[Korea Quiz] Don't call me that

Roughly equivalent to madam or ma’am, "ajumma" is, according to the National Institution of Korean Language, an informal way of saying "ajumeoni," an appellation for middle-aged women. For the unmarried women, being called an ajumma can be considered an insult because it implies that she no longer looks like an “agassi,” a single, young woman. Even those who fit the dictionary definition of ajumma -- married with children -- often express their dislike f

March 15, 2023

[Survive & Thrive] Naturalization exam: How difficult is it?

To become a naturalized citizen of South Korea, applicants must have a basic knowledge of the Korean language, customs and culture, which is evaluated through a written test and an interview. The Korea Immigration and Naturalization Aptitude Test comprises of multiple-choice questions, a writing test and an oral test, which must be completed within 60 minutes. To pass, one must score at least 60 points out of 100. According to the Justice Ministry, Korean children in the fourth to sixth grades s

March 14, 2023

'Banner politics' plaguing the streets

Last month, a college student on an e-scooter fell after her neck got caught on a thin rope from a political banner that was tied to a post, at a crossroad at around 9 p.m. in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon. The vocal music major suffered an abrasion on her neck. She said she didn’t see the rope as it was too dark. Anyone who has passed through an intersection in South Korea, especially in Seoul, would have noticed large political banners, as well as many other placards advertising various businesses

March 14, 2023

[Newsmaker] [What should I call you?] Will 'nim' do?

Honorific titles can be tricky in many cultures, but can be particularly baffling in South Korea -- where various factors like social status, age, work experience and even social prejudice can be factored in. This series delves into the myriad of ways people address each other in the Korean language. -- Ed. President Yoon Suk Yeol scrapped Korea’s traditional way of counting age, in which a person is considered one at birth, and grows a year older on the first day of the new year. The re

March 14, 2023

[Land of Squid Game] Refusing gently

Koreans don't like to say “no” directly because they don't want to hurt the other person's feelings. They might give out some non-verbal cues to convey their refusal or disagreement. To avoid confrontation or rudeness, Korean conversations, as you might have seen in many K-dramas, are full of “Maybe...”, “I think it's possible that…” However, some foreigners who are accustomed to hearing a “no” that means “no”

March 14, 2023

[Subway Stories] Take subway to Eden, pockets of nature in Seoul

Seoul, Korea’s bustling capital full of gridlocked streets and mile-high concrete buildings, is in fact the perfect city to bask in nature without having to travel very far. Covered with 6,685 hectares of forests, the heart of Korea boasts various urban parks surrounded by forests with sprawling trees and colorful flowers, most of which can be reached by subway. The following are some of the forest parks popular among Seoulites who crave a detox from the city. Seoul Forest A five-minute wa

March 13, 2023

[Korean Dilemma] Bracing for super-aging society

Imagine 2050. Two out of five people in South Korea will be aged 65 or above. You will see more older people on self-driving buses and trains, although they may look much younger than those of their age now. More young people will be engaged in businesses that serve the old, like health care, clubs and cruise ships. Yet, the government and media are tormented by the notion that there will be too few young people to support the old. In a country where so many social problems stem from cutthroat c

March 11, 2023

[Weekender] Envisioning Korea in 2070 in births, deaths, marriages and immigration

A dynamic, cutthroat society that never rests -- that has been South Korea until now. Changes have taken place in this Asian country in recent decades at speeds no other nation could follow: from poverty to prosperity, from the ruins of colonial occupation and civil war to becoming a rising cultural superpower on the international stage. But at the same breakneck pace, Korea is leading the world into a future where the majority live past 90 years old and fewer people are working to keep the econ

March 11, 2023

[Korean History] The short-lived inter-Korean detente during early '70s

The 1970s was apparently an embodiment of paradox. The world’s two superpowers were at fierce competition with one another while also engaging in detente diplomacy on the surface amid a proxy war in Vietnam dragging on through the first half of the decade. On the Korean Peninsula, the two Koreas -- separated by the 38th parallel -- agreed on their first-ever accord, only to be followed by the most volatile confrontations. The July 4 South-North Joint Statement, or Communique of 1972, was t

March 8, 2023

[Korea Quiz] 'Winter Sonata,' the beginning of Hallyu

Find the answer at the bottom of the page. You may have discovered Korean dramas through Netflix. But well before the advent of streaming platforms, they were the main driver of Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, across Asia. And many say the phenomenon of the global popularity of Korean drama, music and pop culture was pioneered by 2002 KBS TV drama hit "Winter Sonata." The series has all the landmark cliches of K-drama. It tells the love story of Joon-sang, a businessman played by act

March 8, 2023

[Land of Squid Game] Covering up at the beach

Koreans tend to be very careful about their skin, which is why, for example, they use parasols in sunny weather. This carefulness extends to when they go to the beach as well. When visiting a beach here, people from overseas who enjoy the sun may be surprised to see how much skin Koreans cover up. It's common to see people wearing wide-brimmed hats and rash guards to protect their arms and legs from the sun. Min Byoung-chul is an endowed chair professor at Chung-Ang University's Busi

March 7, 2023

[Newsmaker] Crime victims, socially stigmatized open up on YouTube

Ondoni Ssem was previously just another popular fitness instructor on YouTube. But her online identity changed overnight when she uploaded a video late last month. In the video, she revealed herself to be the sole survivor of an infamous familicide that happened in Seoul’s satellite city of Yongin in 2017, in which her stepbrother killed her father, stepmother and younger brother. With her confession, the YouTuber with over 200,000 subscribers joined a growing group of individuals who are

March 6, 2023

[Hello Hangeul] Does it pay off to become fluent in Korean?

Mastering a foreign language requires a long-term commitment that can take years. Without the promise of it becoming a valuable asset to your professional or personal life, it can be difficult to stay committed. What are the rewards for attaining fluency in Korean? Will the time and energy learners put into learning the language pay off in some way other than being able to watch K-dramas without subtitles? To explore the benefits of learning Korean further, The Korea Herald spoke to four non-Kor

March 5, 2023

[Korean History] Daeyeongak Hotel fire, a nightmare on Christmas

On Christmas morning in 1971, a devastating fire broke out at the 21-story Daeyeongak Hotel in Seoul. It was filled with locals and foreigners who had spent Christmas Eve at the lavish hotel, which had only opened two years prior. When the blaze was finally brought under control after nearly eight hours, it was unclear immediately how many lives had been lost. Although over 100 were rescued, a far larger number was feared to have been killed. The next day's front page of The Korea Herald is

March 2, 2023

[Korea Quiz] Beloved alcohol

Find the answer at the bottom of the page. In South Korea, soju has long been loved for its accessibility and versatility. A bottle costs just under $1.50 and it pairs well with a wide variety of foods or other drinks. Think of the boilermaker known as "somaek," or any of the other variations. This vodka-like spirit also makes frequent appearances in Korean dramas, and it is over these green bottles of soju that friends catch up with each other and colleagues unwind after a long day at

March 1, 2023

[Newsmaker] Colonial-era place of torture now monument to sacrifice

Tiny was hardly even the word for it. The solitary confinement inside the buildings of Seodaemun Jail was barely wide enough for an average-sized man to enter, and would have been just long enough for one to lie down. On one side of the windowless cell was a small hole, which turned out to be possibly among the most depraved versions of a toilet. Built in 1908 near the end of the Joseon era, this notorious jail was a place where many Korean independence fighters were locked up, tortured and exec

Feb. 28, 2023

[Land of Squid Game] Sucking air between teeth

Sometimes a Korean will make a hissing sound in response to a question. While some may interpret this as a negative response, or that their request is being denied, for Koreans, they are merely using this as a quick filler response while considering what they want to say. All they mean by sucking air between their teeth is, “Uhmm, let's see.” Min Byoung-chul is an endowed chair professor at Chung-Ang University who is widely known as a multicultural educator and for his practi

Feb. 28, 2023

[Hello Hangeul] The linguistic divide of Korea: the legacy of 'Malmoi' and decades of separation

Choi Seol, a North Korean defector, entered a stationery shop to purchase a stapler. She asked for "chaekjjipkke" -- which literally means bookbinder – as it was the only word she knew to refer to the stationary item. The store clerk was puzzled, and Choi left the store empty-handed after a few minutes of explaining what she wanted. Later, she learned that South Koreans refer to staplers as "hotchkiss," a Japanese loanword. She also recalls a conversation with a colleag

Feb. 26, 2023

[Korean History] Capture of US spy ship symbolizes US-N. Korea tensions

Deep in the heart of the North Korean capital Pyongyang, moored along the Pothong River Canal, is a US Navy ship that is featured as an exhibition of the "Victorious War Museum." The ill-fated vessel is USS Pueblo, the only active ship on the commissioned roster of the American Navy now held captive by another country. On Jan. 23, 1968, the world’s most powerful military was dealt an unexpected blow by the hands of a tiny communist state, when Pyongyang attacked the US Navy intel

Feb. 22, 2023

[Korea Quiz] BTS Jin's new role

Find the answer at the bottom of the page. Jin, a member of the popular South Korean boy band BTS, is currently serving in the Korean Armed Forces as a part of his mandatory military service. All able-bodied South Korean men are required to complete a period of military service, which lasts 18-22 months. Jin has joined the Army in December 2022 and is due out in June of 2024. As part of his service in the South Korean Army, the singer has been assigned the role of a drill instructor, responsible

Feb. 22, 2023