Turkish delivery rider to start own restaurant after accident

Despite valid visa, Samet Yesiltas faces hostility amid rise in illegal foreign drivers For Samet Yesiltas, a 27-year-old Turkish food deliverer in South Korea, wearing a face cover is essential. It's not just to shield him from the cold, but to hide his non-Korean appearance. “When I stop at traffic signs, I often hear curse words from Korean delivery workers, and even ordinary drivers” as soon as they realize he's not Korean, Yesiltas said, speaking in Korean. “It happens a lot these days, but

Jan. 15, 2025

Slippers in the cold: The quirky winter fashion Koreans can't quit

Despite love of down jackets, why are Koreans so indifferent to the warmth of their feet? Pedestrians bundled up in thick, knee-length padded jackets, but wearing slippers? This style, surprisingly common in South Korea during winter, often raises the eyebrows. A TikToker, who introduced himself as Russian, posted a video of several Koreans walking on the street in rubber slippers or Crocs sandals, commenting, "Such a fashion is unthinkable in my country." A similar observation was shared on Ins

Jan. 14, 2025

A mom reporter's day off with 'parenting crew'

When loneliness in parenting overwhelms, why not try co-parenting with strangers? My first meetup through Parenting Crew app unexpectedly created strong bond with other young moms They say parenting is the world’s oldest job, but from my own experience, I can add that it's also one of the loneliest. New moms, while tending to their little ones for what feels like endless hours, often feel disconnected from the world, uncertain and helpless about what to do. But does it really have to be that way

Jan. 11, 2025

An Englishman and his photobook haven in Seongsu

Alan Eglinton, visual artist and owner of Same Dust in Seoul, hopes to connect with artists and art lovers through photography Seoul’s hipster capital of Seongsu-dong is bustling like never before, its streets and cafes drawing throngs even in the winter cold. Fancy pop-up stores are around virtually every corner, each one a magnet for an endless stream of picture-perfect moments. Overlooking an intersection near Exit 5 of Ttukseom Station, Same Dust is a quiet refuge for the artistically inclin

Jan. 8, 2025

Are TikTokers turning into a public nuisance?

Content creators filming in public spaces: A new norm to embrace or a behavior to regulate? One-person media is enjoying a heyday in Korea. The number of domestic digital creators, including YouTubers and TikTokers, exceeded 35,000 in 2023, with the personal media industry‘s total revenue reaching 4 trillion won ($2.8 billion), according to a report by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission released in January. The rapid growth of digital con

Jan. 7, 2025

Small stones, big benefits: Why some South Koreans are serious about 'gonggi'

Seen in 'Squid Game 2,' Korean traditional game 'gonggi' shares similarities with games from other cultures, helps improve hand-eye coordination for people of all ages Come March, the class of elementary school teacher Im Seon-ah sees students sitting on the floor in groups of four to six, tossing, throwing and catching plastic stones in a game of “gonggi.” Though the game is trending following its appearance in “Squid Game 2,” for Im, it is a time-old classic that has helped numerous young kids

Jan. 7, 2025

Ripped, crumpled aircraft manual found at crash site

Several pages torn from a printed operations manual for the Boeing 737-800 were discovered at the site of the deadly Jeju Air crash at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, according to local news reports Friday. On Dec. 29, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 from Bangkok crashed into the airport's outer wall while attempting a belly landing, leading to the deaths of 179 of the 181 people on board. The aircraft manual, or "Quick Reference Handbook," is a thick guide spanning over 2,000 pag

Jan. 3, 2025

For some, babies don't come easily. It takes long, unconventional journeys

From in-vitro fertilization to surrogacy, some journeys to parenthood push personal, societal boundaries Babies are cherished everywhere, but in South Korea, they hold greater significance than in most places. The country has officially entered into a “super-aged society” this year, where over 20 percent of the population is aged 65 or older, and has one of the world’s lowest fertility rates, at just 0.72, meaning 72 babies born for every 100 women over their lifetimes. Yet, the joy surrounding

Jan. 1, 2025

Bird-enthusiast YouTuber faces backlash after air disaster

In a bizarre cat vs. bird debate, cat lovers claim, 'At least cats don't cause planes to crash' With a bird strike the subject of public speculation as one of the possible causes of the Jeju Air crash on Dec. 29 that claimed 179 lives, a YouTuber specializing in bird-related content has found himself in hot water. The channel with 490,000 subscribers, "Bird Enthusiast," has seen a deluge of anti-bird comments, including "Birds caused people to die.” While experts are skeptical that the bird stri

Jan. 1, 2025

Chinese delivery workers being recruited illegally via Douyin platform

A post on Douyin, a Chinese equivalent to TikTok, has a screenshot of a text message written in Korean: “The immigration office is cracking down in Jeongwang-dong. Those without valid visas, please clock out immediately and start your shift after 6 p.m.” Beneath the message, a photo shows a man reflected in the side mirror of a motorcycle. His caption in Chinese reads, “Let’s go home and get some sleep until then.” The day is Oct. 12, and it is just past 3 p.m. Choi, a Korean delivery worker in

Dec. 26, 2024