"Adulkid": The Accelerating Evolution of Homo Consumens
The adage that “children will be children” may not hold true in South Korea. Adding to the pressures faced by kids to excel in academics and god knows what else, a new social trend revolves around the concept of “adulkid,” aimed at making children look and behave like adults. At
Neungra Bapsang: North Koreans in the South Gain Self-Sufficiency through Food
North Korean defector Lee Ae-ran introduces South Koreans to the food of the North. With her restaurant Neungra Bapsang, she also helps other female defectors make a living. Dressed simply with short hair, Lee exudes confidence. The 53-year-old has a Ph.D. in nutritional science and food management from prestigious
A New Trend in South Korea: Sleep
South Korea is often called the “ppali ppali” — or quickly, quickly — nation. Speed is of the essence, whether rushing to get things done at work, drinking (think of all the soju bombs for getting drunk faster) or simply walking from A to B. But after rapid economic development
Four Rivers Project: Explained
President Moon Jae-in has been in office for less than two weeks, but he already has a considerable list of achievements. He made radical appointments for his secretariat and cabinet, and elevated several women to positions of prominence. He ordered the abolition of the much-hated history textbooks, championed by Park
Sibal Biyong: Spending Toward Meaning of Life
Lately it seems that all over Seoul there are vending machines full of plush toys, known as the “claw machine.” You insert money, then control the mechanical hand to fish objects inside the clear glass box. In most cases the effort ends in failure. At first I wondered if anyone
Find the Missing Gay Emoticons on Samsung's Galaxy S8
After the debacle of Samsung Electronics’ combusting Galaxy Note 7, the company’s latest phone — Galaxy S8 — appears to have been launched successfully. Despite reports of minor technical defects, the reviews of the product have been positive, and pre-order sales of the S8 and S8+ have been Samsung’
President Moon Jae-in: Between Everyman Persona and North Korea
On the morning of Mar. 10, the eyes of the nation were on the constitutional court, which unanimously ruled that impeached president Park Geun-hye had to go. One journalist, however, was in Hongeun-dong, Seoul, evidently to scrutinize a plastic bag in front of a modest apartment. The bag featured the
The Potent Force of S Korea's Regionalism
Regionalism remains a potent force in South Korea. “If the U.S. has racism, South Korea has regionalism,” said a 2008 article by wire agency Yonhap. There’s even a special word for regional rivalry: jiyeok gamjeong, which literally means “regional enmity.” The most historical and emotionally charged regional rivalry
South Korea's UNESCO Obsession
If you live in Seoul, as I do, you may have hiked along the paths that line Seoul’s old city wall, which survives in portions around the area corresponding to the old capital, and seen the blocks of stone that were used to reconstruct much of it. The city
In Case You Are Curious: S Korea's Wartime Plan for Citizens
It’s pretty safe to say that most South Koreans seem unfazed by news of North Korean threats, which are bombarding the headlines these days. (Excuse the pun.) Most South Koreans are getting on with their lives as usual. People flocked outside over the weekend to enjoy the fine weather
Fame Is a Fleeting Thing
There is a small food joint near Yaksu station that I sometimes stop at for a bowl of instant noodle and gimbab. Taped to the air conditioning unit in one corner is a laminated piece of paper with a hastily scrawled autograph by Kolleen Park, a noted musical director. It’
Prospect of War Prompts Mixed Reactions in South Korea
American missiles rained down on Syria Friday, ostensibly to punish the Damascus-based government for using chemical weapons against its own people. For South Koreans watching the news, the plight of Syrians struck close to home, as fears mount that the Korean Peninsula might be next in line for an American