Jangmadang Generation: A force for change A “jangmadang,” which literally translates to “marketplace,” is a kind of black market that sprang up during the country’s devastating famine of the 1990s. The market stalls became a core part of the North’s economic system, where people led double lives between official state jobs and selling imported foods and other goods to make a living. North Korea...

Biking in Seoul, you can come across historic traces of the city which you may otherwise miss when taking bus, subway or car to get around. Here is a bike-ride course that takes you around the heart of Seoul -- from Deoksugung Palace’s stonewall road to Insa-dong. If you don’t have a bike – don’t worry – the city has a bike rental service named Seoul Bike or Ddareungi, through which you can rent...

Testing digital capability of executives, DGB Financial Group held an executive meeting in Zepeto on June 22, with its CEO Kim Tae-ho and other CEOs of five subsidiaries creating their personal avatars resembling their appearances. “It shows our commitment to adapt to rapidly changing digital culture. We are planning to open a metaverse bank where people can purchase financial goods and services...

In Gucci Villa, a virtual garden created in collaboration with the Italian fashion brand, avatars can try on Gucci products. Other similar platforms include Fortnite, created by US firm Epic Games, which has about 350 million users. Fortnite is famous for gunfight game Battle Royale and digital playground Party Royale. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Party Royale has gained popularity as a metavers...

“CEOs who have adopted the system say that as productivity grew, both workers and management were satisfied. They say they will never return to a five-day workweek again,” added Cho. In the past, when Korea attempted to convert to a five-day workweek from a six-day workweek, there was a huge backlash from the business community. “Some even said Korea would go bankrupt. Did we? We instead achiev...

An old, historic market -- usually filled with more elderly crowds or foreign tourists looking for a unique experience -- is frequented by young hipsters these days who are searching for imported liquor at reasonable prices. “I could buy the liquor at convenience stores or department stores, or liquor shops in my neighborhood, but it is much cheaper here,” said an office worker in his early 30s ...

The average cost of scallions per kilogram sold in retailers across the country more than doubled on-year in May to 5,215 won ($4.69), data provided by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. showed. It was relatively tamer than the price gains in March and April when it jumped 300 percent and 270 percent on-year. A temporary supply chain disruption was the culprit behind the price surge, ac...

For average customers, one of the easiest ways to pursue a green lifestyle is to purchase eco-friendly products. To target these customers and raise their brand images, companies in South Korea are rolling out eco-friendly products one after another, including some made of biodegradable plastic. Typically made from natural materials such as corn starch, biodegradable plastic is designed to brea...

Andong soju, probably one of the most well-known for its unique scent of yeast and smoothness, has been at the forefront of the distilled soju market and has served as one of the most famous specialties from North Gyeongsang Province. Its rival Munbaeju, that originates in Pyongyang, attracts consumers with a distinctly fruity scent of wild pear and runs smoothly down the throat. The drink was s...

There is also the big question of what really constitutes environmentally friendly housing. “There is a neighbor who often talks about how eco-friendly his house is,” a retired office worker with the surname of Kang who built his own house in the Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province said. Kang was referring to his neighbor who lives in a “passive house,” an ultra-low energy building that requires minimu...

Oh Jong-gyun, a 35-year-old in Seoul, had an awkward moment when he went to pay for valet service during a blind date last week. Not only was he feeling shy in front of a lady he had just met that evening, Oh also realized that he hadn‘t carried ”real money“ for months. “I risked losing face, on my first date, to ask her for 3,000 won. Well, she didn’t have it either,” he said. Oh is one of gro...

The growing demand for multibrand platforms in recent years is a response to the increasing number of direct-to-consumer stores in the country which has seen the online shopping business expand at one of the fastest rates in the world, according to Cafe24, a Seoul-based global e-commerce platform provider. “This type of curated e-commerce makes the shopping experience easier for consumers,” sa...

Since the Japanese government announced plans to dispose of radioactive wastewater from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant by releasing it into the sea, Seoul is scrambling to stop it from happening. At the very least, it wants Tokyo to provide transparent information to the international community. South Korea, Japan’s closest neighbor, views the discharge of more than 1 million tons of conta...

Park Hyo-eun, a 28-year-old resident of Gyeonggi Province, joined the miracle mornings trend in an effort to live more diligently. She usually heads to a fitness center at around 6 a.m. and works out for a couple of hours. "I set up morning routines to become a more diligent person. After doing exercise and reading books in the morning, I’ve started to place a higher priority on health and make ...

In 2020, 65 percent of the 1.03 trillion won in Bibigo Mandu sales were from overseas markets, CJ said. The US was the biggest market for Bibigo Mandu, which raked in 420 billion won, followed by China at 160 billion won and Japan, at 65 billion won. To cater to the palate of overseas consumers while maintaining its authentic taste, CJ had to make tweaks in their ingredient list. Instead of usi...