To boost births, try Gangnam style?

Gangnam, known among locals for its hefty home prices and among foreigners for Psy’s famous tune, shows a remarkable uptick in births among Seoul’s 25 districts Amid grim forecasts of South Korea's self-extinction due to low birth rates, Seoul stands at the epicenter of the crisis, with a fertility rate of just 0.52. This means that, on average, a woman in Seoul is projected to have only 0.52 children in her lifetime. Yet, one particular Seoul district is showing remarkable progress in boosting

Jan. 13, 2025

New York City subway needs this

Platform screen doors, a standard feature in Korean subway stations since the 2000s, have arrived with the Korean Wave to transport systems in Asia, Europe and beyond A train glides into the station behind a transparent barrier. As it comes to a stop, a glass door opens, allowing passengers to board and disembark. This scene, repeated every few minutes all across Seoul’s subway network, is gaining renewed attention among South Koreans in the light of fears that have arisen recently among New Yor

Jan. 11, 2025

Banana milk dethroned as foreigners’ favorite at CU convenience stores. Find out new winner

“Dubai-style chocolate” was the top-selling item among foreign nationals at CU convenience stores in 2024, said BGF Retail, the company behind South Korea’s largest convenience store chain. According to the firm’s analysis of tax refund sales data, approximately 20 billion won ($13.6 million) worth of the chocolate product was sold, surpassing the long-time favorite, banana-flavored milk from local food firm Binggrae. Indonesians led the purchases, accounting for 49 percent of total sales. What

Jan. 10, 2025

Where are Korea’s young part-timers eager to work? It's not cafes

Young Koreans seeking part-time gigs are increasingly looking for opportunities at trendy stores and pop-up events, while convenience stores remain their No. 1 choice, an online recruiting firm specializing in part-time and temporary job listings said Monday. Alba Heaven’s 2024 analysis of keywords searched on its website and app revealed that "yogurt ice cream" spiked nearly 14 times, reflecting the local food trend. Searches for "Yoajeong" and "Yogurt World," two leading franchises specializin

Jan. 6, 2025

3 in 10 Gyeonggi residents have used legal or illegal psychoactive drugs: survey

Three out of 10 Gyeonggi Province residents say they have used either prescribed or illegal psychoactive drugs, officials reported Tuesday. A survey by the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly of 1,591 residents found that 30.7 percent of respondents reported having used such substances, primarily prescription medications. The most commonly used substances included propofol, reported by 16 percent of respondents; sedatives such as diazepam and zolpidem, used by 7.7 percent, and antitussive medications l

Dec. 31, 2024

Between despair and hope: A December that tested Korea's limits

As tumultuous December and 2024 draw to an end, fractures, quiet solidarity, hard-earned hope endure December in South Korea felt like an endless night: no festive lights, no holiday cheer, only a suffocating string of crises that kept piling on. The final punch to the gut came on Dec. 29, when Jeju Air flight 7C 2216 crashed at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, claiming 179 lives. “It felt like one heavy blow after another,” says 27-year-old social activist Lee Yeon-joo. “The

Dec. 30, 2024

Allegations against Winner's Song Min-ho set off Seoul-wide review of social service duty

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has ordered a review of social service agents working under the Seoul city government, following allegations that Song Min-ho of the K-pop group Winner neglected his duties when assigned to such a role as part of fulfilling his mandatory military service. On Tuesday, Mayor Oh addressed the matter in a Facebook post, stating, “Recently, allegations have been raised that a celebrity was negligent in performing his social service duties. I have ordered an emergency comprehens

Dec. 25, 2024

One step closer to introducing ‘picture ballots’?

Korean court rules voter assistance measure necessary in lawsuit filed by individuals with developmental disabilities Ballot papers in Korea feature the candidate's name, party affiliation and the corresponding number, but not a photo. Wouldn’t having photos make voting easier for those with cognitive or language difficulties? A recent court decision in South Korea has raised hopes that this idea may become reality. The Seoul High Court in a Dec. 18 decision ruled that the government must provid

Dec. 24, 2024

Why are Gen Z always at cafes?

We asked 10 Gen Z Koreans, many of them at cafes, about their relationship with coffee Korean youth seem to always be at cafes. They read books, study or simply are there to get outside the house. On dates, they check out the trendiest cafes. Their trips to getaway destinations almost always include visiting trendy local cafes. But what does coffee mean to young people? The Korea Herald spoke to 10 Generation Z individuals about coffee's significance in their lives. ‘Takeout prices should stay a

Dec. 24, 2024

Yoo Jae-suk, IU top Gen Z picks for ideal leaders

An online poll asked young Korean job seekers to select one person of each gender whom they believe embodies the qualities of an ideal leader. The top choices were TV personality Yoo Jae-suk and K-pop singer IU. Among the male celebrities considered, Yoo Jae-suk received 23 percent support from the surveyed 2,507 job seekers belonging to Generation Z, defined for this purpose as those born between 1997 and 2006. In the female leader category, IU emerged as the top choice, garnering 21 percent, a

Dec. 23, 2024