[Weekender] Can students afford to be an intern while pressured to “buy credits?”

Today’s university students lead a very hectic life, bogged down by worries of getting a job after graduation at time when the unemployment rate has peaked in Korea.For them, qualifications such as having a high GPA, work experience and extracurricular activities are deemed necessary, even just to apply for a job opening. Universities, in an effort to support students better prepare for the future, offer an array of programs, especially those that provide them with hands-on experience outside th

Social AffairsNov. 13, 2015

[Weekender] Korea’s systematic recycling drive boosts sustainability

Having experienced rapid economic growth in the past few decades, Korea has proactively implemented recycling-oriented measures against the growing waste.The government implemented waste schemes during industrialization in the ’60s and ’70s, and in 1992 it began to actively push for recycling under the recycling promotion act. The state set legal limits on the use of packing materials and disposable products; imposed waste fees on manufacturers that make unrecyclable products; and provided suppo

NationalOct. 30, 2015

[Weekender] Making use of garbage

Korea’s successful economic growth not only brought wealth and prosperity but also posed inevitable urban challenges, especially the waste.Bombarded with increasing amounts of trash, Seoul has striven to cut down on garbage with various recycling-oriented measures since the concept was first introduced here in 1992.Under tough green initiatives, the government has pushed for a systematic waste sorting system to boost recycling. Once individuals separate the garbage by type -- ranging from paper,

NationalOct. 30, 2015

[Weekender] Industry jumps on upcycling bandwagon

In October 2012, actress Moon So-ri faced a bank of flashing cameras as she walked the opening red carpet at the Busan International Film Festival, clad in a white dress. But this time, what made the headlines the next morning was not her looks or acting skills, but her costume that was made of old dress shirts and parachutes. The maker of Moon’s dress, Kolon Industries, is one of the rising number of businesses that have in recent years been jumping on the green bandwagon here, transforming was

NationalOct. 30, 2015

[Weekender] Interview: Redesigned space for upcycled art

A few minutes’ walk from the entrance of Gwangmyeong Cave in Gyeonggi Province stands the Gwangmyeong Upcycle Art Center, which opened in June. The Korea Herald got a look around the center’s two buildings -- one for exhibitions and one for hands-on classes and seminars -- with Suzy Kang, the executive director of Gwangmyeong City’s Cultural Regeneration Project Team, which oversees the center’s operations.“This is the first physical space in Korea devoted to the idea of upcycling,” Kang said. 

CultureOct. 30, 2015

[Weekender] Breakdown of Korea’s recycling process

Having lived in the United States since her childhood, 27-year-old graduate student Lee Hee-jung was surprised when she saw her roommates sifting through the garbage to separate milk cartons from trash bags filled with paper. “Back in the U.S., I would lump together trash and put it on the road where trash operators would pick it up. Since recycling is not mandatory in our state, that was pretty much all I had to do. Now I struggle here with my roommate nagging me for not following the recycling

Social AffairsOct. 30, 2015

[Weekender] Up-and-coming writers test fiction’s boundaries

Since the early 2000s, South Korea welcomed a new group of writers who delved into their unique experiences as Korean millennials, as well as the horrors and joys of modern Korean life.Among them, one of the most prominent writers is Kim Ae-ran, who rose to instant literary stardom in 2003 when her short story, “No Knocking in this House,” won the Daesan Literary Award.Kim Ae-ran (Yes 24)It depicted the life of five young women who live in separate rooms at a boarding house but have minimal cont

BooksOct. 23, 2015

[Weekender] Book cafes aren’t just about books

The publishing industry might be struggling, but book cafes -- library-like cafes that offer a collection of books for people to read and purchase -- are thriving. Enter most book cafes in the Seoul area on a weekend afternoon, and you will be hard-pressed to find an empty seat.The cafes’ popularity, however, does not necessarily signify an equal love for books among the public, it seems. One glance around the cafes shows the majority of customers working on their laptops or poring over textbook

BooksOct. 23, 2015

[Weekender] Web fiction sees renaissance

It started out in the mid-’90s.Web fiction -- written works of literature available primarily or solely on the Web -- began small and intimate on online community sites when people -- amateur writers -- began uploading fan fiction of their favorite stars, romance or fantasy stories for hobbies. Some novelists, who never got a chance at publication, also used this medium under different pen names. In early 2000, Web fiction, then dubbed “Internet novel,” reached its peak, inspiring film adaptatio

CultureOct. 23, 2015

[Weekender] Guilty-pleasure books drive e-book market

When R-rated flick “Fifty Shades of Grey” opened in theaters here in February, the box-office score was a big disappointment with only 364,410 tickets sold. However, the story was different in the e-book market. The eponymous title, written by E.L. James, nabbed No. 1 in March for several consecutive weeks on major e-book charts, including Yes24, Kyobo Bookstore and Interpark, while the paper copy didn’t even reach the top 10 list. The book’s latest sequel “The Grey” also ranked high on e-book c

BooksOct. 23, 2015

[Weekender] Bicycle clubs build bridges for human relations

In today’s fast-paced and competitive society, it is quite a challenge to keep in touch with people we cherish.  The rising popularity of bicycles has made bicycle clubs a potential solution for quenching our thirst for human affection by forming new relationships. Such clubs, which often offer a family-like atmosphere, come with the added benefit of staying fit and healthy at the same time. Since riding in groups requires strong teamwork at times, especially on rough routes, it is often said to

CultureOct. 16, 2015

[Weekender] Cycling to work in need of systematic support

As the seasons turn and fall comes into full swing, the streets are seeing more office workers commuting on bicycles. 　A recent poll conducted by job searching portal www.career.co.kr showed that 30 percent of office workers from a randomly selected pool of 440 people commuted on bicycles. The benefit of daily exercise and cost-efficiency of the man-powered vehicle were cited as the two major reasons for cycling to work. Park’s shot of a fellow cyclist returning home from work　Civil servant Park

CultureOct. 16, 2015

[Weekender] ‘Two wheels good, four wheels bad’

As with most Western inventions of the 19th and early 20th centuries, bicycles landed in Korea relatively recently. 　Although it has not been confirmed, Korean independence fighter Soh Jai-pil, also known as Philip Jaisohn, is credited to be the first Korean man to ride one on local soil in 1896.　After the 1950-1953 Korean War, bicycles gradually became more commonplace and gave rise to a thriving industry with local manufacturers punching out nearly 1.2 million bikes in 1994. 　Over the years, b

TravelOct. 16, 2015

[Weekender] Bicycles become pricier, fancier

Korea’s bicycle industry is changing.  　As a growing number of upper-income professionals pick the two-wheelers to commute to work, enjoy it as healthy hobby and, moreover, express themselves, the premium bicycle market is booming, driving the whole industry forward. 　According to market analysts, 30-40 year old professionals have become major consumers of the local bike industry, which is estimated at 550 billion won ($487 million) in size this year. It’s a big change from the past when the maj

IndustryOct. 16, 2015

[Weekender] Skywalk in Chuncheon offers beautiful scenery for bike riders

For a bike rider hoping to explore a new cycle track beyond the Hangang River, a bike pathway in Chuncheon, the capital of Gangwon Province, could be the perfect destination. 　Spanning from Uiam Dam to Sinmae Bridge, the 30-kilometer-long bicycle road, which is flat and smooth, allows even beginners to enjoy their ride, offering the breathtaking scenery of Lake Uiam.　When you depart from Seoul, it takes one hour and 15 minutes from Yongsan Station to Chuncheon Station via the high-speed train IT

TravelOct. 16, 2015

[Weekender] Peer pressure main cause of burgeoning bike thefts in Korea

As bikes become more popular, and pricey, bicycle-related crimes are also on the rise. 　 A few weeks ago, Lee Sung-jae, a 25-year-old university student, parked his bicycle on a public bike rack close to Seoul’s Wangsimni Station, safely padlocked. When he got back to the rack the next day, however, what he found was his precious bicycle completely knocked over and without the front wheel. 　 “I had to carry my bicycle without a wheel all the way back home that day,” he said.

CultureOct. 16, 2015

[Weekender] Beyond words to serve, protect

While the translation of different languages is one of the most commonly known forms of interpretation, there are other unique types of interpretation that serve to protect the people or connect societies that otherwise remain poles apart.Air Force interpreter officers salute at a ceremony in March at the Air Force’s Operations Command in Osan Air Base, Gyeonggi Province, marking their completion of training. (Air Force)They range from sign language translators who act as the gateway to the outs

Social AffairsOct. 2, 2015

[Weekender] Interpretation: Blending art and science

Tension filled the room as a senior Seoul official sat at the negotiating table with his U.S. counterparts and a professional interpreter. Seeking to break the ice, he told them a story starting with a Korean proverb. Word for word, it was supposed to be “Too many boatmen steer a boat to the mountain.” Instead, the interpreter opted for what she believed was a more comprehensible expression, “Too many cooks spoil the broth.” Yet the official, who had expected to hear “ship” or “mountain” to his

Foreign AffairsOct. 2, 2015

[Weekender] Presidential interpreters: Insiders behind the curtain

Working beside society’s elite, they fly hundreds of thousands of miles every year on charter planes. They speak about pressing brainteasers with the top actors on the world stage. They have access to the heavily fortified Cheong Wa Dae and its inner workings, as well as those of other presidential offices around the globe. Despite their seemingly coveted call of duty, almost the only time they make the headlines is when they blunder. At times, they are bewildered by the convoluted, highfalutin

Foreign AffairsOct. 2, 2015