Devon Rodriguez finds Korea through the people he draws

Devon Rodriguez has spent six years approaching strangers, drawing their portraits and capturing the conversations and reactions that follow. What began on New York City subways in 2020 has since taken him around the world, from drawing everyday passersby to sitting across from the likes of Oprah Winfrey, former US President Joe Biden, and Stray Kids. As of September 2026, he has 34 million followers on TikTok, 9.5 million on Instagram and 12.5 million on YouTube. He estimates he has drawn more

2026-09-24 16:00:00:00

93-year-old’s chicken craving turns into neighborhood feast

The story of a 93-year-old man apologizing to his daughter after asking her to order fried chicken touched hearts online and led to a feast for elderly residents in his neighborhood. The daughter shared the story on Threads on Sept. 10, recalling how her father called and asked her to order him yangnyeom chicken — Korean-style fried chicken coated in a sweet and spicy sauce. "I tried to resist, but I keep thinking about it," he told her, before saying he was sorry for the request. The daughter s

2026-09-21 17:57:18:00

Keeping Haebangchon's spirit alive, one block party at a time

Last weekend, Haebangchon's bars, clubs and performance spaces played host to more than 100 live acts, ranging from punk bands and DJs to drag performers, wrestlers, magicians and swing dancers. More than 1,000 people bought tickets to the fifth Block Party, held Sept. 11-13, making it the annual event's biggest edition yet, according to founder and main organizer Jamie Finn. The festival is growing. But so is the attention surrounding the neighborhood it calls home. "It's no secret to say that

2026-09-19 16:00:00:00

Community responds after Haebangchon onggi removal

Days after the removal of Haebangchon's decades-old rows of onggi drew an outpouring of sadness from residents and visitors alike, the state agency managing the land has explained why the pots had to go — and what options remain. The Korea Asset Management Corp., or Kamco, told The Korea Herald that the strip of land beside Hanshin Onggi is state-owned and had been used by the shop to display "onggi" — earthenware used for fermenting foods such as kimchi and gochujang — without a lease. Kamco ha

2026-09-14 18:34:50:00

Seoul hosts its first officially recognized Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest Seoul 2026 opened Saturday at Oil Tank Culture Park in Mapo-gu, western Seoul, bringing German beer, food and traditional music to the capital. The 10-day event, which runs through Sept. 21, is the first festival in Korea officially authorized by the city of Munich to use the Oktoberfest name. The original German festival dates back to 1810. Visitors can sample 10 German beer brands alongside dishes including schweinshaxe, sausages, schnitzel and pretzels. Korean fried chicken and lo

2026-09-13 16:56:48:00

[단독] 해방촌 명물 '항아리길' 사라졌다 ... 수십 년 지킨 옹기 철거, 그 후

서울 용산구 해방촌 초입의 담벼락을 따라 수십 년간 자리를 지켜온 전통 옹기들이 철거됐다. 가게 소유가 아닌 부지에 항아리가 놓여 있다는 신고가 접수된 데 따른 것이다. 한신옹기에 따르면 가게 측은 최근 한 국가기관으로부터 해당 부지에 대한 과거 5년치 사용료 950만원을 납부하라는 고지서를 받았다. 이에 지난 7일부터 담벼락을 따라 놓여 있던 옹기들을 옮기기 시작했으며, 현재는 옹기가 하나도 남아 있지 않다. 현재 한신옹기를 운영하고 있는 고(故) 신연근 창업주의 막내며느리 윤유진 사장은 코리아헤럴드에 "저도 사실 어머니 생각이 많이 나서 유지를 하려고 했는데, 이제 어쩔 수 없이 철거하게 됐다"고 말했다. 윤 사장은 신씨가 2024년 12월 세상을 떠난 뒤 가게를 이어 운영하고 있다. 1967년부터 해방촌에서 영업해 온 한신옹기는 오랫동안 지역의 익숙한 풍경으로 자리 잡았다. 신씨는 리어카에 옹기를 싣고 해방촌 일대를 다니며 판매를 시작했다. 1982년 남편이 세상을 떠난 뒤에는

2026-09-13 14:20:27:00

[Exclusive] Haebangchon loses its iconic wall of onggi

Rows of traditional Korean earthenware pots that lined a wall at the entrance to Haebangchon for four decades were removed this week. Hanshin Onggi, a pottery shop that has operated in Haebangchon since 1967 and maintained the decades-old display, began clearing the pots, or onggi, on Monday. According to the shop owner, the store had received a government notice seeking five years' worth of fees for use of its land. "We had no choice but to remove it," owner Yoon Yoo-jin told The Korea Herald.

2026-09-11 18:52:30:00

What's up with Koreans waiting hours for Chipotle?

At lunchtime in southern Seoul's Gangnam, the line for a burrito bowl stretched down the block. Nearly a week after Chipotle opened its first Asian location in Seoul on Sept. 2, customers were still being told to expect waits of up to two or three hours. On Sunday, some 150 people were counted in line by 11 a.m., stretching more than 50 meters. For some of those waiting, however, the food was only part of the point. "We've got to keep up with what's trending," said university student Kim Min-ju,

2026-09-10 11:46:13:00

At least 3 accomplices suspected in Paju cafe freezer death: report

Police suspect that at least three additional people were involved in the death of a woman whose frozen body was discovered last week inside a walk-in freezer at a cafe in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, local media reported. According to news reports from MBC and KBS on Tuesday, the cafe owner, who has been arrested and was detained Friday in connection with the woman’s death, is believed to have been part of a scam ring that dealt in counterfeit department store gift certificates and converted them i

2026-09-09 12:39:51:00

Musinsa takes first step toward IPO

South Korean fashion platform Musinsa has applied for preliminary review to list on the main Kospi market, taking a formal step toward a potential initial public offering. Musinsa submitted the application to the Korea Exchange on Monday afternoon, the company said. According to Musinsa, the review will allow the company to determine whether it meets the requirements for a listing and whether going public would be beneficial. The company said it is considering an IPO as one way to raise funds fo

2026-09-07 20:58:20:00