[Video] Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong returns after China, Japan trip

GIMPO -- Samsung Electronics heir and Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong on Wednesday returned from a weeklong trip to China and Japan after meeting the company’s major business partners there. In response to a question on what had been the major achievements of the latest trip, Lee told The Korea Herald that he would elaborate more later on.(Shot by Song Su-hyun/Edited by Lim Jeong-yeo)Lee met with chairmen and top officials of Japan’s mobile carriers KDDI and NTT Docomo in Tokyo earlier this week as p

IndustryMay 9, 2018

[Video] Stay or go? Volcano forces choice for all in eruption zone

Edwin Montoya's family carved their farm on the slopes of the Kilauea volcano out of "raw jungle," transforming it into a fertile collection of gardens, animal pens and fruit trees. Now the property is imperiled by the very land it stands upon. A couple of miles up the hill, lava has destroyed dozens of homes and his daughter's farm is in an evacuation zone. Despite the nearby danger, Montoya plans to stay unless he is forced to leave. "I'm going to go ahead and stick it out," he said. "If

World NewsMay 9, 2018

[Video] Whistleblower urges US Customs to investigate Korean Air smuggling allegations

[Herald Interview]Park Chang-jin, a Korean Air employee of 22 years, revealed in 2014 what has come to be known as the “nut rage” incident. He said that Cho Hyun-ah, 42, then-Korean Air senior vice president, forced him, then a cabin crew chief, and a junior attendant who served nuts to her in an unopened package, to apologize on their knees. The Korean Air chairman’s daughter used abusive language and jabbed Park several times with a service manual. Cho even ordered the taxiing aircraft to retu

Social AffairsMay 7, 2018

[Video] Savory pig’s trotters, jokbal

Walking down the streets of traditional markets, some might be shocked by the graphic scene of pig’s trotters hanging upside down. Upon closer look, you will find that the trotters display their fat toes too. Many Koreans actually enjoy eating these trotters. Called “jokbal,” the dish is go-to late-night soul food. It is also representative of Korea’s delivery service culture, as it arrives at your doorstep even in the middle of the night, typically 30 minutes after ordering. (Video shot and pro

FoodMay 3, 2018

[Video] Sudden hail rains down on Seoul

Hail rained down suddenly on Seoul around 1 p.m., Thursday, catching pedestrians out for lunch off guard.The sky that had been clear in the morning clouded over, and with thunder came the heavy drumming of hail and rain.The rain is forecast to stop Friday, but strong winds will bring down felt temperatures to below 5 degrees Celsius in the morning.(Lim Jeong-yeo/The Korea Herald)(Lim Jeong-yeo/The Korea Herald)(Lim Jeong-yeo/The Korea Herald)By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)

Social AffairsMay 3, 2018

[Video] Male florist describes ‘flair’ for flowers

In South Korea, May is the month celebrated across the nation for families to show appreciation for one another. With Parents’ Day just around the corner, flower shops receive greater bundles of orders for flower gifts to be presented to parents. (Shot and edited by Park Ju-young / The Korea Herald)Taking on a fresh perspective on flowers, owner-artist Jung Jun-ho of “Peony Pepe” flower shop is one of a few up-and-coming male florists in the nation. Compared to other Western cultures where flori

CultureMay 3, 2018

[Video] Ryan Reynolds visits Korea for ‘Deadpool 2’

The wisecracking mercenary superhero Deadpool is not too different from Ryan Reynolds, said the actor who plays the character at a press conference in Seoul Wednesday.The actor visited Korea to promote “Deadpool 2,” the sequel to the Marvel superhero film “Deadpool” released in 2016. The second installment is set for a world premiere in Korean theaters on May 16. “I would say we‘re a pretty close match,” Reynolds told reporters of his character at a hotel in central Seoul. “The only difference,

FilmMay 2, 2018

[Video] (FULL) Kim Jong-un’s speech in Panmunjeom

When the summit between South and North Korea took place Friday, many were surprised to hear North Korean leader Kim Jong-un use plain-spoken language, and that he spoke with much civility, in stark contrast to his formerly belligerent manner of speech propagated on media.Kim Jong-un, following the signing of the Panmunjeom Declaration vowing to bridge the two Koreas’ efforts for peace, denuclearization and reunification of transportation and communication, gave a 5-minute speech stressing the n

North KoreaApril 30, 2018

[Video] Main press center erupts into applause as inter-Korean summit kicks off

Reporters generally don’t clap at the events they’re covering, largely to remain impartial. It’s particularly true for South Korean reporters who usually maintain a calm, if not stoic, attitude at official events, no matter how big.But a rare moment occurred on Friday. Local and international reporters gathered at the main press center set up in an exhibition hall in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, erupted into a heartfelt applause at the historic start of the first inter-Korean summit in 11 years. T

North KoreaApril 27, 2018

[Video] What do people in Korea think about Moon-Kim summit?

People living in Korea remain at once skeptical and hopeful of the historical inter-Korean summit set to take place Friday in Panmunjeom, on the border of the two Koreas. North Korean denuclearization and the establishment of peace on the peninsula are among the key items to be discussed at the table between Korean president Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. In recent months, roughly since the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games, the North has shown unprecedented overtures in favor of

North KoreaApril 26, 2018

[Video] Take a break with ‘Space-out Competition’

The “2018 Space-out Competition” took place at Yeouido Han River Park on Sunday, under the pitch “Let your exhausted brain relax for a while.” Despite the rainy weather on Sunday morning, about 150 contenders seen in the park stayed blank-faced for 90 minutes without talking, sleeping, eating or checking their phones. The contest rule is simple, a person who maintained the most stable heartbeat rate becomes the winner.(Related article: Seoul City to hold ‘space-out’ contest on April 22)(Shot and

CultureApril 22, 2018

[Video] New generation of naengmyeon makers rises in stronghold of masters

Bongmilga’s owner Kwon Hee-seung is one of a new breed of young chefs serving up Pyongyang-style naengmyeon, opening his small restaurant five years ago. Kwon’s personal love for Pyeongyang naengmyeon by Woo Lae Oak -- the oldest naengmyeon restaurant in Seoul, established in 1946 – inspired him with a mission to serve the best naengmyeon in the country. He turned his diner that specialized in makguksu -- a dish using noodles with more buckwheat content than those in traditional naengmyeong -- i

FoodApril 20, 2018

[Video] Future food source evokes nostalgia for old days

Taking a spring stroll along riverside parks, passersby might be startled by a steaming pot of brownish worms. Called “beondegi,“ the wormlike creatures are boiled silkworm pupae. While the insects are considered a possible future food source, Koreans have been eating silkworm pupae for half a century. Beondegi was a common street food in the late 20th century. (Produced and narrated by Lim Jeong-yeo/Reporter Im Eun-byel appears in this video)During the country‘s rapid industrialization, Korea’s

FoodApril 19, 2018

[Video] Syrian air defence shoots down missiles over Homs: state media

 Syrian air defence shot down missiles over the central province of Homs, the state news agency said Tuesday, with the strikes reportedly targeting regime air bases.The news agency did not give further details and it was unclear who was behind the attack, which Syrian state television branded as an "aggression".Big explosions were heard near Al Shayrat Air base, southeast of the city of Homs, and in eastern Qalamoun near Damascus where two other air bases are located, the Syrian Observatory for

World NewsApril 17, 2018

[Video] Diversity of Korean seaweed rice roll ‘gimbap’

The season of outdoor picnics has dawned. If Western countries have the sandwich, Korea has gimbap as item of choice for dining alfresco in the park.A roll of gimbap -- rice, vegetables and other ingredients wrapped tightly in a seaweed laver sheet -- is considered both the classic picnic lunch and takeout food for Koreans.The typical gimbap consists of white rice, carrots, spinach, fried egg, ham, cucumber and yellow pickled radish. A timeless item on the lunch menu for Koreans, gimbap has also

FoodApril 10, 2018

[Video] Barbershop offers a cultural space for gentlemen

The barbershop has been slowly fading into a place of the past, only rarely shown on TV as a symbol of the bygone era. But there are signs of it being reborn into a hip place for Korean men.(Shot and edited by Park Ju-young / The Korea Herald)The revival of the barbershop is being driven by a set of carefully redefined features and services reserved for male clients. One factor is a pressure-free interaction atmosphere between customers and barbers. “Older barbers in our parents’ time even knew

CultureApril 6, 2018

[Video] 77 student models strut down catwalk ‘cherry blossom way’

Since 2014, student models of Daeduk University have hosted an unusual catwalk under cherry blossom trees in full bloom.Daeduk University is located in the center of South Korea in Daejeon and runs a two-year program for aspiring models. Students learn proper posture and the many ways to execute a walk with style. The university’s “Department of Model” was established in 2014 and has since gained fame through its catwalk under the cherry blossoms. Both male and female students participate, altho

Arts & DesignApril 5, 2018

[Video] Finding peace with So Ji-sub, Park Shin-hye’s solitude

In this hustling and bustling world where people are connected through social media even when we are physically alone, finding complete solitude can be a luxury. One may think of it, but mostly find it a far-fetched dream. For those who’ve ever dreamed of removing themselves from their overloaded routines, tvN’s new reality show “Solitary Stay” is a decent alternative. Featuring two big-name actors So Ji-sub and Park Shin-hye, the documentary-formatted program follows their off-grid lives in a h

TelevisionApril 5, 2018

[Video] ‘Meokbang’ streamers embracing amplified sounds to create new stories

One of the latest fads in Korea’s ever-evolving culture of “meokbang” (also spelled “mukbang” ) or eating videos, is “real sound,” where YouTubers capture their chewing noises. Lee Tae-goon and Lee Min-joo are brothers who run the YouTube channel Ddeonggaeddeong, devoted to the siblings and their friends eating and carefully chewing in front of a high-quality microphone. The soundbites of food being savored in the mouth are clearly delivered to the viewers’ earphones. According to chef Park Jun-

FoodApril 4, 2018

[Video] Families demand state support for people with developmental disabilities

In front of the Hyoja community service center, just 200 meters away from the presidential office in Seoul, some 3,000 parents and volunteer workers took to the streets to demand support for people with developmental disabilities on Monday. During the rally organized by Korean Parents’ Network for People with Disabilities, 209 parents and activists also shaved their heads, in the hopes that their pleadings will be better heard and seen by the government.“We are parents who have to take care of o

Social AffairsApril 2, 2018