While South Korea is known for its culture of binge drinking, the country also offers a lot of ways to have fun while staying sober.When they are not hitting the pubs and karaoke bars that stay open until sunrise, some Koreans choose to watch films in 24-hour cinemas, check out evening art exhibitions or enjoy bindaetteok ― Korean mung bean pancakes ― at a night food market.Here are some of the ways to have fun in Korea at night, from movies to the dance club scene in Itaewon.Classy Who says art

CultureJuly 4, 2014

In order to maintain a well-balanced routine, plenty of sleep and proper eating habits can be helpful, a medical expert in Seoul said Friday.“Nighttime activities, although generally demanding on your health, are not all harmful as long as they are balanced with sufficient sleep and careful eating habits,” Lee Jung-kwon, family medicine professor at Samsung Medical Center, said in an interview with The Korea Herald. “If people just remember a few important tips it can make a huge difference in h

TechnologyJuly 4, 2014

In the latest music video by K-pop sensation Psy, the rapper and his right-hand man Snoop Dogg drink round-the-clock at different venues, imitating the nightlife in South Korea. They down soju, beer and whatever comes their way.But drinking a copious amount of booze is not what all night activities are about here.From a pub equipped with a digital dating system to chimaek fiesta, new forms of night culture have become fresh recreation for Koreans and once-in-a-lifetime experiences for foreign vi

CultureJuly 4, 2014

Pop musicg.o.d. 15th Anniversary Reunion Concert: The newly reunited ’90s K-pop idol group g.o.d. will be embarking on a nationwide concert tour starting in July. After more than 12 years apart, the five original members of g.o.d. made a highly anticipated comeback in May with the single “The Lone Duckling.” The K-pop veterans are slated to hold two concerts, on July 12 and 13, at the Jamsil Sport Complex’s Auxiliary Stadium in Seoul, before moving on to Gwangju, Busan, Daegu and Daejeon in Augu

CultureJuly 4, 2014

Trey Songz is complacent on 6th albumTrey Songz“Trigga”(Atlantic Records)Six albums in and making R&B hits almost seems too easy for Trey Songz.He’s got the vocals of a crooner with the swagger of a rapper, and on his latest release, “Trigga,” the heartthrob once again darts between the bedroom and bottle service, sending his sweet vocals soaring over a landscape of seductive beats, beautiful melodies and lyrics that beg to be repeated. But Songz’s latest set is missing something: growth. Shuffl

PerformanceJuly 4, 2014

Confession (Korea)Opening July 10Crime, Drama. Directed by Lee Do-yoonHyun-tae (Ji Sung), In-chul (Ju Ji-hoon) and Min-soo (Lee Kwang-soo) have been close friends for 20 years. One day, a deadly fire occurs and takes the life of Hyun-tae’s mother and all of her property. The accident turns evolves into an unsolved mystery. Hyun-tae’s suspicion grows over the death of his mother as he begins looking for any kind of evidence. Hyun-tae asks his friends to help, but as the truth unfolds, he begins t

FilmJuly 4, 2014

July accommodation package at Oakwood Premier Coex Center Oakwood Premier Coex Center is offering the “O My July” accommodation package for the month of July. The package includes a one-night stay at the hotel and a summer desert of shaved ice topped with red beans, fresh fruits, macaroons and ice cream for two people. It also comes with free access to the gym and swimming pool. The price for a room at Studio Superior is 210,000 won and a room at Studio Premier is 230,000 won, excluding tax and

TravelJuly 4, 2014

At a glance, the Korean traditional diet may look ideal.It contains a lot of vegetables, beans, fermented foods and not too much meat or sweets. Koreans do not seem to eat large portions, either. Many people seem to be sticking to the traditional daily diet of a bowl of rice, soup and a few side dishes which are mostly vegetables. And there is, of course, kimchi, the superhealthy fermented cabbage dish served at just about every meal.(123RF)A further look into Koreans’ eating patterns, however,

FoodJune 27, 2014

Want a healthier diet now? Then start with salt. How much sodium do you think is in a bowl of instant ramen? And what would be the total if you had it with kimchi? Chances are it is more than your body needs for the whole day.  Ramen and kimchi are a bad combination, as far as sodium is concerned.The World Health Organization recommends that adults limit their daily sodium intake to 2,000 milligrams a day, which equals about a teaspoon of table salt. Now back to ramen.A bowl of ramen contains 1,

FoodJune 27, 2014

While some Korean dishes, such as bibimbap, are considered a healthy meal, Korean soups and stews have one major flaw: They often contain too much salt.South Koreans are known to be heavy consumers of sodium, ranking at the top worldwide in terms of their daily intake. According to World Action on Salt and Health, South Koreans consumed a daily average of 4.878 milligrams of sodium in 2010 which is 2.4 times higher than the WHO’s recommended daily intake of 2,000 milligrams.Dr. Cho Young-yun fro

TechnologyJune 27, 2014

“Less” and “simple” are two keywords that depict the latest food trend in Korea as more consumers seek foods with less sodium and artificial additives while still wanting to eat on-the-go.CJ Foodville, a leading food business, is at the forefront of promoting healthy eating.In line with the latest trend for “less,” Tous les Jours, a bakery franchise run by CJ Foodville, launched a new bread lineup this year called Pure, with which the company said it aims to deliver the original tastes of its in

FoodJune 27, 2014

Some people say that dating and eating have one thing in common: They can be fully enjoyed when you take them slow.As far as eating is concerned, Koreans are beginning to discover the virtue of “slow food” ― sustainably produced foods that use regional ingredients adapted to the local environment. With this, locally produced foods are growing in popularity.Jung Sung-hoon, 27, is among those who recently started to take interest in foods that are produced with care and are made with local and sea

CultureJune 27, 2014

Dance“Don Quixote”: Following the Korean National Ballet’s staging of “Swan Lake” this past April, the company is gearing up to present it latest production, a resurrection of Marius Petipa’s classical tale of humor, “Don Quixote.” Based on the eponymous novel by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes, the ballet version first made its premiere more than 260 years ago and has since become one of the ballet world’s most beloved comical productions. “Don Quixote” will run from June 26-29 at the Seoul

CultureJune 27, 2014

The Divine Move (Korea)Opening July 3Crime, Action. Directed by Jo Bum-guProfessional Go player Tae-seok (Jung Woo-sung) watches as his brother is murdered by Sal-su (Lee Bum-soo) during a high stakes Go match. He is even allegedly framed for the crime and locked up in prison. When he serves his time, he vows revenge against notorious Sal-su and his gang. He gathers professional Go players and forms a team to prepare for the final match against Sal-su’s invincible team. His players play one-by-o

FilmJune 27, 2014

Scallop and king crab promotion at Grand Ambassador SeoulGrand Ambassador Seoul’s international dining restaurant Cafe de Chef is offering special dishes made with scallops and soft king crab, as well as fresh seasonal ingredients until Aug. 15. The “Scallop & King Crab Pasta” set menu -- priced at 44,000 won -- includes access to the salad bar and a choice of either a crab meat cream sauce pasta or a basil sauce pasta with potatoes, beans and scallops. The “King Crab Business” set menu -- price

TravelJune 27, 2014

Citizens in Busan Metropolitan City, the nation’s second-largest city, with a population of 3.56 million, were shocked in 2012 when the city came behind Incheon in a global survey to measure its competiveness. Incheon was ranked 56th, while the survey put Busan at 64th. The Economist Intelligence Unit conducted the survey on 120 cities in the world to address emerging city power. “City policymakers took the survey results seriously and started considering how to boost the city’s competitiveness

IndustryJune 20, 2014

Chinese visitors pose at Shinsegae Centum City in Busan. (Shinsegae Group)Armed with the world’s largest department store, Busan has been drawing Chinese big spenders as one of the most favored shopping destinations in Korea.“A growing number of Chinese visitors are boosting sales of imported luxury goods, made-in-Korea electronics devices and local beauty products,” said an official from the Busan branch of Shinsegae department store. Shinsegae Group, a leading retail giant in Korea, opened Shi

IndustryJune 20, 2014

About a decade ago, this place was basically a wasteland, a landfill or, at best, farmland. But the 82.3-square-kilometer area between Busan and Jinhae, a district in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, has rapidly transformed into a cutting-edge business cluster, with 103 foreign-invested firms and 840 domestic businesses. The Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone is now becoming a Northeast Asian business hub, thanks to its key location. “The BJFEZ is located at the center of Northeast Asia, connec

World NewsJune 20, 2014