[Korean History] 23 executions in 1997, followed by a hiatus that continues to this day

The New Year's Day edition of The Korea Herald in 1998 depicted the somber image of a nation grappling with a financial crisis, teetering on the edge of uncertainty and reliant on a bailout package from the International Monetary Fund. While delivering the dim outlook for the year ahead, the paper also published a 74-word article at the bottom of page 3 with the headline, “23 death-row inmates executed.” The story told of how, two days earlier on Dec. 30, 1997, the government ha

Aug. 30, 2023

[Korea Quiz] Convenience stores, convenience services

Find the correct answer at the bottom of this page. South Korea tops the world in terms of convenience stores, with an average one shop per 1,106 persons across the country as of March this year. It may be only natural that these stores have become an integral part of everyday life for Koreans by providing diverse services at affordable costs. Many budget-conscious office workers and students start their day at convenience stores with a cup of freshly brewed coffee. The GS25 franchise, the ind

Aug. 30, 2023

'PC bang' seek to hit refresh in post-COVID era

From dimly-lit dens shrouded in cigarette smoke in the 1990s to bright, cafe-like environments in the 2020s, South Korea's internet cafes – called “PC bang” in Korean -- have updated their appearance and services to stay relevant amid rapid changes in people's lifestyles and preferences here. These days, PC bang are stocked with state-of-the-art computer equipment and super high-speed internet, offering a myriad of video game titles for players, while serving as s

Aug. 29, 2023

Tipping culture sparks controversy among Koreans

A popular Seoul-based bagel shop recently became a lightning rod when a photo from the shop went viral online. Sitting next to the cash register was a tip jar -- a sight that touched the nerves of many Koreans who feel store owners are shifting the burden of rising operating costs to consumers by attempting to introduce gratuities. Tipping is not expected or practiced by customers in South Korea, but over the years, a few local businesses have started asking for tips. The bagel place in question

Aug. 27, 2023

[Hello Hangeul] Promoting 'pure Korean' in the online era through names

South Korean organizations are attempting to bring back “pure Korean,” or “soonwoorimal” -- purely Korean words or Hangeul terms not based on Hanja (Chinese characters) or other languages. Pure Korean has been swiftly forgotten due to the rise of the internet, which has led to faster adoption of slang and abbreviations and accelerated the erosion of the Korean language, several experts claim. Against this tide, a local civic group that has been promoting the Korean langua

Aug. 27, 2023

[Herald Interview] Proud Korean Peggy Gou aims to make 'timeless' music

Peggy Gou is a superstar DJ doing tours around the world year-round. Her shows are always sold out across mostly European cities. Gou’s latest single “(It goes like) Nanana” has been on the UK top 10 singles chart for 10 straight weeks, and topped the charts in the Netherlands and Belgium over the summer. Although she may not be as widely known as BTS in her home country, Gou is a proud South Korean, born and bred in Incheon. “When people see other Asian performers and as

Aug. 27, 2023

[Korean History] Sentenced to death and prison but ultimately walking free

When a dictatorship falls, retribution and reparations often ensue. In South Korea, this was also the case. But for many, it ultimately failed to provide a sense of closure to an era of repression and bloody crackdowns on opponents. From 1996 to 1997, former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, who were military generals and close friends, were tried for their roles in a 1979 coup. Chun seized power through the coup, and masterminded a massacre of protesters in the city of Gwangju in 1980,

Aug. 23, 2023

[Korea Quiz] Addressing married women in Korean

Find the correct answer at the bottom of this page. For many Koreans and even foreign nationals familiar with Korean TV shows, the term "ajumma" conjures the image of middle-aged women with short, voluminous hair that requires minimal additional styling, adorned in outfits with bold patterns and vibrant colors, who at times appear self-righteous and oblivious to the perspectives of others. Before this stereotype was created and strengthened, the term ajumma was simply a casual way of r

Aug. 23, 2023

[Hello Hangeul] 'Korean language programs thriving, but impact analysis missing'

The Korean government is responding fairly well to the growing global demand of Korean language education, through its expansive network of King Sejong Institute branches and sending out instructors. But given that these efforts are funded by Korean taxpayers’ money, the country should maintain a comprehensive oversight of their outcomes, such as tracking the career trajectories of learners after completing their Korean language education, said National University of Singapore professor Ch

Aug. 22, 2023

[Hello Hangeul] TOPIK should be revised to reflect real-life performance

In the US, the focus of foreign language learning is laid on enabling students to actually speak, understand and perform different tasks in the target language. Under the guidelines of ACTFL, an organization of language education professionals that provides testing for the US government, learners are tested on such real-life language skills. South Korea’s state-run Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), on the other hand, has often been criticized for measuring students' memorization

Aug. 22, 2023

Traditional liquors win hearts of millennials, Gen Z

South Koreans are known for their unmatched love for alcohol, whether soju, beer, or both at the same time. But among younger drinkers, a different type of liquor is trending -- traditional Korean liquor. "Makgeolli (unfiltered rice wine) and other traditional liquor used to have an outdated image," said Park Ja-hye, a 31-year-old office worker in Seoul. "But now those liquors are sold in cans and bottles with modern and beautiful labels. They are now a popular gift," she add

Aug. 21, 2023

[Hello Hangeul] ‘Cultural education should not be just about promoting Korea’

Education about Korean culture should go beyond merely presenting Korea's proud cultural heritage. It should be a two-way communication, beginning with addressing what foreigners are most curious about, said Lee Eun-jeung, director of the Institute of Korean Studies at the Free University of Berlin. In an e-mail interview with The Korea Herald, the professor said that if the education on Korean culture is carried out solely with the intention of showcasing what Koreans want to present t

Aug. 20, 2023

[Korea Quiz] When in Korea, ‘bang’ it!

Find the correct answer at the bottom of this page. In the 1990s, many specialized entertainment bang emerged in South Korea, offering various forms of entertainment and services to guests. Different types of bang existed, each catering to specific interests and activities. Video bang, a type of business where one could rent a movie title and a private viewing space, enjoyed great popularity. Norae bang, or karaoke establishments equipped with a vast collection of songs, microphones and a

Aug. 16, 2023

[Survive & Thrive] Tropical nights in Seoul, chilly nights in Taebaek

South Korea in recent years has seen a significant rise in both the number of days with midday temperatures of 33 degrees Celsius and above, and the number of "tropical nights," where temperatures remain at or above 25 C throughout the night. To avoid any confusion, the climate of the Korean Peninsula is categorized as temperate, not tropical. Nevertheless, meteorological authorities and people in South Korea and Japan tend to label their sweltering summer nights as "tropical.

Aug. 15, 2023

Have food deliveries had their heyday?

During COVID-19, social distancing forced Koreans to eat at home, leading many to seek solace in the convenience of delivered food. Now that life has essentially returned to normal, a new cost-benefit analysis is reshaping the food delivery landscape: declining numbers of orders, decreases in delivery jobs and increases in commissions, pushing up food prices and weighing down order volumes. According to Mobile Index, the big data analysis unit of local data tracker IGAworks, the number of users

Aug. 15, 2023

[Hello Hangeul] Harvard students immerse in Korean culture through summer program

Mariela Rodriguez Aguilar studied Korean mostly on her own for three years since high school in South Carolina. But she learned much more Korean in the last two months she spent in Seoul. She is here with 14 other students of Harvard University for a summer program at Ewha Womans University. “The opportunity to be surrounded by Koreans and getting to speak Korean everyday has been really helpful. I’ve learned so much,” Mariela told The Korea Herald on Wednesday. The linguistics

Aug. 10, 2023

[Korea Quiz] The birth of Korean cinema

Find the correct answer at the bottom of this page. You may have discovered Korean cinema through "Parasite," the multiple Oscar-winning film directed by Bong Joon-ho. But this rising Asian cultural powerhouse boasts a long cinematic history that traces a century back from 2019, when Bong’s film came out. The very first film produced on the Korean Peninsula was "The Righteous Revenge," which premiered in 1919 at the country’s first movie theater Danseongsa in

Aug. 9, 2023

[Korean History] Sampoong: A deep national wound

A sultry early-summer day was just starting to fade, when a deafening bang reverberated throughout Gangnam, Seoul. Half of Sampoong Department Store, the pink-color, two-building complex that had stood as a landmark of the affluent Seocho-gu neighborhood, was gone, leaving behind scenes of ruins, debris and dust. The June 1995 collapse killed 502 people and injured 937 others, making it the largest peacetime casualty event in South Korea's modern history — a record that remains unbr

Aug. 9, 2023

Inside a Hong Kong hagwon for K-pop idol hopefuls

HONG KONG -- Vivo Fung Lok-yin is a shy, soft spoken 20-year-old from Hong Kong, but the moment Blackpink’s “Shut Down” blasts from the speakers, she comes alive. She levels a confident stare at her reflection in the mirror-covered studio as she dances to the hip-hop track, a tiny smirk gracing her face. You wouldn’t think that four years ago, she could barely look herself in the mirror while dancing. “I would say I’m a very shy person … I was too scare

Aug. 8, 2023

[Survive & Thrive] Hottest and coolest regions in Korea

Korea is known for its harsh summers, with high humidity and daily temperatures often exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. This year's summer, however, may be among the hottest so far, with preliminary data for July showing record high temperatures. As locals scatter in search of the best spots to survive the summer heat, here are some of the country's hottest and coolest regions. Daegu, also known as ‘Dae-frica’ The city of Daegu, located in between North and South Gyeongsang

Aug. 8, 2023