Most Popular
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Korea enters full election mode
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Seoul bus drivers go on general strike, cause morning rush hour delays
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Immigrant woman stabbed to death by Korean husband
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Lee Jong-sup resigns as envoy to Australia
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Yellow dust engulfs S. Korea, advisory alert issued
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Official campaigning kicks off for April 10 elections
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S. Korea to boost support for single-parent families
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Court upholds jail term for man who attempted to murder ex-girlfriend
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Kia EV9 wins world car of year
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Korea misses out on global bond index boost
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[Weekender] Which celebs were born in the Year of the Pig?
The Year of the Golden Pig falls once every 60 years and is associated with wealth and good fortune. So it looks like 2019 could be a lucky year. People born this year have the pig as their Chinese zodiac animal. The Year of the Pig comes every 12 years, so this is a special year for anyone born in 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1959 or 1947.Here are some of the most famous public figures in South Korea who were born in the Year of the Pig.V (BTS), singer, 1995V, a member of K-pop sensation BTS, was bo
TelevisionJan. 3, 2019
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[Weekender] Top 10 news stories
From rapid changes in inter-Korean relations and the unprecedented US-North Korea summit to a Korean boy band becoming a global sensation, 2018 was a year full of unexpected developments.These are the top 10 news stories from 2018.[2018 national top news stories]Inter-Korean summits This year saw inter-Korean relations thaw, with three summits between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Kim also met with US President Donald Trump in Singapore for the first-ever US-North K
Social AffairsDec. 27, 2018
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[Weekender] Ski resorts turning attention to nonskiers
For those who don’t enjoy skiing, annual family ski trips can be quite dull. But in recent years, ski resorts in South Korea have found an ironic yet new target group -- nonskiers. Major resorts here are trying to come up with fresh ideas every winter, slowly transitioning into “theme parks,” where everyone can spend quality time. The Vivaldi Park resort, located about 60 kilometers east of Seoul in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, has been frequented by locals and tourists for over two decades. Wit
TravelDec. 20, 2018
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[Weekender] Winter sports season is upon us
When snowflakes flutter down from the skies, out come the snowboards, the skis, the goggles and the overpriced parka you swore was worth it.The winter season is here, and it’s prime time for outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding, sledding and ice skating. All over the country, both the young and the young at heart are seeking out traditional and nontraditional winter sports. Some are following newer trends like VR and indoor winter sports. (123rf)Two winters ago, Seoul Square in Jung-g
TravelDec. 20, 2018
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[Weekender] Don’t let the cold stop you: indoor winter sports
As the temperature drops, it becomes harder to get out of bed. The cold is particularly taxing for sports enthusiasts because tense muscles could make them more susceptible to injuries. Don’t even mention the biting cold and the ear-numbing winds.But for sporty souls, the cold is but a minor hurdle, as some skiers, snowboarders and skaters opt to enjoy their favorite winter sports in a cozy indoors environment. For adrenaline addicts who hate the cold, there are sports facilities that bring the
More SportsDec. 20, 2018
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[Weekender] Winter is colder for the poor
Winter is hitting society’s neediest the hardest.The National Weather Agency issued this year’s first “extreme cold” warning in the second weekend of December, when the lows fell below minus 10 degrees Celsius in Seoul for two consecutive days.As winter approaches its peak, subzero temperatures persist day after day. The weather agency says the coldest month of the year in Korea is January, when the temperature lows average minus 6. The cold wave sweeping the Peninsula is especially harsh on tho
Social AffairsDec. 13, 2018
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[Weekender] Jjimjilbang: Sanctuaries of winter warmth
The freezing temperatures may make some want to climb into bed and snuggle deep under the covers, but for Koreans it is time to lay their backs on heated floors. The ideal place is a jjimjilbang, a Korean-style sauna that incorporates two traditional heating systems. The “ondol” -- heated floors -- and “gama” -- heated kilns akin to typical sauna rooms -- offer comfort in the cold weather. Dragon Hill Spa in Seoul (Dragon Hill Spa)The origin of jjimjilbang can be traced back to the Joseon era.
Social AffairsDec. 13, 2018
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[Weekender] Survival guide: How to battle winter’s chill
After a drizzly day in early December that pushed temperatures in Seoul well below minus 10 degrees Celsius, office worker Lee Ja-yoon, 30, finally finished preparing her house for the full-fledged winter chill likely to last at least through February. Lee started with her wardrobe. She took out the wool coats and replaced them with a long padded coat -- the ankle-length garments became ubiquitous in Korea during last winter’s biting cold -- as well as thermal underwear, fur-lined leggings and g
CultureDec. 13, 2018
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[Weekender] Massage no longer taboo or luxury
In South Korea, the image of massage services has long been negative, viewed in relation to illicit sexual service providers. Either that, or massages were seen as the prerogative of the elite at posh and luxurious spas.Now, with growing interest in health services amid increasingly sedentary lifestyles and the consequent branching out of massage to become more affordable and accessible, it has become a common way to relieve stress and pain for many Korean urbanites. In Seoul, you can easily fin
CultureDec. 6, 2018
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[Weekender] Dropping in for a quick massage in Seoul: Is it worth it?
In most neighborhoods in Seoul, it’s easy to spot signs and posters advertising “massage shops.” Varying in type and pricing, these massage parlors cater primarily to office workers who work desk jobs and are looking for ways to unwind their stiff or aching bodies. Though most are independently owned, a number of franchise massage brands, such as Body & Foot and The Foot Shop, have grown in popularity for their widespread accessibility and affordability. At these shops, a standard full-body mass
IndustryDec. 6, 2018
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[Weekender] Market for massage expands with more accessibility
To tackle pain in her back and hip, graduate school student Lee Yeon-hee uses a lacrosse ball every night to give herself a massage. “After rolling my back on this small massage ball for about 10 minutes, I can feel that the muscles are relaxed. I save both time and money by doing this simple exercise every night,” she said.Lee is one of a growing number of people purchasing massage products that can be used at home. According to online shopping website G-market, sales of such products jumped 40
IndustryDec. 6, 2018
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[Weekender] Reflecting gratitude towards life as you eat: Temple Food
You are what you eat, or so they say. For Buddhist practitioners in Korea, this idea develops further, and eating becomes part of spiritual practice. The dietary culture of Korean Buddhism is not much different from the common Korean cuisine. But its core principles on healthy and humble diet is getting welcomed by nonreligious public, as an independent diet culture. Buddhist nun Hyungmin leads the temple food cooking class at the Korean Temple Food Center on Saturday. (Jo He-rim/The Korea Heral
Social AffairsNov. 29, 2018
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[Weekender] Finding the Buddha inside through templestay
Buddhist temples are religious places, but temple stays offer participants a chance to look into themselves and find inner peace, regardless of their religion.For a one-day inner journey, I recently headed out to Heungguksa, located on the mountain ridges of Nogosan in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, an hour drive northwest of central Seoul. Heungguksa (By Im Eun-byel / The Korea Herald)Because the trip was rather short, I was not expecting much seclusion. Compared to other temples, Heungguksa is mu
CultureNov. 29, 2018
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[Weekender] Temple stay, a window into a different world
From ancient structures raised more than 1,600 years ago to modest venues located in commercial buildings, thousands of Buddhist temples dot South Korea.Buddhism is deeply entwined with the history of the Korean Peninsula. At times of oppression, temples secreted away in deep mountains provided refuge to the persecuted. In more modern times, Buddhist temples have provided safe haven for labor and student activists wanted by the authorities. Temples, and life in Buddhism, are also rumored to have
TravelNov. 29, 2018
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[Weekender] Prenatal education in Korea focused on having ‘smart kids’
Care for unborn babies, called “taegyo” in Korean, exists both in Asian and Western countries to give birth to a healthy child. But prenatal care takes on a much more ambitious spin in South Korea, with the focus largely on educating – literally -- the fetus in pursuit of having “smarter kids.”“The very first and repetitive phrase that I heard from both the in-laws and my parents during my pregnancy was ‘do this and that to give birth to a smart baby,’” said Kwon Mi-young, a 36-year-old working
Social AffairsNov. 22, 2018
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[Weekender] Before you were born
Oh Ha-young, a 36-year-old mother of two in Seoul, remembers when she kept herself busy several years ago for the sake of her children, before they were even born. From knitting to drawing, she even endeavored to learn how to handle a sewing machine, which resulted in a number of handmade crafts during her two pregnancies between 2011 and 2013. “I learned in a prenatal education class that using my hands a lot could affect the brain development of a fetus,” she said. “My first child started to s
IndustryNov. 22, 2018
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[Weekender] Prenatal care market becomes blue ocean for retailers, hotels
South Korea’s birthrate has been in free fall in the past several years, but either despite or because of this, the interest in prenatal care among mothers-to-be is on the rise. The result has been increased consumer demand for baby products and prenatal care services.The industries that are benefiting from the prenatal care market boom are retailers and hotels, with a rising number of customers looking for premium baby products or staycation products in line with the popular “babymoon” trips.Lo
IndustryNov. 22, 2018
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[Weekender] From Chanel to Gucci: Korean women turn into designer rent-a-holics
It is 7 a.m. on a Monday. Hong Mi-jin, 35, an office worker in Seoul, makes a fresh pot of coffee and jumps into the shower. Twenty minutes later, she comes out with a big towel wrapped around her hair. Rummaging through her closet, she picks out a Theory knit top and matching block skirt, Sandro tweed jacket and Givenchy’s Antigona bag -- a set of items rented from different luxury rental sites. “It is stressful for me to choose what to wear, what bag to carry, which heels to go with the wardro
Arts & DesignNov. 15, 2018
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[Weekender] Subscription plans bring readers back to books
The rate at which Koreans read books regularly is hitting new lows each year. Only 60 percent of adults read at least one book in 2017, down 5.4 percent from 2015, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The decline in book readers comes as no surprise, as people are drawn to activities with more instant gratification, such as games, social media and video streaming. One hopeful sign for authors, publishers and booksellers is the emergence of new services built upon what is cal
CultureNov. 15, 2018
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[Weekender] ‘Subscription economy’ reshaping Korean pop culture
When the press show for YouTube Premium series “Top Management” was held in Seoul in October, it received a great deal of attention from local media outlets.Starring up-and-coming actor and singer Cha Eun-woo of boy band Astro, the show’s pilot episode was watched nearly 1.7 million times in a week.Nadine Zylstra, head of YouTube Originals for the Asia-Pacific region, said at the event that the company recognizes how influential South Korean pop culture has become on the global stage. “Through t
TelevisionNov. 15, 2018