[Korea Quiz] Pojangmacha

Find the answer at the bottom. In many Korean dramas, the protagonist sits inside an orange tent called a "pojangmacha," drinking soju with a concerned friend or love interest. This is why for fans of Korean dramas, pojangmacha -- which means "covered wagon" in Korean -- are indeed a familiar trope. These street food stalls, serving comfort food and drinks, have been a beloved tradition for generations. Menus feature dishes like tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), janchiguksu (n

June 25, 2024

[Korea Quiz] Jeju's wonders

Find the answer at the bottom. South Korea’s southern Jeju Island, created by volcanic activities from as early as 1.2 million years ago, is virtually like a volcano museum. With diverse volcanic features, including volcanic cones, craters and lava tubes, stretching in every direction, the island was also the first in South Korea to be inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2007. It was listed as the Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes, which includes Hallasan, Seongsan Ilc

June 19, 2024

Infamy as fashion trend catalyst

In the ever-shifting realm of fashion trends, a public dispute between K-pop tastemaker Min Hee-jin and her company, Hybe, has inadvertently launched an unconventional style statement. Min, CEO of Hybe subsidiary Ador, found herself embroiled in controversy in April when Hybe filed a breach-of-trust complaint against her with police. However, it wasn't just the legal battle that captured public attention. Min's attire during her April press conference, in which she swung between a te

June 19, 2024

Dog's dinner: More Koreans are cooking for their pets

Looking after a dog used to just mean taking it for a walk, providing necessary care and building a bond, while feeding the canine store-bought kibble, perhaps with an occasional canned treat. But increasingly, pet owners are ditching factory-produced pet food and feeding their furry companions real food -- either cooked at home or prepared by a professional chef. A 30-year-old cat owner living in Seoul, Jung recently enrolled in a one-day pet food cooking class at a local pet food retailer, s

June 18, 2024

[AtoZ into Korean Mind] Korea's broken ladder of social mobility

Choi Kyung-min, 33, describes himself and his wife as having been born with a “dirt spoon” in their mouths, meaning they come from less privileged backgrounds. Both graduated from university with student loans to pay back, and their parents are unprepared for retirement. Now renting a small apartment in Gyeonggi Province, they support their parents financially while trying to save as much as possible. However, it would take more than 10 years of saving to afford buying a home in

June 16, 2024

[LLG] Healing through K-food: Brit shares recovery from eating disorder through immersion in new food culture

Lewis Hooper, who turned 30 this year, exudes youthful energy, but for much of his 20s, he was dangerously thin. As a result of his struggle with eating disorders, he weighed just 31 kilograms despite standing 170 centimeters tall. In an interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul, he shared that a turning point in his path to recovery and developing a healthier relationship with food and his body came when he moved in 2021 to Korea on a working holiday visa. Obsession with body image Hooper

June 12, 2024

[Korea Quiz] K-pop generations

Find the answer at the bottom. Some of you might have discovered K-pop only recently, but within the Korean music industry, there is consensus that we are now in the fourth generation of K-pop. Each generation in the K-pop world is represented by music acts that have defining characteristics diverging from those of their predecessors. The first generation of K-pop idol groups includes H.O.T., S.E.S., Sechs Kies, Fin.K.L, Shinhwa and g.o.d, which ruled the K-pop scene from the 1990s to the

June 12, 2024

[Pressure points] Yellow light just turned on. Should I go or stop?

The traffic sign just turned yellow and you find yourself in the “dilemma zone,” where it is too late to stop before the stop line. Would you stop or speed up? Recently, South Korea’s top court ruled that drivers must stop, rekindling a long-standing debate. In its decision early May concerning a case involving a car driver who chose to continue through a yellow light and collided with two motorcyclists in 2021, the Supreme Court stated that when the yellow light turns on befor

June 11, 2024

[Korea Quiz] Gyeonggi Province

Find the answer at the bottom. Slightly over half of South Korea's population lives in the Greater Seoul area, consisting of Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province. The region is the country’s cultural, commercial and infrastructure capital. If the Greater Seoul area could be symbolized by a fried egg, the yolk would be Seoul and the white would be Gyeonggi encircling it. In terms of territory and population, Gyeonggi is bigger. Gyeonggi covers an area of about 10,200 square kilometer

June 10, 2024

More Koreans are running marathons, but at what cost?

"Birds fly, fish swim and humans run.” This famous remark by legendary Czech distance runner Emile Zatopek resonates more deeply than ever now in South Korea, where interest in running is leading to a multitude of marathon events and record-breaking participation. According to an online community website for running enthusiasts, Marathon Online, at least 20 public or elite running events took place across the country in the last two weeks of May, offering a variety of distance cours

June 5, 2024

From piggy banks to fake fish: The modern pursuit of good fortune

Red beans, rice grains, dried pollack, a pig's head and scissors -- this might seem like a random collection of items. But many Koreans would see the connection between them. They are items used in traditional superstitious practices here, either to protect against bad luck or to invite good fortune. The level to which people adhere to rituals involving these items or believe in the superstitions behind them varies greatly. Often, even those who do maintain such superstitious practices say

June 4, 2024

[AtoZ into Korean mind] Unspoken code of K-cool

"K-everything: The rise and rise of Korean culture" (The Guardian) "The art market: Korean cool" (Financial Times) "Hallyu: 'Cool Korea' and the art of soft power" (Le Monde Diplomatique) From music and films to food, art and fashion, the world is falling in love with everything South Korean, according to overseas media reports. In their effort to understand this new object of global fascination, media outlets have been paying attention to what they ca

June 3, 2024

[LLG] He quit his office job for delivery work, and now, life is better

Kim Dae-gun’s day starts very early. At the break of dawn, he collects the packages that need to be delivered that day. He sorts and loads them in his truck, arranging them in a way that matches his itinerary for the next several hours: items meant for the nearest locations in the front, with the farthest destinations in the back. “Once I get to my delivery area, it is a race against time,” Kim said. He needs to move quickly, efficiently and without mistakes to deliver near

May 29, 2024

[Korea Quiz] Jindo dogs

Find the answer at the bottom. Once the owner, always the owner. This phrase epitomizes the faithfulness of the Jindo dog, native to the island of Jindo in South Jeolla Province. One of the most famous stories illustrating the Jindo dog’s loyalty to its owner and its instinct to return home, even from several hundred kilometers away, is the tale of Baekgu from 1993. In March of that year, 5-year-old Baekgu, originally born in a home in Jindo, was sold and sent to a new owner in anothe

May 29, 2024

[Pressure points] Should noise from playgrounds be regulated?

In South Korea, where apartment buildings dominate the residential landscape, communal playgrounds within these high-rise complexes serve as a hub for children to play outdoors. However, kids' high-pitched voices can also generate noise pollution for other residents, sparking debate on the necessity of regulatory measures for children's playground use. This issue was raised by a Korea Herald reader surnamed Jeong via email. Jeong expressed concern that the complaints of a few residen

May 28, 2024

‘Gimflation’ in S. Korea as dried seaweed prices grow on rising global demand

Dried seaweed or gim, a staple dish nicknamed "rice thief" for its perfect pairing with rice, is seeing considerable popularity globally these days. In recent years, gim's deliciousness, coupled with its nutrient content and recognition as a food source beneficial to ocean ecosystems, has captivated taste buds worldwide, making its way into an unexpected array of dishes, served in salads, broths, casseroles, pizza and even occasionally sprinkled on ice cream. Yet, despite the

May 23, 2024

[Korea Quiz] Konglish terms in K-beauty

Before K-beauty became an export industry targeting consumers globally, South Koreans had been using terms in Konglish -- in this sense, English loan words appropriated into Korean in ways that mean something different than their original meaning -- to describe certain products. For starters, toners -- the liquid applied to the skin after cleansing and before moisturizing -- are commonly called “skin” in Korea. This can lead to somewhat baffling expressions in Korean like, "Yo

May 22, 2024

[Words to know] Corporate jargon to navigate S. Korean workplaces

Some coming straight out of college, new employees endeavor to adapt to South Korea's corporate culture, a journey made smoother if they're well-versed in business jargon -- both formal and informal. For international recruits, the challenge may be compounded by both a new language and a different work culture. Here are some insights into Korea's corporate culture explained through common office lingo, empowering those pursuing their careers here to navigate their workplaces.

May 21, 2024

[AtoZ into Korean mind] World of the in-laws, where gender stereotypes persist

Shim Yeon-sun, 40, was surprised by her mother's behavior during her brother’s formal engagement dinner, where her family met the bride-to-be's family for the first time to discuss wedding plans. "My mother, who presented herself modestly at my 'sanggyeonnye' by saying 'My daughter still has a lot to learn,' seemed like a completely different person that day," she said. Sangyeonnye is a pre-wedding meeting at which the families of the bride and groom

May 19, 2024

[Weekender] Geeks have never been so chic in Korea

The stereotypical nerd with glasses who gets straight As in school has never been so fashionable in South Korea. Once relegated to the corner of the school cafeteria, geeky individuals have stepped into the limelight, as the mainstream warms to the intriguing blend of their characters and fashion, encapsulated by the term, “geek chic.” The term is not new. But the fashion is undergoing a revival amid a growing appreciation for nerd-like qualities, making geeky style elements all th

May 18, 2024