The Korea Herald

[Weekender] Bank branches reinvented

CultureSept 20, 2019

As banking goes mobile, retail banks are trying to figure out what to do with their increasingly empty branches. One idea is to give customers more reasons to stop by, like a cup of Paul Bassett cof...
[Weekender] Mala, mouth-numbing sauce from China, captures spicy food fans

Food&BeverageSept 6, 2019

While gochujang -- Korean red chili paste -- is captivating the taste buds of many overseas, a Chinese sauce known for its tongue-numbing heat is the latest obsession among spicy food lovers here. M...
[Weekender] Like it hot!

Food&BeverageSept 6, 2019

Late last month, two giant chili statues occupied a corner of Seoul Plaza, in front of City Hall, drawing interest from foreign tourists and passers-by. The air carried the unmistakable scent of the ...
[Weekender] Betting on money-for-waste business model

TechnologyAug 30, 2019

Pictures of dead or dying sea turtles, whales and birds have gone viral recently, warnings of an escalating waste problem that causes animals to choke on plastic debris. Although such heartbreaking ...
[Weekender] A peek at upcycle art in Gwangmyeong

Arts&DesignAug 30, 2019

The city of Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, has the country’s first gallery dedicated to upcycling and runs programs for both artists and the general public. The ongoing exhibition at the Gwangmyeon...
[Weekender] From trash to art

Arts&DesignAug 30, 2019

A fancy new building with an inviting lawn yard, public art installations and plenty of Instagrammable photo spots, Seoul Upcycling Plaza looks just like a hip place to be. And that’s what city offi...
[Weekender] Vegan bakeries gaining traction in Seoul

Food&BeverageAug 23, 2019

Vegan bakeries started to emerge in Seoul just a couple of years ago. Eschewing the usual wheat, butter, yeast, milk and eggs, vegan bakeries create their goods with alternative ingredients such a...
[Weekender] Going vegan on the face

FashionAug 23, 2019

The vegan way of life is not limited to diet or eating but encompasses the full spectrum of a person’s life choices, including things like skin care and cosmetics. With more consumers opposing anima...
[Weekender] Korea’s vegan scene, through eyes of an expat

CultureAug 23, 2019

The following is a Korea Herald copy editor’s personal account of her encounters with the local vegan community. The writer, a vegan since the early 1990s, has lived in Korea for more than 15 years. ...
[Weekender] Won, dollars and supernotes: How fake bills are detected

MarketsAug 16, 2019

An average of 1,000 counterfeit bills are spotted and seized annually in South Korea -- many of them via KEB Hana Bank’s anti-counterfeiting center. With 15 employees and technology worth 1.5 billio...
[Weekender] How far off is the ‘cashless society’?

TechnologyAug 16, 2019

For 35-year-old office worker Kim Seong-soo, carrying a wallet loaded with cash or plastic is a thing of the past. In Pangyo Techno Valley, where he works, he can easily buy a cup of coffee and get ...
[Weekender] The life and death of Korean won

EconomyAug 16, 2019

South Korean banknotes and coins begin life at a factory in Gyeongsan, just outside Daegu. They are then transported to the Bank of Korea’s vault in Seoul, heavily guarded by armed security officers,...
[Weekender] Finding balance on fast and furious water

More sportsAug 9, 2019

Trying to stand on ferociously turbulent water is definitely an effective way to get an adrenaline rush. And indoor facilities allow enthusiasts to experience that all year round, amid the growing po...
[Weekender] Flying above the water

More sportsAug 9, 2019

On a heat-soaked afternoon in Seoul, the placid waters of the Han River suddenly burst with energy. A figure mounted on top of what looks like a futuristic water-propelled jet pack performs energetic...
[Weekender] Come fly with me

CultureAug 8, 2019

Even preteens can enjoy thrill of skydiving within air-blasting tunnel It looked like I wasn’t in Kansas anymore. The ferocious funnel of wind swept me off my feet, out of Seoul, and into Maseong-r...