[Video] Views of South Koreans on boycotting Japanese products

People in Korea have shown mixed reactions to deepening boycotts of Japanese products prompted by Tokyo’s sudden export controls of high-tech materials to South Korea. In a Realmeter survey of 506 respondents, 54.6 percent were in support of the boycott campaign. On Thursday, “NoNo Japan,” an online community displaying consumer brands and products originating from Japan, was temporarily inaccessible due to heavy traffic.“I’m aware that many are boycotting Japanese

Foreign AffairsJuly 22, 2019

[Video] Jeju murder victim’s brother gives account of what happened before, on and since May 25

JEJU CITY -- A 36-year-old man was killed at a pension in Jeju Island. His body was dismembered and disposed of in the sea. Police suspect his ex-wife, Koh Yu-jeong, of the crimes.The man, identified only by his surname Kang, leaves behind a 6-year-old son, whom he had not seen since his divorce from Koh in 2017. Koh, who took custody, did not allow his visits until the very day he died. On May 25, the two ex-spouses were scheduled to meet for a day out with their son. Kang’s family said s

Social AffairsJune 18, 2019

[Video] Blue Bottle Coffee opens first store in Korea

California-based Blue Bottle Coffee has opened its first cafe in Korea on Friday, making Korea the second international market for the company. Blue Bottle’s 1,300-square-meter store in Seoul will be located in Seongsu-dong, an area referred to as the “Brooklyn” of Seoul, according to the company. Blue Bottle Coffee Korea (Yonhap)“We tend not to open locations in the most commercial areas and we like to pick a location that has a strong community and reflects our values,” Bryan Meehan, CEO of Bl

IndustryMay 3, 2019

[Video] Bonghwangdang: Where you’ll meet Seoul’s biggest Liverpool fans

In Seoul’s bustling college district of Hongdae, there is a pub by the name of Bonghwangdang, or the Phoenix Hall. With the neon Liverpool Football Club emblem and the liver bird sign, it makes a conspicuous statement as an LFC supporters’ pub.Bonghwangdang, which opened its doors in 2016, is where you will meet the city’s biggest Liverpool fans. On game nights, the underground pub is crowded with soccer fans looking to catch the game with drinks. Videos shot and edited by Kim Arin/The Korea Her

SoccerApril 26, 2019

[Video] Standoff between ruling and main opposition results in violent clash

Deadlock between ruling Democratic Party of Korea and main opposition Liberty Korea Party over fast-tracking key bills turned to violent clashes overnight Friday.Violence sparked Thursday as Liberty Korea Party members formed human barricades in front of rooms on the second and fourth floors of the National Assembly, where the special committee on political reform and judiciary reform convene. (Yonhap)In doing so, the main opposition bloc sought to prevent the committees from opening a meeting t

PoliticsApril 26, 2019

[Video] Sound is universal language: ASMR creator Miniyu

Yu Min-jung, a YouTuber specializing in spine-tingling ASMR videos, changes her role once or twice a week. From a late-night barber to a dermatologist, then from a scalp therapist to a caring friend removing makeup from a roommate’s face -- Yu becomes a “healer” for those craving sounds of comfort. Believed to be the first to make a Korean ASMR channel, Yu has been working as a full-time creator for almost five years now. Her channel -- Miniyu -- has 500,000 subscribers and her most watched vide

PeopleApril 19, 2019

[Video] [Seoul Food Alley] Street for petite yet fiery octopus

Seoul’s alleys are filled with eateries specializing in particular dishes. The Korea Herald takes you on a foodie trip to narrow alleys where decades-old establishments beckon diners with their secret recipes, often handed down through generations. - Ed.Jjukkumi Street in Yongdu-dong, central Seoul (Lee So-jung/The Korea Herald)Yongdu-dong is not a well-known area of Seoul -- not even for local residents of the capital. It is not a tourist destination and it is certainly no hip neighborhood. Non

FoodApril 17, 2019

[Video] Tongyeong is destination for seafood lovers

TONGYEONG, South Gyeongsang Province -- For a foodie, enjoying fresh seafood is a must when lounging near the coast. A visit to the southern port city of Tongyeong, a four-hour drive from Seoul, is a chance to devour a wide range of seafood. Tongyeong is like no other port city here. It has many small islands nearby, and the surrounding waters are warm and shallow. Despite its abundance of fresh seafood, Tongyeong is perhaps best known for chungmu gimbap -- finger-sized rolls of cooked rice serv

FoodApril 9, 2019

[Video] Gangneung fire burns down more than 300 homes

Fires that started in Goseong-gun and Gangneung, both in Gangwon Province, spread simultaneously and burned through 525 hectares of forest, the equivalent of more than 735 soccer fields. The fire claimed 250 hectares in Goseong and Sokcho, 250 hectares in Gangneung and 25 hectares in Inje. (Video shot by Kim Arin, edited by Lee Sun-hye /The Korea Herald) As of Friday afternoon, total damages were estimated at some 300 homes burned and approximately 5.2 billion won ($4.57 million) worth

Social AffairsApril 5, 2019

[Video] Throwback to Korea’s roaring ‘20s in Ikseon-dong

Tucked deep into Seoul’s central district of Jongno lies Ikseon-dong, the latest hip hangout place in a city where fashion wears fast. At a glance, it is easy to see why the neighborhood’s photogenic cluster of modernized 20th century hanok, or traditional Korean houses, would appeal to the Instagram generation.Crowded on weekdays and weekends alike, Ikseon-dong is imbued with the fashionable ambience of a particular time in modern Korean history: the late 19th to early 20th century period of mo

CultureApril 4, 2019

[Video] Violence erupts at Liberty Korea Party national convention as union stages surprise protest

GOYANG, Gyeonggi Province-- Members of Korea’s hard-line Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and civic groups staged a surprise protest at the main opposition Liberty Korea Party’s national convention being held at Kintex in Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday afternoon. (Yonhap)The protesters called on the party to disband over offensive remarks by some of its lawmakers about the Gwangju Democratic Uprising and for questioning the legitimacy of the impeachment of former President Park

Social AffairsFeb. 27, 2019

[Video] Hanoi welcomes US, N. Korean leaders

HANOI, Vietnam -- Hosting the second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Hanoi bustled with both excitement and tension as it welcomed the two leaders Tuesday.From US and North Korean flags hung on the streets to shops selling T-shirts featuring the faces of Trump and Kim, the city has been busy preparing for the summit. As Kim got off from the train from Pyongyang at Dong Dang Station in Vietnam in the morning, security was tightened and roads were bloc

North KoreaFeb. 26, 2019

[Video] Inside dog farm in Korea

HONGSEONG, South Chungcheong Province -- On a rainy Friday morning, howls filled the cold, foggy air around a recently decommissioned dog farm in a remote corner of South Chungcheong Province. Here some 200 dogs had been confined in filthy cages with inadequate food, water and care. Friday was the third day of Humane Society International’s dog rescue project, which kicked off on Feb. 13 as part of the organization’s efforts to save dogs from Korea’s puppy mill trade and dog meat industry. The g

Social AffairsFeb. 20, 2019

[Video] Hyundai Motor chief makes video debut on Nexo

Taking a step closer to the company’s young workforce, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun recently made a surprise video debut -- filming himself test-driving the Nexo, the fuel-cell electric vehicle that the company is betting on as the key to its future growth.In the video, a CEO message addressed to the carmaker’s midlevel employees, Chung drinks coffee and checks his “urgent email” while the vehicle is in self-driving mode.Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Ch

MobilityFeb. 15, 2019

[Video] Contract worker’s funeral held two months after death

 Memorial services for 24-year-old Kim Yong-gyun, a contract worker who died in an industrial accident Dec. 11 while inspecting a coal-fired power station in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, will be held for three days from Feb. 7 to 9.  (Yonhap) A wake, popularly called the “Democratic Society Funeral,” will take place at Seoul National University Hospital’s funeral home. The wake is open to the public.

Social AffairsFeb. 7, 2019

[Video] Lee Na-young, Lee Jong-suk to show romance in publishing industry in new rom-com

Actress Lee Na-young, who is more well-known in the film industry, is returning to the small screen with the new rom-com series “Romance is a Bonus Book” (direct translation), in which she stars opposite Lee Jong-suk.She plays Kang Dan-Yi, a former top copy editor at a PR firm who was happily married with a daughter but who is now divorced, with her career put on halt. She strives to excel in the workplace again, representing many South Korean women who face similar struggles. Women whose career

TelevisionJan. 21, 2019

[Video] D-Crunch hopes to spread own stories around the world

Diamonds are rock-solid, but they’re not unbreakable, says D-Crunch.With its name abbreviated from Diamond-Crunch, referring to the group’s powerful performance and musicality fit to crush diamonds, the fresh K-pop rookie overflows with youthful energy and ambitions.Having just started to make its mark in the K-pop scene, the nine-piece group of Hyunwook, Hyunho, O.V, Minhyuk, Hyunwoo, Hyunoh, Chanyoung, Jungseung and Dylan said it hopes to spread its messages around the globe. (Video shot by Li

PerformanceDec. 28, 2018

[Video] Jinyoung at the center of body-swapping comedy

With each year there buds in a person’s mind the wish to begin anew, to be a new person and a better me for the New Year. Now imagine waking up in a hospital bed in a body that is not yours. Imagine finding out you’re 30 years younger but a social outcast at school, or a powerful man with rivals out to kill you. Such is the plot of the comedy-drama film “Inside Me,” where Jinyoung plays Kim Dong-hyun, a bullied, introverted high school student; and veteran actor Park Sung-woong plays Jang Pa

FilmDec. 26, 2018

[Video] Boiling water from pipeline rupture kills 1, injures dozens

GOYANG, Gyeonggi Province -- When Kim, a worker at a diner, opened the door to look outside at around 8:40 p.m. Tuesday, she found the ground was flooded with hot water, and the air was thick with steam.“It was chaos. There was hot muddy water on the ground. And as we tried to evacuate the building, we could not see anything ahead of us because of the steam,” Kim, who only gave her surname, told The Korea Herald on Wednesday.“I cannot fully describe the fear. I thought to myself ‘This is how I’m

Social AffairsDec. 5, 2018

[Video] Startups, VCs gather in Seoul to celebrate The Investor’s Choice

Hundreds of CEOs, investors and officials from startups and world-be entrepreneurs took part in the inaugural The Investor’s Choice, a startup conference, at Hotel Shilla in Seoul on Wednesday.The event, consisting of a panel discussion and an award ceremony, was co-organized by investment media outlet The Investor and Korea’s No. 1 English newspaper The Korea Herald in a bid to recognize the contributions of Korean startups in the local market.Kicking off the conference was a keynote address de

TechnologyNov. 28, 2018