With American electric car giant Tesla preparing to open its first showrooms in Korea next week, industry officials are left speculating whether the company’s high prices and lack of government subsidies will still allow the company to make a big splash in the local eco-car market. 　The first model set to hit the local streets will be Tesla’s luxury Model S 90D, with a starting price of 121 million won ($105,000). However, despite the higher price tag compared to competing electric vehicles curr

Mobility March 5, 2017

Volkswagen Korea is appealing the South Korean watchdog’s decision to slap it with 37.3 billion won ($32.7 million) in fines and a correction order for false advertising related to its diesel emissions scandal. 　Volkswagen filed an administrative suit with the Seoul High Court on Feb. 23 against the FTC’s ruling, which was imposed late last year. It did not file an injunction, the court said Wednesday.　The company reportedly claims that the watchdog’s fine and correction order are unfair.　The co

Mobility March 2, 2017

Han Suk-kyu receives the award for top actor at the SBS Awards Festival Drama Awards Saturday evening in Seoul’s Sangam-dong. (SBS)Han Suk-kyu took home the top prize for his role as a quirky, genius doctor on the popular TV series “Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim” at the 2016 SBS Awards Festival Drama Awards on Saturday evening. 　Han addressed the importance of embracing diversity in his acceptance speech, in a ceremony held at the SBS Prism Tower in Sangam-dong, Seoul. 　“A lot of people tell you t

Jan. 1, 2017

Girl group AOA (FNC Entertainment)K-pop girl group AOA released a video with the choreography for its new songs on Saturday evening.　The seven member group was featured dancing in a “motion poster” for the songs “Excuse Me” and “Bing Bing,” set to be the title tracks for AOA’s first LP “Angel’s Knock.” The album was released Monday at midnight.   　Snippets of the group’s on-stage choreography were revealed through the moving posters, released on AOA’s official social media accounts.　AOA is set t

Jan. 1, 2017

The hallyu wave has made Korea one of Asia’s biggest entertainment powerhouses. Famous for K-pop and “Gangnam Style,” Korea’s entertainment industry is setting its sights on captivating new audiences, and new consumers.　Most recently riding the wave of success in China, the future expansion and growth of hallyu -- or Korean cultural content -- is seeking new export outlets.　The industry that was once all about penetrating the Japanese market has shifted its focus. While the exportation of Korean

Jan. 1, 2017

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced a new initiative to promote travel outside of Seoul next year, recommending destinations based on different themes. 　The ministry selected its top sightseeing cities outside of Seoul. Separated into 10 regions, the new travel promotion initiative highlights themes such as “Peace and National Security,” “Road to Pyeongchang,” “Seonbi (classical scholar) Culture,” “Time Travel” and “Islands and Wind.” 　To allow travelers to get the best out

Travel Dec. 27, 2016

Owner-pastry chefs Ronan and Su-jin Kim Maillet do not skimp on salt and butter at their namesake dessert boutique in Seorae Village, Seoul. Croissants get their snappy, crisp exterior from a liberal use of butter, while a light punch of salt heightens that lovely, butter-rich flavor. One might think that the thick yet light layers of vanilla cream are what earn Maillet’s millefeuille a loyal fan base, but one should not discredit the buttery, flaky and slightly saline layers sandwiching that lu

Food Dec. 23, 2016

K-pop girl group Twice (JYP Entertainment)Despite having only debuted one year ago, the ladies of Twice have already become the fastest selling girl group ever on both the Gaon and Hanteo music charts. 　Twice’s latest EP, “TWICEcoaster: Lane 1” released Oct. 24 and in less than two months the album has sold more than 220,000 copies, making it the fastest selling album by a girl group in Korea. 　The EP features the lead single “TT,” and the “TT” music video went on to become the fastest K-pop vid

Dec. 19, 2016

K-pop group EXO (S.M. Entertainment)The K-pop megastars of EXO are in the spotlight again this holiday season, dropping their new winter EP “For Life” on Monday. 　The five-track album, with its eponymous lead single, was released in both Korean and Chinese. It features both upbeat pop and soulful ballads as well as Christmas-inspired tracks including “Winter Heat,” “What I Want for Christmas” and “Falling for You.”　Along with the album release, EXO unveiled the Korean and Chinese music videos fo

Dec. 19, 2016

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shirley Hazzard, an award-winning novelist who wrote of love affairs disrupted and intensified by age, distance and war, has died at age 85.　Hazzard had been in failing health and died Monday at her home in Manhattan, according to her friend Frances Alston. The Australian-born Hazzard had lived in New York City for decades, but also had spent time in Hong Kong, Britain, New Zealand and Italy, an international perspective shared by her characters.　She was a writer of predigital t

Books Dec. 14, 2016

On a small peninsula just over 100,000 square kilometers in area, Korea’s vastly extensive railways have made domestic flying a virtually unnecessary expense and hassle. 　Since 2005, the country’s railways have been dominated by Korail, which has been running competition-free over the past decade. However, all that is set to change on Dec. 9.　On Friday, travelers will find themselves with an alternative option, as Korea welcomes its newest contender to railway and bullet train travel -- SR.  An

Travel Dec. 5, 2016

K-Travel Bus summer promotion　Visit Korea Committee is conducting a summer promotion event for the K-Travel Bus service from July 18 to Aug. 31, offering travelers discounted rates.　Participants who reserve a trip with the K-Travel bus during that timeframe via its homepage will receive a discount coupon worth $30, as well as an additional $10 discount for international students who present a university/college or language school ID card. 　A drawing will also be held for those who post reviews o

Travel July 22, 2016

In Korea the winter months are known to be the best time to enjoy seafood from the surrounding cold waters. However, it is in the summer when the bounty of the sea and fish “hoe” are the most desired. Fresh catches from the ocean served chilled take on many forms in Korean cuisine and become the perfect match to the warm summer season. Cool on the palate and easy on the appetite, local seafood glorifies summer eating as it should be enjoyed, and one dish that is best in-season is the raw seafood

Food July 22, 2016

During summer, some Koreans may think of the phrase “iyeolchiyeol” when deciding what to eat. 　Similar to the popular English idiom “fight fire with fire,” Koreans are known to tackle the scorching weather head on by “adding” even more heat. This might take the form of visiting saunas or having a bowl of piping hot soup.   　“Boyangsik,” which translates to “food that strengthens the body,” is a common go-to food during summer because it is believed that such food is made with ingredients that ca

Food July 22, 2016

On a scorching hot summer day, you start to feel sluggish and dizzy while perspiring heavily. Feeling dehydrated and low on energy, you instinctively grab a glass of cold water, gulp it down and look for an air-conditioned place to rest. 　There is one more place Koreans think of stopping by on such days -- a samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) eatery. On lunar days that mark the beginning, middle and end of summer, samgyetang restaurants are crowded with customers yearning for the taste of tender

Food July 22, 2016