[Korean History] From 'miracle to debacle': Painful 'IMF days' of 1997-1998

The act of purchasing Christmas gifts was viewed as a luxurious indulgence for Koreans in December 1997, as the nation was beset by deepening economic woes amid the Asian financial crisis. "Won plunges to record low," was the boldest headline on the Christmas Eve edition of The Korea Herald in 1997, which delivered a news story that was decidedly incongruous with the typical consumerist holiday spirit. The Korean currency, having significantly depreciated, had plummeted to an all-tim

Sept. 13, 2023

[Korea Quiz] When parenting becomes too costly

Find the answer at the bottom. Young Koreans are quick to recognize and respond to new trends. Although this trait has some merits, it also has downsides. Coupled with materialism, peer pressure and showy consumption, many feel they need to possess certain trendy items, like sneakers, backpacks or high-end puffer jackets made by expensive brands, in order to “blend in” with their friends. This phenomenon gave rise to the widely used slang term, “deunggol beureikeo (등골 브레이

Sept. 13, 2023

Retro with futuristic vibe: 'Y2K' culture strikes back

Pollalla Store, located on a quiet street in Seoul’s youthful and artsy neighborhood of Hongdae, is a hidden hunting ground for “Y2K” culture fans. The underground venue is filled with one-of-a-kind vintage items from the late 1990s and early 2000s, including first generation K-pop star merchandise. Hyun Tae-jun, the store’s 57-year-old owner, spoke of a distinct shift toward a younger demographic among his customers. A couple of years ago, his customer base used to consi

Sept. 12, 2023

[Subway Stories] Sillim remains young at heart

On the high-traffic Seoul Subway Line No. 2 sits Sillim Station in southwestern Seoul, which recently added the Sillim Line to Seoul’s sprawling web of metro stations. Sillim Station bustles with budding Seoulites, mostly university students and office workers, who take advantage of the neighborhood’s easy accessibility to universities like Seoul National University, as well as key business districts like Gangnam and Yeouido. Yet, it's not solely the location that adds to the

Sept. 10, 2023

[Hello Hangeul] Cultural emphasis on age reflected in Korean language

For non-native speakers of the Korean language, even the simple question "Have you eaten?" can be tricky. It is because of the complexity of having to choose different speech levels and honorifics depending on the person being addressed, resulting in distinctly different expressions like “bap meogeosseo (밥 먹었어?)” and “jinji deusyeosseoyo (진지 드셨어요)?” Sanjeev Kumar, who has an M.A. in Buddhist studies from Dongguk University in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Provinc

Sept. 10, 2023

[Korea Quiz] Would you rather be a ‘fox’ or a ‘bear’?

Find the answer at the bottom of the page. As in many other languages, the Korean language has slang terms involving various animals. For a person to be likened to a fox in Korean, it means that person is sly and cunning. While “foxy” in the English language also has such a meaning, it is more commonly used to refer to an attractive woman. The opposite of a fox in Korea would be a bear, which refers to a person who is slow-witted and not skilled in reading the room. Fox and bea

Sept. 6, 2023

[Korean History] In 1998, Korea lifts ban on Japanese pop culture

When “The First Slam Dunk,” a Japanese animated film, opened in local theaters on Jan. 4 of this year, the response was unexpected -- it was a smash hit. Moviegoers in their 30s and 40s flocked to watch the big-screen sequel to the 1990s TV series “Slam Dunk,” which aired on local TV from 1998 to 1999. “It was one of our joys (as teens) to finish school, run home, eat dinner and rush to the television to watch ‘Slam Dunk,’” Oh Jang-ho, a 37-year-ol

Sept. 6, 2023

'Snap and share’: The rise of new museumgoers

Browsing through a collection of photographs on his smartphone, Kim, a 28-year-old Seoul resident, fondly revisited moments from a recent art exhibition. Before long, some of these digitized memories would find their place on his social media profile, joining the stream of posts from young South Koreans eager to flaunt their recent museum adventures online. “This customary practice of taking artsy photos has taken root fairly recently, ever since I came across my friend’s online po

Sept. 5, 2023

Teens from Asian countries invited to apply for study abroad programs at North Gyeongsang high schools

In a bid to tackle a dwindling youth population, South Korea’s southeastern province of North Gyeongsang is trying a new strategy: inviting Asian teens to enroll at its high schools as a means to cultivate potential future residents. North Gyeongsang Province is currently in the process of selecting 72 teens from six different countries in Asia for admissions to schools within the province for the upcoming school year thatstarts in March 2024. Eligible countries are Vietnam, Thailand, Ind

Aug. 31, 2023

[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