Whether it's a retro trend or just the convenience of not having to charge them in advance, wired earphones are making a comeback. On an episode of YouTube show “Lee Seojin's New York New York" released last year, actor Jung You-mi was seen using wired headphones, prompting a curious inquiry from fellow actor Lee Seo-jin: "What is up with your earphones?" When asked, she explained, "MZ generations use these." And she was right, a growing number of millenn

People March 4, 2024

March 3, also known as "Samgyeopsal Day" in Korea, is approaching, with anticipation building for promotional events planned by local supermarkets. Most supermarkets and e-commerce platforms will offer discounts ranging from 40 to 50 percent on pork belly from Feb. 29 to March 3. But there is a complication: This year is the first Samgyeopsal Day following the implementation of government guidelines on excessive fat content in pork belly. Last year, criticism arose over local stores&

Consumer Feb. 28, 2024

A court in Montenegro has ruled for the extradition of cryptocurrency entrepreneur Kwon Do-hyung, widely known as "crypto king" Do Kwon, to the United States, according to The Wall Street Journal. Despite Kwon's defense advocating for transfer to his home country of South Korea, the Montenegro court has rejected the plea. Both the US and South Korea have sought his extradition. Kwon's legal team now has a three-day window to challenge the decision, according to the court on Wednesday.

Market Feb. 22, 2024

"People rave about Fu Bao. I just didn't get it." Zookeeper Oh Seung-hee of Everland’s Panda World said of the rock star giant panda of her zoo. Fu Bao, born in 2020 to a panda pair gifted to Korea by China in 2016, was the first cub born in Korea through natural breeding. From the moment of her birth, there hasn't been a single day when the baby panda wasn't popular, with fans who just cannot get enough of the cuddly cub. However, Oh had no problem maintaining dis

Hashtag Korea Feb. 21, 2024

Busan police are looking after two unidentified individuals who allegedly parachuted from the 99th floor of a 104-story high-rise in Haeundae, Busan, last week. According to investigators at Haeundae Police Station on Tuesday, the duo, suspected to be extreme jumpers, likely jumped from an observation deck located on the 99th floor of the Haeundae LCT The Sharp, after sneaking into the mixed-use building. Charges of illegal trespassing are being considered by the authorities. The police wa

Social Affairs Feb. 20, 2024

Even while serving in the South Korean military, global K-pop star RM of BTS remains in the public eye. On Thursday, a photo of him in a red military band uniform, holding a saxophone, went viral on X, formerly known as Twitter. As of Monday, the photo had garnered over 20,000 likes and 4,000 reposts. The viral post said, "I received a photo of Nam-joon (better known as RM) from an acquaintance who attended the military's basic training completion ceremony." The ceremony is only o

K-pop Feb. 19, 2024

Find the answer at the bottom. Just like any country, Korea has its own traditional beliefs and superstitions. One such superstition warns against whistling at night, as it is believed to attract ghosts, spirits or snakes. This notion is often used to scare children from making noise at night. Though the roots of this superstition remain unclear, it inspired Bang Young-woong’s novel, “Bun-rye's Story,” in which a man whistles to attract snakes. Many Koreans feel uneasy a

Hashtag Korea Feb. 14, 2024

About a decade ago, Ji Young-jun found himself staring at the shelves in the ramyeon section at a military base commissary. Having begun his compulsory military service right after a grueling four years studying for and taking Korea's college entrance exam five times, he felt trapped both physically and psychologically -- little seemed to create excitement or interest for him. But looking at the nearly 50 varieties of ramyeon stacked on the shelves, something stirred within him. “I sh

Hashtag Korea Feb. 7, 2024

In the hit Netflix drama series "The Glory," Lim Ji-yeon, adorned in an elegant magenta blouse, black skirt and gold earrings, leans casually against her white Mercedes-Benz, pulling out a cigarette. The scene, as successful as the drama itself, quickly went viral, prompting the creation of numerous parody videos. Nonetheless, the Korean government seems uneasy about such a smoking scene gaining widespread attention. Dramas aired on broadcast television in Korea are prohibited from dir

Social Affairs Feb. 5, 2024

It is safe to say that the pantsless trend has firmly planted its roots in Korea, especially within the K-pop scene. This look has triggered mixed reactions, with some arguing that it is a way of expressing freedom while others say that it is too provocative and simply inappropriate. The now-trending no-pants look speaks for itself, featuring a style that discards pants, skirts or any bottom-covering attire, except for briefs, often paired with tights. The origins of this look can be traced

K-pop Feb. 1, 2024

Kwon Oh-sang, a dermatology professor at Seoul National University, who specializes in hair and scalp diseases such as alopecia, advised against washing one's hair daily for individuals in their 40s and up, citing its potential to accelerate hair loss. “Generally the scalp tends to become dry after one's 40s, making it advisable to wash hair three to four times a week,” he said during an interview with a local media outlet on Tuesday. Hair loss is a prevalent issue in Korea

Social Affairs Jan. 31, 2024

Former South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, 68, has been appointed as the 9th president and chief executive officer of the Asia Society, according to the organization's board of trustees on Wednesday. Kang, who held the position of Seoul's top diplomat from 2017 to 2021, is set to assume her new role in April. Before becoming S. Korea's first female foreign affairs minister, she served as a special policy adviser to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Established in 19

Foreign Affairs Jan. 25, 2024

Find the answer at the bottom. The roots of Korean ramyeon trace back to 1963 when Samyang Ramen, the first Korean ramyeon, made its debut. Featuring wheat noodles in a mild, chicken broth, the early product was not very popular, as noodles in general were not a popular meal option for Koreans at that time, due to the widespread preference for rice. But a shortage in rice production in the 1960s prompted the South Korean government to encourage wheat flour consumption, which gave a major boost

Hashtag Korea Jan. 25, 2024

The news that actor Lee Sun-kyun was being investigated for allegations of illegal drug use broke out on Oct. 19. Within days, Korean telecom giant SK Telecom pulled an advertisement featuring Lee and his wife. He was replaced by another actor in the drama series, "No Way Out," which was about to start shooting. The release of two of his films, which were in post-production at that time, became uncertain. In short, Lee was "canceled" less than a week after the allegations w

Hashtag Korea Jan. 24, 2024

In a country where love often bends to fit societal expectations, the captivating tale of Kook Hye-min and Park Min-hyeok has emerged, defying conventional social norms. With clickbaity titles like “The story of marrying your high school homeroom teacher at age 21," the couple’s Instagram account has amassed over 30,000 followers in a mere four months. As their unconventional love story has unfolded, reactions from the public have varied. Some see it as unacceptable according to

Hashtag Korea Jan. 17, 2024