Is YouTube ending the mukbang era?

As YouTube tightens restrictions on content related to eating disorders, Korean mukbang creators, particularly those known for their large appetites, are voicing concerns. Most recently, Tzuyang, one of South Korea’s most prominent mukbang YouTubers, made remarks that appear to address the issue. Tzuyang posted a video on her YouTube channel on Monday showing her visiting a local market in Incheon. In the video, she said, “Apparently, eating a lot isn’t the trend these days,” adding, “From now o

2026-09-25 15:30:41:00

Chuseok traditions come alive in Seoul

Children and tourists gathered at Namsangol Hanok Village in central Seoul on Friday for traditional Chuseok activities. Children dressed in hanbok played traditional Korean games, including “jegichagi,” which involves using the feet to keep a small pouch from touching the ground, and "tuho," in which players toss arrows into a container. The Seoul Metropolitan Government is hosting a three-day Chuseok festival, “Namsan Dalbit Madang,” at the village from Friday to Sunday.

2026-09-25 14:12:33:00

Actor Park Ji-hyun nominated for International Emmy

Park Ji-hyun became the first Korean actor nominated for an International Emmy in acting, recognized for her role in the Netflix series “You and Everything Else.” Established in 1973, the International Emmy Awards honor outstanding television programs produced outside the United States. They are separate from the Primetime Emmy Awards, which recognize US productions. Park was nominated in the Best Performance by an Actress category at the 54th International Emmy Awards. Park is competing against

2026-09-25 13:44:54:00

Chuseok traffic jams hit South Korean highways, Seoul-Busan trip takes 8 hours 40 minutes

Major highways across South Korea were heavily congested Friday morning as travelers headed out for the Chuseok holiday. As of 9 a.m., the Korea Expressway Corp. estimated the Seoul-to-Busan journey would take 8 hours and 40 minutes. Estimated travel times from Seoul were: 6 hours and 40 minutes to Mokpo, 8 hours and 20 minutes to Ulsan, 7 hours and 40 minutes to Daegu, 6 hours and 10 minutes to Gwangju, 4 hours and 10 minutes to Gangneung, and 3 hours and 50 minutes to Daejeon. In the opposite

2026-09-25 11:32:20:00

Over 100,000 flock to see shark on first day of Chuseok holiday

Over 100,000 people visited a waterfront park in Busan on the first day of the Chuseok holiday to see a 3.5-meter-long shark stranded in an artificial waterway. By 6 p.m. Thursday, approximately 93,000 people had visitedthe North Port Waterfront Park in Dong-gu, Busan, according to the Busan Facilities Corp. Due to restricted access from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for safety reasons, visitor numbers after 6 p.m. were estimated rather than counted directly. Including these visitors, the total for the day w

2026-09-25 10:42:48:00

Korea approves jeans for civil service job interviews

Jeans, sneakers and other casual attire will not only be allowed but recommended for national civil service job interviews in Korea, replacing the traditional expectation that applicants wear suits. The Ministry of Personnel Management issued detailed guidelines on interview attire on Friday, accompanied by example images. The new guidelines will take effect in October. The ministry provided AI-generated images to show suitable clothing for men and women. Examples included jeans and sneakers as

2026-09-12 17:23:51:00

Votes have been counted. Baby panda's name is Shu Bao

South Korea’s largest theme park, Everland, announced Friday that it has named its baby panda Shu Bao, coinciding with the cub’s 100th day. Last month, the theme park opened votes online to name its baby panda, with five finalists in the running. All five candidates were two-character Chinese names ending in “Bao.” The character means “treasure” and appears in the names of pandas from the same family. Voters could choose their favorite from Ju Bao (“treasured jade”), Jun Bao (“outstanding treasu

2026-09-11 17:02:09:00

Blue three-wheeler makes waves for beach reading in Korea

SOKCHO, Gangwon Province — For many Koreans, reading on the beach is still an unusual concept, just like seeing someone wear a bikini without a cover-up. But on a small beach in Korea, something is changing. On Aug. 26, two middle-aged women sat in beach chairs, their feet sinking into warm sand as gentle waves lapped at their toes. They both had a book in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. Now and then, they looked up at the sea, then back down at the page. They had come to the Three Fe

2026-09-06 09:00:00:00

‘The Odyssey’ Imax run could end sooner than fans think

Ahn, 37, watched “The Odyssey” at an Imax screen in Apgujeong and enjoyed the experience. She hopes to see it again at Yongsan with her husband, but they have been unable to secure tickets. As of Sunday, nearly all Imax screenings at Yongsan through Aug. 30 were sold out, except for accessibility seats. “I’m hoping to get one once the initial hype dies down,” she told The Korea Herald. But this might not happen. Although “The Odyssey” is attracting large audiences in South Korea, the country’s s

2026-08-23 20:35:59:00

Stay on guard. Mosquitoes could be back

Although extreme heat has reduced South Korea's mosquito numbers this summer, health authorities caution that it is too soon to relax precautions as temperatures moderate. “As mosquito populations may increase again after the heat wave, local governments in high-risk areas should strengthen comprehensive control measures to reduce mosquito numbers,” KDCA chief Lim Seung-kwan said in a statement on Thursday. Lim urged those in high-risk areas to avoid outdoor activities at night, wear loose-fitti

2026-08-14 11:19:12:00