Rice consumption hits record low, but use in alcohol production rises

Per capita rice consumption in South Korea reached an all-time low in 2024, continuing a decades-long decline, according to new government data. A report released by Statistics Korea shows that the average South Korean consumed 55.8 kilograms of rice last year, down 0.6 kilogram, or 1.1 percent, from the previous year. This marks a dramatic drop in the consumption of the country’s most essential staple food from 1994 when the per capita figure was 120.5 kilograms — more than double last year's.

Jan. 24, 2025

'Pikki Pikki' dance cheerleader joins Taiwan's Fubon Angels

Lee Ju-eun, the Korean cheerleader from the "Pikki Pikki" dance viral Tiktok video, in which she danced moving her hands up and down, with her thumbs up during a baseball game, is taking her cheerleading skills to Taiwan. According to Fubon Hyundai Life Insurance on Wednesday, Lee signed an exclusive contract with Fubon Sports & Entertainment and is set to join the Fubon Angels, the cheerleading squad for the Fubon Guardians in Taiwan’s professional baseball league, for the 2025 season. “I’m so

Jan. 23, 2025

A $2 kimchi stew with God’s love: How this Catholic priest fights youth hunger

One day, a woman in her 50s dined at Youth Mungan, a small restaurant that serves only one dish, a steaming bowl of kimchi jjigae for just 3,000 won, or a little over $2. After finishing her meal, she insisted on paying for everyone's meals that day — a total of around 100,000 won. "It was not that big of a sum. So, I just thought, 'What a nice gesture,'" said Catholic priest Gabriel Lee Mun-su, who runs the restaurant, during his interview with The Korea Herald. But what struck him was what hap

Jan. 22, 2025

Ex-airports chief tied to Muan airport project found dead

Son Chang-wan, a former president of the state-run Korea Airports Corporation, who spearheaded a controversial facility upgrade at Muan International Airport, was found dead at his home in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, on Tuesday, authorities confirmed. Muan Airport is where a Jeju Air passenger plane crashed on Dec. 29, bursting into flames after colliding with a concrete embankment at the end of the runway. Gunpo Police said that while an investigation into the circumstances of his death is ongoin

Jan. 22, 2025

Sound effects you hear in ‘Squid Game’ are created by this man

Foley artist Lee Chung-gyu says his best work is the kind you won’t notice — perfectly natural, seamlessly part of the story In the second season of “Squid Game,” players vote to end the deadly competition by pressing buttons marked "O" and "X." And in a small studio in Gangnam, Seoul, Foley artist Lee Chung-gyu is bringing that tense moment to life — not by pressing real buttons, but by using children’s toys to mimic the sound. When the recruiter character, played by Gong Yoo, faces off against

Jan. 21, 2025

‘White skull squad’: die-hard Yoon supporters spark backlash for resurrecting dark era

The launch Thursday evening of a group calling itself the "Baekgoldan," which literally translates to "white skull squad," has sparked an immediate backlash for evoking one of the darkest chapters in modern Korean history, when the same name was used by a plainclothes police unit to suppress people protesting for democracy. The group, introduced as a unit of the likewise self-proclaimed "Anti-Communist Youth League," is said to consist of people in their 20s and 30s aiming to thwart any efforts

Jan. 10, 2025

Can you guess coldest place in South Korea?

Hint: It is some 830 meters above sea level and is notorious for icy winds As South Korea shivers through its coldest winter days, you might wonder: Where’s the chilliest spot in the country, and just how freezing does it get in January, the coldest month of the year? According to decades of meteorological data, the answer is Daegwallyeong Pass in Gangwon Province. Based on the Korea Meteorological Administration’s average January temperatures recorded from 1991 to 2020, Daegwallyeong, which is

Jan. 9, 2025

Brandy Melville: Does English fit all — even in Korea?

Fast-fashion brand Brandy Melville's Korea debut draws backlash — not for its sizing, but for speaking English Brandy Melville, the fast-fashion giant known for its “one-size-fits-most” clothes and laid-back California aesthetic, finally opened its doors in South Korea on Jan. 3. But despite the excitement expressed by some, the brand is facing backlash from others — and not for reasons you might think. It’s not the sizing that’s causing a stir. It’s the staff's use of English. The controversy k

Jan. 8, 2025

Seven Korean words added to Oxford English Dictionary

The Oxford English Dictionary just got a K-culture upgrade. In its December 2024 update, the dictionary added seven Korean words — "dalgona," "hyung," "noraebang," "maknae," "jjigae," "tteokbokki" and "pansori" — reflecting the growing presence of Korean culture in the English-speaking world. This is not the first time Korean words have made the cut. Back in 2021, the dictionary added 26 Korean terms, including K-drama, Hallyu, mukbang and daebak. Its inclusion of Korean terms reflects the rise

Jan. 7, 2025

Korean coach leads Vietnam to ASEAN Cup glory

'Kim Sang-sik magic' follows Park Hang-seo, former Korean coach who guided Vietnam to 2018 victory Vietnam's national soccer team, led by Korean head coach Kim Sang-sik, clinched a historic victory in the 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup, securing a third championship in the prestigious regional tournament. Vietnam defeated Thailand 3-2 in the second leg of the final Sunday at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, sealing a 5-3 aggregate win. The victory marked Vietnam's first ASEAN Cup ti

Jan. 6, 2025