Most Popular
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1 in 3 Koreans live alone, family types becoming diverse
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Korea, Japan finance chiefs vow to tame rampant FX market volatility
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US 'incredibly concerned' about suspected NK-Iran military ties
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Korean won weakens amid heightened uncertainty
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Sewol victims commemorated on tragedy's 10th anniversary
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K-pop group's manager dismissed for setting up spycam in theater dressing room
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Chanel, Louis Vuitton see muted growth in Korea
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K-pop singer lost consciousness after being hit by foul ball, cancels show
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Conservative bloc divided over Han’s role in election defeat
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Korean Muslim YouTuber's plan to build mosque in Incheon goes viral
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[Weekender] Careful focus on public need key to urban regeneration
Last month, an elevated road crossing located near Seoul Station officially closed down, signaling the beginning of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s 23.2 billion won ($18.95 million) project to turn the decades-old structure into a high-rise public park. Led by Seoul City Mayor Park Won-soon, the plan is aimed at transforming the 46-year-old overpass in central Seoul into a pedestrian park by 2017. The mega project is similar to the High Line Park in New York City, a landmark urban renewal ca
IndustryJan. 15, 2016
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[Weekender] Tragic and extraordinary stories of Korean prodigies
When Heo Nanseolheon (1563-1589) was just 8 years old, she wrote her iconic piece “Inscriptions on the Ridge Pole of the White Jade Pavilion in Kwanghan Palace,” a poem filled with a unique imagination about the world of spiritual beings. Today, the piece is still considered as the work of a poetic genius -- who later died at age of 27, after suffering an unhappy marriage and the deaths of her two children. Heo is one of very few women writers from Korea’s Confucian Joseon kingdom (1392-1897), w
Social AffairsJan. 8, 2016
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[Weekender] From prodigies to geniuses: the 'gifted' fascination
“Mediocrities everywhere, I absolve you. I absolve you, all,” uttered Antonio Salieri in the 1984 film “Amadeus,” loosely based on the real life of the Italian classical composer and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. As Mozart’s less-capable archrival, the movie version of Salieri was forced to shudder in jealousy, marvel with wonder, and bear witness to the immortal genius of a man many consider to be one of the greatest musical talents of all time. Throughout history, tales of those with exceptional c
Social AffairsJan. 8, 2016
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[Weekender] ‘Elite education vital to help students reach their full potential’
The debate over gifted education in Korea is generally played out between two sides: Opponents argue the special education program is tailored for the select few and undermines the principle of equal opportunity, while others see the programs as a chance to foster smart minds who can lead the nation. (Chung Hee-cho/The Korea Herald)An expert in gifted education agrees with the latter. Suh Ye-won, director of the state-run National Research Center for Gifted and Talented Education, says such educ
Social AffairsJan. 8, 2016
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[Weekender] TV depicts life of and around ‘child prodigy‘
Screengrab from the SBS show “Finding Genius.”A toddler, a little over 2-years-old, waddles in front of the camera and onlookers to look for a Chinese character on the screen. Still in diapers, the boy identifies the word.The screen changes to flash “I touch my eye” in English, which 27-month-old I-jun also reads out.The scene is from the 37th episode of “Finding Genius” from local broadcaster SBS, a weekly show dedicated to shining a spotlight on children with unusual talents or skills. In Kore
CultureJan. 8, 2016
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[Weekender] Past, present and future of educating ‘gifted’
Last month, 18-year-old Song Yoo-geun retracted his first academic paper “Axisymmetric, Nonstationary Black Hole Magnetospheres: Revisited” -- which would have made him the youngest-ever Korean Ph.D. -- after he was accused of plagiarism.The shattered legend of a science prodigy once dubbed “boy genius” by media -- and showered with government support from 2010 -- sent shockwaves across the country and stoked questions over whether Korea was headed in the right path in educating its “gifted” chi
Social AffairsJan. 8, 2016
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[Weekender] Seoul clubs: the party animal's paradise
Many cities around the world call themselves “the city that never sleeps,” but few live up to that reputation as well as Seoul. The raging nightlife has become a trademark for Korea’s capital, with countless bars, clubs, coffee shops and noraebang (karaoke bars) that welcome in party animals right up until sunrise. Naturally, Seoulites have developed a high standard for what they are looking for in the perfect club party experience. Clubs in Seoul boast some of the most stylish venues in the wo
CultureDec. 18, 2015
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[Weekender] DJ, an evolution from turntablist to performance master
Clubs are a cultural touchpoint, where music, fashion, visual art and performing arts intersect, influence and blend with one another, says DJ KingmckA DJ, or disc jockey, is much more than just a person who plays recorded music for the audience -- he or she is the director of the performance, headliner of the night’s show, and a trademark of the club industry. DJ Kingmck (Deadend Movement) Amid the fast-changing cultural trends of these days, it is also an occupation that needs to be redefined
CultureDec. 18, 2015
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[Weekender] Words you need to know for clubbing in Korea
While clubbing in Korea, you may hear a lot of familiar words with unfamiliar meanings or completely new terms altogether. Provided here by The Korea Herald is a dictionary of sorts to help you sail smoothly through the country’s nightlife scene. Syndrome (Syndrome-Redcool Photography) Clubs, nightclubs, “booking” and cabarets In Korea, there is a clear distinction between clubs and nightclubs. Clubs are your traditional jam-packed dance halls filled with hip-hop or electronic dance music. Meanw
CultureDec. 18, 2015
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[Weekender] Where to turn up after sunset -- Seoul’s hottest clubs
A team of Korea Herald reporters went on a weekend crawl of clubs in Seoul’s infamous clubbing districts of Gangnam, Hongdae and Itaewon. The following is our tried and tested list of the hottest clubs in Seoul now. Gangnam, glitz and glam The inspiration behind that galloping hit track by rapper Psy, Seoul’s well-off Gangnam area is the home ground of some of the most glamorous and sophisticated clubs not only in Korea, but worldwide. Club of clubs: OctagonOctagon (Octagon) To play it safe, Oct
CultureDec. 18, 2015
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[Weekender] Tips for party look: Go simple, but bold
How exactly do you look good in dimly lit dance clubs and stay fresh until the morning after? The Korea Herald took tips from local makeup and fashion celebrities on how to become a holiday queen.The keywords for this season’s party look are ‘bold,’ ‘dramatic’ and ‘fancy’ (Pony Effect)According to makeup guru Pony, who has recently launched her own brand Pony Effect, the key words for this season’s party makeup trends are “bold,” “dramatic” and “fancy.” Cosmetics brands have released vibrant sha
CultureDec. 18, 2015
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[Weekender] Airports turn to wining, dining, shopping destinations
Lotte Duty FreeIf you’ve viewed airports as just places to board and disembark airplanes, you may want to do more from now. International airports are transforming into great places to shop and dine. Visiting the duty-free sections has become one of the most-anticipated parts of traveling to Korea. About 45 million visitors spent about 2.1 trillion won ($1.78 billion) at the Incheon International Airport last year, the highest amount in the world.From the world’s first Louis Vuitton store to glo
IndustryDec. 11, 2015
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[Weekender] Hidden places at Incheon Airport raise customer loyalty
Jordan Reinhart, 26, and her fiance from Canada arrived at South Korea’s Incheon International Airport on Tuesday morning, exhausted and ready to head back home after spending their winter vacation in Bali. With a nine-hour layover ahead, the couple had originally planned to step out of the airport to explore Seoul for the day, but decided against the idea because of issues concerning their credit cards.Though initially worried about how they would spend those long hours, staying inside the airp
IndustryDec. 11, 2015
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[Weekender] Airports as cultural, commercial destinations
International passengers wait for their flight at the departure terminal at Ihcheon Airport. Incheon AirportKim Young-chul, 37, an engineer for a shipbuilding company, often visits Incheon International Airport, South Korea’s main gateway, with his family. But he comes here not only for travel, but for family activities as well. “For my two daughters, the airport is a fun and dynamic place packed with people from around the world. When we visit the airport, we often spend a few hours there, whil
IndustryDec. 11, 2015
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[Weekender] Speed, convenience are behind Incheon Airport’s service crown
Long queues of people, unpleasant hours of waiting for check-in and later sprinting to the gate to clear immigration in time for the flight ― these are common bugbears of using a busy airport.Though bustling with some 134,000 travelers a day, check-in delays are rare on a regular day at South Korea’s award-winning Incheon International Airport, which prides itself on offering users the fastest and most convenient services in the world.The arrivals hall at Incheon International Airport (Incheon I
IndustryDec. 11, 2015
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[Weekender] Race on to be Asia’s top air hub
Competition among Asian air hubs is heating up as countries in the region are scurrying to build new airports, add runways and expand passenger terminals to become the continent’s top gateway to the world.With surging air travel and burgeoning budget carriers, major airports in South Korea, China, Japan, Singapore, India and Thailand are increasing capacity to meet demand.“Asian countries are showing a significant growth in air travel, higher than the global average, amid their continued economi
IndustryDec. 11, 2015
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[Weekender] The police officer's daily grind
With the setting sun, darkness seeps into the harbor city of Incheon. As people unwind after a hectic day of work with bottles of soju, some beer and ample amounts of Korean barbecue in the local popular hangout, things start to get a little rough around a clearly-drunk 50-something man. Uniformed police officers arrive on the scene and attempt to calm things down, but are welcomed with a slap and violent behavior with rants of “How dare you lecture me when you’re just my son’s age!” Cops specia
Social AffairsDec. 4, 2015
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[Weekender] Closer to the people
In light of the deadly terror attack in Paris last month and the fear it sparked around the globe, many in South Korea also began reconsidering everyday safety.Granted, amid the constant threat from the reclusive North Korea, coping with looming fear has become somewhat usual for Koreans for decades. And various global indexes, including the Better Life Index 2015 by OECD, placed South Korea as one of the safest places to live, at No. 6. Behind the unorthodox sense of security enjoyed by the pub
Social AffairsDec. 4, 2015
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[Weekender] Portraying police in Korean cinema
“We may not have money, but we have our pride.”This year’s smashing box-office hit “Veteran” -- a cathartic action thriller following a detective trying to arrest a sociopathic young chaebol scion on criminal charges -- offered arguably one of the most positive portrayals of Korean cops. The detective Do-cheol (played by Hwang Jeong-min), as reflected in the above famous quote, is fierce, righteous, capable and, most of all, ethical. He does not exchange his dignity for his own safety, comfort
Social AffairsDec. 4, 2015