“Regarding Takeshima (referring to Ulleungdo Island) and another island (most likely the Dokdo Islets) … our country has nothing to do with them,” the directive read. In 1900, Emperor Gojong (1863-1907) of the Empire of Korea (1897-1910) promulgated an imperial edict to change the name of Ulleungdo Island to Uldo Island and place Seokdo Island (the Dokdo Islets) under the jurisdiction of Uldo Co...

With its unique location and natural history, Dokdo boasts ample fishing grounds, untapped resources and a potential for environmental, geological and cultural research. Dokdo is the product of underwater volcanic eruptions in the East Sea about 4.6 million-2.5 million years ago. It is therefore much older than Ulleungdo (formed about 2.5 million-10,000 years ago) and Jeju Island (formed about 1...

Yuji Hosaka, born in Japan, harbored good feelings toward Korea from childhood when he was charmed by its singers, sports stars and the friends of his father, who ran a plastic lens factory in Tokyo. The fond curiosity developed into academic enthusiasm during his college years after he was struck by the 1895 assassination by the Japanese Empress Myeongseong, the wife of the Joseon era’s last ki...

The character, named Mr. Michang, wears a yellow shirt and cap, an outfit similar to the uniform worn by modern parcel delivery employees. “Mr. Michang performs lightweight deliveries from house to house, and will collect, pack and deliver packages for customers,” the leaflet said. The name “Michang” is an abbreviation of “Korea Warehouse & Forwarding Corporation,” now called Korea Express. “T...

On a Saturday morning, a middle-aged man in a black leather jacket cuts between vehicles on a motorbike to reach the head of the queue at a red light. When the light turns green, he whizzes past other vehicles, riding off with a big pile of packages loaded on the back of his bike. “I like Saturdays. There’s less traffic and I can travel more quickly,” said Koag Sung-soo, a 54-year-old courier. ...

On a Saturday night, I felt a sudden urge for instant noodles, a pack of frozen dumplings, tofu and some other trivial groceries, but didn’t feel like going out ― it was freezing and around midnight, and the idea of having to get dressed for an outing was unbearable. I picked up the phone and called a delivery service. The operator asked a few questions ― my name, address and the items I wanted ...

South Korean students, office workers, singles and especially those who find it frustrating to stand in queues see home-delivered food as a blessing. Only a couple of years ago, they used to reach for flyers to place an order. Now, things have become smarter. Suh Jeng-hoon, for instance, is a student who enjoys food delivery and uses mobile apps specializing in this to read reviews, browse menus...

A drone-based delivery system currently under development has raised hopes for faster, more efficient services, but concerns over its feasibility linger due to legal and technical limitations. A series of major global firms such as Amazon have recently revealed their prototype services, which aim to reduce delivery time and labor costs to increase profits. But challenges such as safety concerns,...

While the horses are used for leisurely riding in modern Korea, people on the peninsula have had a relationship with the animal since prehistoric times. For Koreans, the horse has been a stable source of nutrition, a dear friend, an efficient means of transportation, and a symbol of power. From Jan. 13, 2014, to Feb. 18, 2015, people here and across East Asia will celebrate the Year of the Hors...

In recent years, Korea’s horse racing industry has gained the spotlight from the global market. The nation’s racehorses have been exported to other countries including Malaysia and Macau, and Korea also held its first international race with Japan last November. The state-run Korea Racing Authority said it exported broadcasts of the race to Singapore for the first time in Korea last December. Th...

As we ring in 2014, the Year of the Horse, businesses are introducing the mammal in their products and marketing tactics. It’s happening even in the food business: The horsemeat market in Korea, albeit fledgling, is on a growth path as the meat is increasingly perceived as a healthy food. One restaurant located in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, draws in those wanting to try unique gourm...