Koreans love their garlic. Here's how much they really eat

When it comes to putting garlic in their food, few cultures can match Korea's enthusiasm. While Italians might delicately saute a clove or two in olive oil, Koreans think nothing of tossing entire handfuls into a single dish. Their bold approach to the ingredient has become the stuff of legend, sparking both admiration and occasional bewilderment from foodies across the globe. "Korean food is never complete without garlic," says Han Jin-sun, head chef at The Korea Herald's company cafeteria. Pre

Dec. 20, 2024

Gen Z spending habits: What do they prioritize?

"I recently bought several wood models" Ryu Hye-won, 24, female For Ryu, a graduate student, a childhood love for building wood models has grown into a cherished hobby. "The cute, colorful designs of these models draw me the most. But beyond their look, what keeps me coming back is the sense of achievement I feel when I complete a model," she said. Unlike the often unresolved nature of academic work, wood models provide her with a sense of closure and accomplishment. She sh

Dec. 20, 2024

Gen Z students want answers about grades, and they're not afraid to ask

A new wave of assertiveness is sweeping through South Korean universities, challenging long-held traditions of professorial authority. Today’s students are becoming increasingly vocal about their academic rights, especially concerning grades. "When I first started teaching here, students would barely come in after major exams to ask for clarification," said a Korean professor who wished to be identified simply as Don. He has been teaching international relations at a private coll

Dec. 20, 2024

Privacy of child stars: Some sense hypocrisy in parents‘ calls

Child stars have long been a staple of the entertainment world, and their stage has expanded to social media. These new young personalities, often managed by their parents, amass huge followings, raising questions about the consequences of early fame and its ethical boundaries. A recent controversy

Dec. 17, 2024

Lights, camera, annyeong: How comedian brought Korean dialogue to Nollywood

Written, produced by K-drama-loving Kemz Mama, ‘My Sunshine’ a bold mix of two worlds oceans apart Kemi Ikuseedun, better known as “Kemz Mama,” is a Nigerian actor, comedian and content creator who turned her love for Korean drama into a groundbreaking project. Her debut film, “My Sunshine,” is a hi

Dec. 16, 2024

Satire on the streets: Koreans turn crisis into festival of resistance

South Korea is in the midst of a political firestorm, but you might not know it from the colorful, absurd and downright hilarious flags waving in the streets. On Saturday, the National Assembly voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, following 12 days of mounting outrage over his shocking Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. The move -- intended only for dire emergencies like war or rebellion -- was widely condemned as authoritarian, sparking mass protests across the country. But these protests

Dec. 15, 2024

Jeju’s fire festival was canceled over climate risk. Now locals want to revive it

Since the late 90s, Korea’s southern island of Jeju has celebrated the arrival of spring by setting fire to vast fields of silver grass on the slopes of one of its famous volcanic cones. The annual event long attracted tourists and locals alike. However, the Jeju Fire Festival has been on hold for three consecutive years over safety and environmental concerns. Its resumption next March is now the subject of heated debate, with locals and environmental activists at odds. The debate center

Dec. 11, 2024

Korea‘s rising star of climate activism: a former top-tier corporate lawyer

Solutions for Our Climate started as a one-man effort. Now it‘s nurturing the next generation of environmental leaders When Kim Joo-jin joined a small environmental club at Seoul National University, he had no idea it would reshape his life. From pursuing a career in law to founding an environmental

Dec. 11, 2024

[Weekender] Anxious, avoidant or somewhere in between? Koreans tap into attachment theory to hack love

Is the Myers-Briggs personality test still the go-to for dating compatibility? If you ask young Koreans, some say, "Not anymore." The trend is shifting, and they’ve found a better playbook. The playbook, in the language of attachment theory, reads: Avoidant types often ghost, anxious types tend to cling. Secure types strike a balance. As a fresh approach to understanding emotional patterns in relationships, the theory has gained popularity in contemporary dating, especially in

Dec. 7, 2024

‘Tell me I fit in’

Behind endless streams of social media comments, validation-addicted Koreans seek group acceptance “Do you think it’s okay to go for a test-drive of a Mercedes Benz car in track pants?” Kim, a veterinarian in her 30s living in Seoul, posed the question via a yes-or-no poll on Instagram. To her relie

Dec. 2, 2024

Can government be cool? South Korea's local officials think so

Who says government institutions are boring? In South Korea, the typically not-so-interesting image of state-run organizations and local governments is getting a glow-up, thanks to a growing wave of meme-worthy content that they create. Take Korail, the national railway operator. In a video on its YouTube channel, a real-life KTX train driver waltzes down the aisle of the new KTX Cheongryong train. Dressed in her uniform, she delivered a quirky dance to "Shooting Stars" by Bag Raiders.

Nov. 30, 2024

Mature tastes

Find the answer at the bottom. “Jang” is a traditional Korean fermented condiment made from soybeans, essential in many Korean dishes. It is a broad term for a variety of soybean-based sources, including “doenjang” (soybean paste), “ganjang” (soy sauce), and “gochujang” (red pepper paste). The proce

Nov. 27, 2024

Why cynical, 'memeified' makeovers of kids' characters are so appealing

Disturbing to kids but amusing to older fans, cherished childhood characters have been reimagined online, far removed from their original innocent portrayals. Elsa from "Frozen" transforms into a drunkard, slurring to her sister Anna that she plans to drink more. Mickey Mouse turns out to be a bald human, hiding a receding hairline beneath a detachable wig with mouse ears. And, Winnie the Pooh, no longer the cute teddy bear, has become a weary drive-thru worker at McDonald's, sl

Nov. 27, 2024

Mourning death on Instagram

When someone you personally know passes away, how do you mourn? For some, posting about it on social media, particularly Instagram, has become a part of the mourning process. Following the death of actor Song Jae-rim on Nov. 12, the platform was flooded with tributes. Friends and colleagues posted m

Nov. 26, 2024

Think you know how kimchi tastes? Wait until you try these regional variations

As winter's icy grip approaches, Koreans roll up their sleeves to prepare a year’s supply of kimchi to ensure they have enough for the cold months ahead. The fermented dish varies in shape and flavor across the nation, with the distinct regional environment influencing kimchi's ingredients, seasonings and presentation. Take a tour of South Korea’s regional kimchi varieties, each adding its own zing to the traditional dish. Their distinct flavor profiles are guaranteed to

Nov. 26, 2024