Don't Waste That Banchan: Where South Korea's Food Waste Goes
Kimchis, fresh vegetables, fruit, fish, seafood, meat, pickles, pancakes…. One of the many pleasures of dining out in South Korea is the selection of banchan, or side dishes, that accompanies most meals. But seldom — if ever — do all banchan get eaten. Diners take a few mouthfuls of this
Tunnel Vision: A View from South Korea's Right Wing
“Have you heard about the North Korean tunnels?” a friend asked me one day in 2014. There was panic in her voice. “They’ve dug dozens of them, everywhere under Seoul. Under the Blue House [the presidential office], under Gangnam, right up to the walls of underground car parks, just
Hyundai's Hydrogen Dream
“We believe hydrogen energy is the key to a more sustainable world.” “If you’re going to pick an energy storage mechanism, hydrogen is…incredibly dumb.” The first of these quotes is from South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor Company (HMC), which this month launched the Nexo, its brand new hydrogen
Review: Test-driving the Hyundai Ioniq Electric
Last week, I finally gave in to Seoul’s nasty fine dust pollution. I found a second-hand air purifier for sale in Ilsan, a nearby satellite city, and arranged to pick it up the next morning. That’s how I ended up test-driving my first all-electric car, the Hyundai Ioniq,
Dark Tour: Jeju Island Beyond Teddy Bear Museums
Jeju Island is where South Koreans love to get away from it all. Hundreds of flights a day deposit mainlanders hungry for escape, relaxation and selfies. With its sea-locked isolation, black soil and relentless wind, Jeju feels almost like a different country altogether. So it’s hard to believe that
KÉ Interview: If South Korea Wants to Change, Transform Seoul
On Jun. 13, South Korea is holding nationwide local elections. For the first time since its foundation in 2012, Green Party Korea candidates will appear on ballot papers across the country. The Green Party is a massive underdog in an electoral system that favors the two largest parties, the
Sorry for What? Lee Myung-bak Plays the Victim Card, Again
Mar. 14 brought the promise of mild catharsis for many South Koreans, as former president Lee Myung-bak finally turned up at Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office to face questioning about corruption allegations. Lee, who led South Korea from 2008 to 2013, was the subject of widespread corruption rumors even
After the Olympics: Can One of South Korea's Oldest Forests Be Restored?
The 2018 Paralympics is opening on Mar. 9, providing a valuable opportunity to highlight one of the Olympics’ biggest, but often unmentioned, environmental scandals: a series of wide scars running through what was once a protected ancient forest. Environmentalists reacted with outrage in 2014 when the South Korean government
'One Nation' Dream: Do Younger South Koreans Want Reunification?
Olympic reconciliation, ongoing North Korea-U.S. hostility, yesterday a South Korean delegation to Pyongyang…. As usual, the Korean Peninsula is keeping observers on their toes. Amid all the intrigue, it’s easy to overlook the 50 million Koreans south of the demilitarized zone. How do they perceive North
Cultural Relic or Comeback Cat? In Search of the Korean Tiger
Soaring over stadiums, strutting around in opening ceremonies, masquerading as a soft toy and featured on a thousand pieces of merchandise — meet Soohorang, white tiger and official mascot of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Cute, furry and gender-neutral, Soohorang is the kind of well-bred animal that would carry your granny’
"Olympics Fairies": Do the Faces of S. Korea Need to be Pretty Women?
South Korea’s young female placard bearers, officially labeled “placard agents,” made quite an impression at the opening ceremony of Pyeongchang Winter Olympics on Feb. 9. Their conventional good looks, with tall, slim figures and spectacularly designed dresses got plenty of social media users excited. Local media eDaily
What is North Korea Saying About the Olympics?
South Korea’s news outlets have had plenty to write about in the last few days. On top of the drama of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, North Korea’s last-minute decision to send a delegation, including none other than Kim Jong-un’s sister Kim Yo-jong, has led to a flurry