Top Korean actress Shin Se-kyung launched her YouTube channel and social media is abuzz concerning the celebrity’s self-made vlogs.The actress opened the channel in late September and uploaded her first video on Oct. 7 with the lengthy title “Daily life with JinSa, baking a spinach flatbread, mom makes me a red velvet cake, going for a walk and hanging out with friends.”“Hello, I’m a sister of Jinkook and Sarang,” Shin wrote in the caption of the video, referring to the featured dogs.  (Shin`s Y

Television Nov. 1, 2018

A 50-minute K-pop playlist titled “Labor Song” is taking over the internet with its fast-paced tempo and vibrant melody. Listeners say it’s an incredible productivity booster.The clip was first uploaded on YouTube in 2015, but the song has gone viral three years after making its debut on the platform and had garnered more than 1.7 million views as of Monday. No one seems to know why the video has suddenly reappeared on users’ YouTube feed, but people say the song helps them push themselves while

Culture Oct. 29, 2018

“I‘m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers,” Anne said while watching the beautiful autumn scenery of the Green Gables. Many Seoulites seem to feel the same. South Korea used to be known for having distinctive four seasons in a year, but spring and fall are getting shorter year by year. To fully enjoy the short period of the autumn season, people in Seoul are flooding to popular picnic spots in the city. Many families, couples and friends can be spotted taking selfies and

Travel Oct. 25, 2018

College student Baek Seung-heon, better known by his nickname, “Seungheonss,” has gained explosive popularity among younger people in Korea with his funny livestreaming and videos on social media platforms.  YouTube creator Seungheonss (YouTube channel Feel like Feel)The 21-year-old YouTuber’s debut was in 2014, when he uploaded his first dance video on a Facebook group called “Seungheonss and kids.” He launched the group to share fun high school memories with friends, but the videos of Baek dan

Culture Oct. 25, 2018

When rapper Mommy Son stepped out of his van and strolled along a street in the trendy Seoul neighborhood of Mangwon-dong, young passersby held their phones and started to take pictures.“Don’t let them take photos when the mask is off!” the rapper’s manager said, trying his best to keep the rookie artist’s true identity a secret.Mommy Son strolls down the street in Mangwon-dong, Seoul. (Park Hyun-koo / The Korea Herald)It has only been a month since masked rapper Mommy Son made his debut via Mne

Performance Oct. 18, 2018

K-pop idol Yunho of TVXQ has become an icon of positive energy and can-do spirit, inspiring many of the nation’s frustrated young people.  (JTBC) The veteran singer, who made his debut more than 15 years ago and has been performing ever since, recently appeared on various TV programs and shared his self-empowerment tips.Yunho’s morning routine, which he revealed on MBC’s “I Live Alone” in March, starts with dance practice. As soon as he gets out of bed, he turns on the TV, plays his concert vide

Culture Oct. 18, 2018

Clear skies are expected throughout South Korea on Wednesday except for areas on the east coast in Gangwon and North Gyeongsang provinces, which are likely to see rain.Gangwon Province is forecast to receive 30 to 80 millimeters of rain, and North Gyeongsang Province 20-60 mm. The National Institute of Environmental Research said the fine dust in the air will hit “bad” levels in the Gyeongsang provinces, while other regions will have good to moderate levels throughout the day. (Yonhap)Temperatur

Social Affairs Oct. 17, 2018

Skies will remain gray on Monday in many western areas of Korea as fine dust from China fills the air. The density of fine dust in the air will hit “bad” levels throughout the day in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, the Chungcheong provinces, North Jeolla Province and western parts of Gangwon Province, according to the National Institute of Environmental Research.  (Yonhap)The fine dust will move to many southern parts of the country on Tuesday, including Busan, Ulsan and parts of South Gyeongsang Prov

Social Affairs Oct. 15, 2018

Friday morning in Korea will be even colder than Thursday’s, as the temperatures plunge below 5 degrees Celsius nationwide. Some central regions and mountain areas will see sub-zero temperatures with ice and frost. (Yonhap)Bright sunshine will cause temperatures to rebound 16 to 20 C during the day, which is 2 to 4 C warmer than Thursday’s afternoon weather. As the clear sky can reinforce the surge of dry air, the Korea Meteorological Administration advised residents in Korea to take extra care

Social Affairs Oct. 12, 2018

Japanese anti-hate speech organization the Kawasaki Network of Citizens Against Hate Speech and Japanese online activist Ken Ogiso have been awarded the 2018 Internet Peace Prize of the Promotion of Peace on the Internet in a ceremony Thursday at Hanyang University, attended by some 200 participants including Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, ambassadors and students.The Sunfull Internet Movement, the Korean nongovernmental organization, has recognized the anti-hate speech group and the online activi

Social Affairs Oct. 11, 2018

Residents in Korea woke up to the coldest morning of autumn so far, as the mercury plunged to 2 to 12 degrees Celsius nationwide, about 2 to 5 C lower than Wednesday’s temperatures. Temperatures in the morning recorded 6 C in Seoul, minus 1 C in Daegwanryeong and minus 4.1 C in Seoraksan, Gangwon Province. Daytime highs will hover at 14 to 19 C in the afternoon, but strong winds across the country will make the weather even chillier, the Korea Meteorological Administration said. (Yonhap)Central

Social Affairs Oct. 11, 2018

Weather in South Korea will be cloudy and chilly on Wednesday, and some parts of the country will receive 5 to 20 millimeters of rain. Clear skies are expected nationwide beginning in the afternoon. (Yonhap)A cold front will follow the rain, causing daytime highs to plunge to 14-22 degrees Celsius, 2-5 C lower than on Tuesday. Highs for Seoul will record 16 C, Suwon 16 C, Gangneung 19 C, Daejeon 17 C, Gwangju 18 C, Daegu 19 C and Busan 21 C.The weather will be even colder Thursday morning, as th

Social Affairs Oct. 10, 2018

Monday’s weather will be sunny yet chilly nationwide in South Korea as the country marks Hanro, the day on the traditional calendar when the dew is so cold that it is almost frost. Hanro is one of the 24 “solar terms,” points on the calendar that were very important to agrarian societies throughout East Asia. (Yonhap)The temperature in the morning plunged to 9.3 degrees Celsius in Seoul and 1.4 C in Daegwallyeong, Gangwon Province, while some mountainous areas saw frost as well. Strong winds wil

Social Affairs Oct. 8, 2018

Typhoon Kong-rey, which is forecast to batter Japan, is also likely to impact the Korean Peninsula indirectly, with heavy rain and strong winds starting from late Thursday.The typhoon was about 340 kilometers southeast of Japan’s Okinawa Island as of 6 a.m. Thursday.  (Yonhap)Most parts of Korea will see clear skies in the morning, but rain will start to fall on Jeju Island and coastal areas of Gangwon Province and North Gyeongsang Province in the afternoon. The rain will expand nationwide Frida

Social Affairs Oct. 4, 2018

South Korea’s weather on National Foundation Day will be sunny and chilly, with a wide temperature range between day and night.  (Yonhap)The temperatures plunged to 6-15 degrees Celsius nationwide Wednesday morning, but are set to rebound to 22-25 C. The daytime high in Seoul will record 24 C, Suwon 24 C, Gangneung 23 C, Daejeon 24 C, Gwangju 25 C, Daegu 25 C and Busan 25 C.Over the weekend the Korean Peninsula will be affected by Typhoon Kong-rey, which is currently moving toward Jeju Island. S

Social Affairs Oct. 3, 2018