Most Popular
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[Weekender] Geeks have never been so chic in Korea
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[KH Explains] Why Korea's so tough on short selling
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[News Focus] Mystery deepens after hundreds of cat deaths in S. Korea
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NewJeans members submit petitions over court injunction in Hybe-Ador conflict
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N. Korea says it test-fired tactical ballistic missile with new guidance technology
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‘Kim desperately wanted to denuclearize,’ Moon writes in memoirs
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Actors involved in past controversies return first via streaming service originals
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S. Korea's exports of instant noodles surpass $100m for 1st time in April: data
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Korea set to finalize medical school expansion plans
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Yoon, first lady celebrate return of Buddhist relics after century
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[Weekender] Language barrier, online security turn foreign shoppers away
Despite a surge in foreign purchases on Korean online shopping sites, some barriers still hamper the shopping experiences. Common complaints include: poorly translated websites, excessive Internet security and limited delivery options. In a bid to meet the growing demand from foreign nationals, major online retailers have launched foreign language services, mostly in English and Chinese. But much of the content is poorly translated, with some detailed information only available in Korean. “It is
IndustryNov. 28, 2014
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[Weekender] How design affects our lives
A couple asked architect Cho Min-suk to build “the most unique house in the world” in the scenic area of Heyri in Paju, a town near the border with North Korea. The couple believed that the design of their house would affect their children’s behavior and thinking. “The couple told me they didn’t want their kids to grow up in a thicket of identical-looking box-like apartments and look at the same views as others,” said Cho at the press preview of his architecture exhibition on Tuesday. Experts sa
Arts & DesignNov. 21, 2014
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[Weekender] Master of mini foods weaves design with fun
Sitting at a dinner table with strangers, it is often hard to avoid the awkward silence.You try to think of what to say but you are not sure what would be appropriate. This is when you turn to the one thing that is always safe as an ice breaker ― food.Everybody is interested in food. Food is the universal medium of communication.Peter Callahan, who is participating as a speaker at the Herald Design Forum that opens on Nov. 26, made his name as a food stylist by reinventing food into a fabulous m
Arts & DesignNov. 21, 2014
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[Weekender] Food packaging evolves as imagination meets science
This is the sixth in a series that examines the expanding role of design in the run-up to the Herald Design Forum 2014 on Nov. 26. ― Ed.“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works,” said Steve Jobs as he gave a new lease of life to ailing Apple Inc. by transplanting design into its heart.Had its purpose been merely artistic inspiration, design would have remained a subcategory of art.Design, however, plays a functional role in association with products and even
Arts & DesignNov. 21, 2014
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[Weekender] ‘No boundaries in art, design and ideas’
“Art has no boundaries. The boundary of art is the boundary of ideas, and ideas have no limits. If you can think it, you can make it happen with lots of hard work. You can create whatever you imagine,” said Chris Riggs, creator of the art toy Dunny, in an email interview.“I plan to use more gold, silver and Barbie dolls in my new paintings and sculptures and I am currently using a Chanel bag with gold and silver bars coming out of it as an installation.”Riggs creates art with a single theme ― lo
Arts & DesignNov. 21, 2014
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[Weekender] ‘Designers should be socially responsible’
Designers should be more than a beautifier, but a person who makes improvements for the world, said Daniel Kim, principal of Daylight Design. By following the “design thinking process” to draw out user-based solutions, designers can improve the community, the environment and the world, said Kim, who heads the Asian division of the San Francisco-based design consultancy.Kim started his career at IDEO, the cradle of “design thinking,” moved on to work for online game developer Nexon America and th
Arts & DesignNov. 21, 2014
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[Weekender] Art toys dazzle kidults
Toys are no longer just for children. The website of Mattel, the maker of Barbie dolls, has separate pages for parents and collectors. Male adults go to Lego cafes where people can play with Lego sets and buy them.The designs of Barbies and Lego for adults are highly refined and precise to meet the grown-ups’ tastes. Such toys produced in small quantities by artists and designers are called art toys, or designer toys.Art toys are immensely popular among kidults, or adults with interests traditio
Arts & DesignNov. 21, 2014
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[Weekender] When we are too connected
Young Seoulite Park Min-jun makes sure his phone battery is always fully charged. The last thing he wants is for his phone to die, cutting off his access to KakaoTalk ― the leading South Korean messenger app.“I always carry an extra battery with me,” the 30-year-old beauty industry worker said. “Also, whenever I see power outlets I charge my phone batteries. I feel really anxious when I don’t.”Park, who openly admits that he is a “smartphone addict,” is one of 40 million South Koreans who use th
Social AffairsNov. 14, 2014
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[Weekender] Multitasking: No more than a mirage?
To members of modern society, swamped with chores and bombarded with distractions, the ability to do multiple tasks simultaneously has been touted as an essential skill. But recent research has challenged the idea of multitasking, even going so far as to claim that it is a myth.A popular theory, touted in the majority of these studies, is that a person’s brain has a limited capacity for attention, and can only focus on one task at a time to operate effectively. When people engage in what they be
TechnologyNov. 14, 2014
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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