Weekender] Gliding through the city in style

It’s the coolest thing on the street. Whether on one or two-wheeled devices powered by rechargeable batteries, people who use personal transporters definitely draw attention. And clearly they’ve changed the landscape of urban streets, especially Seoul. Twenty-something guys in chino pants and graphic T-shirts effortlessly glide through the forest of concrete buildings, while people on foot wipe off their sweat and try to walk as fast as they can to get to their destinations on time. They look li

MobilityAug. 23, 2018

[Weekender] Rising safety concerns over use of personal mobility devices in Korea

Many questioned the safety of personal mobility devices when the millionaire owner of the Segway company, Jimi Heselden, died after losing control of his Segway on a cliff in 2010. Despite the benefits of using devices like Segway -- a two-wheeled, battery-powered personal transportation device – hoverboards and electric scooters, allowing personal mobility devices, or PMDs, in public areas is being heatedly discussed here, with the related law pending. Segway's personal mobility device Ninebot 

IndustryAug. 23, 2018

[Weekender] Sharing life in the bath

In a weekly web cartoon series popular a few years ago, “Ladies Bathhouse Report,” the cartoonist and public bathhouse devotee showed in detail what Korean women do at public bathhouses.One of the concepts introduced in the series was “dalmogyok” culture, or “monthly bath” culture. The term refers to using monthly vouchers offered at a discounted price. The overall idea is similar to using a gym with a monthly membership. (By Park Hyun-koo / The Korea Herald)(By Park Hyun-koo / The Korea Herald)

CultureAug. 16, 2018

[Weekender] Bathing around the world

Although a simple everyday act, bathing, in some cultures has greater meaning. Some travelers say that exploring different bathing cultures around the world is a must, as it is a way to learn more about the countries through the experience. Among different cultures, there is a wide variety of traditional themes, rituals, and customs associated with bathing. The diversity is a reflection of cultural, historical differences. Here is a list of bathing cultures around the globe that show that bathin

CultureAug. 16, 2018

[Weekender] Art dives into old bathtubs

Public bathhouses used to be part of Korea’s culture. On weekends, sons and fathers, daughters and mothers went to bathhouses together, small plastic baskets filled with toiletries in tow. The lifestyle reflected how difficult it was for an average household to have hot running water or a bathtub in the old days. But with changes in the housing environment, these days people mostly bathe at home and public bathhouses are considered out of date.The jjimjilbang has taken the place of bathhouses, f

CultureAug. 16, 2018

[Weekender] Korea’s top five energy-boosting summer dishes

As a record-breaking heat wave continues to scorch Korea, more people are turning to dishes that are believed to help beat the summer heat.Known as boyangsik, which translates to “invigorating food” in Korea, the strength-building dishes are often served in summer, with people even lining up in front of famous restaurants to enjoy the healthy and tasty dishes.  Galbitang (top left), Jang-eo gui (top right), Chueotang (bottom left) and Samgyetang. (bottom right)Here are the top five boyangsik dis

FoodAug. 9, 2018

[Weekender] What effect does boyangsik have on your body?

Amid the blistering summer heat, people are opting for healthy food to boost their energy and get their appetite back. From samgyetang to roasted eel, Korea has diverse summer dishes passed down from generation to generation, called boyangsik, or food that strengthens the body. However, boyangsik could have unintended effects, such as sapping one’s energy, if the food does not match with the person’s body type, according to an oriental medicine expert.“Each individual is born with different phys

TechnologyAug. 9, 2018

[Weekender] Koreans recharge with boyangsik

It has been almost a month since a heat wave began sweeping across Korea. With temperatures breaking records, the unbearable heat has sapped people’s strength and made them lose their appetites. Here’s where boyangsik steps in. It refers to food that strengthens and replenishes the body. Though the nutritious dishes can be consumed at any time of the year -- such as when recovering from a surgery or after giving birth -- they are often sought after in summer. (123rf)In Korea, there is “sambok,”

FoodAug. 9, 2018

[Weekender] 5 surfing spots to ride the wave

For many people, Korea is probably not on their list of must-go surfing destinations. However, with the rising popularity of the sport, more people are discovering that they can actually catch some good waves here.  Surfers at Mallipo Beach (Yonhap)Based on recommendations from members of the Korea Pro Surfing Association, pro and amateur surfers, and online surfing communities, The Korea Herald has selected five spots that surfers of all levels can enjoy.1. Busan  Songjeong Beach, Busan (Busan

TravelAug. 2, 2018

[Weekender] Extra information about surfing in Korea

Indoor surfing at Flow House SeoulIf traveling all the way to a beach does not fit your schedule, there is the option of indoor surfing at Flow House Seoul in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Practice balancing on a board at this establishment, which touts itself as a transplanted California beach. Training sessions are available at 350,000 won ($315) per hour for a group of eight to 11. For a group of four, an hour’s flow riding starts at 40,000 won per head without lesson. Flow House Seoul opens dai

More SportsAug. 2, 2018

[Weekender] Surf’s up for Korea

“We met through surfing last year,” a young Korean couple holding on to surfboards said on a sunny day at Hajodae Beach in Yangyang, Gangwon Province. The two had their faces covered in thick sunblock, their bright smiles matching.“We liked surfing so much that we eventually quit our jobs and went down to Jeju Island together to live there for a month surfing,” 27-year-old Um Kyu-ri said, holding hands with her boyfriend Woo Im-kyun, also 27 and a kindred spirit.Surfing is the latest trending su

More SportsAug. 2, 2018

[Weekender] Korean surfers break away from ‘surfer dude’ stereotypes

Surfing has become a new growing scene for Koreans in recent years. It is a sport or hobby more and more Koreans are eager to give a try amid the sweltering heat. Only a decade ago, hitting the waves on a surfboard would have been considered bizarre to many locals. “If you searched for ‘surfing’ on the internet, the only results you would have gotten were either ‘wind surfing’ or ‘surfing the web’ 10 years back,” Lee Hyung-joo said in an interview with The Korea Herald. Lee Hyung-joo, one of the

CultureAug. 2, 2018

[Weekender] What blood types are really about

In some East Asian countries, a person’s blood type is believed to determine personality traits including temperament and compatibility with others. However, the scientific community dismisses the blood type personality theory, citing a lack of evidence. They say blood types are maintained as a classification system for safe transfusions of blood in emergency situations.Known as the ABO blood group system, different blood types were first discovered by Austrian Physician Karl Landsteiner in 1900

TechnologyJuly 26, 2018

[Weekender] Stereotyping personalities -- by blood type

When getting to know someone in South Korea, there is a good chance that at one point or another, you will be asked, “What’s your blood type?”　To outsiders, blood type may mean nothing more than information needed to find a match for a blood transfusion.　But in Korea, a person’s blood type -- either A, B, O, or AB -- is widely believed to be predictive of personality and temperament, similar to horoscopes in the West. 　Under the blood type personality theory, a person with Type A blood is dilige

CultureJuly 26, 2018

[Weekender] Are men with type B blood really womanizers?

Kim Sang-hoon, 29, with type B blood rarely takes part in conversations about blood types linked with personalities. “Koreans have the misperception that a man with type B blood is selfish, a womanizer or hot-tempered. I don’t want people to judge me in such a way before getting to know me,” he said. Despite no scientific proof that blood types and personalities are linked, Koreans often ask about blood types to predict someone’s personality -- sometimes going further to judge relationships and

CultureJuly 26, 2018