Early mornings in Seoul are equivalent to avoiding a gridlock. Subways and bus rides during rush hours are “hell on wheels.” Yet, stations are now almost left empty after the coronavirus outbreak. The roads and narrow lanes no longer suffer traffic jams as well. During crammed rides to work, faces partially covered by KF94 masks greet each other. This is now the new normal as “masking” has becom...

With many self-quarantining themselves during the novel coronavirus spread, people are finding innovative measures to stay tuned. For many, who are cooped up at home for days, or even weeks -- visits to movie theaters and shopping malls are a distant dream now -- new hobbies are becoming popular. People have found ways to stay connected with others while practicing social distancing. Exotic cha...

When will social distancing end? Is there light at the end of this tunnel of “stay-at-home and postpone-your-weddings” while listening to news about rising mortality? As this prolonged period of COVID-19 outbreak chips away at our morale, global neighbors from hard-hit regions of Iran, Italy, Germany, the UK, the US and Mexico came together to share how they are getting through this time. (Yoga ...

Universities across South Korea have temporarily shifted to remote learning on short notice due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus. Professors have been informed to conduct distance teaching -- at least -- through the end of March. Students are slowly adapting to online classes after colleges officially started on March 16. In two weeks, mixed responses about online classes hit Everytime -- ...

As the start of the spring semester has been postponed over the coronavirus outbreak and online classes are encouraged to minimize infections in the classrooms, teachers are trying to adapt to remote teaching. The majority of universities in South Korea started to provide online classes. This comes as social distancing is the most effective way to prevent the cluster infections of COVID-19. Prof...

South Koreans are slowly adapting to a new distribution system of face masks, which was initiated by the government Monday to address the shortage of them. A lot of Koreans see masks as a vital source for protection against the spread of COVID-19. But the distribution has been uneven and masks have been hard to get. Some resellers have engaged in hoarding and price-fixing to increase their profi...

The abrupt outbreak of the novel coronavirus, officially named as COVID-19, has been dominating headlines around the world. The virus, widely believed to have originated from China’s Hubei province last year, has sparked global concerns outside the mainland ever since. Moreover, the epidemic has disrupted the everyday lives of many South Koreans in many ways. Concerns and fears are mounting here...

The movie district often epitomizes the fame, power and money that comes from the show-biz industry. Known as the mecca of Korea’s big screen, Chungmuro has been home to many theaters and movie studios. It used to be the stomping grounds for hordes of local stars and filmmakers in Korea as well. Surprisingly, the area has a humble background, despite its eventual prominence. Long ago, it was an ...

The food featured in director Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” is not just nourishment for the characters but also serves up symbolism and social satire, hinting at social stratification in Korean society. As the movie’s plot gains momentum, one of the foods in focus is jjapaguri -- translated as ram don in the English subtitles. The Korean name comes from its two main ingredients -- the instant noodle...

The mouth-watering sweetness that originated from cocoa serves as the main component of chocolate in the modern confectionery industry. The unique bounties of rare flavors coming from the deep brown beans are undoubtedly the magic hands behind the juicy touch. Many chocolate lovers agree -- a bite of fine chocolate can be as exquisite as a fancy truffle risotto, conveying the pleasure of tasting...

The magical morning of Dec. 25 is a time of great excitement and anticipation, as you get to spend time with your beloved family and make more memories to cherish. One of the essential parts of celebrating Christmas is exchanging good vibes and spreading the holiday’s goodwill. It’s exactly around that time of year where the whole world turns boisterous and people are drawn to the festive spirit...

Imagine a glass of cold craft beer and place it in front of you. “Psssh.” That’s the sound of beer being extracted from the machine. “Tssst.” Next, the frothy foam on top brings oxygen to the liquor. Afterward, have a quick sip and let the fresh brew glide down. This is perhaps the high point of the day, only rivaled later when you lay down in your cozy bed, ready to fall off to sleep. It’s no ...

People dance for many reasons -- for imparting love and joy, in celebration or when they try to overcome something unexpected through passion. Similarly, the aesthetic movement is an art that can work as a form of communication. The bodily conveyance could be directed toward ourselves, but it could also serve others and even play the role of a medium for emotional release. South Korea’s traditio...

The Korea Herald’s intern reporters visited Busan -- the host city of the 2019 ASEAN-ROK summit -- as it was getting boisterous and busy for the international event. Busan has, among other things, stunning mountains and narrow back alleys. It has lustrous coastlines with seagulls and sand. The city is also famous for scorching hot springs and heavenly seafood. Busan is, without doubt, a rollicki...

Karl Lagerfeld famously said, “Pictures capture a moment that is gone forever, impossible to reproduce.” Whipping out a camera and taking photos yourself helps you grab the precious memories. This is mainly because when you see yourself in pictures, you can flashback to how you laughed, posed and even smiled during that particular click. The Korea Herald’s intern reporters visited today’s trendi...