Rest stops are a place where one passes through on the way to going somewhere else. They are not a destination. At rest stops, drivers rush in to use the toilets, stretch themselves after long hours in a car and grab something to eat. However, some of these roadside establishments have gone beyond their traditional role, positioning themselves to become new cultural spaces. While a number of service areas have failed in their grand ambitions after installing entertainment facilities, including

Travel Aug. 12, 2023

Global streamer Netflix has announced the release of a new Korean original romance series “A Time Called You.” The drama is a time traveling love story between a young woman named Jun-hee (played by Jeon Yeo-been), who grieves over the death of her boyfriend. After losing her lover in a mysterious accident in 2022, Jun-hee receives a cassette tape, which allows her to time travel to 1998. With her memory as Jun-hee intact, she begins a new life as Min-joo, a high school girl. One day

Television Aug. 11, 2023

Terrestrial broadcaster SBS’ new drama “The Killing Vote” is off to a strong start, topping ratings among all TV shows in the same time slot with the first episode. The first episode of the 12-part thriller series, featuring “The Glory” star Lim Ji-yeon, recorded a viewership share of 5.2 percent when it aired Thursday. Adapted from a popular Kakao Page webtoon of the same title created by author Um Se-yun, “The Killing Vote” revolves around police chasi

Television Aug. 11, 2023

Water Gun Festival at Oil Tank Culture Park After a four-year hiatus, the much-awaited Water Gun Festival is set to make a splash at the Oil Tank Culture Park in Seoul's Mapo district this weekend. Reviving the festival's vibrant spirit, this year's aquatic celebration is themed "I Am Alive," promising a thrilling departure from everyday routines. The event brings a dynamic change in venue, moving from the Sinchon district in Seodaemun-gu to the Oil Tank Culture Park thi

Culture Aug. 11, 2023

Beer Fest Gwangju The 2023 Beer Fest Gwangju, which started on Thursday and runs through Saturday, is taking place at Kimdaejung Convention Center Exhibition Hall and its out door plaza in Gwangju. The festival offers HiteJinro’s all-new malt beer Kelly and Hite Zero, which cost 4,000 won. Snacks including sausages, chopped steak, grilled octopus and fried chicken are offered as well. Performances will take place throughout the festival from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., featuring popular DJs. For mo

Travel Aug. 11, 2023

Ranging from the lack of a control tower for rising safety concerns amid the hot humid weather and the quickly approaching Typhoon Khanun, the World Scout Jamboree has suffered from both avoidable problems and unavoidable natural disasters. To salvage what remains of the 2023 World Scout Jamboree, religious groups in South Korea have set out to greet the Scouts and offer unique cultural experiences. According to the United Christian Churches of Korea, more than 3,000 local and international yout

Culture Aug. 10, 2023

South Korean authorities’ decision to overturn the plans for the World Scout Jamboree's K-pop show has led to unprecedented criticism from Korean soccer teams and their loyal fans. The supporters’ complaints flooded in Sunday afternoon when Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC, a South Korean soccer giant, announced that the schedule for its two upcoming matches on Wednesday and Saturday would be changed due to a K-pop show for Scouts. The show, originally to be held at the World Scout J

Culture Aug. 9, 2023

TV director Park Jin-kyung shared the satisfaction with his new variety show “Zombieverse,” believing that he was able to draw out realistic reactions from cast and create a project which is more than enough to entertain viewers. “Instead of feeling the pressure, I am excited to know the result after ‘Zombieverse’ is released today,” Park said during press conference held at the Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery in Mapo-gu, western Seoul on Tuesday. The director revea

Television Aug. 9, 2023

Pope Francis on Sunday announced Seoul as the host of the 2027 World Youth Day site during the closing Mass for this year’s global Catholic Church event for young people in Lisbon. South Korea will become the second Asian host of World Youth Day, a celebration organized by the Catholic Church for young devotees from all over the world, following the Philippines in 1995. The closing Mass in Manila recorded the largest gathering of people in a religious event with over 5 million people, whil

Newsmaker Aug. 7, 2023

Hoping to live up to the viewers’ love for the first season of “D.P.” and high expectations for the next installment, director Han Jun-hee decided at the end of 2021 to return with a second season. The director had never expected to make a second season while shooting the original series, which was released in August 2021. And the unplanned season 2 made Han think hard about the story he wished to share with the audience in “D.P. 2.” “I needed to know why I wo

Television Aug. 7, 2023

People started arriving one after another holding parasols to line up at the entrance of Kokkili Bagel, a local bakery in Yeongdeungpo-gu, western Seoul, a little after 7 a.m on July 29. Though the door was closed and the lights were off, more bagel lovers gathered and formed a long line that stretched to the street’s end as it neared 8:30 a.m., the bakery’s opening time. They were all there to do their Kokkili Bagel “open run” that morning. Origins of 'open run�

Culture Aug. 5, 2023

As food-based tours have become a popular trend in South Korea, pushing historical sites and beautiful tourist attractions down in the list of vacationers' priorities, well-known restaurants and unique cafes garner unprecedented attention from holidaymakers. Though highway rest stops were considered a place to quench one's thirst and relieve hunger with instant food and snacks, some roadside establishments -- which promote their local specialties with unique culinary offerings -- are l

Travel Aug. 5, 2023

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced Saturday that the World Scout Jamboree will run through Aug. 12, following its original schedule. On Saturday, Han told reporters the government will make the utmost effort to take effective measures to run the Jamboree event smooth and safe with additional service, medical staffs, tent canopies and more. Meanwhile, President Yoon Suk Yeol instructed that additional tourism programs be provided to offer experiences of South Korea's industry, culture, hi

Social Affairs Aug. 5, 2023

Taebaek Sunflower Festival The Taebaek Sunflower Festival is scheduled to run until Aug. 15 at Guwau village in Taebaek, Gangwon Province. Visitors can enjoy the village’s wide array of colorful wildflowers and sunflowers. The event features busking performances by local artists, artwork exhibition and hands-on activities, including goat feeding, succulents planting experience and more. The festival events run from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are priced at 5,000 won for adults and 3,000 won f

Travel Aug. 4, 2023

Local broadcaster MBC on Tuesday confirmed the production of new sports variety show “University Survival.” MBC will join hands with production company Luyworks Media and screenwriter Kang Sook-kyung, who helmed Netflix’s hit reality series “Physical: 100,” together with the broadcaster. “University Survival” will require its contestants, who are sports-related majors or are members of Korean university sports clubs, to battle it out in intense survival

Television Aug. 2, 2023