Most Popular
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Korea enters full election mode
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Seoul bus drivers go on general strike, cause morning rush hour delays
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Immigrant woman stabbed to death by Korean husband
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Official campaigning kicks off for April 10 elections
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Lee Jong-sup resigns as envoy to Australia
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Yellow dust engulfs S. Korea, advisory alert issued
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S. Korea to boost support for single-parent families
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Court upholds jail term for man who attempted to murder ex-girlfriend
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Kia EV9 wins world car of year
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Korea misses out on global bond index boost
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[Weekender] Let the games begin
The Gwangju Universiade opened with a bang at its main stadium Friday.Under the event’s slogan of “Light Up Tomorrow,” traditional Korean percussion musicians and a Western marching band celebrated the opening of the games with thrilling performances. Dancers then took to the stage to perform a traditional mock battle.The opening ceremony of the Gwangju Universiade is under way on Friday. (Yonhap)The performances depicted the beauty of the host city and the historical significance of Mount Mudeu
More SportsJuly 3, 2015
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[Weekender] Universiade all about uniting young people: ceremony director
The Gwangju Universiade opening ceremony was designed to unite young people from all over the world and encourage them to work for peace and harmony, according to Park Myung-sung, chief director of the event’s opening ceremony. Attended by more than 13,000 university students from 148 countries, the event was held under the slogan of “U are Shining.” The official theme of the opening ceremony epitomizes the spirit of youth and brings hopes and passion to young people. “(Through the theme) I want
More SportsJuly 3, 2015
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[Weekender] Chef helped turn quiet street into dining mecca
Just a short stroll away from the bustling multicultural neighborhood of Seoul’s Itaewon lies the lesser-known, yet trend-setting street of Gyeongnidan-gil.A short walk from Noksapyeong Station, this stretch of road is filled with craft breweries, terrace cafes, unique restaurants and quaint shops steeped in culture and creativity. Located two blocks away from the main streets of this up-and-coming neighborhood is a narrow alley, nestled away in a residential district that is even further off th
FoodJune 26, 2015
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[Weekender] Charms and concerns of artistic districts
In recent years, Seoul’s Yeonnam-dong and Mullae-dong areas have risen as havens for struggling artists and free-spirited entrepreneurs. Located near enough the bustling Hongdae district to attract visitors but far enough to be removed from the noise of the area’s wild nightlife and expensive real estate prices, the neighborhoods have been seeing a growing number of artistic tenants and tourists for the past five years or so. According to Song Hye-jung, Yeonnam-dong’s charm lies not only in its
CultureJune 26, 2015
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[Weekender] Jejudo, Songdo, Busan beckon with romantic youth hangouts
You may get a glimpse of taste of the latest trends in Korea if you travel Jejudo Island, Busan or Songdo in Incheon. Challenging the old beach vacation formula, with tons of almost-identical seafood restaurants, Woljeong-ri Beach in Jejudo is accompanies by a boulevard of cafes, boasting unique interior designs and localized menus. “I dropped by to spend a few relaxing hours at the beach, to feel the ocean breeze and have fun in a comfortable way,” a soldier in his 20s said at a cafe on the bea
June 26, 2015
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[Weekender] The rise of ‘ordinary places’ as hot spots
On Wednesday afternoon, 23-year-old university student Kim Eun-young and her friend Lee Ha-young strolled the narrow alleys of Chebu-dong in Jongno-gu of Seoul. They had a meal at the Tongin traditional market and sipped coffee while looking around the neighborhood, busily taking pictures. Instead of high-rises, the neighborhood is crammed with one- or two-story buildings, many in an early 20th century-style. The interior is decorated in European styles, with mostly bare wood or white and pastel
CultureJune 26, 2015
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[Weekender] Hidden hot spots in Seoul
While places like Myeong-dong, Garosu-gil and Hongdae are still popular meeting spots where both Seoulites and tourists flock, in recent years, a slew of new hot spots have sprung up, grabbing attention of those wanting something different. These lesser-known districts are smaller than the mainstream hangouts. Yet, they boast unique, chic and sometimes kitsch ambiences that are not easily found at the usual nightspots saturated with big name chains. These up-and-coming neighborhoods can be diffi
TravelJune 26, 2015
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[Weekender] Drones glide into life, homes and businesses
Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, are penetrating everyday life, bringing with them changes and challenges. Although they have only recently become widely used, the basic technology that goes into creating a drone was first developed in the early 20th century.Through decades of research, the U.S. military was able to deploy drones during the Vietnam War and increasingly advanced and deadlier versions have carried out precision bombings in recent years, if with mixed results. However, the days
Social AffairsJune 19, 2015
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[Weekender] Korea’s high-flying ‘helicam’ business
The Lily camera, once thrown into the air, chases after the person wearing its GPS tracking device. (Lily)In 2013, a team of robotics engineering students from the University of California, Berkeley set out to create the world’s first throw-and-shoot camera.Lily, a GPS-oriented flying camera about to go on sale, can hover once thrown into the air, and chase whoever is wearing its tracking device while filming aerial shots in high-definition. Lily is an advanced version of what has already been w
IndustryJune 19, 2015
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[Weekender] How drones do and don’t deliver
Koreans are known for their impatient temperament and cutting-edge innovations, but not even Korea has developed the idea of deliveries to your door by drone.That is the crux of U.S. retail giant Amazon’s Prime Air 30 Minute Delivery service, which was first unveiled in December 2013.Amazon plans to deliver packages weighing less than 2.2 kg to anywhere within 16 km of a servicing warehouse in less than half an hour.The hurdle is not that the technology is in the realm of science fiction ― it is
World NewsJune 19, 2015
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[Weekender] Leisure drones gaining popularity among hobbyists
Drones are becoming a common sight at city parks in South Korea, with the small aircraft emerging as a new toy for “kidults” ― adults enjoying hobbies considered better suited to children. Korea’s largest online shopping mall 11st said it saw drone sales rise 560 percent from January to April this year compared to the same period in 2014. Park Seung-wook, 29, a researcher at a chemistry company, is one of the many “kidults” enjoying the luxury hobby. “I like the sound of the propellers, which ma
CultureJune 19, 2015
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[Weekender] Regulations, privacy pose dilemma
With the latest revolutionary technology taking off, a growing number of entrepreneurs are paving the way in Korea for a wider use of unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones.Even President Park Geun-hye last month stressed the need for an industry-specific development strategy at a national level concerning unmanned vehicles, including drones. However, industry insiders agree that the existing legal landscape for drones remains relatively restrictive in comparison to other developed c
IndustryJune 19, 2015
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[Weekender] Corporate Korea falls in love with drones
Corporations in South Korea from a wide variety of industry sectors are turning their eyes toward drone technology, which is expected to create a great number of new business opportunities down the road.South Korea’s 10th-largest conglomerate, Hanwha, is one of those firms aiming to make headway into the unmanned aircraft industry.The company, which has placed importance on the defense and military businesses since its foundation in 1952, recently acquired Samsung Techwin, the defense business a
CultureJune 19, 2015
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[Weekender] Life’s a lottery for Korea’s dogs
It is the epitome of polarization to live as a dog in Korea.For more fortunate canines life is sweet. They are fed, groomed and catered to at a degree many less fortunate humans would envy.Dog hotels and a variety of beauty services from hair salons to nail shops are flourishing here. Some pooches are considered to be more than companions, becoming partners in fighting crime and assistants to the blind. Dogs today even have their own TV programs. Smart gadgets are designed to monitor their healt
Social AffairsJune 12, 2015
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[Weekender] Burgeoning Korean pet industry going ever more premium
Every day, Lee-seul, Byul and Dal-rae get dropped off at a kindergarten in Seoul by their mom. Throughout the day, they play with their friends under the supervision of their teacher, who instructs them on how to properly behave at home. When evening approaches soon after snack time, the three wrap up their day and head home. This may sound like a typical trio of youngsters, but unlike other kindergartners they are all schanuzers, which Kim Mee-hyun, 57, says are “basically like her children.” A
IndustryJune 12, 2015
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[Weekender] Dogs are colleagues to emergency rescue workers
Moran, a black Labrador retriever, can do more than just sit and roll over. She has special skills that no human and most pet dogs lack.With a keen sense of smell, the 30-kilogram Lab can track down missing persons miles away who are trapped in natural disaster areas or deep in the mountainous woods. She can help firemen and police solve mysteries on whether the missing victims are alive or dead.Moran is a rescue dog for the Special Rescue Team in Dobong-gu. The team, which works closely with th
CultureJune 12, 2015
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[Weekender] Why Koreans abandon so many dogs
The thousands of dogs Aerinwon, a private shelter in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, may have been abandoned, but it doesn’t mean they have given up on humans.They jump around and wag their tails as people pass by their enclosure, as if forgetting their past poor treatment.Their lively response is ironic, considering the majority ended up in the facility as they were considered either too ill or too old. Some people brought them in after rescuing them from an abusive environment, its director Kong K
Social AffairsJune 12, 2015
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[Weekender] Korea’s doggy double standards
When U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert’s arrival in South Korea was unexpectedly delayed by a day in October last year, rumors swirled over the reason. It turns out, he had a problem with American Airlines’ paperwork for his pooch, a basset hound named Grigsby, and he thus detoured to Los Angeles to fly instead with Korean Air to Incheon. The details on what happened remain unclear. While the episode may not have been pleasant for the U.S. flag carrier, it highlighted the Texas-headquartered airline’
Social AffairsJune 12, 2015
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[Weekender] Debate persists over legalization of dog meat
It had not occurred to Choi Jin-kyu, 30, until he was older that eating bosintang, or a hot soup made of dog meat, might be a habit that was frowned upon.His father has been taking him to eat the soup, long perceived here as energy-boosting and good for one’s health, since he was 10. He continues to enjoy it especially during the sizzling summer heat.“My father used to take me to this place. He said it would strengthen immunity and fend off viruses. Now that MERS is in town, I should eat it more
Social AffairsJune 12, 2015
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[Weekender] Soft or crusty ― bread that Koreans fall for
A hot, steamy bowl of rice was long considered an irreplaceable staple in Korean breakfast. “You manage a day with the power of rice,” Korean moms would tell their kids, encouraging them to finish their meal. This centuries-old, typical morning scene is changing rapidly now. Bread, which arrived in Korea through Japan only in the 19th century, is fast emerging as a tasty and convenient alternative to rice. At a Seoul branch of French bakery Gontran Cherrier, croissants and champagne with walnuts
FoodJune 5, 2015