Most Popular
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Contentious grain bill put directly to plenary meeting for vote
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Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low
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Will tug-of-war between doctors, government end soon?
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Climate impacts set to cut 2050 global GDP by nearly a fifth
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Trilateral talks acknowledge ‘serious’ slumps of won, yen
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[Graphic News] More Koreans say they plan long-distance trips this year
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[KH Explains] Hyundai's full hybrid edge to pay off amid slow transition to pure EVs
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North Korea removes streetlights along cross-border roads with South
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Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official
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Farming households dip below 1m for first time in 2023
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[Weekender] Beat them with the ugly chic
The latest craze for sneakers has helped luxury designer brands think out of the shoebox. Marking a departure from conventional beauty and balance, designer brands have been introducing some experimental designs for sneakers and flat shoes. But the competition for the coolest style has turned into an effort to make shoes as ugly as possible.From Balenciaga’s Triple S Trainers, Gucci’s Rhyton to Louis Vuitton’s Archlight, sneakers from those luxury brands are all part of the trend for “ugly shoes
Arts & DesignJuly 12, 2018
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[Weekender] Sneaker dissected: why so comfortable?
It is the brand and design that can seem most alluring when making choices of sneakers or gym shoes. But it is the evolving chemical technology that silently has led the popularity of shoes on rubber soles, pushing the limits of people every day from fitness enthusiasts to fashionistas on the streets.People clad in running shoes jog on pavement. (123rf)The springy footwear has optimized the experience of runners and pedestrians alike, cushioning impact from the ground and returning energy to the
TechnologyJuly 12, 2018
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[Weekender] Walking down the history of Euljiro
Euljiro, some 3.5 kilometer road cutting through the heart of Seoul in Jung-gu, has a history that goes back to 1940s.The area was called Gokanemachi under the Japanese Government General of Korea until 1946, when Koreans changed it to Eulji, named after General Eulji Mundeok who saved Korea from the invading Sui Dynasty in China.Koreans tried to weaken the spirit of Chinese who formed a Chinatown in Euljiro in the 1940s by naming the area after a courageous figure. Photos of shoppers at Bangsa
Social AffairsJuly 6, 2018
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[Weekender] Euljiro Nogari Alley offers unpretentious pub fare
During a sudden downpour in Seoul on Monday evening, Euljiro turned into a ghost town surrounded by a modern megapolis. Located south of the Cheonggyecheon in central Seoul, most of the shops and restaurants in Euljiro closed their business after a busy day dealing with customers visiting electric shops and publishing companies. But at the end of the dark alley, a light still glimmered. Under the roofs decorated with small flags of different nations, crowds of people sat in bright red plastic ch
TravelJuly 6, 2018
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[Weekender] Ever-changing Euljiro
Euljiro, a major road that runs through central Seoul, is enjoying its second boom in an unexpected way as young social media users have begun frequenting the area. The street and its nearby area have long been the center of Korea’s industrialization and economic growth, housing small metal workshops, print shops, lighting stores and much more. Getting out of Euljiro 3-ga Station, a funky smell pierces through your nose, proving that the workshops in the area are still up-and-coming. A passerby
CultureJuly 6, 2018
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[Weekender] Take a bite with your eyes and ears
A golden-brown sponge cake is laid on a wooden table, basking in the warm afternoon sunshine. A red plastic brush moistens the genoise with syrup, and then heavy cream covers the sliced sheets layer by layer. Spinning the cake turntable slowly, the patissier spreads cream evenly on every side of the cake. The 5-minute mesmerizing baking journey ends when sugar-coated strawberries are gently placed on top of the cake. Chef Kook Gabie demonstrates how to make strawberry pavlova (Gabie Kook’s YouTu
FoodJune 29, 2018
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[Weekender] The rise of gummies
Among mouthwatering sweets, the jelly candies industry is thriving. The surging popularity has led to diverse forms of the chewy sweets, delighting Korean consumers not only with their taste but also low calories. “In this harsh world, soft jelly candies are a streak of light in my life,” said Hwangbo Kyung-sun, an office worker in Seoul. Soft and chewy jelly products that were once perceived as treats for young children have now become one of the most favored types of sweets among adults. Gumm
FoodJune 29, 2018
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[Weekender] Sweet side of life
Kim Ha-jin, a 30-year-old working professional in Seoul, loves buying chocolates after work. “I don’t buy boxes of chocolates,” she told The Korea Herald. “I usually buy one or two pieces at high-end chocolatiers, such as Godiva or Laderach. It usually costs about 5,000 won. It’s a treat that I give myself after long, grueling hours in the office.”Before getting into chocolates, Kim said, she was into “luxurious but small” beauty products. “I would get the cheapest products, such as pink lipstic
FoodJune 29, 2018
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[Weekender] Beautifying Korean rice cake with flowers, new flavors
Tteok has a reputation of being traditional food that often appears outdated with the same old taste. But Korean rice cakes can be transformed into delicate desserts that are pleasing to the eye if they are handled in a different way. Jang Yeo-jin is one such person offering a fresh take. The owner and instructor of Morak Morak Table, a tteok cooking studio in eastern Seoul, has come up with new versions of Korean rice cakes. “Fusion tteok is making tteok with a new perspective, adding elements
FoodJune 29, 2018
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[Weekender] Mind your surroundings
The next time you are atop one of Seoul’s mountains, take a look at what surrounds the megalopolis buzzing below you. More specifically the old Seoul, referring to the modern-day city’s northern area surrounded by four gates. It is said that the city has the perfect balance between yin and yang. The water is supposed to be yang, which forms the Han River on the old city boundaries. It is in harmony with the mountains -- the yin -- which extends from all the way back from Baekdusan, thus completi
CultureJune 22, 2018
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[Weekender] When ‘pungsu jiri’ meets home interior design
Although “pungsu jiri,” a Korean version of Chinese feng shui that concerns correlation between life-force energy and its surroundings, is often regarded as superstitious, the idea is often reflected in the interior design of many Korean residences.The practice of integrating this intricate art of geomancy with housing, at the macro level, is usually done by building one’s home on an auspicious site to bring peace and luck. But it doesn’t always have to be complicated, as there are simple ways t
Arts & DesignJune 22, 2018
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[Weekender] Retro is back, again
After years of interior design trends dominated by white walls and industrial features, a more homely retro style is emerging as a new interior style in Korea. Retro-themed cafes and restaurants are springing up in Seoul’s stylish neighborhoods, including Ikseon-dong, Mangwon-dong and Seongsu-dong. As the retro-themed shops become known as so-called “Instagram-worthy” spots, customers flock to the areas to take pictures and feel the trendy atmosphere.The interior of coffee shop Jahn (Park Ju-you
Arts & DesignJune 15, 2018
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[Weekender] Lights, the quickest way to transform a room
Light is what surrounds us and fills the space we are in. Yet we seldom pay attention to its importance or the effect it casts on the things it touches. In interior design, lights are coordinated not only to brighten up the space, but also to direct people’s gaze and to illuminate or shadow objects. For Kwon Ho-jung, a 29-year-old office worker in Seoul, multiple lightings go beyond the role of illuminating her living space. Kwon’s is one of the increasing one-person households in urban Korea. A
Arts & DesignJune 15, 2018
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[Weekender] Cafes, bars, theaters and color: How Korean homes are evolving
The first home bar run by Park Na-rae until last year was decorated with various knickknacks the comedian had collected over the years for a bargain. On the floor lay a Union Jack-patterned rug, while a rotating disco ball hung from the ceiling. The walls displayed a bright orange painted by Park herself. In the past, Koreans renting their homes were wary of decorating or making alterations because they did not regard the spaces as their own, Park says. She too has a lease on her current apartme
Arts & DesignJune 15, 2018
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[Weekender] Young Koreans overcome DIY fears
Home is a place that invites a feeling of warmth and comfort.From the color of the walls to the living room furniture, each added element to a home tells a different story. Overstuffed furnishings, draperies and accessories displayed on a bookshelf are some examples that can offer a glimpse into the life of a home owner. In the past, older generations of Koreans preferred simplistic features for their home decor. Now, a growing number of 20- and 30-somethings are bringing together creativity and
Arts & DesignJune 15, 2018
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[Weekender] Corporate action key to fighting plastic binge
South Korea is facing increasing pressure to reduce or recycle its own plastic waste, particularly since China’s plastic import ban that took effect in January this year.While some countries like the United Kingdom have embarked on state-led measures in a joint effort with local business sectors to ditch plastic, similar measures in Korea face criticism for their lack of binding force and sustainability.In a speech to mark Environment Day on June 5, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon echoed a need to in
IndustryJune 8, 2018
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[Weekender] A day without plastic -- No one cares
I remember how much my mother cherished the Tupperware plastic containers she bought from Namdaemun market in late 1980s. Plastic bowls made in US was a revolutionary item for many South Korean housewives and a symbol of modern life. Probably brought by US army personnel and then sold to merchants in markets in Seoul, the Tupperware series always made my mother proud, as they kept food freshly sealed and were safe even if her playful kids threw them around. But not many could afford the American
IndustryJune 8, 2018
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[Weekender] Plastics may be on your plate
A war has begun worldwide on plastics.For decades, polymers have been used to make human lives easy and more hygienic, but with single-use plastic items being blamed for killing species on the ocean and threatening ecosystems, global initiatives have been launched since last year by the United Nations to curb their use. But South Korea, one of the biggest producers and consumers of plastics in the world, has taken a little interest in curbing plastic pollution. Leaders have been pointing out a l
IndustryJune 8, 2018
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[Weekender] From roughing it to catered camp sites
In a heavily urbanized country where five-day week was introduced less than two decades ago, camping has only been a common leisure activity since the late 2000s.However, when something takes off in Korea, it takes off. The number of people enjoying camping has increased dramatically over the years. According to a Statistics Korea estimates, the number of Korean campers broke the 5 million mark in 2016. In comparison, the country’s population came to just over 51 million in the same year. Along
Social AffairsJune 1, 2018
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[Weekender] Kolon camping park proves popular with outdoor purists
When you have never pitched a tent or roughed it for a night, glamping -- a combination of glamor and camping -- might seem like the only way to give it a shot. But it does not always have to be a “glamorous” version of camping with resort-like services for beginners to best enjoy pristine natural surroundings, argues Hwang Woo-jong, general manager of Kolon Sport Camping Park.Kolon Sport Camping Park is located in Goesan County, North Chungcheong Province. Photo: Kolon Sport“The first thing kid
TravelJune 1, 2018