How cheese found its place on Korean tables

Kim Min-ju, 38, confesses her tolerance for spicy foods is relatively low by Korean standards. But there’s a way to overcome it and still indulge in Korea’s wide array of spicy dishes -- adding cheese. This approach not only makes the dishes more enjoyable, but also creates a perfect balance of creamy richness and heat, she said: "It helps to temper the spiciness without significantly altering the dish's original flavor." Last year, she and her 8-year-old son even tr

March 12, 2024

[Korea Quiz] K-pop for senior listeners?

Find the answer at the bottom. K-pop, mixing addictive beats, catchy hooks, rap and meticulous choreography, continues to captivate music fans worldwide. In its homeland, however, some of the most popular music stars come from a uniquely Korean music tradition that remains largely unnoticed abroad: trot. Lim Young-woong, a 33-year-old trot artist, embodies this genre’s dominance among listeners in older age groups. He is the titleholder of last year's song of the year, based on

March 11, 2024

[AtoZ into Korean mind] Envy: Emotional toll triggered by social comparison

Koreans, particularly of younger generations, are often compared to an imaginary rival by the name of “Eomchina.” This rival, whose name literally translates as “mom’s friend’s son,” represents an idealized peer against whom one is constantly measured in various aspects of life, from academic achievements and career success to marital status and monthly income. “Eomchina” as a benchmark for success stems from parental comparisons and envy for the a

March 10, 2024

[LLG] Four women's inspiring journeys back to school

Lee Bok-ja vividly recalls the day, 47 years ago, when she learned that she had been admitted to high school, having secretly taking and passing the entrance exam. She remembers the tuition fee: 23,520 won, a sum she couldn't bear to ask her ailing father for. This amount was worth nearly half the monthly salary of a government employee of the lowest rank at that time. Lee never went to high school, working instead to earn money, often as a cleaner. But in her dreams, she would sometimes se

March 6, 2024

[Pressure points] Gifting condolence money at dog’s funeral: a new ritual?

Gifting condolence money in a white envelope to those you are close to who are in mourning is a long-standing tradition in South Korea. Yet, when this custom coincides with Korea's increasing number of pet owners and evolving pet-friendly culture, it might take an unexpected turn in this nation which has recently decided to outlaw the consumption of dog meat. In a survey of 5,000 Korean nationals conducted in 2022 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, nearly one out of

March 5, 2024

[EYE] A Buddhist temple where animal spirits find peace

GANGNEUNG, Gangwon Province -- At a secluded temple tucked away on a snow-covered mountain, a Buddhist monk stood before a wooden altar, praying for a departed soul. On the altar, next to a spirit table, there was a framed photo of the deceased: a dog named after the temple itself, Hyundeok. “Hyundeok passed away recently,” said Venerable Hyunjong, the temple's founder and chief monk. “He was 8 years old.” In honor of the departed pup, which was one of two who live

March 2, 2024

[Korea Quiz] Korean postpartum care

Find the answer at the bottom. South Korea has the world’s lowest birth rate, but it offers arguably some of the world’s best postpartum care for women who do give birth. Across the country, there are approximately 470 recovery centers for new mothers, where the primary focus is on their recovery after childbirth. Nearly 80 percent of South Korea's new mothers stay at these facilities, known as "sanhu joriwon." Most of these facilities are privately operated, but a

Feb. 28, 2024

Faces of wealth, intellect and longevity, as revealed by veteran face reader

"Who has the face of a king?” In the 2013 hit film "The Face Reader," set in the 15th century during the Joseon era, Grand Prince Suyang sought the advice of the most renowned face reader of the day about his potential to become king. The physiognomist thought Suyang had the face of a cruel and ruthless traitor but refrained from voicing this belief out of fear. Some years later, Suyang ascended to the throne as the 7th king of Joseon, known as King Sejo, by dethroning Dan

Feb. 27, 2024

[AtoZ into Korean mind] Death & denial: Why Koreans refuse to contemplate the end

A few years ago, Kim Sun-yong (not her real name) stumbled upon a Facebook post written by an acquaintance from work. The author, an American who was battling late-stage cancer with no prospects of recovery, asked his Facebook friends for suggestions on what to include on his bucket list as he braced for the inevitable. Most comments expressed their sadness about the man's impending death and offered suggestions as asked. But one comment written by a person with a Korean name responded, &

Feb. 25, 2024

[LLG] How 'panda aunt' almost did not fall for cub's charms

"People rave about Fu Bao. I just didn't get it." Zookeeper Oh Seung-hee of Everland’s Panda World said of the rock star giant panda of her zoo. Fu Bao, born in 2020 to a panda pair gifted to Korea by China in 2016, was the first cub born in Korea through natural breeding. From the moment of her birth, there hasn't been a single day when the baby panda wasn't popular, with fans who just cannot get enough of the cuddly cub. However, Oh had no problem maintaining dis

Feb. 21, 2024

[Korea Quiz] Weedy wonders in Korean cuisine

Find the answer at the bottom. South Koreans have long held a deep appreciation for plant-based ingredients, with herbs, various leafy greens, and their seeds and roots playing a crucial role in their diet. "Namul" is a term that encompasses a wide array of seasoned vegetables, usually blanched. In particular, dishes made with tender spring sprouts are termed "bom namul," with "bom" meaning spring in Korean. As winter fades and spring greens shoot up across th

Feb. 21, 2024

[Pressure points] Bear with us: Conservation success story or public hazard?

Korea’s ancient founding myth features two predatory animals, a tiger and a bear, both of which once freely roamed the hilly terrains of the Korean Peninsula. By the late 1990s, however, both species had become extinct or nearly extinct in the wild, while hikers and trekkers came to replace them as rulers of the mountains. In 2004, a government-led restoration effort was launched for Korean moon bears, starting with the introduction of six Asiatic black bears from Primorsky Krai, Russia. T

Feb. 20, 2024

Reality check: How diverse is Korea really? LGBTQ+ and society (9)

According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2020, there has been a notable shift in public opinion in South Korea regarding the acceptance of homosexuality. The survey revealed that the percentage of individuals who believed that homosexuality should be accepted by society increased from 25 percent in 2002 to 44 percent in 2019. This shift suggests growing openness and changing attitudes towards LGBTQ+ issues within South Korean society over the years. However, it's impo

Feb. 19, 2024

Reality check: How diverse is Korea really? Immigration and society (8)

People of non-Korean origin are increasingly making their presence felt in South Korea, turning a society historically characterized by cultural and racial homogeneity into one that is increasingly diverse. In 2006, a mere 1.1 percent of people living in Korea were foreign nationals, naturalized Koreans or their children. As of Nov. 1, 2022, their share rose to a record-high 4.4 percent, with 226 million individuals residing in the country for more than 90 days at the point of the survey. This b

Feb. 15, 2024

[LLG] New life, vocation for retired customs dog

In 2021, after seven years of service as a narcotics detection dog, Parang retired from her duties. Now, three years into retirement, the female black Labrador retriever has found a loving home in a Songpa-gu, Seoul apartment complex, fully embracing her new role as a beloved family pet. In the love and care of the Hur family, the former customs dog has now blossomed into the darling of her community, winning the hearts of everyone through her clumsy yet genuine devotion and patient, kind deme

Feb. 14, 2024

[Korea Quiz] Korean superstitions

Find the answer at the bottom. Just like any country, Korea has its own traditional beliefs and superstitions. One such superstition warns against whistling at night, as it is believed to attract ghosts, spirits or snakes. This notion is often used to scare children from making noise at night. Though the roots of this superstition remain unclear, it inspired Bang Young-woong’s novel, “Bun-rye's Story,” in which a man whistles to attract snakes. Many Koreans feel uneasy a

Feb. 14, 2024

[AtoZ into Korean mind] ‘Chemyeon’: the role of 'face' in shaping Korea's cultural dynamics

Lee Jung-ah, 36, recently ended her yearlong relationship with her boyfriend, mainly due to her parents’ opposition. They told her they disapproved of him because he did not match up to her professional and educational background. They worried that they would lose face in front of their relatives and acquaintances if she married him. Now, Lee is hoping to find someone who can uphold the "chemyeon" of her father, who is a university professor, although she believes the chances of

Feb. 11, 2024

[Pressure points] Lingering after meals during peak hours. Courtesy needed?

At Korea's busy eateries, diners lingering after eating often get disapproving looks from restaurant owners or those still waiting for a table. While this tension between leisurely dining and the demand for tables exists elsewhere, it can be highly pronounced in South Korea, where meals typically don’t include a dessert course and the focus of diners is often more on the eating itself, rather than on conversation. In online discussion forum Nate Pann last December, an anonymous post

Feb. 11, 2024

[Korea Quiz] Seollal festivities

Find the answer at the bottom. Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year, is a time when many families come together to celebrate various traditions and connect with their ancestral heritage. On this day, which falls on Feb. 10 this year, many families perform a ritual called "jesa" or "charye" to remember and honor their ancestors and share a variety of foods. One essential dish to have on Seollal is rice cake soup, called tteokguk. It is believed that eating a bowl of tteokg

Feb. 9, 2024

[LLG] Meet the 'ramyeon conqueror' out to sample every instant noodle

About a decade ago, Ji Young-jun found himself staring at the shelves in the ramyeon section at a military base commissary. Having begun his compulsory military service right after a grueling four years studying for and taking Korea's college entrance exam five times, he felt trapped both physically and psychologically -- little seemed to create excitement or interest for him. But looking at the nearly 50 varieties of ramyeon stacked on the shelves, something stirred within him. “I sh

Feb. 7, 2024