Workplace deaths hit record low in Q1, driven by small businesses

Despite several recent high-profile accidents that claimed multiple lives, South Korea recorded its lowest number of workplace deaths in the first quarter since 2022, data showed Tuesday. A total of 113 workers died in industrial accidents during the first three months of 2026, down 17.5 percent from 137 a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labor data. The figure marks the lowest first-quarter tally since the government began compiling the current set of statistics in 2022

2026-04-14 15:26:15:00

Rhythm, religion, algorithm: Buddhism Expo draws 250,000 visitors, led by Gen Z

In front of Bongeunsa, a temple in southern Seoul, at 6 p.m. on a Friday, a line began to form. But it wasn’t for prayer or ritual — it was for a dance music party. The night before, hip-hop DJ Wegun and rapper Woo Won-jae had taken the stage. This was part two, headlined by DJ Soda, who boasts over 24 million followers across social media platforms. At exactly 7 p.m., a monk stepped onto the stage and began reciting a passage from the Heart Sutra. Those familiar with the chant joined in, while

2026-04-06 21:40:47:00

In Seoul, a natto ‘competition’ turns unfamiliar flavors into shared experience

At a small bar near Hyochang Park in Seoul in late March, a group of diners gathered over fermented soybeans. The occasion was the second “natto competition,” organized by Nottodo Natto & Bar, a small venue run by Je Joon-hyuk that serves dishes centered on natto, a traditional Japanese staple known for its distinct texture and aroma. Despite its name, the gathering had no winners. Instead, regular customers and fellow small business owners brought their own natto-based dishes to serve others, t

2026-04-04 16:00:00:00

Chef Son Jong-won leads state banquet for Macron in Seoul

Chef Son Jong-won, known for his appearance on Netflix’s “Culinary Class Wars 2” and as the only chef in Korea to oversee two one-Michelin-starred restaurants across Korean and Western cuisine, led a state banquet hosted by President Lee Jae Myung for French President Emmanuel Macron at Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday. The six-course menu, curated by Son, blended Korean ingredients with French culinary techniques, with each dish reflecting themes of welcome, exchange and friendship, the presidential o

2026-04-03 13:42:37:00

Melon cream bun recalled over foul odor after durian flavor mix-up

A popular melon cream bun sold at convenience stores has been recalled following consumer complaints of a foul odor. A local media report on Thursday revealed the pungent problem: durian flavoring was accidentally used in place of melon flavoring. Reports of an unpleasant smell, which some customers described as “sewer-like,” had quickly spread online, prompting a surge in refund and exchange requests as many shared similar experiences. The distributor confirmed that around 20,000 buns were remo

2026-04-02 11:03:27:00

Spring's here, but beware of toxic air

Temperatures climb to nearly 20 degrees Celsius during the daytime in many parts of South Korea, but fine dust and lingering haze continue to dampen outdoor conditions. According to weather authorities, concentrations of airborne dust particles are expected to remain at unhealthy levels in Seoul and most regions through the weekend, with parts of Gangwon’s east coast and Jeju showing relatively better air quality. As of 10 a.m. Thursday, Seoul’s average PM2.5 concentrations — ultrafine dust part

2026-03-26 13:47:21:00

아미는 지금 ‘BTS 성지 순례' 중

[코리아헤럴드=박태미 기자] “믿기지 않아요. 제가 여기 있다는 게.” 우즈베키스탄에서 온 소디크조노바 샤크리조다는 서울 광화문광장 한복판에서 BTS 공식 응원봉인 ‘아미밤’을 손에 들고, 수년간 화면으로만 보던 도시를 바라보며 잠시 멈춰 섰다. 며칠 후, 바로 이 장소에서 BTS가 공연을 펼칠 예정이다. 여러 차례 비자 발급을 시도한 끝에 BTS 컴백을 며칠 앞두고 서울에 도착한 샤크리조다는 “그들이 저를 치유했어요”라며, BTS와 같은 시간과 공간에 있다는 사실이 깊은 의미로 다가온다고 말했다. 샤크리조다는 최근 서울을 찾은 수많은 해외 팬들 중 한 명이다. BTS 컴백을 앞두고 서울 곳곳은 팬들, 이른바 ‘아미’들의 비공식 집결지로 변하고 있다. 수년간 화면 속에서만 BTS를 접해온 팬들에게 지금의 서울은 꿈꾸던 세계가 현실이 된 듯한 공간이다. 성수, 홍대, 명동 등지에서는 빌딩 외벽을 가득 채운 광고판이 BTS 멤버들의 얼굴로 거리를 수놓고 있다. 스웨덴 출신으로 현재 한국

2026-03-19 15:45:35:00

'BTS Pilgrimage': Fans walk in BTS’ footsteps, share Seoul moments ahead of concert

“It’s incredible. I can’t believe that I’m here.” Sodikjonova Shakhrizoda paused in the middle of Gwanghwamun Square, her "Army Bomb," BTS' official light stick, in hand, taking in the city she had only seen through screens for years. In a few days, BTS will perform on the same ground she stands on. Shakhrizoda had made the trip from Uzbekistan after multiple attempts to secure a visa, arriving just days before the long-awaited BTS comeback. “They healed me,” she said, adding that being here, in

2026-03-19 12:38:55:00