‘Cat moms’: Purr-fect allies or cat-astrophe?

Venturing into a narrow street of Nogosan-dong, western Seoul, one would stumble across a quiet neighborhood cluttered with small houses. Some of them have small trays laid out in front, one with a sign that reads, “A small diner for stray cats. Our regulars will briefly visit for a meal and be on their way. Please turn a blind eye to them.” Ask any Korean who they are, and the answer will probably be the same, “cat moms.” It’s a term widely used to refer to peop

Out of grass and flowers that bud in spring: Hwajeon with spring flowers [Temple to Table]

The Ven. Yeogeo entered monastic life 21 years ago at age 31, relatively late to become a nun in Korea. Thanks to her Buddhist parents, she had become familiar with temples at a young age. When she turned 19, she visited the temple Yongjusa in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, and decided to renounce sec

Holler for Seollal: Holiday traditions burden some

Korea’s two biggest -- and longest -- holidays are Seollal and Chuseok, around which the hyperlocal community app Karrot Market is bustling with cries for help. The website usually operates a separate page for part-time jobs targeted exclusively for these holidays. “We’re seeking those who will make

How do N. Koreans celebrate Lunar New Year?

The Lunar New Year or Seollal is one of the two most important and celebrated traditional holidays in South Korea. But, though both halves of the peninsula share many aspects of culture, nearly 77 years of division between the two Koreas have led to divergent holiday traditions. In North Korea, the significance of socialist holidays, including the birth anniversaries of the late leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, the national foundation day on Sept. 9, and the party foundation day on Oct.

Friend for hire

“You look stunning! Your dress looks so much prettier than the pictures you showed me,” I told the glowing bride as I walked into a wedding chapel waiting room covered in white flowers. “The other girls are on their way.” She smiled, thanked me for being there and gave me a hug which was surprisingly natural given that it was the first time we had met.  At 15,000 won ($12.60) for an hour and a half, I was hired to be her friend for her wedding day. My first job as

[Us and Them] The whiter the better: Korea’s racist hierarchy

An unspoken “caste” system based largely on race and skin color persists in South Korean society. In a matter of decades, Korea has grown into a popular destination for tourists, with iconic features like K-pop, culinary delights and cultural heritage items drawing travelers from all corners of the globe. Yet the number who come here to live is relatively small, and foreigners and experts point to an invisible ranking system based largely on race and ethnicity as one of the factors

[Us and Them] I’m Korean, you’re not, and there’s a fine line you can’t cross

Silas Harper Bray, a 30-year-old English teacher based in Gyeonggi Province, has never regretted marrying her Korean husband. But others weren’t so fond of her decision, and they weren’t shy about letting her know. She has found out during her three-year stay in South Korea that some Koreans do not like the idea of “mixing blood,” and they made sure she got the message, no matter how offensive it might be. “Many people have told my husband that he should have marr

Back in the day: Sweet memories of picnics

In South Korea, spring outings are a grand, communal affair that bring people together. Schools, churches, companies and various social clubs and communities start planning way before spring arrives. It is one of the biggest annual events. The culture of grand picnicking can be traced back to “hwajeon nori” during the Joseon era (1392-1910) -- a picnic enjoyed mostly by women on the third day of the third lunar month. “Young Joseon wives would travel to an attractive outdoor site and pitch a ten

‘I married Korea’s independence’

The March 1 Movement was a massive protest joined by hundreds of thousands of people shouting “manse!” nationwide on the streets, but the protests are often remembered as the achievements of few independence activist men who played vital roles in the event.Women were relegated to the sidelines while history was written centering on these men’s stories, and the women independence fighters were often referred to as someone’s mother or wife, instead of by their names. Some 100 years later, Korea ha

Fine dust A to Z: everything you need to know to beat fine dust

(Yonhap)Q. ‘Fine dust’ vs. ‘ultrafine dust’?A particle of “ultrafine dust,” or particulate matter 2.5 is smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. The width of PM2.5 is about 30 times less than that of a human hair. “Fine dust,” or PM10, is particulate matter 10 micrometers or smaller in diameter. In South Korea, the average level of PM2.5 was 25.1 micrograms per cubic meter in 2017, the worst among 35 member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The OECD average