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Oddities In series
From the funny to the strange and downright unbelievable
#Oddities
# Strange
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Oddities In series
From the funny to the strange and downright unbelievable
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High-rise window cleaning: A dangerous spring tradition on Seoul's skyline
TAs the weather warms, Seoul's high-rise buildings are getting a spring cleaning, which means it is a peak season for one of the most dangerous jobs in the country: high-altitude window cleaners. Suspe
High-rise window cleaning: A dangerous spring tradition on Seoul's skyline
As the weather warms, Seoul's high-rise buildings are getting a spring cleaning, which means it is a peak season for one of the most dangerous jobs in the country: high-altitude window cleaners. Suspended by ropes, these workers dangle from the tops of tall buildings to clean their windows and facades, creating a perilous sight for onlookers. However, such high-altitude window cleaning has become a familiar scene in the city where high-rise buildings and apartment complexes dominate the skyline.
April 7, 2025 - 15:04:24
Court, not victim, gives 'second chance' to abusive husband
An appellate court recently upheld a lower court ruling that gave a suspended sentence to an abusive husband, saying it is "giving a chance to apologize to the victim," despite acknowledging that the defendant had not been forgiven by his wife. The appellate trial at the Chuncheon District Court approved of the earlier ruling that found the 60-year-old defendant guilty of special intimidation -- intimidation using a weapon -- and destruction of property, sentencing him to one year in prison, sus
March 27, 2025 - 13:21:10
Burglar fries chicken, takes beer in late-night restaurant break-in
A burglar broke into a fried chicken restaurant overnight, fried some chicken, grabbed a beer, and left without taking anything else. Three days later, the bizarre incident repeated itself. When police caught the culprit, they discovered it was a former staff member, returning for a late-night snack. This case, which took place in Sejong in August last year, gained media attention this week, after a court sentenced the culprit to six months in jail, suspended for one year. The Daejeon District C
March 20, 2025 - 13:24:31
Bags becoming 'babies': Korea's strange honorific twist
Struggling with honorifics, obsessed with propriety, Koreans show respect to everything from coffee to vitamins When is an object referred to as if it were alive — like a person, a baby or a friend? In Korean, a cup of latte served at a cafe is personified and respected with honorifics, and a vitamin supplement sold via a home shopping channel is referred to as a "child devoted to filial duty," with sellers encouraging potential customers to "adopt" the items and "bring them home." Personificati
Feb. 22, 2025 - 16:00:00
Why Korean variety shows are so text-heavy -- and why it works
The relentless captions in Korean variety shows, though overwhelming for the uninitiated, add space for exaggerated fun, drama and emotional release beyond what's happening with the cast South Korean variety shows have a lot to say -- and not just through their hosts or celebrity guests. If you’ve ever watched "Running Man" or "King of Mask Singer," you’ve probably noticed the other star of the show: the captions and onscreen text in almost every scene. Bold, colorful and often hilariously over-
Feb. 8, 2025 - 16:00:03
'Treat the boss day,' a decades-old practice in some Korean offices, set to fade away
The practice of subordinates pooling money to treat their bosses to lunch faces discontinuation amid complaints from younger civil servants In a typical hierarchical organization in South Korea, whether public or private, it is generally expected that senior workers will pick up the bill for their juniors. But in some bureaucracies, this expectation is reversed, with subordinates taking turns treating their boss to a meal. The practice, called “treat the boss day,” has unclear origins, but it ha
Jan. 30, 2025 - 13:30:49
Slippers in the cold: The quirky winter fashion Koreans can't quit
Despite love of down jackets, why are Koreans so indifferent to the warmth of their feet? Pedestrians bundled up in thick, knee-length padded jackets, but wearing slippers? This style, surprisingly common in South Korea during winter, often raises the eyebrows. A TikToker, who introduced himself as Russian, posted a video of several Koreans walking on the street in rubber slippers or Crocs sandals, commenting, "Such a fashion is unthinkable in my country." A similar observation was shared on Ins
Jan. 14, 2025 - 13:57:49
How old are you? The answer is ... complicated.
South Korea has officially dropped traditional age-counting system that made everyone 1-2 years older. But many still use it. Why? When asked his age, Park Se-kyu used to answer in two simple ways: “I'm 34,” or “I was born in 1990.” But since June last year, his responses have expanded to three: “I'm 34 in Korean age,” ”Technically, I'm 33 in ‘Yoon Suk Yeol age,’” or “I was born in 1990." Whenever Park mentions his international age -- often referred to locally as “Yoon Suk Yeol age” after the K
Jan. 1, 2025 - 10:25:13
Why awakening of Mount Baekdu is a source of fear for South Koreans
When the North Korean mountain erupted in 946, it was more powerful than the one that buried Pompeii Straddling the border between China and North Korea, Mount Baekdu holds immense symbolic significance for the people on the Korean Peninsula -- so much so that it graces the lyrics of both Koreas' national anthems. Revered as the mythical birthplace of the Korean people, the 2,744-meter-tall mountain is steeped in legends and myths. One of them even features a mysterious creature dwelling in Heav
Dec. 20, 2024 - 18:39:37
Koreans love their garlic. Here's how much they really eat
When it comes to putting garlic in their food, few cultures can match Korea's enthusiasm. While Italians might delicately saute a clove or two in olive oil, Koreans think nothing of tossing entire handfuls into a single dish. Their bold approach to the ingredient has become the stuff of legend, sparking both admiration and occasional bewilderment from foodies across the globe. "Korean food is never complete without garlic," says Han Jin-sun, head chef at The Korea Herald's company cafeteria. Pre
Dec. 20, 2024 - 18:32:04
What's in a name? How Koreans faked their way to Kim, Lee and Park
If you meet a South Korean, there‘s a 45 percent chance that their surname is either Kim, Lee or Park. And there’s an even higher probability -- some say nearly 90 percent -- that their surname originates from a bogus family tree. According to the latest census data from Statistics Korea, these thre
Oct. 22, 2024 - 11:47:47
Time-old Korean hoax involves a rock and a dozen Americans
Before Donald Trump popularized the term “fake news,” a recurring April Fool’s Day hoax had already made the concept familiar to many Koreans. This joke -- coming back almost every April 1, yet still managing to deceive some -- happens to feature a group of American tourists on a tour of the scenic area of Seoraksan in Gangwon Province. A version of the fabricated news article, easily found with a basic search, has the title "11 American tourists booked for toppling Seor
March 27, 2024 - 10:00:32
‘Leeds era’: How one English city's name became a buzzword in Korea
Buzzwords come and go in Korea after a few years. But one has stood the test of time -- “Leeds era,” which is read as “lijeu sijeol” in Korean. The term, believed to have originated from online football communities around 2005, is used to refer to a period of one’s greatest success or popularity, similar to a heyday or a golden era. It is used in various contexts including the appearance of celebrities to the performance of athletes. Since July this year, local cabl
Oct. 2, 2022 - 16:01:10
How feeding seagulls became a boat trip selling point
As a cruise ferry on Han River was about to leave the dock on a Tuesday afternoon in June, dozens of seagulls began to gather around. Some sat on the top rails of the ship while others began to fly around as passengers started to come out to the deck. Once the engine starts, you get the sense what they are here for. People were holding snacks with their fingers or throwing them for the birds to eat. Laughter and joyful scream filled the ship as people of all age groups -- from elderly peopl
June 27, 2022 - 11:13:22
