Most Popular
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Hyundai Motor eyes 80,000 jobs, W68tr investment at home by 2026
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Seoul bus drivers go on general strike, cause morning rush hour delays
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Official campaigning kicks off for April 10 elections
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Dialogue hopes fade as doctors pick hard-liner as new head
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Korea enters full election mode
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Coupang pledges W3tr to expand Rocket Delivery nationwide by 2027
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[Election Battlefield] Political novice to face off star politician in ‘swing district’
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[Kim Seong-kon] The April 2024 election will decide our future
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Seoul’s bus union prepares for strike
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[Hello India] Corporate Korea sees new growth drivers in India
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[Weekender] Our fascination with crime
Crime dramas have been running rampant in Korean film and television.In cinema, 2017 opened with such flicks as “One Line,” the tale of a surprisingly simple but effective bank scam; “The Prison,” about inmates behind bars that control the outside world; and “Fabricated City,” featuring a team of hackers uncovering a massive digital conspiracy. The list goes on and on. Two of the five Korean films currently screening at the Cannes Film Festival are crime thrillers: “The Merciless” is about the p
FilmMay 26, 2017
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[Weekender] Places fading into memory
Bookstores expand their commercial horizons Bookstores were the intellectual sanctuaries for Korea’s youngsters and libertines, who burned with passion for democracy, prosperity and humanity there from the postwar years through the late 1990s. However, with the explosive rise of the internet and online media, they have fallen prey to become either ancient relics or forgotten memories of yesteryear. By and large, some of the remaining book shops are now cluttered and dusted with outdated wisdom.
CultureMay 19, 2017
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[Weekender] Old things worth holding on to
“Every memory of looking out the back door/ I had the photo album spread out on my bedroom floor/ It’s hard to say it/ time to say it/ Goodbye, goodbye,” sings the band Nickelback in its 2005 single “Photograph.”The song was popular in the US and UK, but more than a decade after its release, a disinterested millennial might say to the group’s lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, “What on Earth is a photo album?”Living in 2017, most people would have to think hard to recollect when he or she last held a p
CultureMay 19, 2017
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[Weekender] Korean election scenes in the eyes of foreigners
“New Republic of Korea with Moon Jae-in. If you don’t vote, shy-shy-shy.” The familiar tune from K-pop girl group Twice blares from a loudspeaker atop a remodeled truck in a Seoul street, apparently being used for the campaign of presidential candidate Moon. The verse has been rewritten to encourage voters to support the liberal aspirant. A bigger truck, with a makeshift stage, is parked in the middle of a wide street in Uijeongbu, north of Seoul, with a large crowd gathered in front. On the sta
PoliticsMay 5, 2017
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[Weekender] Campaigns evolve over decades; image-based politics still continues
About half of the current South Korean voters were holding voting rights in the historic 1987 election, when the direct election system was reintroduced after a long spell of military regimes from Park Chung-hee to Chun Doo-hwan.The youngest voter group of that time are today’s voters in their 50s. Supporters of liberal Moon Jae-in engage in campaigning, Seoul earlier this week. (Yonhap)They remember the canvassing of the four major candidates -- Roh Tae-woo, Kim Young-sam, Kim Dae-jung and Kim
PoliticsMay 5, 2017
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[Weekender] An ‘unwinnable’ race with a mission
As major candidates crisscross the country to drum up support in the final stretch to Tuesday’s presidential election, so too do a handful of fringe candidates -- to much less success. Among them are Cho Won-jin and Kim Sun-dong, who represent two opposite extremes of South Korea’s political spectrum. Cho of the far-right Saenuri Party is in the race with a clear mission: to save former President Park Geun-hye. The arrested conservative Park is standing a criminal trial for corruption after bein
PoliticsMay 5, 2017
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[Weekender] Cafes go beyond coffee
The growth of coffee addicts is explosive, manifested in the rapid spread of coffee shops, big and small, across the nation. Latest data showed that Koreans consumed more than 25 billion cups of coffee last year, translating into a whopping 500 cups per person. The stakes couldn’t be higher for both franchise coffee chains and smaller self-owned businesses. They are now rushing to diversify themes, offer special brews and explore new concepts. Daelim Warehouse Cafe in Seongsu-dong, Seoul (Park
CultureApril 28, 2017
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[Weekender] Get space for the price of a coffee
Park Ji-min, 23, carries out most of her daily tasks at cafes. The senior college student works on her assignments, reads books and watches movies on her laptop at the cafes, which are located right in front of her house. (Park Ju-young/ The Korea Herald)“Even though I’m far from a coffee enthusiast, I drink at least three cups of coffee every day so I can stay in a cafe,” Park said in an interview with The Korea Herald. Park is one of many Korean students who frequent cafes not only to quench
CultureApril 28, 2017
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[Weekender] Franchises experiment with high-end coffee and tea
Cafe franchises in South Korea are going upscale by brewing premium drinks including specialty coffee and high-end tea. Tea cafe franchises offer high-end tea (Chloris Tea & Coffee)It took time, money and effort just to try such premium beverages in the past, but franchises are clearing the barriers to beverages made by veteran professionals with top-end ingredients. Even major coffee shop chains have got in on the act, with Tom N Toms Black, Twosome Place Roastery Cafe and Starbucks Reserve. St
CultureApril 28, 2017
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[Weekender] Cafes provide solace for sleep-deprived Koreans
Many people turn to coffee to wake themselves up. But that’s the last thing on the minds of customers of a new breed of cafes devoted to helping people relax and, if possible, take a nap. “The (regular) cafes are inconvenient,” said Shin Jeong-sik, a regular customer at a sleeping cafe. “They’re crowded and the chairs are stiff. I like it here because I can rest on a bed.”Shin is not alone in needing a good lie-down. Data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development suggests th
CultureApril 28, 2017
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[Weekender] South Koreans try blissful bike routes
As the weather starts to heat up, many are taking up cycling for either commuting or sport. The number of bicycle riders has gone up steadily over the past few years here. According to the Korea Transport Institute, it now stands at more than 13 million people, translating into 1 in 4 Koreans.The growing affection toward bikes is hardly a surprise for commuters. People in metropolitan cities with notorious rush-hour traffic need an alternative transportation option. Ho Sung-hyun bikes downhill.
CultureApril 21, 2017
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[Weekender] Work -- a bike ride away
For urban commuters who have to scramble daily through the traffic-jammed city or spend a heavy monthly allowance on taxi rides, the low cost and less-stress alternative of taking a bicycle to work is tempting.The idea, of course, involves a number of concerns: Do I have to purchase a bicycle and safety equipment? Is it safe to ride a bicycle on downtown main streets? What if it rains unexpectedly? Can I ride in my business attire? An office worker rides a rental bike in Yeongdeungpo-gu on his w
PoliticsApril 21, 2017
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[Weekender] Travel Bits
Gwangju Royal Ceramic Fest Gwangju Royal Ceramic Festival is held annually in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, where royal ceramic ware was first created during the Joseon period. Launched in 1998, the festival is comprised of various programs such as performances, exhibitions, and hands-on activities. The festival is held from April 22 to May 7, and the visiting hours are from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is open to visitors of all ages and there is no admission fee. A separate admission fee is requir
TravelApril 14, 2017
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[Weekender] Unmanned services: pros and cons
Despite the positive elements of unmanned services for making life more convenient and saving time, concerns are also rising over the technology-backed services replacing jobs and causing security concerns.Seoul National University has been operating unmanned security systems by reducing the number of security guards.The college has installed surveillance cameras and sensors at 25 buildings designed to raise the alarm only in case of an emergency. Currently it has 180 guards, but they are expect
IndustryApril 14, 2017
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[Weekender] Young, busy Koreans prefer spending time at unmanned stores
People passing by the streets of Bangbae-dong, a neighborhood in southern Seoul, look back to check out the unusual atmosphere in the Newdle 365 store, one of few unmanned convenience stores in the city. The store, having seven vending machines and no cashier, is crowded with students during busy afterschool hours, but there is no need to wait for long as customers can easily purchase products with the press of a button. The Newdle 365 store at Bangbae-dongLocated next to a primary school, the
IndustryApril 14, 2017
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[Weekender] Doing without humans
Lee Bom, 34, is one of a growing number of unmarried people in South Korea, and aside from her colleagues at work, she can go a full day without talking to anyone.Due to her long working hours, Lee orders all her groceries online. As she usually doesn’t get home until late at night, her items are delivered to Smile Box, an unmanned parcel pickup and return service. The box is installed at a GS25 convenience store near her house and is opened using a verification code on her smartphone.Lee enjoys
IndustryApril 14, 2017
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[Weekender] Air pollution thrust onto presidential election agenda
Environmental issues have rarely received attention in South Korean elections, but the nation’s worst-ever air pollution in the first three months of this year has changed that. With slightly over a month left to the May 9 presidential election, major contenders are releasing pledges on tackling the aggravating fine dust problem, facing conspicuously growing public awareness and voter demand. With a slew of mobile apps providing nearly real-time updates on air quality, many pollution-conscious c
Social AffairsApril 7, 2017
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[Weekender] Rising market shields consumers from fine dust
Fighting pollution is no longer a seasonal task, and consumers are now preparing for an ongoing war against fine dust.According to South Korea’s biggest discount store chain E-mart, sales of air purifiers increased on-year by 86.1 percent during the week of March 17 to 23. Masks registered a 21 percent on-year increase in the same week. Due to popular demand, online retailer Coupang has created a “Spring Season Fine Dust Impenetrable Defense” category that consists of 170 products, ranging from
IndustryApril 7, 2017
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[Weekender] Hazy future of South Korean skies
South Korea is more shrouded in dust than ever. In three months this year, the country has seen 85 ultrafine dust advisories issued, more than double in the same period last year, which had 41. With ominously gray skies, low visibility and warnings about the health effects of airborne dust, South Koreans have become increasingly anxious.A high-rise building in downtown Seoul is shrouded in fine dust on April 3. (Yonhap)This has given rise to a breed of citizens raging their own battles against a
Social AffairsApril 7, 2017
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[Weekender] Rising market shields consumers from fine dust
Fighting pollution is no longer a seasonal task, and consumers are now preparing for an ongoing war against fine dust.According to South Korea’s biggest discount store chain E-mart, sales of air purifiers increased on-year by 86.1 percent during the week of March 17 to 23. Masks registered a 21 percent on-year increase in the same week. Due to popular demand, online retailer Coupang has created a “Spring Season Fine Dust Impenetrable Defense” category that consists of 170 products, ranging from
IndustryApril 7, 2017