When the grip of summer loosens and the air turns cooler, Koreans pay particular attention to the price trends of two specific fruits -- apples and pears. At their freshest and most flavorful during this time, the two fruits are the quintessential autumn fruits in South Korea, but there are a few other reasons why people are particularly sensitive to their prices. A time-honored tradition during Chuseok, one of the two biggest traditional holidays here, is to prepare a table full of food offerin

Market Sept. 24, 2023

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

hashtag Koaea Sept. 13, 2023

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

Culture Sept. 12, 2023

A 4-year-old boy found last week near the lifeless body of a woman at a home in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, was not registered in official documents, sparking further concerns over loopholes in the nation’s birth registration system. According to the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency on Monday, the child, whose name was withheld, was found lying unconscious at around 9:55 a.m. on Friday in a low-rise apartment unit in Jeonju. Near him was the body of a 41-year-old woman thought to be his

Social Affairs Sept. 11, 2023

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

Culture Sept. 6, 2023

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

Social Affairs Aug. 31, 2023

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

hashtag Koaea Aug. 27, 2023

The concrete roof of a supermarket parking lot partially collapsed in Songdo, Incheon, though no casualties were reported, officials said Thursday. The roof of the underground parking lot at Homeplus’ Songdo branch collapsed at around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Incheon city government officials and the local discount retail chain said. There were no casualties reported as of Thursday, but some have claimed property damage involving their vehicles parked near the damaged site at the time of th

Social Affairs Aug. 24, 2023

Foreigners seeking to make real estate investments in South Korea are now obligated to hire a local entrusted manager if they don’t have a permanent residential address here, officials said Tuesday. Foreign investors who have resided in Korea for more than 90 days -- considered long-term residents -- must also submit detailed documents backing up their home address here. The latest changes in the nation’s real estate laws are part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

Market Aug. 22, 2023

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

hashtag Koaea Aug. 22, 2023

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

Food Aug. 21, 2023

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

hashtag Koaea Aug. 20, 2023

Two Vietnamese workers killed at a construction site incident in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province on Wednesday have been identified as brothers, officials said. According to Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police and Anseong City Government on Thursday, the victims -- aged 30 and 29 -- lived and worked together here. The older brother first came to Korea some seven years ago. The younger followed about two years ago to live with his brother and sister-in-law. The victims died after the uppermost floor o

Social Affairs Aug. 10, 2023

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

hashtag Koaea Aug. 9, 2023

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

hashtag Koaea Aug. 9, 2023