Articles by No Kyung-min
No Kyung-min
minmin@heraldcorp.com-
Mystery deepens in case of woman found in Han River
"There is a person in the river, but they are not moving.” When the report came in Saturday evening, it seemed to be suggesting a tragic accident or yet another case of suicide in the Han River. But when police arrived on the scene around 8:24 p.m., about 17 minutes after receiving the report, the situation took a grim turn. Floating motionlessly near the Olympic Bridge in Seoul’s Gwangjin-gu was a young woman, with a knife lodged in her chest. Despite initial circumstances th
Social Affairs Jan. 11, 2024
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Half of Busan residents over 50 years old
Nearly half of the population in Busan, South Korea’s second largest city, is over age 50, a report compiling statistics on those over 50 in Busan showed, Wednesday. The report by Busan Metropolitan City revealed that, as of 2022, 46.5 percent of the city’s population, totaling 1.53 million, belongs to the age group of 50 and above. The figure breaks down into two subgroups: approximately 830,000 residents who are age 50 to 65, and the remaining 702,000 residents who are aged 65 or
Social Affairs Jan. 10, 2024
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[AtoZ into Korean mind] 'Aegyo': The psyche behind childlike adults
“Cuteness or charm, esp. of a sort considered characteristic of Korean popular culture. Also: behavior regarded as cute, charming or adorable. Cf. kawaii n.” – Oxford English Dictionary Ever encountered someone deliberately using or prolonging their “ng” or “o” sounds to sound cute? Like saying, “hajang,” instead of “haja” (let’s do it). This intentional mispronunciation, akin to baby talk, functions as one form of "
Hashtag Korea Jan. 9, 2024
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One in two Koreans physically inactive: report
Almost half of Korean adults are not moving their bodies enough, failing to meet the physical activity standards set by the World Health Organization, a health report revealed on Sunday. According to the “Physical Activity Guidelines for Koreans Revised Edition,” released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, as of 2021, 47.1 percent of Korean adults fell short of recommended physical activity levels, compared to the global average of 72 percent who meet the WHO's recommended p
Social Affairs Jan. 7, 2024
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[LLG] It's complicated: Our love-hate relationship with Seoul
It is the pulsating heart of everything – from business and fashion trends to education and culture. Seoul's dynamic energy is infectious, drawing people from all corners of the country and beyond. Yet, the city is also a place where life is often consumed like a commodity, where the pace of life operates in overdrive. We asked nine people whose lives have intersected with the city what Seoul meant to them. A family’s ticket to wealth Kim Hee-yong’s move to Seoul 1 1/2
Hashtag Korea Jan. 2, 2024
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In nation of heavy drinkers, a thriving business of hangover cures
"I really shouldn't have drunk so much last night” is a common reflection worldwide the morning after a night of indulgence. In Korea, this sentiment often includes an additional regret: “I should have at least taken one of those hangover cures." As one of the world’s heaviest drinking nations -- particularly of liquor -- this Northeast Asian country has a thriving market for hangover remedies, available in all imaginable forms, flavors and price points. A typica
Hashtag Korea Dec. 31, 2023
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More strollers sold for furry companions than infants
In perhaps yet another sign of the country's declining number of births, South Korea’s largest online marketplace reported Monday that sales of pet strollers exceeded those of baby strollers for the first time this year. According to Gmarket, of the total strollers sold on the platform during the first three quarters of this year, those for pet animals accounted for 57 percent, while those for babies constituted the remaining 43 percent. This situation marks a notable change from pr
Social Affairs Dec. 25, 2023
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[Weekender] From hearth to oven: Coal mining history baked into ‘yeontan’ bread
SABUK, Gangwon Province -- “Never kick a lump of used coal briquette; has your heart ever burned for someone?” reads one of the most beloved Korean poems by poet Ahn Do-hyun. The resonance of this three-line-stanza poem in Korean draws its depth from the commonplace “yeontan” -- the perforated, cylindrical briquettes that fueled the hearths of most Korean households in the mid- to late- 1900s. A few years ago, the symbolic power of yeontan became a hit for 37-year-
Hashtag Korea Dec. 23, 2023
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[Korea Quiz] Hoesik etiquette
Find the answer at the bottom. Alcohol is often served to encourage freer social interaction, but being aware of local drinking customs is also recommended for avoiding awkward situations. The end of the year is a common time for group or office dinners in Korea, where following a drinking etiquette developed from Korean Confucianism -- with its formal displays of respect for elders and those of higher status in a group -- is often considered important. At after-work group dinners called &q
Hashtag Korea Dec. 20, 2023
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Local retail giant Daiso becomes fully Korean-owned
Daiso, a popular 1,000 won store ($0.76) chain in Korea, has officially become fully Korean-owned, shedding its last Japanese corporate shareholder, Tuesday. Although Daiso is well-known in Korea, it has often been labeled as a Japanese company, mainly because Daiso Sangyo, a Japanese entity, had been its second-largest investor with a 34.21 percent stake. Just a day earlier, Asung Daiso announced that its parent company Asung HMP acquired Daiso Sangyo's entire 34.21 percent stake. This a
Industry Dec. 13, 2023
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All Koreans need for Christmas is ... a cake?
Ever wondered what Koreans most enjoy on their Christmas dinner tables? While the classic yuletide meal of turkey and stuffing are hard to find and there's no specific Korean Christmas dish, people often turn to a special treat enjoyed on other special occasions: cakes. Sharing a cake after a Christmas meal, which could be anything from a takeaway pizza and fried chicken to a more special menu, has become a cherished holiday tradition for many Korean families, with some splurging upwards
Hashtag Korea Dec. 12, 2023
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Ideal spouse material? Above-average salary, height and office job
According to a survey of single men and women of Korean nationality, the ideal husband should be earning an annual salary exceeding 60 million won ($45,745) and have a height of 178.7 centimeters, while the ideal wife should earn around 44 million won annually and be 164.2 centimeters tall. The survey, conducted by matchmaking agency Duo on Korean singles between 25 and 39, also showed that both men and women prefer their partner to be working in an office setting. Around 45 percent of males a
Social Affairs Dec. 6, 2023
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Storing away for a more compact life
The sense of constriction has become more palpable for Kim Min-hyung, a 30-something office worker in Seoul, as his belongings have piled up in his studio apartment over time. While buying a closet might be a straightforward and conventional solution, it carries the risk of further reducing his already confined living space. So Kim is contemplating using a self-storage service. "While renting a storage unit may appear unnecessary, I believe it's a sensible option considering Seoul&
Hashtag Korea Dec. 5, 2023
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Majority of seniors want work, as 1 in 5 engage in job search
As over half of Korean senior citizens expressed a desire to work, nearly 1 in 5 seniors are actively engaged in job seeking, reports showed Monday. According to a report from Korea Employment Information Service, which analyzed Statistics Korea’s data, among individuals aged between 65 and 79, 55.7 percent expressed a desire to continue working. That is an increase of 0.9 percentage point from a year ago and 12.1 percentage points from a decade prior. Of the older individuals aspiring f
Social Affairs Dec. 4, 2023
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Frozen gimbap sold at Trader Joe's makes triumphant debut in home market
A Korean frozen gimbap product, which created a huge buzz in the US organic market, is now making its domestic debut. According to E-mart 24, E-mart's convenience store chain, on Friday, it has stocked Baba Gimbap’s frozen gimbap product for a two-week special sale. Created by Korean food firm Allgot, the supplier behind the Trader Joe’s hit rice rolls, the gimbap is rapid frozen at minus 50 degree Celsius so that it retains the shape and texture of a freshly wrapped roll duri
Food Dec. 1, 2023
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