[Land of Squid Game] Respecting the opinion of elders in making decisions

Children in Korea think of themselves with their parents, immediate family members, and grandparents as a single unit. Children are raised to have the utmost respect for their parents and grandparents throughout their lives, so when it comes to making important life decisions, the opinion of their parents and grandparents is taken seriously. While some cultures might value independence more and see this as interfering in personal decisions, for Koreans it's a critical part of what makes them

Nov. 29, 2022

[Herald Interview] Korean-born Swedish police officer finds birth mother after 46 years

Karin Jensen, a 47-year-old Swedish police officer, had no clue that her business trip to Korea in 2018 would be the beginning of a long journey to discover her biological roots. Born in Daegu, she grew up in Uppsala, Sweden after being adopted by a Swedish couple when she was 4 months old. Having led a happy life with supportive parents and a younger sister, Jensen never felt a need to find her birth parents until she became a mother of two children -- a 13-year-old son and a 10-year-old daught

Nov. 29, 2022

[Subway Stories] Old railway turns into urban park

Before the Korean War a railway connected Seoul and now North Korean city of Sinuiju, working as a main route traversing the country vertically. Eventually the two Koreas, along with railway, or Gyeongui Line, were severed, save for a section connecting Seoul and its satellite cities, known as the Gyeongui-Jungang Line. After a plan to transform the obsolete over-ground railway into an urban park launched in 2010, the park was made accessible to the general public in three phases and finally com

Nov. 27, 2022

[Korea Quiz] (30) Kimchi's new frontier

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related. -- Ed. Find the answer at the bottom of the page. Along with Korean movies and music, K-food is making its own waves globally. At the vanguard is Korean’s beloved pickle -- kimchi. South Korea’s exports of kimchi products rose to an all-time high in 2021, recording $159 million in total value, customs data shows. The figure for the first nine months of this year stands at $1

Nov. 23, 2022

[Land of Squid Game] Wearing sandals with suits

Many Korean office workers remove their shoes when in the office and wear slip-on sandals while working. They do this to be more comfortable. For foreigners visiting a Korean office, this may appear strange as sandals don't go with formal attire. Min Byoung-chul is an endowed chair professor at Chung-Ang University who is widely known as a multicultural educator and for his practical English teaching. This content is based on his book, “Land of Squid Game,” which can be purc

Nov. 23, 2022

When gummies, Coke and ice cream become art

To enter “Haribo World,” you'll pass through multiple gates shaped like the brand's famous gummy bears. Inside a room at the end of the passage, the signature Goldbears come alive via media art that covers the entire wall, ceiling to floor. At this exhibition, currently underway at Annyeong Insa-dong's Insa Central Museum in central Seoul, the inspiration obviously is children’s and many adults’ favorite gummy -- Haribo Goldbears. Opened in October this yea

Nov. 22, 2022

[World Cup] Season of chimac: Chicken stocks getting World Cup boost

With the FIFA World Cup just around the corner, stocks related to chicken are performing strongly on the Korean stock market in anticipation of a surge in demand. As of 2 p.m. Friday, Kyochon F&B shares were trading at around 12,600 won apiece on the main Kospi bourse, up 2 percent from the previous close. That is nearly 27 percent higher from a month ago. The operator of Kyochon, one of the most popular chicken brands in South Korea, has mounted a strong rally since Oct. 13 when it dipped t

Nov. 18, 2022

[Korea Quiz] (29) Soybean powder, a recipe for disastrous family?

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related. -- Ed. Which of the following best explains the meaning of "kong garu” (soybean powder) in the dialogue below? Find the answer at the bottom of the page. Soybean powder is a special ingredient that goes with several Korean delicacies; sprinkling it over injeolmi or gyeongdan rice cakes can be transformative. But its flavor turns sour when used in reference to a family. A

Nov. 16, 2022

[Land of Squid Game] Using middle finger unknowingly

Most people never use their middle finger when pointing; it is used only as an obscene gesture. Some Koreans unknowingly use their middle finger to point at a menu, press buttons on the elevator, scroll on their smartphone, or adjust their glasses. All of this is done unwittingly because they don't know what it means and is not intended to insult anyone at all. Min Byoung-chul is an endowed chair professor at Chung-Ang University who is widely known as a multicultural educator and for his

Nov. 16, 2022

No need to fly: Experience Japan in Korea

Friends and couples in kimonos take pictures on streets lit by colorful paper lanterns under the eaves of Japanese-style houses and shops. Food stalls' yakitori, takoyaki and platters of beautifully arranged sashimi tempt the appetites of passersby. At a shinto shrine, people write prayers or wishes on paper strips and bamboo plaques and hang them on wooden hooks. This corner of Dongducheon, just north of Seoul, may be a picture-perfect slice of Japan, but if you came to the same spot years

Nov. 15, 2022

‘Land of Squid Game’ author holds special lecture

Min Byoung-chul, the author of “Land of Squid Game” and endowed chair professor at Chung-Ang University, recently held a special lecture to talk about the content of his book with his local and international readers. Min, a well-known English educator and K-Culture advocate, explained Korean culture and behavior, along with the traditional games that were introduced in the book. The lecture was held Nov. 9 at the AC Hotel by Marriott Seoul Gangnam in southern Seoul. Published last De

Nov. 13, 2022

[Weekender] In hyper-connected Korea, a growing urge to unplug

Smartphones brought the world to our fingertips. But they have also brought endless notifications, social feeds and a deluge of information and distractions. Fatigue from this ever-persistent and ultra-fast connectivity has led to a growing interest in ‘digital detox’, or unplugging from the digital and online world, among South Koreans. Kim Young-jae, a 40-year-old office worker, felt a strong urge to disconnect recently. It was after the Oct. 29 Itaewon crowd crush which left 156 p

Nov. 12, 2022

Mosque project pits villagers against Muslims in Daegu

DAEGU -- A pig’s head sits atop a small chair at a residential dead end. Another is placed on top of a bucket, a few steps away. On a wall hangs a banner that reads: “We strongly oppose the construction of an Islamic mosque.” This tiny corner of Daehyeon-dong in the southern conservative city of Daegu is the site of one of the most acrimonious cultural conflicts in South Korea today. A group of Muslims bought one of the properties here and have set out to build a mosque. Now ne

Nov. 11, 2022

[Land of Squid Game] Using reverse 'V' sign unknowingly

The 'V' sign, which started as a symbol of victory or peace, is used by many Koreans while taking pictures. While most of the Koreans use this as a 'V' sign only, rather than a 'peace' sign; some of them unknowingly do the reverse V sign (with their index and middle finger held up with their palm facing towards them). The reverse V sign, which is merely done unknowingly by Koreans, is an obscene gesture and must be avoided, especially in international settings.

Nov. 9, 2022

[Korea Quiz] (28) Proud Son of S. Korea

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related. -- Ed. Find the answer at the bottom of the page. Son Heung-min, a player on the English Premier League’s Tottenham Hotspur, is considered one of the best forwards in the world and arguably the best Asian soccer player of all time. The youngest child of a former South Korean professional soccer player Son Woong-jung, Son relocated to Germany to join the youth team of Hamburger S

Nov. 9, 2022

Abandoned spiral ramp turns into public art space in Seoul

A derelict spiral ramp, which was once connected to a rooftop parking garage of the former Seoul Station building, has been adorned with fluorescent installations. At the hollow center of the circular ramp stands a large, blue structure that resembles a rotating galaxy. Dubbed “Docking Seoul,” the once-abandoned structure in the center of the capital has been turned into a unique cultural space with immersive art experiences. The ramp has been disused since 2004, when the new Seo

Nov. 8, 2022

[Subway Stories] Gwanghwamun revamped: old sounds, but new look

On Saturday, an estimated 20,000 people gathered on the streets of Jung-gu, Seoul near City Hall Station and Gwanghwamun Station in memory of the Itaewon tragedy that claimed 156 lives. The participants protested the lack of safety measures and promptness in response from authorities the day of the tragedy. The tribute, however, sparked a mixed reaction as some -- particularly the factions supporting President Yoon Seuk-yeol -- raised suspicion that the protest was politically charged to bring d

Nov. 6, 2022

[Korea Quiz] (27) When you are in your “Leeds era”

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related. -- Ed. Find the answer at the bottom of this page. Leeds is the name of an English city. But in Korea, the term “Leeds era” has taken on a life of its own. It is a popular term that has stood the test of time and inspired the name of a TV show as well as a commercial. It is also often used in everyday conversations as well as making an appearance in headlines for entertainment

Nov. 2, 2022

[Land of Squid Game] Laughing when embarrassed

When Koreans make a mistake, they often smile to conceal their embarrassment. This is often misunderstood by foreigners, who usually expect a person to look contrite. To a non-Korean, a smile on such an occasion often implies, "I have done something wrong, but I don't care." Koreans are not, however, being discourteous in this case; they are simply admitting their fault through an embarrassed or nervous laughter. Min Byoung-chul is an endowed chair professor at Chung-Ang Unive

Nov. 1, 2022

Itaewon, a party district with international vibe, was magnet for Halloween revelers

Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul known for its cultural diversity and international flair, has always been considered the place to go for Halloween festivities. On Halloween weekends, young people in their late teens and 20s wearing costumes of zombies, ghosts or famous characters would fill the streets, using the holiday with traditional Irish roots to express themselves in a way that is not usually considered socially acceptable here. On Saturday, when a fatal crowd surge late in

Oct. 30, 2022