[Weekender] Goodbye Gyeongbokgung, hello hair salon

Twenty-eight-year-old Janell Ng from New Zealand, who is visiting Korea with her family, knows her priority. Their first stop is a hair salon in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where each family member hopes to experience a trendy Korean-style makeover. "It's our first time visiting Korea. We are here for a week, and the first thing on the itinerary is to get our hair done at a Korean hair salon," she said while having her hair permed at Suin Style Hair and Spa in Samseongdong, southern Seoul. The

Sept. 14, 2024

[What to Play] Timeless songs to share with family on long Chuseok drives

With Chuseok beginning this weekend, long hours of driving in heavy traffic to visit family in people's hometowns await. Here are some timeless songs to listen to in the car that bridge generation gaps between parents and children. Lee Moon-sae’s “Sunset Glow” Released in 1988, this ballad by Lee Moon-sae, a Korean pop icon since his debut in 1978, remains a favorite. The song's enduring appeal is evident as it was also covered by legendary K-pop boy group Big Bang

Sept. 14, 2024

[Weekender] Feeling lazy but craving tteokbokki? Try a meal kit

A quiet revolution is sweeping through one of Korea’s most iconic street foods: tteokbokki. Once the beloved snack of schoolgirls and the young at heart, these chewy rice cakes drenched in sweet and spicy sauce have transcended their street food origins, thanks to the relentless innovation of the local meal kit industry. At an E-mart outlet in central Seoul, Korea's largest discount store chain, which this reporter visited on Aug. 27, there were over 20 different varieties of ready-to

Sept. 7, 2024

[Weekender] Subculture festival in Seoul transcends gaming

“Tech otakus save the world” is a motto from Hoyoverse, the Chinese game giant behind the global subculture gaming phenomenon Genshin Impact. While it might seem exaggerated, the sentiment isn’t entirely off the mark. Subculture gaming, once considered niche, has exploded into a mainstream cultural force -- as is especially evident in South Korea. Subculture games -- games that originally targeted small, dedicated communities with specific cultural interests often rooted in ani

Aug. 31, 2024

[Weekender] Art as more than propaganda: Meaning of culture and art transforms for North Korean defectors

Park Sang-young, the founder and principal of Set Net School for North Koreans resettling in South Korea, will be stepping down after 20 years. "Set" and "net" mean numbers three and four, respectively, in Korean. The school's name signifies that it serves as a continuation for North Korean defectors who have completed the three-month educational program at the government-run Hana Dul (One, Two) School. While several organizations offer alternative education programs f

Aug. 24, 2024

[Weekender] Discover Seoul's serene retreats: From libraries to hanok

As South Korea is experiencing its hottest summer on record, finding refuge from the heat has never been more important. Fortunately, Seoul offers several serene spots where you can escape the sun's intensity and immerse yourself — all without spending a dime. Whether you’re looking to relax with a book or simply enjoy the green August scenery, these four spaces in Seoul provide the perfect combination of natural beauty and cool shade. Cheongun Literature Library: Hidden han

Aug. 17, 2024

[What to stream] Murder mysteries to whisk you away

Escape the relentless heat by plunging into a weekend of expertly crafted murder mystery films that will sweep you away to chilling crime scenes and the intricate minds of master detectives. Dim the lights and get ready for a cinematic adventure where time slips away, and the only thing that matters is uncovering the truth buried beneath a web of deception. "Se7en" on Netflix Helmed by American auteur David Fincher, "Se7en" tells the tale of two detectives Somerset (played

Aug. 17, 2024

[Feature] ‘Jopok’ through the lens of three iconic K-films

Italy has the mafia, Japan has yakuza and South Korea has "jopok." Just like their counterparts in Italy and Japan, Korean gangsters have captured the fascination of filmmakers and storytellers here, giving rise to a genre of their own. Among numerous films and TV dramas inspired by gang culture, three stand out, not just for their box office success but for their portrayal of jopok at key stages in their historical development. They are: “The General’s Son” trilogy d

Aug. 10, 2024

[Weekender] Loconomy: Food makers flock to locally sourced ingredients

Food items made with locally sourced ingredients have emerged among food companies in Korea. This approach, which aligns with those companies’ corporate social responsibility efforts, supports economic growth in rural areas and offers unique experiences for consumers, collectively known as "loconomy." On July 11, McDonald’s Korea launched the Jinju Pepper Cream Cheese Burger and Jinju Pepper Cream Cheese Muffin, both using peppers produced in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Provinc

Aug. 3, 2024

[Weekender] What we are reading at Korea Herald

The weather has been nothing short of erratic in Seoul, swinging from torrential rain to searing heat. Amid such atmospheric unpredictability, there’s no better moment to retreat indoors with a stack of books. Here are some summer reading recommendations from The Korea Herald. Lee Joo-hee Managing editor, The Korea Herald "American Diplomacy" by George F. Kennan "American Diplomacy" by the late diplomat and historian George F. Kennan is a compilation of his lectures a

July 27, 2024

[Weekender] Summer reads: Suggestions for books to take with you on vacation or staycation

The weather has been nothing short of erratic in Seoul, swinging from torrential rain to searing heat. Amid such atmospheric unpredictability, there’s no better moment to retreat indoors with a stack of books. To help you do just that, The Korea Herald asked around for some summer reading recommendations. The responses of the following figures, arranged alphabetically, have been edited for length and clarity. Cha In-pyo Author/actor "Questions and Answers on Trees" by Hwang Kyu

July 27, 2024

[Weekender] Save the date for affordable, unique weddings in Seoul

When it comes to his big day, hotels, wedding halls and convention centers have never been an option for Bae Sung-jae. The 38-year-old always wanted a wedding that broke from the Korean norm, where hundreds of guests gather at an indoor venue to watch the newlyweds make their wedding vows, followed by a meal or a buffet, and then a photo session. The budget was also an issue. Wedding venues charge not only for food and drinks but also use of the venue, screen for videos and flowers. Instead, he

July 20, 2024

[Weekender] Niche cinemas: Small yet rich in content

Amid the battle between streaming services and megaplexes for film dominance, a passionate few long for a cinematic experience only niche theaters can provide: curated gems on the big screen. For casual viewers who prefer monthly subscriptions to streaming services and occasional blockbuster splurges, the appeal of these smaller-scale theaters may not be as compelling. However, beyond the sheer size of the screen, these venues' offerings of films from all eras, along with other cinema-rel

July 13, 2024

[What to Stream] Short animated films will captivate you this weekend

Tune in this weekend to witness some of the most imaginative pieces of content available — short animated films. Utilizing the creative liberty afforded by fewer restrictions compared to feature-length films, these series of short animations will not only captivate you with its artistic innovation but also deeply impact you with profound, heartfelt and thought-provoking messages. “Love, Death & Robots” on Netflix Since its debut in 2019, "Love, Death & Robots,&qu

July 13, 2024

[What to Play] Songs to mellow out to on rainy days

The monsoon season is back, bringing heavy rains nationwide for the next few weeks. The gray clouds and humid air could be a downer for those who enjoy outdoor activities and the sun. But there are no better days to tune into melancholic ballad numbers to stay cozy and curled up on a couch than rainy weekends. Queue up these tracks for this year’s monsoon season, which will likely end late this month. Taeyeon- "Rain" K-pop diva Taeyeon, also a member of the legendary K-pop girl g

July 6, 2024

[Weekender] VIB treatment: Luxury market surges for ‘very important babies’

Despite South Korea’s notoriously low birth rate, its childrenswear market shows no sign of abating, especially led by the binge spending of young parents. “Most parents that I know think that putting a luxury onesie that costs hundreds of dollars on a baby is excessive because they grow out of clothes so quickly. But, there are also some parents, particularly those who are well-off, who are willing to buy expensive clothes for their kids,” said a 38-year-old Seoul resident sur

July 6, 2024

[Weekender] Traces of war, migration, otherness everywhere at Venice Biennale

VENICE, Italy -- Depending on where you live, you may or may not directly feel the effects of the world's wars in your daily life. But you will gain a stronger awareness of them walking around the Giardini in Venice, one of the main sites of the Venice Biennale, the world's oldest international art biennial. Though the Venice Biennale attracts artists, curators and art aficionados every other year -- an architecture biennale is held on alternate years -- this year feels different, with

June 29, 2024

[Weekender] Meet my green friends: Home gardening for healing, companionship

Lee Won-young, a 26-year-old graduate school student, has recently added a new routine to her busy life -- taking care of a potted plant that she called “Chris.” Chris sits by Lee’s desk in her room. Lee’s routine every Monday is to water her potted plant to make sure it survives another week. Throughout the rest of the week, Lee spends time moving her plant in different locations around the house to make sure it gets enough sunlight and putting it under an LED light to b

June 22, 2024

[What to Stream] Thrillers to chase away tropical nights

Summer has now begun in earnest, bringing with it the challenge of mosquitoes and humidity that keep us awake late into the night. Forget about the heat outside by immersing yourself in the chilling scenarios of a well-made thriller. Chase away sleepless nights with a suspenseful plot and intense action, which will provide you with the perfect mental getaway. "Bird Box" on Netflix Starring a slew of renowned Hollywood actors such as Sandra Bullock and John Malkovich, "Bird Box&q

June 15, 2024

[Weekender] IV drips: A quick energy shot for overworked Koreans

“Feeling burnt out? You’ve come to the right place,” the doctor said during my consultation at a clinic in Yeouido, Seoul's financial district, before prescribing what he called a “garlic injection.” As an average South Korean national, I am used to eating tons of garlic, but I wasn’t quite ready to have it injected into my veins. It turned out that the “garlic injection” wasn't actually a shot of garlic extract or anything similar. It&

June 15, 2024