Most Popular
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Korea enters full election mode
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Seoul bus drivers go on general strike, cause morning rush hour delays
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Immigrant woman stabbed to death by Korean husband
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Lee Jong-sup resigns as envoy to Australia
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Official campaigning kicks off for April 10 elections
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Yellow dust engulfs S. Korea, advisory alert issued
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S. Korea to boost support for single-parent families
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Court upholds jail term for man who attempted to murder ex-girlfriend
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Kia EV9 wins world car of year
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Korea misses out on global bond index boost
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[Weekender] Rash guard, a must-have beach item
While summer has always offered an excuse to show off some skin, this season, covering up has become more fashionable than shedding clothes. In lieu of scanty beachwear, the long-sleeved, narrow-necked rash guard has hit it big with beachgoers and celebrities both in and out of the country. Photo shoots of Hallyu it-girls like Gain and Hani of girl group EXID posing in rash guards stormed the Internet, gaining a massive number of “likes” and topping the entertainment news section. The rash guard
Arts & DesignJuly 24, 2015
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[Weekender] Mountain valleys to check out this summer
With about 70 percent of land in South Korea covered by mountainous regions, hiking is a familiar and accessible pastime for many Koreans.During the summer, Koreans often visit the mountains and spend time in the valleys and riverside to ward off the heat and escape from the daily grind. Here are several popular valleys to visit for the summer. Achimgari Achimgari (Yonhap)Achimgari, a valley located on Mount Bangtaesan in Inje, Gangwon province, is famous for its trekking course.It has earned it
TravelJuly 24, 2015
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[Weekender] Night hiking, a respite from summer heat
(123rf) As the summer sun takes its toll on the best of outdoorsman, some are turning to night hiking. Exploring the wilderness in the dark is a whole new experience that simulates all one’s senses, enthusiasts say, if one only follows key safety tips. Seoul’s Yangcheon-gu, the first district to launch an official nighttime trekking program in 2011, is holding a weekly group hiking program every Thursday evening until Aug. 27.Approximately 100 people sign up for the 2-hour excursion, said Kim Se
TravelJuly 24, 2015
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[Weekender] Rooftop bars to check out in Seoul
As summer starts to heat up, the regular spots for an evening drink in Seoul can seem quite unwelcoming: dark underground bars with loud music, restaurants that sit you in front of sizzling pans of pork, and crowded bars where people jostle to get past each other.Luckily, in recent years, rooftop bars have been popping up around Seoul. Concentrated in the downtown area, rooftop bars offer great views and fresh air above all of the bustle below. Here are three rooftop bars in Seoul worth checking
Life&CultureJuly 17, 2015
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[Weekender] Summer music fests to stomp out the heat
Despite grueling temperatures that make going outside seem like an unwanted tax on the body, this summer still has all the makings of an unforgettable season of music festival fun. Following last month’s two-day EDM blowout Ultra Music Festival, which drew more than 100,000 partygoers, the remaining summer months promise an eclectic array of big-time international acts and fan-favorite local names. Ansan M Valley Rock Festival Forced to cancel its festivities last year in light of the tragi
PerformanceJuly 17, 2015
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[Weekender] Mango bingsu, a summer delight
A bowl of shaved ice topped with sweet red bean paste has long been a classic summer dessert for Koreans. The traditional combination of ice, red bean paste and condensed milk has been an inspiration for many other creative summer desserts, too. This summer, the traditional summer treat, “bingsu,” has become tropical, as mango has emerged as a new variant. Sweet, fragrant chunks of mango have become a substitute to the classic red bean paste. For Homibing, a local shaved ice dessert chain that o
CultureJuly 17, 2015
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[Weekender] Surviving summer
The blazing sun, sticky air, sultry sleepless nights and mosquito bites -- yes, it’s summer again. You know what it brings. Iced drinks and shaved ice desserts called “bingsu” will be selling like hot cakes on streets of Seoul. Women will pay extra attention to shield their skin from the sun, with layers and layers of sun block and sun visors with the widest possible brims. Popular beaches and swimming pools will crowd to a mixture that locals joke is “half people and half water.” (Yonhap)And fr
CultureJuly 17, 2015
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[Weekender] Beat the heatwave, traditional way
Traditionally, when the summer heatwave strikes, Koreans tuck in to hot bowls of stamina-boosting soups under the mantra of “battling heat with heat.”Although seemingly counterintuitive, it was believed that the internal organs in your body became cold during the hot weather, and eating hot food restored balance by warming your body inside and cooling your body outside through sweat. Regardless of the scientific validity of this theory, this tradition is still alive and well. On three “bok” day
CultureJuly 17, 2015
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[Weekender] Spine-chilling horror for mid-summer goosebumps
Haunted houses, horror films and even venturing into abandoned estates: such fear-inducing activities have long been a way for many Koreans to escape -- or at least momentarily forget -- the country’s sweltering summer, and chill the spine. Between the months of June and August every year, Korean cinemas see mass premieres of horror flicks, while a number of Halloween-ish festivals take place, with zombie marathons, goblin-themed mazes and booths where professional makeup and costume artists hel
CultureJuly 17, 2015
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[Weekender] Refreshing low-cost summer getaways
While South Korea’s Hangang River attracts millions of visitors to its cherry blossom festival in the spring and fireworks display in the fall every year, there are more festivities the river can offer in the summer.As this year’s Hangang River festival kicks off on July 17, the riverside will turn into a major playground for those seeking a respite from the scorching heat and a getaway from the day-to-day hustle.Hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government under the theme of “Hangang: A Midsumme
TravelJuly 10, 2015
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[Weekender] Hangang islets beckon with natural charm, ecological diversity
Every May, flocks of spot-billed ducks, black-crowned night herons and other migratory birds head to a pair of uninhabited islands at the heart of Seoul, joining 50 other species that use them as breeding grounds. Though no one lives there now, the Bamseom islets were home to more than 440 Seoulites until the city government relocated them and demolished the homes in 1968 as part of its project to widen the waterways in the Hangang River and develop nearby Yeouido. The wetlands’ pristine charm,
Social AffairsJuly 10, 2015
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[Weekender] Hangang offers workout for health-conscious folks
The Hangang River offers runners, cyclists, skaters and yacht lovers a place to escape the traffic and pretend they’re not in one of the world’s most densely populated cities.The Hangang River’s swimming pools and yacht rental shops also offer Seoul citizens a getaway from urban life at affordable prices. Cyclists ride along a bike path by the Hangang River. (Seoul Metropolitan Government)Six swimming pools are located on the banks of the Hangang River. In the western part of Yeouido, park visit
Social AffairsJuly 10, 2015
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[Weekender] Unique food culture adds flavor
As excited children chatter, cyclists swish by and 20-somethings laugh among themselves, a man swiftly hands out chicken delivery leaflets at Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul. His leaflet catches the attention of six college students, who were planning to have a picnic at the riverbank.Picnickers brave the summer heat at a riverside park in Seoul. (The Korea Herald file photo)After leaving an order with the man, three fried chickens, three seasoned chickens and six cans of beer came just 40 minutes l
Social AffairsJuly 10, 2015
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[Weekender] River encapsulates Korea’s history
In human history, rivers have played a pivotal role for the birth and development of villages, cities and civilizations, as they have provided them with fishing, water, transportation, and other essentials.Seoulites swim and row boats in the Hangang River on Aug. 3, 1964. (Seoul Metropolitan Government)For Korea, the Hangang River has undertaken that role, serving as a crucial conduit for people’s exchanges and communication, and laying the groundwork for the flourishing of ancient kingdoms, tho
Social AffairsJuly 10, 2015
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[Weekender] Hangang, open sanctuary for drained souls from megacity life
A perfect weekend for Lee Jeong-eun, a 35-year-old office worker, is not about striding in shopping malls to grab the last summer dress on sale, having her nails done or watching the latest Hollywood blockbuster in an air-conditioned movie theater.All she has to do is to go to a campsite in Jamsil Park, one of 12 parks open on the banks of the Hangang River. A book, a bottle of Chilean red wine, some pork for an outdoor barbecue and a couple of good friends are what she needs to recharge. Thanks
Social AffairsJuly 10, 2015
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[Weekender] Nuribi ― Universiade’s angel of light
Nuribi ― the official mascot of the 28th Universiade Gwangju 2015 ― is the angel of light and messenger of hope.Its Korean name means “fly for the world,” deriving from the name of the host city, Gwangju, which translates to “the town of light.” With its blue and red hair shaped like the games’ emblem, the Wings of Light, Nuribi was introduced in 2013 as a symbol of hope and dreams in line with the games’ vision of “Eco, Peace, IT and Culture” and slogan of “Light Up Tomorrow.“The Gwangju Univer
More SportsJuly 3, 2015
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[Weekender] Universiade pursues eco, peace, IT, culture
Universiade Gwangju 2015 pursues four visions: eco, peace, information technology and culture. Organizers have named the 2015 Universiade Ecoversiade, Peaceversiade, ITversiade and Cultureversiade, summing them up with the acronym EPIC.Guided by the vision of Ecoversiade, Gwangju has tried to preserve the environment by using as many existing sports facilities as possible. The host city has refurbished 97 percent of the 73 competition venues, while constructing a swimming pool and a few other fa
More SportsJuly 3, 2015
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[Weekender] Athletes from 148 countries to vie for glory
Some 14,000 athletes and officials from about 170 countries will participate in the 28th Summer Universiade in Gwangju, July 3-14.They will compete for 272 gold medals at stake in 21 sports ― 13 compulsory and eight optional.The compulsory sports are athletics, artistic gymnastics, baseball, basketball, fencing, football, judo, rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball and water polo. The organizers chose archery, badminton, baseball, golf, handball, rowing, shooting and ta
More SportsJuly 3, 2015
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[Weekender] World-renowned competitors vie for gold
World-renowned athletes have gathered in Gwangju for the 2015 Summer Universiade, the biennial university sports competition organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU).As some 13,000 athletes from about 150 countries are competing for 272 gold medals in 21 sports disciplines at Universiade Gwangju 2015, a number of world champions are expected to take the lead in their respective sports.From artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, badminton and archery to basketball, di
More SportsJuly 3, 2015
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[Weekender] Korean stars to watch at Universiade
There are quite a few must-watch Korean athletes at the 28th Universiade 2015 in Gwangju. Some of them are already familiar to sports fans, while others have kept a relatively low-profile. Here are some notable athletes to watch out for.Son Yon-jae in rhythmic gymnasticsSon Yon-jae, the darling of Korean gymnastics fans, has been the face of Korean women’s rhythmic gymnastics since age 15, when she won bronze in the individual all-around at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. Since then, the 20-year
More SportsJuly 3, 2015