For those seeking to experience the largest beer festival in the world while still staying in Seoul, Grand Hilton Seoul presents the 2018 Oktoberfest.　The hotel has been hosting Oktoberfest since 2007, attracting more than 1,000 visitors each year. This year’s event will take place on Sept. 8 at the hotel’s Convention Center. 　 Oktoberfest in Seoul (Grand Hilton Seoul)“If there is Chuseok in Korea, in Germany, the largest traditional festival is the Oktoberfest,” general manager Bernhard Brender

Food Aug. 2, 2018

Oi buchu kimchi (Korean Bapsang)Cucumbers are in their peak season. This recipe is a quick and easy kimchi you can make with summer’s abundant cucumbers. It’s crisp, crunchy, and delicious.Buchu, or Korean garlic chives, is commonly added to oi kimchi, but you can use scallions instead if you like. Although not used in this recipe, a little bit of julienned carrot or red pepper will give the kimchi a nice pop of color. To make kimchi, you will need to salt the cucumbers first to draw out some wa

Food Aug. 2, 2018

Eels for summer at Millennium Seoul HiltonMillennium Seoul Hilton’s Japanese restaurant Genji prepared a special eight-course set menu for guests who have lost their energy in the scorching summer heat. The course menu includes classic Japanese dishes such as sashimi and tempura. But what stands out the most is the Orotson eel teriyaki. Orotson eel is a wild, not farmed, eel found in the mud flats on the western coast of Korea. It is considered a great delicacy both in Korea and Japan, greatly n

Food Aug. 2, 2018

Gomjangeo, often mispronounced as ggomjangeo, refers to inshore hagfish in Korean. Hagfish may not sound, or look, appealing, with its degenerated eyes and a snake-like body that produces slime when distressed. But that does not stop Koreans from taking up a culinary challenge with the sea-dweller.  (Shot and produced by Lim Jeong-yeo/The Korea Herald) After being thoroughly skinned, gomjangeo goes on the grill. Restaurants and pubs often grill them outside on a strong fire, such as

Food Aug. 2, 2018

Citing former police authorities and a lawmaker, the MBC investigative news show “PD’s Notepad” claimed that the investigation of a sexual abuse case involving the late actress Jang Ja-yeon was swayed by pressure.Jang took her own life in 2009, leaving behind handwritten notes that allegedly revealed she had been coerced into providing sexual favors for high-profile figures. Figures with connections to Chosun Ilbo, a major local daily, were on the list, but the prosecution did not charge them, c

Social Affairs Aug. 1, 2018

Well-known lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung has criticized the current military exemption law, perhaps giving reason to hope to global megahit boy band BTS. All able-bodied men in Korea are conscripted in the military for around two years. Exemptions can be granted, however, to those who rank atop certain international competitions designated by the government.  (Big Hit Entertainment)“The list of the designated international competitions is unfair,” Ha said in an interview with a local radio show Friday.

Performance July 27, 2018

(Yonhap)Following a break of about two years, newlywed couple Song Hye-kyo and Song Joong-ki will each star in their own TV dramas, in their respective returns to the small screen. Song Joong-ki confirmed Thursday his upcoming production will be a tvN period-fantasy drama tentatively titled “Asadal Chronicles.” He will star as a character with a tragic fate who tries to revolt against the fabled kingdom of Asadal. From left: Song Joong-Ki (Blossom Entertainment), Jang Dong-gun (D Entertainment C

Television July 27, 2018

JTBC’s upcoming drama “My ID is Gangnam Beauty” promises to be more than just a sweet campus romance tale.The Friday-Saturday drama, an adaptation of a well-known web comic of the same name, centers on a character named Kang Mi-rae, who grew up listening to hateful comments about her appearance.  Actress Lim Soo-hyang poses for photos before a press event at Times Square mall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. (JTBC) Stressed out by her appearance, the character undergoes extensive plastic surgery. But

Television July 26, 2018

Beer night at Hotel La Casa　Hotel La Casa, a lifestyle design hotel in south central Seoul, is offering its “Rooftop Summer Night” package. The package includes a one-night stay in a double room, two bottles of Schneider Weisse Tap 7 beer and a four-piece bruschetta plate. Customers can sip on cool beer while enjoying the city lights on a hot summer night on the rooftop of lounge bar House of Alchemy. The package is available until Sept. 9. For more information, contact House of Alchemy at (02)

Food July 26, 2018

Koreans are known for “thoroughly” eating the pig. We barbecue the meat, grill the intestines, make a soup with leftover meat and steam the feet. But there is more to the list: grilling pig tail and pork rinds.  Pork rinds and pig tail (By Im Eun-byel / The Korea Herald)When visualizing a pig tail, an image of a squiggly, pinkish, spring-like tail comes to mind. The cute visual isn’t really appetizing. But no worries, pig tail on the grill doesn’t look anything like it. The tail is chopped into

Food July 26, 2018

Song Joong-ki will finally return to the small screen with tvN’s upcoming blockbuster drama “Asadal Chronicles” (tentative title). The network on Thursday announced the main cast for the period-fantasy drama including Song Joong-Ki, Jang Dong-gun and Kim Ji-won in the lead roles. It will be Song and Kim’s second time working together, after “Descendants of the Sun” in 2016.  From left: Song Joong-Ki (Blossom Entertainment), Jang Dong-gun (D Entertainment Company) and Kim Ji-won (King Kong by Sta

Television July 26, 2018

Actress Han Ji-min, known for her lovely, angelic image, is to take on a completely different role this time -- an ordinary wife with anger management issues. In the upcoming tvN drama “Familiar Wife,” the actress plays a mother of two young children, who works at a shop. She also has to take care of her mother who suffers from amnesia. Ji Sung (left) and Han Ji-min pose for photos before a press event Wednesday at Times Square mall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. (CJ ENM)Coping with work and family,

Television July 25, 2018

London, Paris, New York and Milan. The “big four” fashion cities are every designer’s dream stage. But it is not easy for small, independent brands, as the runways are taken up by megabrands with years of legacy and money. Overcoming the odds, two Korean brands succeeded in making their dreams come true last season -- and they are not even from mega fashion companies. The two independent designer brands, Besfxxk and Blindness, infused with young energy and bold creativity, captivated Milan and L

Arts & Design July 25, 2018

With the two Koreas in a peace mood, the Korea Institute of Design Promotion is considering ways to use design to support better inter-Korean ties. Eune Ju-hyun, KIDP president and CEO, revealed a plan to enhance inter-Korean cooperation -- if the right opportunity were to present itself -- at a press conference in central Seoul on Tuesday. The press conference was held to mark 90 days in office for Eune. A former Seoul National University professor specializing in user experience design, Eune i

Arts & Design July 25, 2018

Filmmaker Hong Sang-soo is to file for divorce against his wife, a local media outlet reported Monday. According to the report, Hong has decided to sue for divorce after failing to come to a settlement with his wife, who has so far refused any agreement.  Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee (Yonhap)Citing personnel in the film industry close to Hong, the report said Hong is thinking about marrying actress Kim Min-hee. “A divorce is unavoidable. Hong regrets that he has to go through with a suit,” the

Film July 24, 2018