[Korea History] In 2009, a suicide forces Korea's political pendulum to left

On the morning of May 23, 2009, the South Korean public received shocking news that altered the country’s political course for years to come: Former President Roh Moo-hyun died after throwing himself off a cliff near his retirement home in Bongha Village in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province. The deceased leader, then 62 years of age, had been under investigation concerning corruption allegations of his family members and those around him. While there was no conclusive evidence suggesting

Nov. 29, 2023

[Korea Quiz] Neighborhoods with exotic vibes

Find the answer at the bottom. Some districts in South Korea are representative of a certain foreign community, providing visitors with a distinctive cultural experience, marked by exotic surroundings, and a more hospitable, homelike atmosphere for some foreign nationals. On South Gyeongsang Province's Namhae Island, an annual Oktoberfest beer festival takes place in Namhae German Village there every October. This event offers visitors an immersive experience in different aspects of G

Nov. 29, 2023

Spike in camping enthusiasts in Korea, yet camping etiquette lags behind

“This is not a campsite,” reads a banner that hangs prominently -- yet seemingly powerlessly -- in a public parking lot at the port of a small island off the city of Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province. After gaining social media fame as a haven for fishing and camping, the island of Neokdo’s usually quiet fishing villages are grappling with visitors in camping cars and tents overstaying their welcome. Often they occupy prime spots in public space, leaving them mostly unattend

Nov. 28, 2023

[Korea Beyond Korea] Korean studies in Turkey grows on foundation of strong relations

Despite being on the opposite sides of the continent, South Korea and Turkey have maintained a positive relationship throughout their histories. Turkey sent the fourth-highest number of troops during the 1950-53 Korean War, and it was among the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with Korea in 1957. During the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Korean fans celebrated the Turkish team’s accomplishments as well as their own as the two nations beat the odds to reach the semifinals. With the grow

Nov. 27, 2023

[Hello Hangeul] Welding book first in vocational Korean series for foreign labor

A plethora of textbooks and learning materials cater to Korean language learners from diverse backgrounds. But, there’s a significant gap for a particular type of learners whose grasp of work-related Korean is crucial not only for quality control and skills development but also for their own safety. In August, a groundbreaking work was released to fill the void of job-related technical books for non-Korean native speakers in welding. Welding, essential for various manufacturing processes

Nov. 27, 2023

‘Gorpcore’ a global validation of Korean ajeossi’s fashion instincts?

Long before the seemingly inscrutable neologism "gorpcore” entered the global fashion lexicon, middle-aged men in South Korea were trailblazing the look, seamlessly incorporating Gore-Tex jackets and hiking boots into their daily attire for work, dining and socializing. Leisurely strolling through Seoul's Dongmyo flea market, some of these ajeossi, an appellation for middle-aged men in Korean, caught the eye of a young menswear designer in July 2018: Kiko Kostadinov, whose anti

Nov. 25, 2023

[Korean History] In 2008, Korea's National Treasure No. 1 went down in flames

South Korea stopped assigning numbers to its national treasures a few years ago, but for many, the expression National Treasure No. 1 still remains synonymous with Namdaemun, or Sungnyemun by its official name. So when this gate from the 14th century burned down one night in 2008, the shock was indescribable, akin to what the French people might have gone through during the 2019 blaze at Notre Dame Cathedral. Koreans watched helplessly on TV as the wooden pagoda atop the arch-shaped stone gate b

Nov. 23, 2023

[Korea Quiz] 'Troika" of the 2000s

Find the answer at the bottom. In modern entertainment history, it became a tradition for Korean media to pick three era-defining female actors per decade. Dubbed “troika,” from the Russian term denoting a vehicle pulled by three horses, the three were picked based on their popularity, their work, the number of commercial deals they clinched, and other metrics. Kim Tae-hee, Song Hye-kyo and Jun Ji-hyun were the top actors in the 2000s in terms of clout. They became collectively know

Nov. 22, 2023

Cemeteries, columbariums reinvent themselves as sanctuaries for the living

Cemeteries and columbariums in South Korea evoke images of sorrowful families and friends mourning the loss of loved ones. With their rows of urns in glass cabinets, columbariums, in particular, are the last place anyone wishes to visit unless compelled to by the loss of someone dear to them. Called “memorial parks,” the solemn atmosphere of these facilities makes them an unwanted addition to a neighborhood in South Korea, where property prices are a key concern. But from about a dec

Nov. 21, 2023

[Korea Beyond Korea] In Sao Paulo, horizons expand for Korean studies

SAO PAULO -- Separated by oceans and a 12-hour time difference, Seoul and Sao Paulo lack direct flight connections and speak distinct languages. Yet, in this metropolis of over 11 million, the largest in the southern hemisphere, K-dramas are finding their way into ordinary Brazilian homes, and K-pop acts are captivating youth, gradually making the language spoken in the distant Asian nation more familiar to the local population. The University of Sao Paulo stands tall amid this newfound intere

Nov. 20, 2023

YouTuber ‘iGoBart’ and his mission to explore all 467 neighborhoods of Seoul

In labyrinthine Seoul, a multitude of hidden places often go unnoticed by both Seoulites and visitors. Social media has recently become a cornucopia of travel content, and Dutch YouTuber Bart van Genugten, also known as "iGoBart," has leveraged that to the best of his ability to offer a fresh perspective on Seoul’s layers beneath its shiny surface. In his daring new project, "Welcome To My Dong (WTMD)," iGoBart embarks on a journey to visit all of Seoul's 467 neigh

Nov. 18, 2023

[Korea Quiz] Blood type personality theory

Find the answer at the bottom. When Koreans inquire about your blood type, their curiosity might center not on medical matters but on the pseudoscientific pursuit of predicting some of your personality traits. In South Korea, blood type is commonly used as a gauge of others’ personalities and temperaments, despite the absence of a scientific basis for it. In a recent poll of 1,501 adults aged 19 and over conducted by Gallup Korea, approximately 57 percent of respondents support the conce

Nov. 15, 2023

[Korean History] In 2005, science world’s biggest scandal unravels in Seoul

In the winter of 2005, South Korea experienced a roller coaster of emotion, looping between shock, disbelief and relief multiple times after Hwang Woo-suk, then the country’s most revered scientist as well as a symbol of national pride and hope for the terminally ill, faced whistleblower accusations for grave ethics breaches, followed by even graver matters of data fabrication. After a whirlwind of claims and counterclaims that left many at a loss as to what to believe, by December of that

Nov. 15, 2023

Bikes or motor vehicles? E-bike use on rise amid classification ambiguity

Electric-powered bicycles, one of the most recent additions to South Korea's urban landscape, are quickly becoming a popular choice for short-distance travel, with many seen parked on streets and sidewalks across the nation's cities. Replacing e-scooters, which once dominated Seoul's micromobility scene, e-bikes are enhancing public accessibility through affordable bike-sharing services. Micromobility refers to lightweight, single-person vehicles that are used for transportation

Nov. 14, 2023

[Korea Beyond Korea] Buddhism scholar committed to expanding Korean studies at Yale

HERALD INTERVIEW Yale University was the only Ivy League school that didn’t have a Korean studies faculty member, other than Korean language lecturers, until 2018, when it hired Kim Hwan-soo as a professor of religious studies. Kim, a Buddhist monk and professor of Korean Buddhism and culture, received his doctorate in the colonial history of Korean and Japanese Buddhism from Harvard University and previously taught at Duke University. “Students at Yale had called for a Korean stud

Nov. 13, 2023

[Korean History] In 2004, serial murderer with goal to kill 100 was stopped at 20

In the summer of 2004, South Korea was jolted by one of the most gruesome crime stories the country had ever witnessed. Driven by hatred for the rich and women, Yoo Young-chul committed 20 murders before he was apprehended, a fraction of his self-imposed mission to kill 100. The serial killer’s dramatic capture, along with shocking details of his crimes, which involved claims of cannibalism and dismemberment, left a lasting impact on the nation’s collective memory. The chilling sag

Nov. 8, 2023

[Korea Quiz] Exchanging snacks every November

Every November, a certain type of snack sees a sudden spike in sales: Pepero. On Nov. 11, also known as Pepero Day, people exchange the chocolate-covered snacks. It is not an official holiday, but is widely celebrated in South Korea, with street stalls, convenience stores and supermarkets stocked with a massive supply of Pepero or similarly shaped goodies. The origin of this festivity is a modern marketing legend. While Pepero has always been popular, its manufacturer, Lotte Confectionery, p

Nov. 8, 2023

American-Korean Foundation’s legacy hangs in the balance

On a gentle hill nestled between two wooded areas in Sosa-gu, Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, lies a long-neglected training compound for farmers. Occupying nearly 66,000 square meters of land, the compound’s dormitory building, silo for livestock feed storage, pigpen, chicken coup and conference hall, among other facilities, remain tucked out of sight of the surrounding community. The compound's history is unknown even to many of its most immediate neighbors, despite its presence here fo

Nov. 7, 2023

Farm online, harvest offline: Virtual farming games attract inflation-weary consumers

Home farming is gaining popularity as inflation continues to drive up the prices of produced goods including eggs and vegetables. Recently, the trend has recently taken an interesting turn, with local e-commerce platforms launching mobile farming games that bear real fruit in the physical world. Lee Jae-ram, a 33-year-old office worker in Seoul, recently received his "harvest" of bananas in a package via mail, the fruit of his farming efforts in the mobile game, Al-Farm. Al-Farm is a g

Nov. 7, 2023

[Hello Hangeul] Americans seeking to visit Korea learn the language in LA

LOS ANGELES -- Stephanie Baldonado first came across Korean food in 2006 during her deployment at a US military hospital in Afghanistan, where she shared a camp with counterparts from the Korean military. She instantly fell in love with it. Years later, her daughter Marlene “fully immersed” herself into the world of K-pop and Korean dramas. Marlene is the captain of a K-pop dance group at San Diego State University. The mother and daughter are both taking online Korean language lesso

Nov. 7, 2023