Most Popular
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Contentious grain bill put directly to plenary meeting for vote
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Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low
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Will tug-of-war between doctors, government end soon?
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Climate impacts set to cut 2050 global GDP by nearly a fifth
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Trilateral talks acknowledge ‘serious’ slumps of won, yen
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[Graphic News] More Koreans say they plan long-distance trips this year
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[KH Explains] Hyundai's full hybrid edge to pay off amid slow transition to pure EVs
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North Korea removes streetlights along cross-border roads with South
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Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official
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Farming households dip below 1m for first time in 2023
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[Weekender] Brain needs time to ‘space out’
Overuse of digital devices could hamper proper development of the brain and character, according to Sungkyunkwan University professor of psychiatry Shin Dong-won. The brain needs time to “space out” to digest information, Shin said, but the constant inflow of information through digital devices could prevent the brain from carrying out this essential task. “The brain works by alternating between concentrating and taking a break, and concentrating means focusing on outside stimuli. For 30 to 50 p
TechnologyNov. 14, 2014
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[Weekender] Visual thinking pioneer stresses the power of drawing
On Eun-ju, CEO of Social Frog, a South Korean start-up, was quick to name names that could help explain her specialty: Einstein, Da Vinci, Picasso and Jobs. She told The Korea Herald that she grouped these figures together because they represent the power of drawing. Though how much drawing played a part is arguable, it is widely thought that Einstein used visualization to come up with his theory of relativity. The same is true of Leonardo Da Vinci, an artistic genius who was also an expert engi
TechnologyNov. 14, 2014
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[Weekender] Digital vs. analogue: How to live efficiently while staying cool
While the vortex of information overload is wearing out a growing number of people, evolving technologies also make today’s breakneck life easier by helping organize things and executing time-wasting chores in a snap. Ever-smarter mobile gadgets and software help cut costs and save time. They are getting better at analyzing users’ life patterns, tastes and even habits, sorting out and providing precise information. Smartphones and tablets lead the pack. Though some may call them the very culprit
Social AffairsNov. 14, 2014
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[Weekender] The perks of using efficiency-boosting mobile apps
While it has become common to see people walking around with their eyes pinned on their smartphone screens, experts have been warning that spending 24/7 with such digital devices can be either a boon or a bane.But according to some IT industry watchers, smartphone or desktop apps can be efficient tools for time management and keeping things in order.Although the best way to exercise self-restraint and maximize one’s ability to focus may be to put down one’s devices, a number of apps have proven
TechnologyNov. 14, 2014
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[Weekender] Designs for life
Nearly a decade after Seoul City’s urban beautification campaign, design has become an essential part of urban planning in Korea. In Seoul, flashy new buildings continue to pop up, creating some noticeable spots in its repetitive sprawl of cookie-cutter structures. Some even resemble a tsunami (the new Seoul City Hall) or a spaceship (the Dongdaemun Design Plaza). Although not as noticeable as the new edifices, traffic signs, bus stops and advertisements are being given a designer touch. Rooftop
Arts & DesignNov. 7, 2014
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[Weekender] Seoul’s journey to forming its own cityscape identity
There is the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Statue of Liberty in New York and the Taj Mahal in Agra. But in Seoul? Many would still find it hard to think of such an iconic landmark.The South Korean capital has been struggling to come up with its own landscape identity since the late 2000s, after its dramatic shift into a major Asian city from the war-torn, poverty-stricken town. Its cityscape reflected just that ― the accelerated economic development that focused on profitmaking and industrializatio
Social AffairsNov. 7, 2014
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[Weekender] Swanky food trucks rejuvenating neighborhoods
Vibrant food trucks are popping up in neighborhoods around the globe, serving up cleverly prepared and succulent on-the-go grub. Whether it is Korean fusion kimchi tacos, finger lickin’ good barbecue or one-of-a-kind gourmet sandwiches, food trucks have been slowly taking over the streets of major cities across the U.S. and other parts of the world. Some are even calling the States ― where the evolution of food vendors seems to be the most profound ― the “food truck nation.” With a no-limits att
CultureNov. 7, 2014
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[Weekender] Urban renewal starts in the alleys
For the past decade, major urban projects in Seoul have centered on creating landmarks to achieve the ambition of making it the design capital of Asia. Old buildings and neighborhoods have been transformed into high-end locales designed by famous architects. While the Korean capital has gradually turned into an ultramodern city, the streets and alleys behind the landmarks have been left with indistinct buildings that still comprise much of the landscape.Recently, city planners and architects hav
Arts & DesignNov. 7, 2014
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[Weekender] Star chef sees jang as part of Koreans’ DNA
Jang, a range of sauces or pastes made from fermented soybeans, is an important part of what makes Korean food unique, a renowned Spanish chef told The Korea Herald. It could one day dominate the meal tables of Europeans, who are incrementally accepting fermented foods, said Quique Dacosta, a Michelin 3-star chef, during his interview with The Korea Herald last week. “There is something about jang. You can add it anywhere and make a great Korean dish. Koreans cannot live without it and it has be
FoodOct. 31, 2014
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[Weekender] Food, retail giants compete for Korean taste
Korean food and retail giants are competing to open modern hansik restaurants as Korean cuisine gains popularity among health-conscious foodies. Armed with enough cash to make hefty investments, big names in the food and retail sectors, including Shinsegae, E-Land and CJ Group, have thrown their hats into the ring in recent years with restaurants combining style and mass-market appeal.These restaurants are all promoting the use of fresh ingredients.A front-runner in the hansik restaurant competi
IndustryOct. 31, 2014
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[Weekender] Korean firm supports globalization of fermented sauces
Korean food-maker Sempio has been supporting chefs in Spain in developing fermented Korean sauces, or “jang,” and dishes based on them as a way to penetrate the European market. The company teamed up with Alicia Foundation, led by chef Ferran Adria, in 2011 and developed 150 recipes marrying jang with modern Spanish cuisine. A “jang map” was developed, recommending different uses of jang according to the flavors cooks want to present.“We thought Spain was one of the most open culinary destinatio
FoodOct. 31, 2014
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[Weekender] Restaurants seek to go high-end
At a glance, Korean restaurants may seem to be far from high-end. People often cram into hole-in-the-wall restaurants looking for wallet-friendly, everyday Korean meals. They are served a bowl of rice, soup and several side dishes all at once, for the whole table to share. In recent years, however, a growing number of Korean restaurants have been seeking to offer a slightly different experience.Among them is Poom Seoul, located on Mount Namsan, with floor-to-ceiling windows that allow diners to
FoodOct. 31, 2014
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[Weekender] Modern Korean cuisine goes mainstream
Ha Jung-yun, 37, who enjoys exploring gourmet restaurants, has written more posts about Korean restaurants on her Facebook page over the past year. “It is fun to taste Korean fusion food, served at a newly opened restaurant with a modern look and at a reasonable price,’’ she said.Modern takes on Korean cuisine, better known as hansik, are a new trend in the restaurant scene here. “I like modern hansik because it is lighter and experimental, while using healthy and fresh ingredients,’’ Ha said.“T
FoodOct. 31, 2014
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[Weekender] Celebrity chef eyes Korean-French fusion
For many Koreans, Leo Kang is a celebrity chef who gained overnight fame after appearing as a judge on food-focused cable channel Olive-TV’s culinary competition “Master Chef Korea.”His straight-talking style, exemplary career and eye-catching looks helped put him on the map. But what matters more for him than being a celebrity is finding the true colors of his foods. “I have tried to present the dishes that I imitated from world-famous chefs, but now I want my dishes to show my own colors,” Kan
FoodOct. 31, 2014
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[Weekender] Bibimbap: Perfection in a bowl
Bibimbap, essentially rice mixed with meat and vegetables, often tops surveys on Korea’s signature dishes. It has been popular as a health food both domestically and overseas for quite some time.But the basic recipe of cooked rice with vegetables, beef, garnishes and red pepper paste is not all there is to it. In fact, bibimbap can be a whole lot more, according to “World’s Choice for Well-Being, Bibimbap,” a book that introduces 75 takes on the dish, written by Jhun Ji-young and published by Le
FoodOct. 31, 2014
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[Weekender] Into the mountains
For many Koreans, there’s one popular, easy way to get out of the country’s nonstop, hypercompetitive society ― hiking. Mountains are everywhere, covering more than two-thirds of Korea. Most are open to the general public all year around. Thanks to the country’s wide-reaching, efficient transport network, particularly in Seoul, Koreans can have easy access to mountain areas on a day trip without having to drive. On weekend mornings, subway trains in Seoul are frequently filled with people dresse
Social AffairsOct. 24, 2014
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[Weekender] Korea’s mountain playgrounds
It’s hard to say exactly how many mountains there are in Korea, partly because there are so many of them. Former Korea Herald columnist Gary Rector notes, “There’s no real way to delineate a mountain (here) since they all run together in ranges. Some mountains even have more than one name, depending on where you look at them from.” Most are part of the Taebaek Range, along the east coast, and its many offshoots.The country is so rugged that even the capital city has no fewer than a dozen peaks,
TravelOct. 24, 2014
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[Weekender] Hiking popularity boosts outdoor market
Despite falling sales in Korea’s overall fashion market, demand for outdoor clothing has risen steadily.On any day of the week, especially on the weekends, you can see groups of people heading out to hike the nation’s abundant and easily accessible mountains. This trend has contributed to the growth of the outdoor clothing market. However, hiking is no longer considered Korea’s only outdoor activity. An increasing number of people are enjoying camping, mountain biking and rock climbing.Hiking in
IndustryOct. 24, 2014
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[Weekender] Activist warns against excessive development
Autumn is the best season for hiking and mountain climbing in Korea with the crisp and mild weather, and colorful leaves. But for environmental activists, it is the season that worries them the most.Maeng Ji-youn, a director of the Seoul-based Korean Federation for Environmental Movements, is one of the outspoken activists who have called on climbers and developers to stop environmentally-unfriendly activities and seek ways to harmoniously coexist with the nature.“Mountains, designated as nation
Social AffairsOct. 24, 2014
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[Weekender] Orchestras for all
When the different notes and timbres of as many as 100 instruments combine into a glorious harmony, it is not only those in the audience who feel moved. The musicians and the conductor too feel overwhelmed with the sense of belonging and pride, as well as the spiritual richness of the classical music. This is what the people interviewed by The Korea Herald all said when asked what was it about playing in orchestras that they loved so much. “I have been running my own business. Looking back at al
CultureOct. 17, 2014