“Neck fans” are a popular item in the summer which can be worn around the neck and help fight off heat. Without having to be handheld, the gadget is praised as a clever invention by those who want a cooling breeze just for themselves while on the go, such as joggers, delivery workers or just outdoor lovers. According to Shinsegae International’s lifestyle brand Jaju, sales of summer home applia...

K-pop cover dance videos rack up tens of thousands of views on YouTube. They are filmed in places all around the world, from a shopping mall in China to a park in Spain. In the clips, young dancers, typically dressed in colorful and coordinated outfits, show off their moves to an intrigued audience, as the latest K-pop hits play through the speakers. Exuding confidence, the dancers look almost a...

Earlier this year, South Korea had two young figures sitting atop rival political parties as the living embodiment of their commitment to introducing new blood. A few months and two major elections later, their place in the country‘s partisan politics seems increasingly tempestuous. Lee Jun-seok, the chairman of the ruling People Power Party, saw his membership suspended by the party’s ethics c...

While conservative-leaning religious groups are some of the most ardent opponents of sexual minorities and efforts to pass an anti-discrimination law, voices of support are growing among some Christians, said Duho, a member of the Anglican Rainbow Network. “Individual priests and churchgoers support LGBT rights and they believe doing so is in line with the teaching of the Bible. We decided to fo...

The annual Seoul Queer Culture Festival returned to the streets of Seoul on Saturday after a two-year pandemic hiatus. This year’s event took place but not without controversy as it took more than two months for the city government to grant it’s approval, drawing criticism from activists and event organizers. Though the main event, including a march through central Seoul, took place Saturday, t...

From traffic and weather to music, current South Korean affairs and the latest COVID-19 case counts, Seoul’s mostly English-language radio station TBS eFM has kept expat listeners updated on issues and matters that impact their life in Seoul. Running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the station has struggled financially since its 2008 launch, but has managed to continue serving the expat popul...

Ever wondered how fried chicken would pair up with mint and chocolate? For those who have, the South Korean unit of fried chicken chain KFC has released a mint chocolate-flavored dipping sauce. The sauce, which is part of a seasonal collaboration with local food delivery app Baemin, will be available until Aug. 8 at locations across the country, excluding a select few. The mixture of “rich and...

The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, famously known as the Unification Church, has come under scrutiny following the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Japanese media have reported that Tetsuya Yamagami, the man behind the fatal attack, mentioned a religious group as his motive to the investigators. He believed the former PM was linked to the religious ...

Water-spraying trucks will also be deployed to cool down the streets. The district office is also offering up to 1 million won ($763) as a payout to cover utility bills for low-income households as well as compensations for living and expenses and medical bills. An emergency kit consisting of items such as a parasol, sunscreen and a towel will also be distributed to those most vulnerable, the of...

Whether it’s soju and beer with colleagues or wine with friends, drinking is an important part of socializing in South Korea. South Koreans drank an average of 8.3 liters of alcohol in 2019, according to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, citing OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) Health Statistics 2021. Though the average amount of alcohol consumed by ...

A four-day workweek is a hot topic now globally, with thousands of workers in the UK partaking in the largest experiment to date of a shortened work schedule. In South Korea, a law that caps weekly working hours at 52 is facing scrutiny for the opposite reason. Last week, Labor Minister Lee Jeong-sik said that the government would consider revising the current 52-hour workweek system to a month...

The snack has become so heavily associated with seagulls in the country that there were even voices worrying about the possible negative impact on the birds’ health. Some have opted for healthier options like anchovies. E-Land Cruise, for instance, sell bags of anchovies aboard the ship for seagulls as the river cruise operator says Saeukkang can be bad for the birds, giving them “diarrhea.” K...

Seoul Metro’s deficit problem Seoul Metro’s naming rights sales come as it has struggled with yearslong deficits. The subway system suffered a net loss of 1.1 trillion won in 2020. It was in the red again the following year, losing some 960 billion won. In a recent report released by Seoul Metropolitan Council, Seoul Metro was urged to secure sustainability by reducing losses and risks. While...

On a weekday evening, one cafe in western Seoul is about to close for the day while customers are still chatting away and enjoying their coffee. Repurposed from a shoe factory, this cafe is one of several trendy spots across the city that attract coffee drinkers and cafe enthusiasts alike, as numerous Instagram posts tagging the location show. “Industrial interior designs display the appeal of ...

Seoul’s citizen-led council decided on Wednesday to allow the Seoul Queer Culture Festival to take place at Seoul Plaza next month, but only for one day. The decision comes two months after the organizing committee of the event filed a request in April to use the central plaza located in front of Seoul City Hall for six days from July 12-17. The event will go ahead on July 16, marking the first...