[Weekender] ‘Style is all about how you put things together’

Korea is one of the best markets in the world in terms of the number of fashion-conscious male customers, according to Filip Ekvall, the CEO of H&M Korea. The Swedish CEO talked about his personal fashion style, Korean men’s fashion taste in comparison to other countries and suggestions for spring items in a recent email interview with The Korea Herald. The following are excerpts from the interview.Korea Herald: What is your fashion style? Filip Ekvall: I love classic. Classic can be fun, not bo

Arts & DesignMay 2, 2014

[Weekender] Men’s love for accessories

More Korean men are becoming fashion-conscious. They’re willing to invest in their appearance, especially in accessories, said the CEO of an international fashion accessory brand. They are still conservative, but are rapidly opening up to new ideas and trends, which is promising for many fashion businesses, said Robert Tateossian, founder and CEO of Tateossian London. “I have noticed that Korean men are very fashionable, wearing skinny jeans and great hairdos on the street. The market is definit

Arts & DesignMay 2, 2014

[Weekender] A singular vision realized

JEJU, Jeju Province ― More than an hour’s drive from Seogwipo in the southwestern part of Jejudo Island, numerous gigantic stone piles that resemble abstract human figures rise out of nowhere. “That is Jeju Stone Park,” says the bus driver. The 500 stone piles, each topped with a large rock for the head, represent the 500 Generals of a popular Jeju myth, and are part of the sprawling, 327-hectare Jeju Stone Park.One is awestruck by the scale of the park ― which currently includes a garden based

CultureMay 2, 2014

[Weekender] Taking pause from 30 years in top gear

After working nonstop for 30 years, Sohn Ji-ae, former president and CEO of Arirang TV and Radio, who left her post at the end of February after two and a half years, is relishing what she calls her “mid-life time out.” “March 1 marks my independence from institutions,” said Sohn on Wednesday in an interview with The Korea Herald.“My career has been so fast, in top gear,” she said of her whirlwind career that started at Business Korea, a monthly magazine, saw her as a correspondent for the New Y

PeopleApril 25, 2014

[Weekender] Mix and match for fun eating

Comedian Jeong Hyeong-don recently appeared on the popular TV show “Infinite Challenge,” where he demonstrated how to make “opageti.” The dish was a mixture of ojingeo Jjambbong and Jjapageti ― two types of instant noodles made by Korean food company Nongshim.After the episode was aired, weekly sales of ojingeo Jjambbong and Jjapageti surged 157 percent and 20 percent, respectively, according to Nongshim.The underlying reason for the success of opageti, however, is more than just the show’s popu

IndustryApril 18, 2014

[Weekender] Consumers will become next producers

Somewhere between evolving technologies and the creative economy paradigm is an emerging consumer trend characterized by three words: do it yourself.Market trend analysts are finding that consumers of the 21st century are bolder and craftier than ever before.“Modisumer” (a combination of “modify” and “consumer”) refers to consumers who invent their own innovative ways to use a product, or combination of products, even if it drifts from the manufacturer’s intentions.“Consumers today have very spe

April 18, 2014

[Weekender] ‘Modisumers’ drive product innovation

From food to cosmetics, Korean businesses are increasingly taking advantage of a growing group of customers’ desire to modify products to their tastes and needs ― a group marketing analysts call “modisumers.” They have taken lessons from DIY trailblazer Ikea. The Swedish furniture maker has thrown out the conventional idea of buying ready-made products from a catalogue. Its customers partly assemble their own furniture and arrange it in various ways.Economists say that buyers of Ikea couches or

IndustryApril 18, 2014

[Weekender] Bomb shots evolve into cocktail culture

Korean drinkers may have a knack for making tasty cocktails.Ranging from the traditional boilermaker, which is dubbed poktanju, to trendy cocktails more recently, a large proportion of popular alcoholic beverages here are mixed liquors. More businesses are also moving quickly to take advantage of the long-standing unique drinking culture.“In Korea, a liquor product can be successful only when it tastes good mixed with other liquors or beverages,” said an official of Mackiss, a high-end soju bran

IndustryApril 18, 2014

[Weekender] DIY beauty products

Cosmetic blogger Choi Eun-ji makes a face mist using leftover toner that’s been sitting on her dressing table for months. Mixing it with purified water bought for 1,500 won ($1.40) at a pharmacy, she creates one of her staple beauty items at one-quarter of the price of face mists sold in shops.“I don’t need to worry about skin problems because it has fewer preservatives and made with the toner I’ve been using,” she said in an email interview with The Korea Herald.She is one of the beauty product

IndustryApril 18, 2014

[Weekender] Time to dance!

From ballet to b-boy, dance is seeing a resurgence in Korea. TV shows feature dancers to grab viewers’ attention, ballet companies enjoy unprecedented ticket sales and an increasing number of fitness clubs offer dance workout programs: All because more Koreans are rediscovering dance as a source of rejuvenation in today’s stressful society. “Koreans’ interest in dance was never this high before,” said Jang Seung-heon, a longtime dance producer and general director of Dancers’ Career Development

CultureApril 11, 2014

[Weekender] Burn calories, build muscle without being stuck in the gym

Many 9-to-5ers find it impossible to regularly work out at the gym, although they do want to shed some kilos and stay in shape. They may be too exhausted from work, or may have health conditions that prevent them from doing weight lifting or sprinting. But in most cases, it is boredom that causes people to avoid regular workouts ― even celebrities such as singer Son Dam-bi and actress Ko Jun-hee publically complain that “gym workouts are ‘boring.’” The good news is that many forms of dance have

CultureApril 11, 2014

[Weekender] Dancing like K-pop stars

A quick search on YouTube will bring up hundreds of videos of K-pop “cover dances.” All over the world and here in Korea, fans of K-pop are fascinated by the dance moves of idol stars and hope to imitate them.That desire to learn K-pop dance moves has led to a boom in classes that offer the chance to learn both cover dance and the general style of K-pop dance.Renowned choreographer Hong Young-joo, most famous for choreographing for singers Wax and Baek Ji-young, said she first started teaching i

PerformanceApril 11, 2014

[Weekender] Korean b-boying breaks new ground

The distinctive and dynamic style of break dancing was first introduced to the world by young street dancers in New York City in the early 1970s. B-boying eventually made its way to Korea about a decade later after being introduced by American soldiers. However, for decades, break dancing was far from being a mainstream style of dance as it enjoyed only a small following among young, amateur dancers. “When I first started getting into the b-boy scene in the late ’90s, b-boying itself didn’t have

PerformanceApril 11, 2014

[Weekender] Plant trees for the future

They might just stand still all day long as if they do nothing at all. But they give us more than most of us realize.They absorb toxic gases and give us fresh, cool air.They add beauty to our natural surroundings, and are used in proverbs, novels and movies for enlightenment.They heal us, bring us closer together and even help us make money.And they ask for nothing in return.Trees and forests have become an important and integral part of society especially as the world faces climate change as a

April 4, 2014

[Weekender] Seoul Forest: A grassy woodland with waterfront views

Looking to get a break from the metropolitan pandemonium of gridlocked streets, deafening noise and the never-ending labyrinth of mile-high concrete buildings? Now that spring is finally here and the foliage is starting to return, it is the perfect time for you to venture outside and see the cherry blossoms and remind yourself of what you have been missing all winter. From peaceful strolls down dirt paths surrounded by sprawling trees to biking or rollerblading, Seoul Forest offers visitors oppo

TravelApril 4, 2014

[Weekender] Trees: Food source, medicine cabinet and climate saver

Trees, or at least large plants similar to modern-day trees, have been around for hundreds of millions of years. As primary producers ― organisms that produce organic matter from inorganic compounds ― trees and plants in general have always been the primary food source in the food chain. With the rise of mankind trees came to have much more diverse uses. For man, trees became sources of construction materials and fuel, and of medicines, some of which are still in use today. One of the best-known

Expat LivingApril 4, 2014

[Weekender] Green Ranger leads push for conservation

For Kim Myung-jeon, the chairman of Green Ranger, a nonprofit organization that helps young people take part in environmental campaigns, planting trees goes beyond wanting to provide people with fresher air.He considers it an educational practice that can help promote well-rounded citizens who will contribute to society in ways that truly matter.“It is ultimately the people who change the world,” Kim told The Korea Herald in an interview. “And guiding the youth so that they may grow up to become

PeopleApril 4, 2014

[Weekender] Korean firms expand investment in overseas forest development

A growing number of Korean companies are beginning to invest in tree-planting projects overseas as prices for wood in the global market have continued to rise. “One of the key reasons for the price surge is a drop in the global log supply amid growing demand in China,’’ said Won Yoo-gil, an official of Hansol Homedeco’s global business. “Tree planting has become a high-yield business. International wood prices have increased 5.5 percent per year on average for the past decade, which is high enou

IndustryApril 4, 2014

[Weekender] Korean musicals evolve

Last year, the Broadway musical “Kinky Boots,” co-produced by Korean entertainment company CJ E&M, won a total of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Leading Man.The company, which has been investing in West End and Broadway musicals such as “The Bodyguard” and “Big Fish,” invested $1 million in “Kinky Boots,” becoming the sixth-largest investor in the production. It was the first time that a musical co-produced by a Korean company received such honors. “I guess

PerformanceMarch 21, 2014

[Weekender] For better or worse? K-pop stars flood the stage

While Broadway is certainly no stranger to shows led by big-time Hollywood talent, the trend of Korean musicals casting K-pop stars has gotten to the point where it’s now almost routine in a large production. The inclusion of K-pop stars not only helps sell shows, it has become an almost unspoken policy that any non-Broadway musical that wants to hit it big should include a popular K-pop star in its cast.  Whether it’s Girls’ Generation’s Jessica in “Legally Blonde,” 2PM’s Jun.K and SHINee’s Key

PerformanceMarch 21, 2014