From the Scene In series
Stories told from where they are happening.
#Issues
# First-hand
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From the Scene In series
Stories told from where they are happening.
Would you like to subscribe?
Scuffle breaks out as students at 16 universities condemn ballot shortage crisis
People swarmed 21-year-old Kim Min-su as he stepped down from the podium after speaking at a rally at Yonsei University’s Sinchon Campus in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday, where students had gathered to condemn the recent ballot shortage crisis during the June 3 local elections. “You should be ashamed of yourself!” yelled a student dressed in black. Another student in a green polo shirt tried to hold back the crowd. Kim, a political science student, had just finished speaking during an open m
June 10, 2026 - 21:42:23
How Korean teens see struggle for democracy they never lived through
Taking in the exhibits on activists who fought for and won democracy in South Korea before he was born, one middle schooler doubted he could have done the same. “If I had been a college student in 1987, I don’t think I would have been able to join the protests or take a leading role in the pro-democracy struggle because I would have been afraid of torture, guns and tear gas,” said 15-year-old Kang Hyun-joon. “But I think I would have tried to work for democracy in less visible ways.” Kang had ju
June 9, 2026 - 13:55:14
'This isn't about politics': Young Koreans push for election rerun
On Sunday morning in southern Seoul, the scene did not look like the election-related rallies South Korea has grown used to in recent years. A crowd had gathered outside the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium, where ballot boxes from Jamsil 7-dong’s second polling station were brought for vote counting after a ballot paper shortage was reported there. Young men and women stood alongside parents with babies and children, while a few US flags were visible among those calling for a rerun of Wednesday’s
June 7, 2026 - 15:25:58
At polling stations, voters look beyond local pledges
At polling stations across Seoul on Wednesday, voters lined up to choose local leaders. But for many, the issues on their minds reached far beyond city hall or district offices. From martial law and party rivalry to real estate policy and taxes, voters interviewed by The Korea Herald said national politics played a major role in their choices in races meant to decide mayors, governors, education superintendents and local council members. Before the early summer heat had fully set in, residents i
June 3, 2026 - 15:48:40
Overpass breakdown wreaks havoc in Seoul
The midday collapse of an overpass that killed three people and injured three in Seoul on Tuesday has sent shock waves through the capital and disrupted transportation for thousands of residents. “We have lived here for about four years and were always fond of that road,” said Kostis Daskalopoulos, 59. “It breaks our heart to see what happened today. ... We feel (it is) very tragic and send our deep condolences.” Part of the overpass fell to the ground at about 2:32 p.m., and authorities closed
May 26, 2026 - 20:21:56
Uniqlo returns to Myeong-dong — bigger and more localized
Five years after Uniqlo vanished from Myeong-dong amid the “No Japan” boycott and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Japanese retailer is coming back to Seoul’s most storied shopping district with its largest store in Korea to date. Opening Friday, the sheer scale of the new flagship signals confidence: three floors, roughly 3,200 square meters, 42 checkout counters and 54 fitting rooms. More revealing, though, is its dual mandate to function as a global retail destination and an homage to a neighborhoo
May 19, 2026 - 14:28:41
Less air, more ice cream: Inside Benson’s Korea factory
POCHEON, Gyeonggi Province — In South Korea's crowded frozen dessert market, Benson, the premium ice cream brand operated by Hanwha Galleria subsidiary Better Scoop Creamery, is making the case for ice cream with more dairy and less of everything else. Its products stand apart from what it describes as the watered-down, powder-based formulations filling most Korean freezer aisles. Take the vanilla: Butterfat content reaches 17 percent, above the low-teens typical in the market. Meanwhile, air co
May 13, 2026 - 15:19:51
Nomadic heritage under a dazzling skyline: What to enjoy in Astana
Throughout its long history, Kazakhstan has been a place where East and West have met and blended, shaped by exchanges along the Silk Road and the nomadic traditions of the steppe. That legacy continues today in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, which is emerging as a growing stopover destination for travelers between Asia and Europe, helped by its central location. The city is drawing more transit travelers with its distinctive appeal, marked by the contrast between steppe heritage and a futuristic
May 2, 2026 - 16:00:00
Where was S. Korea at Central Asia’s key ecological expo?
Korea Herald correspondent ASTANA, Kazakhstan — A floor map at the entrance to the Regional Ecological Summit Expo 2026 offered a quick look at major players in Kazakhstan’s fast-growing environmental technology market. Chinese firms were listed. European countries had joint pavilions. Kazakh government entities filled the hall. South Korean companies were nowhere to be found. The absence stood out because, despite appearances, Korea has been trying to expand cooperation with Kazakhstan in green
April 28, 2026 - 14:00:19
New Seongsu landmark? Musinsa brings retail vision at full volume
In Seongsu-dong, a neighborhood that has long prized intimacy over scale, the old rules are giving way under mounting foot traffic. Into that moment steps Musinsa, now in its most outsized form yet. On Friday, the country's leading fashion platform opened Musinsa Megastore Seongsu, the largest single fashion and beauty store in the country. The four-story building, spanning 6,600 square meters, unfolds to be navigated, with its floor-to-floor curation of Korean fashion and beauty running the gam
April 25, 2026 - 16:00:00
T1 turns Incheon into esports spectacle
INCHEON -- The luxury Inspire Resort in Incheon transformed into a sea of black-and-red on Friday as esports fans poured in for a three-day celebration centered on Korean League of Legends powerhouse T1. Thousands of attendees filled the hotel complex, many dressed in jerseys of their favorite players, waving light sticks and clutching fan merchandise. The gathering marked the kickoff of "2026 T1 Home Ground," a large-scale fan event anchored at Inspire Arena, a venue that has hosted major K-pop
April 24, 2026 - 21:10:18
After Shin Ramyun, Neoguri becomes next flagship in Japan
TOKYO — A big-eyed raccoon dog — the mascot of Nongshim's instant noodle brand Neoguri — stepped out of Shin Ramyun's shadow and into the spotlight at this year's Korea Expo Tokyo 2026, drawing curious palates eager to taste what Nongshim had in store for Japan next. At the exhibition, held at the Sunshine City Convention Center in Ikebukuro from Thursday to Saturday, the Neoguri-themed space hummed with visitors queuing for tastings of two varieties, hot and mild, and taking part in a series of
April 20, 2026 - 14:09:10
Rain or shine, Army gathers in Goyang ahead of BTS’ long-awaited return
GOYANG, Gyeonggi Province — Hours before BTS took the stage for its world tour “Arirang,” its first concert in four years, thousands of fans had already gathered outside Goyang Stadium, filling the rainy grounds with anticipation. By early Thursday afternoon, the area surrounding the venue was lined with Army — many dressed in purple rain jackets and holding Army Bomb light sticks — posing for photos in front of a towering world tour poster. Despite the cold drizzle, the mood remained upbeat, wi
April 9, 2026 - 18:05:43
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
April 6, 2026 - 21:40:47
Olive Young packs everything K-beauty into largest Myeong-dong store
CJ Olive Young's grand vision for foreign consumers took a new form on one of Seoul's most well-trodden tourist streets on Thursday. Olive Young Central Myeongdong Town, the largest of nine Olive Young stores in Myeong-dong, was teeming with foreign shopppers on opening day, baskets heavy with beauty products, as staff wearing national flag badges wove through the crowd. "Welcome to Olive Young," they called out in English in unison as customers entered. Spanning three floors, Central Myeongdong
March 27, 2026 - 18:01:15
