[Weekender] Hangang offers workout for health-conscious folks

The Hangang River offers runners, cyclists, skaters and yacht lovers a place to escape the traffic and pretend they’re not in one of the world’s most densely populated cities.The Hangang River’s swimming pools and yacht rental shops also offer Seoul citizens a getaway from urban life at affordable prices. Cyclists ride along a bike path by the Hangang River. (Seoul Metropolitan Government)Six swimming pools are located on the banks of the Hangang River. In the western part of Yeouido, park visit

Social AffairsJuly 10, 2015

[Weekender] Unique food culture adds flavor

As excited children chatter, cyclists swish by and 20-somethings laugh among themselves, a man swiftly hands out chicken delivery leaflets at Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul. His leaflet catches the attention of six college students, who were planning to have a picnic at the riverbank.Picnickers brave the summer heat at a riverside park in Seoul. (The Korea Herald file photo)After leaving an order with the man, three fried chickens, three seasoned chickens and six cans of beer came just 40 minutes l

Social AffairsJuly 10, 2015

[Weekender] River encapsulates Korea’s history

In human history, rivers have played a pivotal role for the birth and development of villages, cities and civilizations, as they have provided them with fishing, water, transportation, and other essentials.Seoulites swim and row boats in the Hangang River on Aug. 3, 1964. (Seoul Metropolitan Government)For Korea, the Hangang River has undertaken that role, serving as a crucial conduit for people’s exchanges and communication, and laying the groundwork for the flourishing of ancient kingdoms, tho

Social AffairsJuly 10, 2015

[Weekender] Hangang, open sanctuary for drained souls from megacity life

A perfect weekend for Lee Jeong-eun, a 35-year-old office worker, is not about striding in shopping malls to grab the last summer dress on sale, having her nails done or watching the latest Hollywood blockbuster in an air-conditioned movie theater.All she has to do is to go to a campsite in Jamsil Park, one of 12 parks open on the banks of the Hangang River. A book, a bottle of Chilean red wine, some pork for an outdoor barbecue and a couple of good friends are what she needs to recharge. Thanks

Social AffairsJuly 10, 2015

[Weekender] Nuribi ― Universiade’s angel of light

Nuribi ― the official mascot of the 28th Universiade Gwangju 2015 ― is the angel of light and messenger of hope.Its Korean name means “fly for the world,” deriving from the name of the host city, Gwangju, which translates to “the town of light.” With its blue and red hair shaped like the games’ emblem, the Wings of Light, Nuribi was introduced in 2013 as a symbol of hope and dreams in line with the games’ vision of “Eco, Peace, IT and Culture” and slogan of “Light Up Tomorrow.“The Gwangju Univer

More SportsJuly 3, 2015

[Weekender] Universiade pursues eco, peace, IT, culture

Universiade Gwangju 2015 pursues four visions: eco, peace, information technology and culture. Organizers have named the 2015 Universiade Ecoversiade, Peaceversiade, ITversiade and Cultureversiade, summing them up with the acronym EPIC.Guided by the vision of Ecoversiade, Gwangju has tried to preserve the environment by using as many existing sports facilities as possible. The host city has refurbished 97 percent of the 73 competition venues, while constructing a swimming pool and a few other fa

More SportsJuly 3, 2015

[Weekender] Athletes from 148 countries to vie for glory

Some 14,000 athletes and officials from about 170 countries will participate in the 28th Summer Universiade in Gwangju, July 3-14.They will compete for 272 gold medals at stake in 21 sports ― 13 compulsory and eight optional.The compulsory sports are athletics, artistic gymnastics, baseball, basketball, fencing, football, judo, rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball and water polo. The organizers chose archery, badminton, baseball, golf, handball, rowing, shooting and ta

More SportsJuly 3, 2015

[Weekender] World-renowned competitors vie for gold

World-renowned athletes have gathered in Gwangju for the 2015 Summer Universiade, the biennial university sports competition organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU).As some 13,000 athletes from about 150 countries are competing for 272 gold medals in 21 sports disciplines at Universiade Gwangju 2015, a number of world champions are expected to take the lead in their respective sports.From artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, badminton and archery to basketball, di

More SportsJuly 3, 2015

[Weekender] Korean stars to watch at Universiade

There are quite a few must-watch Korean athletes at the 28th Universiade 2015 in Gwangju. Some of them are already familiar to sports fans, while others have kept a relatively low-profile. Here are some notable athletes to watch out for.Son Yon-jae in rhythmic gymnasticsSon Yon-jae, the darling of Korean gymnastics fans, has been the face of Korean women’s rhythmic gymnastics since age 15, when she won bronze in the individual all-around at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. Since then, the 20-year

More SportsJuly 3, 2015

[Weekender] Let the games begin

The Gwangju Universiade opened with a bang at its main stadium Friday.Under the event’s slogan of “Light Up Tomorrow,” traditional Korean percussion musicians and a Western marching band celebrated the opening of the games with thrilling performances. Dancers then took to the stage to perform a traditional mock battle.The opening ceremony of the Gwangju Universiade is under way on Friday. (Yonhap)The performances depicted the beauty of the host city and the historical significance of Mount Mudeu

More SportsJuly 3, 2015

[Weekender] Universiade all about uniting young people: ceremony director

The Gwangju Universiade opening ceremony was designed to unite young people from all over the world and encourage them to work for peace and harmony, according to Park Myung-sung, chief director of the event’s opening ceremony. Attended by more than 13,000 university students from 148 countries, the event was held under the slogan of “U are Shining.” The official theme of the opening ceremony epitomizes the spirit of youth and brings hopes and passion to young people. “(Through the theme) I want

More SportsJuly 3, 2015

[Weekender] Chef helped turn quiet street into dining mecca

Just a short stroll away from the bustling multicultural neighborhood of Seoul’s Itaewon lies the lesser-known, yet trend-setting street of Gyeongnidan-gil.A short walk from Noksapyeong Station, this stretch of road is filled with craft breweries, terrace cafes, unique restaurants and quaint shops steeped in culture and creativity. Located two blocks away from the main streets of this up-and-coming neighborhood is a narrow alley, nestled away in a residential district that is even further off th

FoodJune 26, 2015

[Weekender] Charms and concerns of artistic districts

In recent years, Seoul’s Yeonnam-dong and Mullae-dong areas have risen as havens for struggling artists and free-spirited entrepreneurs. Located near enough the bustling Hongdae district to attract visitors but far enough to be removed from the noise of the area’s wild nightlife and expensive real estate prices, the neighborhoods have been seeing a growing number of artistic tenants and tourists for the past five years or so. According to Song Hye-jung, Yeonnam-dong’s charm lies not only in its

CultureJune 26, 2015

[Weekender] Jejudo, Songdo, Busan beckon with romantic youth hangouts

You may get a glimpse of taste of the latest trends in Korea if you travel Jejudo Island, Busan or Songdo in Incheon. Challenging the old beach vacation formula, with tons of almost-identical seafood restaurants, Woljeong-ri Beach in Jejudo is accompanies by a boulevard of cafes, boasting unique interior designs and localized menus. “I dropped by to spend a few relaxing hours at the beach, to feel the ocean breeze and have fun in a comfortable way,” a soldier in his 20s said at a cafe on the bea

June 26, 2015

[Weekender] The rise of ‘ordinary places’ as hot spots

On Wednesday afternoon, 23-year-old university student Kim Eun-young and her friend Lee Ha-young strolled the narrow alleys of Chebu-dong in Jongno-gu of Seoul. They had a meal at the Tongin traditional market and sipped coffee while looking around the neighborhood, busily taking pictures. Instead of high-rises, the neighborhood is crammed with one- or two-story buildings, many in an early 20th century-style. The interior is decorated in European styles, with mostly bare wood or white and pastel

CultureJune 26, 2015

[Weekender] Hidden hot spots in Seoul

While places like Myeong-dong, Garosu-gil and Hongdae are still popular meeting spots where both Seoulites and tourists flock, in recent years, a slew of new hot spots have sprung up, grabbing attention of those wanting something different. These lesser-known districts are smaller than the mainstream hangouts. Yet, they boast unique, chic and sometimes kitsch ambiences that are not easily found at the usual nightspots saturated with big name chains. These up-and-coming neighborhoods can be diffi

TravelJune 26, 2015

[Weekender] Drones glide into life, homes and businesses

Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, are penetrating everyday life, bringing with them changes and challenges. Although they have only recently become widely used, the basic technology that goes into creating a drone was first developed in the early 20th century.Through decades of research, the U.S. military was able to deploy drones during the Vietnam War and increasingly advanced and deadlier versions have carried out precision bombings in recent years, if with mixed results. However, the days

Social AffairsJune 19, 2015

[Weekender] Korea’s high-flying ‘helicam’ business

The Lily camera, once thrown into the air, chases after the person wearing its GPS tracking device. (Lily)In 2013, a team of robotics engineering students from the University of California, Berkeley set out to create the world’s first throw-and-shoot camera.Lily, a GPS-oriented flying camera about to go on sale, can hover once thrown into the air, and chase whoever is wearing its tracking device while filming aerial shots in high-definition. Lily is an advanced version of what has already been w

IndustryJune 19, 2015

[Weekender] How drones do and don’t deliver

Koreans are known for their impatient temperament and cutting-edge innovations, but not even Korea has developed the idea of deliveries to your door by drone.That is the crux of U.S. retail giant Amazon’s Prime Air 30 Minute Delivery service, which was first unveiled in December 2013.Amazon plans to deliver packages weighing less than 2.2 kg to anywhere within 16 km of a servicing warehouse in less than half an hour.The hurdle is not that the technology is in the realm of science fiction ― it is

World NewsJune 19, 2015

[Weekender] Leisure drones gaining popularity among hobbyists

Drones are becoming a common sight at city parks in South Korea, with the small aircraft emerging as a new toy for “kidults” ― adults enjoying hobbies considered better suited to children. Korea’s largest online shopping mall 11st said it saw drone sales rise 560 percent from January to April this year compared to the same period in 2014. Park Seung-wook, 29, a researcher at a chemistry company, is one of the many “kidults” enjoying the luxury hobby. “I like the sound of the propellers, which ma

CultureJune 19, 2015