Chicken fight is a traditional game that children enjoy playing around the neighborhood individually or as a group. It is also played as an exciting event on holidays or in marketplaces. In the game, contestants raise one leg and grasp their ankle with both hands. The contestants then hop on one foot and try to push their opponent off balance. The last person left standing wins. Chicken fight requires strength, skill and a good sense of balance. It can be played one-on-one or by several people

Hashtag Korea Sept. 22, 2022

Find the answer at the bottom of the page. The popular resort island of Jeju is often referred to as the island of three abundances, or Samdado. In an essay published in 1968, Korean lepidopterist Seok Joo-myung identified characteristics of the southern island as samda and sammu – three abundances and three scarcities. Sam in Korean language refers to the number 3 while da means many, or large in quantity, and mu means nothing or nonexistence. The three things that are plenty on J

Hashtag Korea Sept. 21, 2022

Korean beverage firm Lotte Chilsung’s creamy soda Milkis has become hugely popular in Taiwan, with more than 10 million cans being sold in the first eight months of this year, according to the company on Tuesday. Since it entered the Taiwanese market in late 2020, Milkis has seen a dramatic uptick in sales. The 10 million mark is an 810 percent increase from the same period a year ago. The company expects that more than 15 million cans will be sold this year, equating to a 550 perc

Sept. 20, 2022

Imagine yourself listening to your favorite classical music pieces in a concert hall filled with candlelight. Entertainment discovery platform Fever is bringing this special experience to the Korean audience with a series of gigs in September and October. Showcasing the music of renowned composers like Vivaldi, Chopin or Beethoven, the concert series aims to bring traditional classical music closer to young listeners by discovering local experiences in their cities with “a mission to democ

Culture Sept. 17, 2022

Korean cosmetics brands have been churning out “vegan” makeup and skincare products, driven by rising consumer awareness. However, different sets of accreditation standards from certification agencies are causing consumer confusion. Han Sung-hee, a 32-year-old office worker, recently started her own research on vegan cosmetics products to discover what she could do to lessen her impact on the environment and animals. “It freaks me out when I think of rabbits being kept in a lab

Industry Sept. 14, 2022

Actor Lee Jung-Jae’s win of the Emmy award for his role in Netflix-original series “Squid Game” on Monday created a buzz worldwide but there was someone else who shared the limelight with him -- his longtime girlfriend Lim Se-ryung. Sporting a white Dior dress, she hit the red carpet hand-in-hand with the actor in Los Angeles. Lim, 45, is by no means just a celebrity’s girlfriend. She is the vice chairman of Daesang Group, one of the largest food conglomerates in South Ko

Film Sept. 14, 2022

The frozen relationship between South Korea and Japan seems to be thawing, at least among the general public. Korean people’s positive sentiment toward Japan bounced back to levels last seen in 2019, before Japan imposed trade sanctions on Korea over historical conflicts and S. Koreans responded with the “No Japan” boycott of anything Japanese. According to a report jointly released by Korean think tank East Asia Institute and Japan-based Genron NPO on Sept. 1, 30.6 percent o

Foreign Affairs Sept. 11, 2022

  Reclining bed cinemas Feel like staying in bed but want to catch the latest box office release? CJ CGV, South Korea's largest multiplex cinema chain, has collaborated with mattress brand Tempur to bring reclining motion beds into theaters at four locations in and outside Seoul, including Apgujeong, Yongsan and Yeoido. The adjustable bed allows users to adjust their neck, back and foot positions with a remote control. By placing only 30 to 50 seats in a single theater, the Tempur ci

Culture Sept. 7, 2022

Every year in South Korea, some 2,500 adolescents leave the foster care group homes where they spent their formative years, forced to stand on their own two feet. Trying to figure out life on their own, these young people often face financial and psychological difficulties, but their struggles go unheard, as they are legal adults. Last month in Gwangju, two such young people gave up on their lives just days apart, which has brought attention to the strife of those who have aged out of the state

Social Affairs Sept. 2, 2022

Photo studios are evolving into one-stop beauty shops allowing customers to experience a professional makeover and a photo shoot as if preparing for the cover of a fashion magazine. One such shop is Stylegrapher in Seoul’s posh Apgujeong-dong in Gangnam-gu. For a complete makeover from top to toe, it has two vanity tables for hair and makeup at one corner and a clothes section filled with chiffon dresses, tank tops and trendy trousers. Dozens of pairs of shoes are laid out too. &ldq

Arts & Design Aug. 31, 2022

Want to sample the gorgeous sunny beaches of Korea‘s popular holiday destination, Jeju, but can’t get away? Don‘t worry. Some places are bringing the island’s exotic vibes to Seoul. Gochibi The owner-chef of Gochibi, an Italian fusion restaurant located in Seochon, one of the oldest neighborhoods of Jongno-gu in northern Seoul, was born and raised in Jeju. Gochibi is a word from the Jeju dialect meaning “go family.” The small restaurant has fewer than 10

Food Aug. 27, 2022

When food delivery platforms first emerged, they were hailed as an innovative new business that would bring convenience to our everyday lives. With just a few taps, foodies were able to enjoy a wide range of dishes delivered right to their doorsteps. Small restaurants could reach a much wider pool of customers. People got jobs as delivery riders. Delivery startups were the darlings of the capital market, receiving huge investments. But after a decade of living with Baedal Minjok, Yogi

Consumer Aug. 22, 2022

Jeju, South Korea's southernmost island, is pushing to adopt an e-travel authorization system for foreigners from visa-free nations starting next month, officials said Friday. The plan to introduce the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) came after dozens of Thai tourists who recently entered Jeju broke away from tour groups, or were forced back home over suspected overstay attempts. The K-ETA is an online electronic travel authorization that foreign visitors from visa-free natio

Social Affairs Aug. 19, 2022

Hundreds of beer bottles flooded a street in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, after falling off a truck that had made a sharp turn on Aug. 12. A group of passersby came to the rescue, cleaning up the mess in about 30 minutes. If this sounds familiar to you, you‘re not alone. A video showing a very similar incident in the same city went viral in late June. Surveillance camera footage showed how, in the June incident, good Samaritans turned up one by one and did what needed to be done. Afte

Social Affairs Aug. 19, 2022

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related. -- Ed.    Mountain hiking is one of the most popular hobbies among Korean people, partly because mountains are accessible from anywhere in the country. 　 South Korea is home to thousands of mountains, known for their rugged slopes, leafy forests and scenic beauty. In fact, over 60 percent of Korea’s land is situated 700 meters above sea level, in other words, covered by m

Hashtag Korea Aug. 17, 2022