Most Popular
-
1
Hyundai Motor eyes 80,000 jobs, W68tr investment at home by 2026
-
2
Seoul bus drivers go on general strike, cause morning rush hour delays
-
3
Official campaigning kicks off for April 10 elections
-
4
Dialogue hopes fade as doctors pick hard-liner as new head
-
5
Coupang pledges W3tr to expand Rocket Delivery nationwide by 2027
-
6
Korea enters full election mode
-
7
[Election Battlefield] Political novice to face off star politician in ‘swing district’
-
8
[Kim Seong-kon] The April 2024 election will decide our future
-
9
Seoul’s bus union prepares for strike
-
10
[Hello India] Corporate Korea sees new growth drivers in India
-
[Weekender] At 77, silver model dreams of big show
News last month that Fenty, a luxury fashion house Rihanna launched with LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, chose 67-year-old model JoAni Johnson to represent its new collection created much buzz in the fashion world. With long, graceful silver hair, she is a model in every aspect, and the epitome of what’s been called a fashion “graynaissance”: the rise of gray-haired models to the forefront of fashion. Choi Soon-hwa may be Korea’s Johnson. At 77 years old, she strut
Arts & DesignJune 7, 2019
-
[Weekender] Korean cinema: 100 years in the making
Last Saturday, renowned Korean director Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” became the first South Korean film to win the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. As the auteur said, it was a “timely gift” to commemorate the centennial anniversary of Korean cinema, which has grown in leaps and bounds to become the fifth-largest player in the world film industry by the number of box office admissions, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Although the box offi
FilmMay 30, 2019
-
[Weekender] Border-area tourism on the rise
One of the last vestiges of the Cold War, the Demilitarized Zone is often described as the world’s most heavily fortified border. But it is also a tourist magnet, attracting 1.2 million visitors annually. From the bustling metropolis of Seoul, tour buses take hundreds of foreign and local tourists to security-related tourism spots on a daily basis -- from Imjingak, a family-friendly theme park that serves as a starting point for border-area tourism, to the historic truce village of Panmunj
TravelMay 24, 2019
-
[Weekender] An eerie reminder of precarious peace at DMZ Peace Trail
Don’t take the Gangbyeonbuk highway during rush hours in Seoul.That was what I screamed in my mind as the bus took the road fare more traveled, an agonizingly slow path eastward, toward Gangwon Province, where the government recently decided to open a new section of the Demilitarized Zone to civilians.The DMZ Peace Trail in Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province, some 90 kilometers from the capital, is the second of the project located at the inter-Korean border, which the authorities hope will
TravelMay 23, 2019
-
[Weekender] Meet ordinary but extraordinary people who travel around world
The Korea Herald interviewed seven adventurous world travelers whose journey across continents could provide an inspiration for South Koreans for their next trip. Yoon Jin-young (right) and his wife, Shin Seon-a, traveled around the world in a Toyota SUV for three years. They said travels led them to exotic places and fun adventures, but somewhere along the way, they also experienced self-discovery and gained new attitudes toward life.From amateur stargazers on a quest to capture cosmic wonders
TravelMay 17, 2019
-
[Weekender] World travel -- living the dream
Shin Seon-a at the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve in Bolivia. She has traveled 47 countries in this rugged 4x4 off-load vehicle with her husband Yoon Jin-young for nearly three years. (Photo provided by Shin)A trip around the world may sound like an unrealistic dream. Especially so for South Koreans, for whom a two-week vacation from work is a rarity and taking years off work can risk a career altogether, unless one has special skills that are in unusually high demand. Yet there se
TravelMay 17, 2019
-
[Weekender] Traditional liquor-based cocktails beckon adventurous drinkers
Fancy a glass of sujeonggwa-tini? Sujeonggwa is persimmon punch made with cinnamon and ginger, usually served as dessert. To create sujeonggwa-tini, local distilled spirit is added to the sweet traditional drink, and the mixture is shaken with ice in a reinterpretation of traditional Korean liquor. As its name suggests, sujeonggwa-tini is similar to martini, with strong soju serving as the base. Pine nuts are sprinkled on top as a garnish. The drink is one of nine cocktails mixed with Korean liq
FoodMay 10, 2019
-
[Weekender] Wine aficionado’s love affair with Korean traditional liquors
What is South Korea’s representative booze? Most people would probably say soju. But Lee Ji-min, a wine aficionado-turned-Korean liquor promoter, begs to differ. In her view, there are many local liquors more qualified for that title. “This may sound radical, but I want to see those green soju bottles on grocery store shelves replaced by our finest traditional spirits one day. I want to contribute to making that happen,” she said. Lee Ji-min, a PR expert and promoter of Korean traditional liquor
FoodMay 10, 2019
-
[Weekender] Makgeolli makes a comeback
123rfLong overshadowed by soju and beer, makgeolli is poised for a grand comeback, with more brewers blending tradition with a modern twist. The oldest alcoholic drink in South Korea, the milky, unfiltered rice wine was traditionally the drink of farmers, but latest renditions have taken on a new variety of tastes and flavors, plus a premium image, to win over young, sophisticated sippers. At E-mart, the country’s largest retailer, makgeolli was the fastest growing liquor, logging a 24.6 percent
FoodMay 10, 2019
-
[Weekender] Hottest makgeolli variations leading old spirit's revival
Feel like you’re missing out on the evolution of makgeolli? Don’t worry. The following are some of the hottest brews now for you to catch up with the ongoing revival of South Korea’s oldest booze. The selection is based on recommendations from industry insiders as well as sales tallies from traditional liquor shops. Premium line 1. Haechang Made from freshly harvested rice, glutinous rice and nuruk (a fermentation starter) from Haenam, South Jeolla Province, this premium makgeolli took the No. 1
CultureMay 10, 2019
-
[Weekender] Where to picnic in Seoul
Spring is upon us, which means the picnic season is here. Seoul has its fair share of greenery, and below are some of the most frequented parks for spring outings in the city. Yeouido ParkYeouido Park (Kim Arin/The Korea Herald)Yeouido Park (Kim Arin/The Korea Herald)Yeouido Park is a gigantic municipal park in central Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu. The park, which sits in the center of the island, divides Yeouido’s east and west areas. Originally built as an airfield during the Japanese colonial era
CultureMay 3, 2019
-
[Weekender] Back in the day: Sweet memories of picnics
In South Korea, spring outings are a grand, communal affair that bring people together. Schools, churches, companies and various social clubs and communities start planning way before spring arrives. It is one of the biggest annual events. The culture of grand picnicking can be traced back to “hwajeon nori” during the Joseon era (1392-1910) -- a picnic enjoyed mostly by women on the third day of the third lunar month. “Young Joseon wives would travel to an attractive outdoor site and pitch a ten
CultureMay 3, 2019
-
[Weekender] Picnic rentals: Skip the hassle, enjoy the season
Sometimes, the best picnics happen on the spur of the moment. And South Korea’s thriving picnic rental services, conveniently clustered near popular destinations, make last-minute outings a breeze. You can have a perfect day out in the sun, without the early-morning packing hassle that exhausts you even before setting off or shelling out on fancy picnic gear you may only use once or twice a year. Rent the shade Camping has become commonplace in Seoul, especially in parks along the Han River that
CultureMay 3, 2019
-
[Weekender] Branded pop-ups liven up retail scene
Branded pop-up stores play an increasingly important role in South Korea’s retail scene as a source of creativity, innovation and a brand new consumer experience. Many customers associate pop-ups with an experience different from what they expect from conventional brick-and-mortar stores. (Louis Vuitton)“If this were a regular shop, I wouldn’t have stepped inside,” said Nam Yong-il, who visited LG Uplus’ fifth-generation-themed pop-up in Gangnam, Seoul, earlier this week. “But since it’s a pop-
IndustryApril 26, 2019
-
[Weekender] Spring in full bloom at open-air markets
It is the best season for outdoor markets right now -- whether they are flea markets, farmers’ markets or art markets. On weekends, stalls sprout up on streets and in parks, beckoning visitors to come enjoy a pleasant spring day at a lively marketplace. Some of them draw larger crowds, as they have made a name for themselves via word of mouth and social media. These markets have their home turf, but they also tour. They put up notices about upcoming dates and locations on social media, then shop
TravelApril 26, 2019
-
[Weekender] Night market gets glam makeover in Yeouido
Seoul’s Bamdokkaebi Night Market, which runs every Friday and Saturday at four locations in the city, is perfect for those who want a casual night out.At Cheonggye Stream, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Banpo and Yeouido, the city-operated weekend markets beckon visitors with their eclectic selection of food stalls, music and atmosphere -- their own glammed-up versions of the Korean traditional street market. From May onward, a fifth location will be added -- Oil Tank Culture Park in Mapo-gu. Bamdokka
CultureApril 26, 2019
-
[Weekender] ASMR, the art of anti-stimulation
Technology is taking its toll on the digital generation, evidenced in the rise of ASMR, or particular videos designed for listening. ASMR -- autonomous sensory meridian response -- is a relatively new internet phenomenon for disconnecting in an increasingly hyperconnected world. With ASMR, listeners are not looking to be entertained. They want to be sedated. It’s the art of anti-stimulation. This image shows screenshots of some of the more popular ASMR videos on YouTube. One ASMR content creat
CultureApril 19, 2019
-
[Weekender] ASMR: The feel-good world made of unexpected sounds
If you haven’t heard of ASMR, believe us, it is huge. On YouTube, videos of people whispering in their microphone, or creating certain sounds that are supposed to trigger an “autonomous sensory meridian response” -- a tingling sensation that typically starts from your scalp and moves down your spine -- are aplenty. And they are being watched tens of millions of times globally. (Illustration by Nam Kyung-don)In South Korea, never too far behind a global trend, ASMR has really caught on recently.
CultureApril 19, 2019
-
[Weekender] Buddhist chef Ven. Jeongkwan on spring sprouts, cooking and nature
For Ven. Jeongkwan, spring sprouts are the very essence of spring. Every tiny shoot has come to be what it is by enduring the cold winter months. “It is that energy of nature that we’re sharing today and that will help us to stay strong this spring,” she said as she kicked off a cooking demonstration featuring temple-style rice porridge with wild spring herbs. If it wasn’t for this event, organized by Sempio, South Korea’s No. 1 soy sauce maker, it would have been difficult to meet her in person
FoodApril 12, 2019
-
[Weekender] Bring spring to the table with bom namul
In South Korea, now is the time to enjoy fresh spring greens, or bom namul.Found everywhere from mountain slopes to roadsides, these wild plants come in many varieties and each has its own unique charm. Although some namul are now cultivated and therefore available year-round, the arrival of freshly foraged leaves -- plentiful and cheap for just over a month -- at local markets is a welcome harbinger of spring. (Yonhap)“For me, it’s naengi (shepherd’s purse) that tells me winter is almost over,
FoodApril 12, 2019