[Weekender] Beauty, a desire for all ages

Beauty is no longer the preserve of the young, but a timeless value that all human beings are entitled to pursue, regardless of age, gender or social status.At least, this is the belief of a growing number of senior citizens, who zealously strive to improve their looks -- and who are not afraid to show it.The economic situation has improved over the years, and more seniors are able to spend more on themselves, though some assert that beauty care is still a luxury for the few who can enjoy an aff

Social AffairsFeb. 24, 2017

[Weekender] Investing to stay young and beautiful

The definition of “elderly” is becoming less clear by the day, as society turns older and those traditionally grouped as seniors become younger in terms of health, appearance and economic activity.It has led to the coining of the new term “No-no generation” in South Korea, a combination of the English word “no” and the Chinese character “no” meaning old. Combined together, the phrase refers to the elderly of today who are saying “No” to growing old.  (123RF)This new silver generation defies ster

IndustryFeb. 24, 2017

[Weekender] Mind over matter to age gracefully

In an age when people Google just about everything in search for a quick answer, know-how and guidelines on how to age gracefully are also popular topics. In the quest to age well, many tend to search out anti-aging, with contents offline and online dedicated to such information as anti-aging foods and the secrets to staying young, as though aging is a process we should defy.Seeking to bring about a society where people can age with dignity, Kim Young-ok is a feminist activist currently running

Feb. 24, 2017

[Weekender] Driven by parents’ desire, Korea’s kids market thrives

Kim Ji-young, a mother of a 7 year-old boy in Seoul, has been busy shopping.“My kid becomes a first grader this school year and there’s a lot to buy before he starts to attend classes,” she said, adding that she has been looking for a desk.“I want to have a nice desk for him at home so that he can study after he gets back from school. I hope he will concentrate more on studying from now on.”A desk is not the only thing that Kim has in mind.A backpack, a foldable cellphone and clothes are next on

IndustryFeb. 17, 2017

[Weekender] For those who want restaurant-quality meals at home: semi-cooking food boxes

A rising culinary trend dubbed “semi-home-cooking” delivers to a very specific consumer base: people who are wary of eating out but do not want the hassle of cooking -- and cleaning up -- in their own kitchens.A number of services have begun selling “food boxes,” where prepped ingredients -- prewashed, peeled, sliced and diced -- and sauces are delivered straight to their door, often on the day of order, for hassle-free cooking.A box for the Korean staple doenjang jjigae from food box service My

FoodFeb. 10, 2017

[Weekender] Just the way you like it

Once associated exclusively with likes of the Louvre, the Smithsonian and other museums of art and science, the use of the word “curation” has expanded in its scope to include aspects of everyday life.This includes the constant question for single-person households: What to do for breakfast, lunch and dinner?Various food curation services here, both online and offline, are now offering a helping hand in better understanding the art of dining.Gourmet 494, located inside the Galleria Department St

FoodFeb. 10, 2017

[Weekender] Online companies ring the changes in food industry

Joseph Kim, a computer programmer living in Seoul, is a busy man. He is so overloaded at work he can rarely go grocery shopping.With few hours to spend at the gym, his weight has been creeping up steadily, forcing him to change his diet and have salads delivered to his door twice weekly. All he has to do is order on his computer or smartphone.Wrapped in a green eco bag and consisting of an assortment of fruits and vegetables, the curated meals he receives have helped him deal with his predicamen

FoodFeb. 10, 2017

[Weekender] The dangers of caffeine addiction

It is a well-known fact that Koreans love coffee. The dependence on caffeine to get though the day is spread among all age groups -- even teenagers reach for energy drinks to help them survive a stressful day of studying. However, such habits come at a cost.Research conducted by the Korea Consumer Agency revealed that approximately 60 percent of students that consumed energy drinks with a high caffeine content suffered various side effects.The intake of caffeine irritates the linings of the smal

IndustryFeb. 3, 2017

[Weekender] A history of coffee in Korea

The history of caffeination in Korea is long and winding, beginning with a tragic king who became the country‘s first coffee lover while fleeing in wartime. After decades of serving as a vehicle of socialization at coffee shops, coffee moved into offices and homes with the introduction of instant coffee mixes. People went back out to coffee shops to get their java once Western-style takeout cafes were introduced and now coffee is coming back into the home with small, inexpensive espresso machine

IndustryFeb. 3, 2017

[Weekender] Korea, caffeinated

Daniel Kim, a 26-year-old banker, is not a morning person.“I have a hard time getting my system started in the morning. So I always drop by this small cafe for a cup of large Americano on my way to the bus station,” Kim said.Choi Yoo-rim, a 17-year-old high school student, is an avid Red Bull drinker.“I can’t go a day without a Red Bull. It’s like the best invention ever. I can focus on my studies without dozing off. Getting good grades is really important for me right now, so I’ll worry about t

IndustryFeb. 3, 2017

[Weekender] Snacking goes hybrid

Whether you have a sweet tooth or cravings for all things savory, snacking options in South Korea were limited until recently. Riding on the health-conscious trend, sugar-loaded sweets are evolving into healthy desserts and snacks with humorous marketing to appeal to a wider consumer age range.Salty crisps are also being transformed by reducing trans fat and being infused with unlikely ingredients or dishes, such as seaweed and kimchijjigae, or Korean kimchi stew. Gwaja, or snacks in Korean, ref

IndustryJan. 20, 2017

[Weekender] Exports boost Korean confectionary growth

In South Korean’s confectionary industry, Orion’s Choco Pie, Lotte Confectionery’s Xylitol and Pepero as well as Nongshim’s shrimp crackers are all superstars. They are members of the so-called “1 trillion won club” of confectionary brands with accumulated sales of more than 1 trillion won ($848 million) each. These snacks also enjoy overseas popularity, marking a new growth engine for the manufacturers that have been struggling with weakening demand from health-conscious consumers in their home

IndustryJan. 20, 2017

[Weekender] Nostalgic snacks that still tantalize the Korean palate

Remember the honey butter chip craze? Potato chips flavored with honey and butter were inarguably the greatest hit in South Korea’s confectionary market in 2015. People had lined up in supermarkets in the hope of buying just one pack and some even paid double or triple online just to have the latest snack product delivered home. The honey butter chips phase, however, soon cooled off, as it made way for newcomers that tasted even more interesting and unconventional.Despite these fads, there have

IndustryJan. 20, 2017

[Weekender] The snack evolution

Snacks, once produced and marketed mostly for children, have become a major consumption item for Koreans of all ages, seeking to munch away their stress with more diverse and healthier options.  (Lotte Confectionery)Confectionery companies are driving trends with snacks infused with fruit and tea flavors and made with whole premium ingredients to appeal to health-conscious adults.As these new creations receive positive responses both at home and abroad, manufacturers and distributors are intensi

IndustryJan. 19, 2017

[Weekender] Garden within doors

Amid the hustle and bustle of city life, indoor gardening connects city dwellers to nature, provides them a respite from the digital lifestyle for a moment and makes a fine hobby. And it does not have to be expensive. For Kim Ji-hyon, a 29-year-old office worker, growing a small garden on a windowsill at home has become a crucial part of her life over the past year. (MCT)“When I water the plants and take care of them, it gives my brain a time-out from stressful office life,” said Kim, who visits

Social AffairsJan. 13, 2017

[Weekender] Indoor plants as natural air purifiers

Amid all the talk about the danger of airborne ultrafine particles, Shin Gi-bbeum opted to bring indoors some plants that are known to purify the air, instead of purchasing costly air-purifying machines.“Why invest in electronic air purifiers when you can have houseplants at home to clean and filter the air naturally and inexpensively?” said the 53-year-old housewife.“Beyond air quality, looking at green plants just make me feel better,” she said, adding growing plants is her way of fighting str

Social AffairsJan. 13, 2017

[Weekender] The rules of drinking alone

All lawyer Kim Eun-hye, 29, wanted was to be alone with a glass of wine after a draining day of consulting with clients, wading through legal paperwork, sitting through a tense office dinner and losing a case. Instead of heading home to an empty fridge, Kim decided to drop by Goya, a quiet bar near her house in Yeonnam-dong.“I guess I come here when I feel like having a nice drink, but don’t have the energy to engage in forced conversation with people who can’t offer good advice,” she said, orde

CultureJan. 6, 2017

[Weekender] ‘Honsul,’ the art of savoring the tipsy self

With a pensive gaze, Park Si-in sips an old fashioned, a whiskey-based cocktail, at a dim, jazzy bistro nestled in a gentrified alley in Seoul. “I don’t think about anything,” she says. “I come here to empty and organize my thoughts. I need it, regularly and personally. Drinking alone is actually enjoyable.” Beside her, Kang Dong-wan, a university student majoring in graphic design, chatters with a bartender. “The bar acts as a sort of a mental hospital, a healing space,” explains Kang, in an in

CultureJan. 6, 2017

[Weekender] Table for one, please

One of the newest cultural trends sweeping the nation is all about the art of being alone. 　From eating, drinking, shopping and living solo, this new trend seems to defy the once cultural norm of “togetherness.”　With the phenomena of “honsul” and “honbap” -- meaning to “drink alone” and “eat alone,” respectively -- there no longer appears to be social stigmas attached to requesting a table for one. Nor is there a corresponding gasp of dismay or pity for one going to a bar solo and enjoying a coc

CultureJan. 6, 2017

[Weekender] Headline-makers of 2016

  Choi Soon-sil Choi Soon-sil attends her first trial at the Seoul Central District Court on Dec. 19. (Park Hae-mook/The Korea Herald)It would be hard to find a South Korean adult now who does not know who Choi Soon-sil is. The woman, once shrouded in secrecy, is President Park Geun-hye’s friend of 40 years and the central figure of a sweeping corruption and peddling of influence scandal that sparked massive protests in South Korea and eventually led to the president’s impeachment on Dec. 9. A d

NationalDec. 30, 2016