[Weekender] Winds of change sweep universities, student life

Like almost everything else in Korea, universities here have seen dramatic changes over the past few decades.　In the years immediately following the 1950-1953 Korean War, universities were home to the offspring of the few who could afford higher education for their children.　As the country’s economy grew, university education became more widely available and the universities became the breeding grounds for diverse aspects of society, from democracy movements and political ideologies to popular c

Social AffairsAug. 7, 2015

[Weekender] Graduation albums a rite of passage

College seniors have many things on their minds. 　From midterm grades and postgraduate plans to love interests, twentysomethings go through some busy years. In Korea, taking graduation album photos adds to that lengthy to-do list before they can walk in their cap and gown. 　Seniors dress up in glittering suits with full makeup, aiming for a look worthy of an A-lister. They pose for photographs on their campus in the spring or fall, three or four months before commencement. Graduates take selfies

Social AffairsAug. 7, 2015

[Weekender] Housing shapes college students life

An off-campus jachui roomIn Korea, college students’ accommodations are an important factor that determines their lifestyle. There are three major types of housing for Korean students -- “jachui,” dormitory and family home -- each of which comes with its own set of pros and cons. “I don’t like to tell people that I’m a ‘jachui-saeng’ because then they would target me as an ‘easy’ girl,” said a university student who declined to give her name. The Korean word “jachui-saeng” refers to a student wh

CultureAug. 7, 2015

[Weekender] Seoul becomes hotbed for luxury watchmakers

South Korea has become a hotbed for luxury watchmakers from around the world, thanks to more people choosing timepieces to express their fashion, identity and, moreover, their wealth. Global powerhouses such as Bulgari, Piaget, Chaumet, Chanel, Cartier and Rolex have been joined by lesser-known but more exotic competitors, such as Patek Phillippe, Breguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin, IWC, Chopard and many more, creating one of the most dynamic destination for luxury and watch-enthusia

IndustryJuly 31, 2015

[Weekender] High-end watchmaker Piaget sticks to prestige, tradition

As smartwatches make headlines with their futuristic features, traditional watchmaking powerhouses such as TAG Heuer, Swatch and other Swiss-based watchmakers are jumping on to the digital bandwagon to attract customers. But Piaget, the 145-year-old Swiss watchmaker, is not intimidated by the hype over smartwatches. Piaget Korea general manager Sarah Jung said in an interview with The Korea Herald that the watchmakers’ prestige and prowess dating over a century goes beyond functionality.“We are

IndustryJuly 31, 2015

[Weekender] Wrist war: Smart vs. luxury

The wrist war is steadily heating up.Watchmakers once downplayed the impact of smartwatches as mostly a gimmick that would not replace classic timepieces. Now after the highly-publicized debut of Apple Watch, many of them seem to have changed course. Swatch, the world’s largest watchmaker, has announced plans to roll out its own versions of smartwatches, while luxury brands like Tag Heuer and Breitling are mulling digital watches that still preserve their timeless appeal. Their renewed commitmen

TechnologyJuly 31, 2015

[Weekender] Smartwatch war is in full swing

A battle for the wrist is heating up as major tech giants and even luxury good makers have dipped their toes in the smartwatch market.In less than half a year since the debut of its first wearable Apple Watch, California-based Apple has dethroned Samsung Electronics from the top spot in the global smartwatch industry.Samsung Electronics` Samsung Gear S. (Samsung)Apple reportedly received 7 million orders in total for the Apple Watch, 4 million of which were shipped in the April-June period, whil

TechnologyJuly 31, 2015

[Weekender] Korea’s top beaches for a refreshing summer

There’s nothing quite like a sandy beach and open ocean in the summer to wash away the fatigue of everyday stress. With long, stretching coastlines, Korea offers a variety of beaches for midsummer vacations, each with its own unique personality. The Korea Herald suggests some of the nation’s best beaches for relaxation, for crowded fun and for fun experiences.　Quiet seaside paradises　For those seeking a quieter, more relaxing summer getaway, the following are some of the country’s hidden seaside

TravelJuly 24, 2015

[Weekender] Backpack or bikini?

The sizzling heat and torrid humidity of summer is also synonymous with the season of rest, relaxation and the thrill of being in the great outdoors. 　And whether it’s taking the sweltering heat like a bull by the horns, enjoying the most of nature cooling off in the water or putting one’s calf muscles to work tackling the nation’s countless trekking trails, many Koreans choose to spend their summers either on the seaside or mountainside. 　With more than half of the peninsula made of mountain ra

TravelJuly 24, 2015

[Weekender] Rash guard, a must-have beach item

While summer has always offered an excuse to show off some skin, this season, covering up has become more fashionable than shedding clothes. In lieu of scanty beachwear, the long-sleeved, narrow-necked rash guard has hit it big with beachgoers and celebrities both in and out of the country. Photo shoots of Hallyu it-girls like Gain and Hani of girl group EXID posing in rash guards stormed the Internet, gaining a massive number of “likes” and topping the entertainment news section. The rash guard

Arts & DesignJuly 24, 2015

[Weekender] Mountain valleys to check out this summer

With about 70 percent of land in South Korea covered by mountainous regions, hiking is a familiar and accessible pastime for many Koreans.During the summer, Koreans often visit the mountains and spend time in the valleys and riverside to ward off the heat and escape from the daily grind. Here are several popular valleys to visit for the summer.　Achimgari Achimgari (Yonhap)Achimgari, a valley located on Mount Bangtaesan in Inje, Gangwon province, is famous for its trekking course.It has earned it

TravelJuly 24, 2015

[Weekender] Night hiking, a respite from summer heat

(123rf) As the summer sun takes its toll on the best of outdoorsman, some are turning to night hiking. Exploring the wilderness in the dark is a whole new experience that simulates all one’s senses, enthusiasts say, if one only follows key safety tips. Seoul’s Yangcheon-gu, the first district to launch an official nighttime trekking program in 2011, is holding a weekly group hiking program every Thursday evening until Aug. 27.Approximately 100 people sign up for the 2-hour excursion, said Kim Se

TravelJuly 24, 2015

[Weekender] Rooftop bars to check out in Seoul

As summer starts to heat up, the regular spots for an evening drink in Seoul can seem quite unwelcoming: dark underground bars with loud music, restaurants that sit you in front of sizzling pans of pork, and crowded bars where people jostle to get past each other.Luckily, in recent years, rooftop bars have been popping up around Seoul. Concentrated in the downtown area, rooftop bars offer great views and fresh air above all of the bustle below. Here are three rooftop bars in Seoul worth checking

Life&CultureJuly 17, 2015

[Weekender] Summer music fests to stomp out the heat

　Despite grueling temperatures that make going outside seem like an unwanted tax on the body, this summer still has all the makings of an unforgettable season of music festival fun. 　　Following last month’s two-day EDM blowout Ultra Music Festival, which drew more than 100,000 partygoers, the remaining summer months promise an eclectic array of big-time international acts and fan-favorite local names.　　Ansan M Valley Rock Festival　　Forced to cancel its festivities last year in light of the tragi

PerformanceJuly 17, 2015

[Weekender] Mango bingsu, a summer delight

A bowl of shaved ice topped with sweet red bean paste has long been a classic summer dessert for Koreans. The traditional combination of ice, red bean paste and condensed milk has been an inspiration for many other creative summer desserts, too. This summer, the traditional summer treat, “bingsu,” has become tropical, as mango has emerged as a new variant. Sweet, fragrant chunks of mango have become a substitute to the classic red bean paste. For Homibing, a local shaved ice dessert chain that o

CultureJuly 17, 2015

[Weekender] Surviving summer

The blazing sun, sticky air, sultry sleepless nights and mosquito bites -- yes, it’s summer again. You know what it brings. Iced drinks and shaved ice desserts called “bingsu” will be selling like hot cakes on streets of Seoul. Women will pay extra attention to shield their skin from the sun, with layers and layers of sun block and sun visors with the widest possible brims. Popular beaches and swimming pools will crowd to a mixture that locals joke is “half people and half water.” (Yonhap)And fr

CultureJuly 17, 2015

[Weekender] Beat the heatwave, traditional way

Traditionally, when the summer heatwave strikes, Koreans tuck in to hot bowls of stamina-boosting soups under the mantra of “battling heat with heat.”Although seemingly counterintuitive, it was believed that the internal organs in your body became cold during the hot weather, and eating hot food restored balance by warming your body inside and cooling your body outside through sweat. Regardless of the scientific validity of this theory, this tradition is still alive and well.  On three “bok” day

CultureJuly 17, 2015

[Weekender] Spine-chilling horror for mid-summer goosebumps

Haunted houses, horror films and even venturing into abandoned estates: such fear-inducing activities have long been a way for many Koreans to escape -- or at least momentarily forget -- the country’s sweltering summer, and chill the spine. Between the months of June and August every year, Korean cinemas see mass premieres of horror flicks, while a number of Halloween-ish festivals take place, with zombie marathons, goblin-themed mazes and booths where professional makeup and costume artists hel

CultureJuly 17, 2015

[Weekender] Refreshing low-cost summer getaways

While South Korea’s Hangang River attracts millions of visitors to its cherry blossom festival in the spring and fireworks display in the fall every year, there are more festivities the river can offer in the summer.As this year’s Hangang River festival kicks off on July 17, the riverside will turn into a major playground for those seeking a respite from the scorching heat and a getaway from the day-to-day hustle.Hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government under the theme of “Hangang: A Midsumme

TravelJuly 10, 2015

[Weekender] Hangang islets beckon with natural charm, ecological diversity

Every May, flocks of spot-billed ducks, black-crowned night herons and other migratory birds head to a pair of uninhabited islands at the heart of Seoul, joining 50 other species that use them as breeding grounds. Though no one lives there now, the Bamseom islets were home to more than 440 Seoulites until the city government relocated them and demolished the homes in 1968 as part of its project to widen the waterways in the Hangang River and develop nearby Yeouido. The wetlands’ pristine charm,

Social AffairsJuly 10, 2015