Weekender In series
Latest trends in Korean culture and society.
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Weekender In series
Latest trends in Korean culture and society.
Would you like to subscribe?
Reinventing life after K-pop trainee days
Beneath the glitz and glamour of K-pop, countless trainees, many still in their teens, spend years perfecting their vocals and choreography, clinging to the hope of one day stepping into the spotlight. A 2022 survey by the Korea Creative Content Agency put their numbers at 1,170. But this figure leaves out K-pop star wannabes outside entertainment agencies -- those training at independent dance studios or trying their luck on platforms like YouTube. For many, the pursuit consumes their entire ad
9 min ago
Brewing heritage: How Korea’s traditional alcohol is finding new life
Once overshadowed by mainstream choices like soju and beer, traditional Korean alcohol has experienced a resurgence since the early 2020s. The market for traditional drinks in Korea grew from 62.7 billion won ($43.8 million) in 2020 to 147.5 billion won in 2023, and the trend appears to be continuing, with major department stores reporting double-digit on-year increases in their traditional alcohol sales in 2024. This rapid growth is largely driven by younger generations seeking flavors beyond t
April 19, 2025 - 16:00:00
Inside Korea's empty classrooms and efforts to reimagine them
Amid dwindling birth rate, shuttered schools become a growing headache -- and potential asset -- for urban revitalization On a weekday afternoon at around 1:30 p.m., an eerie silence blankets the schoolyard of what was once Hwayang Elementary School in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Where children's laughter once filled the air, now only the rustling of trees in the spring breeze and occasional birdsong break the stillness. The human presence has shifted dramatically. Elderly residents with canes now walk
April 5, 2025 - 13:41:18
From fad to lifestyle: Slow-aging diet gains momentum among young Koreans
Food companies embrace new health trend with more nutritious offerings Ha Sang-hee, a woman in her 30s, regularly shares photos of her homemade meals on social media platform X. Her dishes consistently exclude white rice, processed foods and strongly flavored sauces— a choice she refers to as the "slow-aging diet." To fully enjoy meals without these ingredients, she experiments with recipes and shares her successful creations online. "(After eight months on the diet,) I feel my stamina and immun
March 22, 2025 - 16:00:02
From 'text hip' to 'writing hip': How handwriting has become the new cool
For Park Min-ha, 28, reading has always been a hobby. But in the wake of Han Kang’s historic Nobel Prize in literature win last year, her interest has deepened. Lately, she has adopted a new habit: "pilsa," the practice of writing passages from books by hand. "Just reading a book and moving on didn’t feel like I had truly absorbed it," Park said. "Writing a full review felt like too much work, so instead, I started jotting down lines that resonated with me." She finds the process meditative. "Sl
March 15, 2025 - 16:00:00
Spiritual, but not religious: For more Koreans, mindfulness matters more than membership
In Korea, being 'spiritual but not religious' means trading rigid doctrine for personal rituals, from temple meditation to shamanistic traditions South Korea, at least in modern times, has never had a religious identity centered around a single faith. People have followed various major established religions, including Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism and shamanistic traditions, often mixing and matching beliefs to suit their needs. Despite this diversity and fluid approach, nearly half of th
March 8, 2025 - 16:00:00
New names, new life
In Korea, changing one's legal name can be powerful motivation for new life A fresh start can be embraced in many ways. Some South Koreans make a major change by renaming themselves, replacing their first names given by their parents with one they can create themselves. “Gaemyeong,” which literally means “legal name change” in Korean, is used to signify an actual change to one's legal name. It differentiates itself from some overseas celebrities who take professional or stage names but keep thei
March 1, 2025 - 16:00:00
From AI Jesus to virtual shamans: How artificial intelligence is reshaping faith
AI-driven religion is here, and it’s challenging centuries-old traditions At a Protestant church in Germany, hundreds gather before a screen set up above the altar as artificial intelligence-powered service begins. An avatar pastor delivers the sermon, and worshippers stand and sit in unison after prayers, following the digital preacher’s lead. This is not a scene from a sci-fi movie -- it is a real church service that took place at St. Paul’s Church in the German town of Fuerth in June 2023. Ar
Feb. 22, 2025 - 16:00:00
Love on repeat: 14th of every month is special day for lovers in Korea
Koreans once saw these occasions as tiresome, but attitudes have shifted, led by young people Valentine’s Day has come around once again, and for Lee Eun-ji, a 24-year-old Seoul resident, that means one thing -- crafting homemade chocolates for the most cherished men in her life. For Lee, the occasion isn’t just about romance; it’s an opportunity to express love and appreciation for the men who matter most. "Some believe that regularly celebrating special days is excessive or too costly. However
Feb. 13, 2025 - 17:39:39
'Purely for joy': Amateur bands in Korea on rise again
In rented studios after work, amateur musicians pursue their passion For 32-year-old patent lawyer Kwak Sang-bin, Wednesday nights are the highlight of his week. Every other Wednesday, he heads straight from his office to a rented rehearsal studio in Sangsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, carrying his guitar case over his shoulder. Inside, he meets his bandmates, who are amateurs yet passionate about music. "For me, playing in a band is like escaping," Kwak said. "Exhausted from work, I know that on Wedne
Feb. 1, 2025 - 16:00:00
Round two: New dawn for Korean MMA
Korea's surging MMA scene links international glory with hometown action-packed battles On a pulse-pounding night last December, a furnace of fighting spirit erupted from the eight-sided ring, where two fighters collided in a fierce battle. An arena packed with 5,000 spectators echoed with thunderous roars, resonating with every explosive exchange inside the octagon. This adrenaline-fueled showdown marked the second event of Z-Fight Night, or ZFN, a newly launched Korean mixed martial arts promo
Jan. 25, 2025 - 16:00:00
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 - 16:00:00
How young S. Koreans welcome the new year
Fortunetelling, digital diaries are New Year trends among young Koreans When it comes to the New Year, there are several traditions South Koreans stick to -- whether that’s enjoying a bowl of tteokguk, or rice cake soup, with family or going to see the first sunrise of the year. However, in addition to the conventional New Year's rites, young Koreans have discovered ways to put a unique, digitalized twist on some other classic New Year's traditions, including fortunetelling and diaries. Fortunet
Jan. 4, 2025 - 16:00:00
[Weekender] Satisfying sustainability: Uncovering South Korea's vegan restaurants
Vegetarianism has become more prominent in recent years -- whether for ethical reasons, in pursuit of better health, animal welfare, or out of a desire to reduce one's carbon footprint for a more sustainable future, many South Koreans are joining the move as well. That has reshaped the Korean food scene, leading to a surge in innovative vegan restaurants. According to the Korea Vegan Union, the number of vegans in South Korea has increased more than tenfold over the past decade, reaching 2
Dec. 14, 2024 - 16:01:18![[Weekender] Satisfying sustainability: Uncovering South Korea's vegan restaurants](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/content/default/2024/12/12/20241212050098_0.jpg?type=h&h=320)
[Weekender] Anxious, avoidant or somewhere in between? Koreans tap into attachment theory to hack love
Is the Myers-Briggs personality test still the go-to for dating compatibility? If you ask young Koreans, some say, "Not anymore." The trend is shifting, and they’ve found a better playbook. The playbook, in the language of attachment theory, reads: Avoidant types often ghost, anxious types tend to cling. Secure types strike a balance. As a fresh approach to understanding emotional patterns in relationships, the theory has gained popularity in contemporary dating, especially in
Dec. 7, 2024 - 16:01:17![[Weekender] Anxious, avoidant or somewhere in between? Koreans tap into attachment theory to hack love](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/content/default/2024/12/06/20241206050118_0.jpg?type=h&h=320)
