Most Popular
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Dongduk Women’s University halts coeducation talks
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Defense ministry denies special treatment for BTS’ V amid phone use allegations
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OpenAI in talks with Samsung to power AI features, report says
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Russia sent 'anti-air' missiles to Pyongyang, Yoon's aide says
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Two jailed for forcing disabled teens into prostitution
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Trump picks ex-N. Korea policy official as his principal deputy national security adviser
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S. Korea not to attend Sado mine memorial: foreign ministry
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South Korean military plans to launch new division for future warfare
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Kia EV9 GT marks world debut at LA Motor Show
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Gold bars and cash bundles; authorities confiscate millions from tax dodgers
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[Weekender] Record number of Chinese tourists to visit Korea
As Koreans empty the usually bustling streets of Seoul, spending the Lunar New Year holiday with parents and relatives, their travel-loving neighbors from China will surge in.This year, an unprecedented number of Chinese tourists are expected to arrive. The country hopes to greet some 126,000 Chinese visitors for the Lunar New Year holiday starting next week, up by 30 percent from the previous year, according to the state-run Korea Tourism Organization. A Lotte duty-free shop in Seoul is crowded
TravelFeb. 13, 2015
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[Weekender] Abe shamed by attempt to whitewash atrocities
International criticism is escalating over Tokyo’s apparent attempts to whitewash its wartime wrongdoings as a group of U.S. historians issued a strong protest against the moves, arguing no government has the right to “censor history.”In a joint statement, a group of 19 American scholars decried Tokyo’s recent request for a U.S. publisher to change the description of the issue of the “comfort women” ― a euphemistic term referring to Asians forced into sexual servitude by Japan during World War I
Foreign AffairsFeb. 6, 2015
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[Weekender] The changing landscape of Korea’s housing market
Owning a house or an apartment used to be a symbol of not only wealth, but also pride and security for an average salaried worker. A couple of decades ago, to buy and live in a dream house of four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a veranda, an ordinary income earner was able to come up with the money in five to seven years.South Korea’s unique real estate financing system called jeonse made this possible especially in the double-digit interest rate era until the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.Jeonse lea
Feb. 6, 2015
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[Weekender] Jeonse, a keystone of Korea’s economic history
Jeonse, a system that allows people to rent houses with a lump-sum deposit and no monthly payments, is a real estate system unique to South Korea.The system arose due to the lack of mortgage availability in Korea, which pushed people to turn to jeonse as a form of private financing, and spurred by the general expectation for rising real estate prices, which allows property owners to profit without charging interest.But some claim that the history of jeonse dates back to before industrialization
Feb. 6, 2015
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[Weekender] Gosiwon reflects changing housing culture
In terms of uniquely Korean housing culture, one can’t leave out the humblest abode: the “gosiwon,” a low-cost, sparsely furnished, month-to-month rental room that does not require a deposit.The hallway of a typical gosiwon (jointroom.com)A typical gosiwon room, with basic furniture squeezed into about 4 square meters (gosiwonhome.com)A gosiwon, a residential room as tiny as 3.5 square meters, is furnished with a desk, bookshelf and bed. The business originally took off to temporarily accommodat
Feb. 6, 2015
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[Weekender] Restaurants ride on superfoods boom
“Superfood” is not a scientific term. It is a marketing term for nutrient-rich food and a growing number of food-makers and restaurants are adopting the word in their sales and marketing strategies. Korea’s top hotel restaurants and food franchises agree that true superfoods share something more than just nutrition. While this year’s superfoods are not necessarily “better” than those of a decade ago, they are seasonal, fresh, and preferably grown locally. Locally grown fresh seaweed and shellfis
IndustryJan. 30, 2015
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[Weekender] Health benefits of locally grown seasonal foods
Eating seasonally and locally is a great way to maintain a healthy diet, observes a veteran food consultant and Korea’s first accredited vegetable sommelier. “To me, superfoods are local foods grown in season. They taste better, are cheaper and rich in nutrition,” Kim Eun-kyung, president of the Korea Vegetable Sommelier Association, told The Korea Herald.The 49-year-old fruit and veggie guru said that fruit and vegetables eaten in season have a higher phytochemical content and contain more nutr
FoodJan. 30, 2015
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[Weekender] Multigrains imports sharply increase
As Koreans have become more health-conscious over the past few years, the popularity of superfoods, particularly internationally renowned multigrains like quinoa, has increased across the country. According to Lotte Mart, sales of imported grains in the first half of 2014 increased by 330 percent compared to the same period a year ago. Here are some of Korea’s favorite grains.QuinoaQuinoa hails from the Andes, and is referred to as “the grain of the gods.” According to Japan’s Ministry of Educat
IndustryJan. 30, 2015
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[Weekender] Korean foods gain recognition abroad
While Koreans are increasingly consuming imported superfoods, there are also some Korean foods that are recognized overseas for their nutritional benefits. Here are some homegrown foods that have been mentioned in foreign publications over the past few years for their health benefits. SeaweedIn a story covering Wando Seaweed Festival, held in Korea last September, the Wall Street Journal highlighted seaweed soup, traditionally eaten by mothers after giving birth in Korea, as it contains iodine,
IndustryJan. 30, 2015
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[Weekender] Juicing for health
Juicing has become popular across the country. Many Koreans put drinking a glass of fresh fruit or veggie juice a day on their list of New Year’s resolutions, and most coffee chains have begun selling fresh juices. A fresh juice bar run by Organica at a branch of high-end supermarket chain Super Star in southern Seoul. (Organica)Behind the boom is the craze for cleansing the body of toxins with juice ― the so-called “juice cleanse.’’Drinking “detox’’ juice has become a daily routine for many Ko
IndustryJan. 30, 2015
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[Weekender] Korea’s latest well-being movement
For Lee Kyung-ja, a 63-year-old housewife who has lived in Latin America for more than 40 years, the biggest concern ahead of her planned return to Korea was food.Having lived in Bolivia, the home of a slew of so-called superfoods like quinoa and lentils, she had no idea how to maintain her decade-old eating habits. But her concerns vanished during a recent visit to Seoul. “I was pleasantly surprised that almost all food items from Latin America are available at local supermarkets. There were ev
IndustryJan. 30, 2015
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[Weekender] Ice climbing in Korea scales new heights
About 70 percent of South Korea is covered in mountains. Gushing out of these mountains are spectacular waterfalls of all shapes and sizes, a boon to sweaty hikers in the summer and a godsend to athletic ice climbers in the winter. Ice climbing has been enjoyed in Korea since the 1970s. Local climbers often start through climbing schools or alpine clubs. The increasing popularity has motivated many districts to create “ice climbing parks” ― artificial icefalls made by pumping water over cliffs.
TravelJan. 23, 2015
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[Weekender] Winter hiking not for experts only
For Kim Sun-bok, a member of a local hiking club, the coldest among 10 years of Sunday excursions was a trip to Mount Hallasan on the southern island of Jeju. “At the beginning of the hike it was not too cold, but as we got closer to the top the wind picked up,” she said. “The wind was blowing so hard I was almost knocked over and my legs were shaking from the cold.”Though for most of the year hiking in Korea is a casual pursuit, in wintertime thorough trip preparation and appropriate gear may h
TravelJan. 23, 2015
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[Weekender] Beaches attract seasoned surfers with relentless, uncrowded waves
Sunbathing on a warm summer beach sounds tempting in this season of freezing wind and heavy snow. That’s why warm, exotic resort destinations always top Koreans’ lists of dream vacation spots. But increasingly, Korea’s winter beaches are being warmly greeted by surfers seeking thrills and fun in the billowing winter waves. The hard-core surfers paddle out in the cold water to catch biggest waves of the year. Surfing is not a popular sport in Korea although the three sides of the peninsula are su
TravelJan. 23, 2015
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[Weekender] The charms of wintertime camping
Winter is a time to curl up at home, safely away from the freezing cold, with a nice thick comforter and a hot mug of coffee. Or is it?For those increasing numbers who fancy wintertime camping, winter is, on the contrary, just the right time to venture into the wilderness. What, then, is the appeal? Why choose the cold open over the warm, fully furnished indoors?“The snow,” said Kim Han-soo, a longtime camping enthusiast. “Snow is what sets winter camping apart from summer excursions.” Above all
TravelJan. 23, 2015
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[Weekender] Head to Taebaeksan for frost, rime
With the cherry blossom season still months away, outdoor enthusiasts here are braving the elements to view a more delicate type of flower ― one that thrives in high places under harsh conditions. “Nunkkot” (literally “snow flowers”) can be found on branches, rocks and railings, and the same chilly wind that helps create these crystal blooms can make it challenging ― or even dangerous ― to enjoy the experience. In recent weeks, the upper elevations of the national parks of Seoraksan and Jirisan
TravelJan. 23, 2015
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[Weekender] The Korean Office
Why do we work? Or rather, why do we work so much? For Koreans who are supposedly some of the most overworked people among OECD countries, these are questions that we constantly ask ourselves.And although we spend the majority of our waking hours at work, few seem to have the answers. It is also ironic that when we are out of a job, we become most desperate to get one. But once we do, the whining begins. Such is the twisted relationship that most enjoy with their jobs. In Korea, where Confuciani
Jan. 16, 2015
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[Weekender] Expat office life easier higher up the ladder
Korean office culture can seem alien to outsiders, with stories of drinking and military order rife, but as with elsewhere, the differences are easier to deal with the higher your rank. One person lifting the lid on expat office life is Michael Kocken, who writes “The Sawon,” a blog about his experiences as a graduate recruit at a mid-sized chaebol.He says working there was a rewarding experience, but he found some things hard to fathom. Staff were tacitly expected to work overtime, rather than
Social AffairsJan. 16, 2015
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[Weekender] Corporate culture in transition
South Korea has long been notorious for its male-dominant, top-down corporate culture. But recently, Korean workplaces have been experiencing some major changes, including a generational shift and an increase in female representation.“The younger generation is more outspoken and not shy about expressing their opinions to their seniors,” said a director at a media company who wished to remain anonymous. The attitude is somewhat new to him ― a 50-something baby boomer born raised under military-ba
Social AffairsJan. 16, 2015