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Reinventing life after K-pop trainee days
Beneath the glitz and glamour of K-pop, countless trainees, many still in their teens, spend years perfecting their vocals and choreography, clinging to the hope of one day stepping into the spotlight. A 2022 survey by the Korea Creative Content Agency put their numbers at 1,170. But this figure leaves out K-pop star wannabes outside entertainment agencies -- those training at independent dance studios or trying their luck on platforms like YouTube. For many, the pursuit consumes their entire ad
April 26, 2025 -
Does your phone eavesdrop to target ads? A Samsung engineer and Korean regulators weigh in
You casually mention needing new shoes. Hours later, you’re served a sneaker ad on Instagram. Coincidence? Maybe. Creepy? Absolutely. Moments like this have fueled one of the most persistent digital-age suspicions: that your smartphone is secretly listening to your conversations to deliver eerily relevant ads. It feels too accurate to be anything else. But is that really what’s happening? According to interviews conducted by The Korea Herald with a current Samsung AI engineer, an information sec
April 23, 2025 -
A multipurpose ‘mansion’
Call it what you will: A historic landmark or a run-down eyesore. Despite its weathered exterior, Yujin Mansion, also known as Yujin Sangga, was once the embodiment of modern, high-end living. With the term “mansion” implying a high standard of living at the time, the building houses larger-than-typical units for the era, ranging from 109 to 221 square meters each. Built in 1970 in Hongje-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, it was one of the country‘s earliest mixed-use apartment complexes, designed to s
April 22, 2025 -
Daiso: Dollar store where K-pop fans find new sanctuary
Photocard decorating — once the niche culture of teenage K-pop fangirls — is now catching on among fans worldwide. The trend involves embellishing collectible idol photocards with an array of materials, from glitter and beads to stickers, lace and miniature charms. Typically encased in clear plastic sleeves or vinyl holders, these decorated cards often evolve into intricate pieces of fan-made art. At the center of this growing subculture is Daiso, a popular dollar store chain in South Korea that
April 17, 2025 -
On her own in Seoul: Safety tips for city’s independent women
As a longtime resident of Seoul, I can personally attest to the city being among the safer places to live by oneself. Not once during the numerous late-hour adventures of my youth, staggering back home at night, have I been mugged or held at gunpoint -- which is partly because personal gun ownership is not allowed here. But no matter where you are in the world, there's always the risk of violence and crime, particularly for women, who are statistically far more vulnerable to certain types of cri
April 13, 2025 -
108 steps up and Seoul's hidden side unfolds beneath you
A steep stairway of 108 stone steps winds up and down through one of Seoul's relatively older neighborhoods: Huam-dong in Yongsan-gu. Ambitiously named the 108 Heaven Stairway, the staircase serves as a direct route for residents and visitors traveling up and down the steep slope between the lower and the upper villages. Yet, some stairway users are unaware of the historical significance beneath their feet. In fact, the origin of the stairs is associated with anguish for Koreans, tracing back to
April 10, 2025 -
Hey Gen Z, how’s dating going?
Single, taken or married, eight Gen Zers talk love, relationships and commitment Do love and relationship dynamics change across generations? Are there distinct traits that define a generation’s approach to romance? Asking the right questions can reveal much. In South Korea, some such questions include "What would you do if your parents disapproved of your relationship or marriage?" "Would you marry someone you met on a dating app?" and "Would you date a feminist?" (for men). We asked eight Gene
April 6, 2025 -
Inside Korea's empty classrooms and efforts to reimagine them
Amid dwindling birth rate, shuttered schools become a growing headache -- and potential asset -- for urban revitalization On a weekday afternoon at around 1:30 p.m., an eerie silence blankets the schoolyard of what was once Hwayang Elementary School in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Where children's laughter once filled the air, now only the rustling of trees in the spring breeze and occasional birdsong break the stillness. The human presence has shifted dramatically. Elderly residents with canes now walk
April 5, 2025 -
Run-ins with the law ― dos and don'ts
Free interpretation among legal rights to be mindful of So following a lapse of your better judgement, you find yourself inside a police station in a foreign land. Your first instinct may be to use whatever Korean you know to explain yourself. But maybe don't be so quick to trust those same instincts that landed you there in the first place. As in many other countries, everyone on Korean soil has the right to a fair investigation and trial. For anyone who does not speak Korean, this includes req
April 1, 2025 -
The case against small talk, according to Koreans
Why do Koreans generally not engage with strangers? We asked locals and experts Ava Miller, an avid K-drama lover, traveled to Seoul in July last year to practice her Korean and immerse herself in authentic Korean culture. Staying at a hostel in Seoul, she tried to engage with locals, but whenever she started a conversation, they responded with short answers, and the dialogue didn’t flow as she had hoped. “Everyone was quietly eating or washing dishes, not making eye contact with each other,” th
March 30, 2025 -
Once a quarry, now a village
Quarry-turned-village attracts hipsters with unique cliffside houses, hidden eateries in alleyways A row of houses sits perched on a rocky cliff, squeezed between large boulders, creating a stunning landscape that contrasts from the dense cluster of Seoul’s typical apartment and office buildings. Changsin-dong Cliff Village is a distinctive residential area that lies 125 meters above sea level on Naksan, one of the mountains in inner Seoul, along which still stands remnants of a fortress from th
March 30, 2025