Young-hee, the towering motion-sensing doll infamous for her ruthless elimination of half the participants in Netflix's massive hit series "Squid Game," returned to menace the streets of Paris on Sunday. The animatronic doll made a less fearsome appearance this time as her goal was not to shoot players down but to select survivors for an exclusive reward: An invitation to the preview screening of the much-anticipated new season of the show. Netflix France announced Monday that a t

Television Dec. 2, 2024

GIMPO, Gyeonggi Province -- South Koreans can now sip their Starbucks while taking in the rarest of views -- the shadowy realm of a forbidden land, North Korea. At a just-opened store, with seating for around 40 patrons, the glass walls frame panoramic vistas of Kaepung-gun and Songaksan in the North Korean city of Kaesong. It is located within the Jogang Observatory in the South Korean border city of Gimpo, part of the 154-meter-high Aegibong Peace Ecopark. This vantage point lies just 1.4 kilo

Companies Nov. 29, 2024

A heavy snowstorm forced schools in Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province to delay classes or close temporarily, as a crippling snowfall paralyzed much of South Korea on Thursday. The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education announced that it had advised approximately 4,700 schools under its jurisdiction — including kindergartens, elementary, middle and high schools — to consider delaying class hours or temporarily closing at their discretion. Some schools, such as Munwon Elem

Social Affairs Nov. 28, 2024

Disturbing to kids but amusing to older fans, cherished childhood characters have been reimagined online, far removed from their original innocent portrayals. Elsa from "Frozen" transforms into a drunkard, slurring to her sister Anna that she plans to drink more. Mickey Mouse turns out to be a bald human, hiding a receding hairline beneath a detachable wig with mouse ears. And, Winnie the Pooh, no longer the cute teddy bear, has become a weary drive-thru worker at McDonald's, sl

Hashtag Korea Nov. 27, 2024

As winter's icy grip approaches, Koreans roll up their sleeves to prepare a year’s supply of kimchi to ensure they have enough for the cold months ahead. The fermented dish varies in shape and flavor across the nation, with the distinct regional environment influencing kimchi's ingredients, seasonings and presentation. Take a tour of South Korea’s regional kimchi varieties, each adding its own zing to the traditional dish. Their distinct flavor profiles are guaranteed to

Hashtag Korea Nov. 26, 2024

Starting next month, all newly registered cars seating for five or more passengers will be required to have a fire extinguisher, fire authorities said Sunday. Currently, the mandatory installation of fire extinguishers applies to vehicles that carry seven or more passengers. According to the National Fire Agency, the change aligns with the revision of the Act on Installation and Management of Firefighting Systems, set to take effect in December after a three-year grace period. The mandate does

Social Affairs Nov. 24, 2024

The debate over whether to ban smartphones in the classroom continues to rage worldwide. South Korea is no exception, as it looks to address an epidemic of smartphone addiction among young students. In August, Rep. Cho Jung-hun of the People Power Party proposed a bill to limit smartphone use in schools. In October, the National Human Rights Commission reversed its long-standing position, ruling that schools confiscating students' phones is not a violation of their rights. Proponents view

Hashtag Korea Nov. 19, 2024

Ever considered indulging in a book-reading binge, right in the heart of the city, yet far from its usual hustle and bustle? The answers are scattered across Seoul's foothills: Forest libraries. These retreats are where book-loving spirits wander through pages and gaze beyond the window to a world written in the language of trees, which shift from the lush green of spring and summer to the golden hues of autumn and the pristine white of winter. Here are a few selected libraries across the

Hashtag Korea Nov. 16, 2024

On the day of South Korea's high-stakes college entrance exam, known as Suneung, police go above and beyond to ensure that no test-taker misses this once-a-year opportunity. However, not everyone is convinced that this level of police involvement is necessary, particularly when it comes to tasks that seem more like personal favors, such as escorting latecomers and delivering identification documents. According to the National Police Agency on Friday, for this year’s Suneung, held on

Social Affairs Nov. 15, 2024

The Myers-Briggs personality test is no laughing matter in South Korea. Though generally regarded as "pseudoscientific," the self-reported Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test is immensely popular in Korea, particularly among younger people, as a tool to help them understand both themselves and others. Categorizing everyone into 16 different personality types, the MBTI essentially comes down to a four-letter code, such as ISTP or ENFJ, with each letter suggesting a certain personality trai

Hashtag Korea Nov. 12, 2024

Suspected diabetes cases are surging among young Koreans, but only one-third are receiving treatment. Nearly 1 in 5 Koreans aged 19-39 are showing signs of prediabetic conditions, with the ratio rising to 1 in 3 among men in their 30s. These are some of the key findings of a study conducted by the Korean Diabetes Association, which analyzed blood test data of Koreans who underwent state-offered medical checkups from 2019 to 2022. According to its analysis, 307,965 Koreans aged 19 to 39 had high

Social Affairs Nov. 10, 2024

How can you cultivate a lifelong love of reading in your child? Reading them a story before bed, sharing stories and regular library visits might come to mind. In Korea, there’s another option that is popular with parents: sending your kids to private reading academies. At a typical one, children read for a designated time, followed by activities such as writing summaries, studying vocabulary and engaging in discussions about the material with the teacher. For older students, the curricu

Hashtag Korea Nov. 10, 2024

While the country faces chilly weather on Thursday with the onset of winter based on the lunar calendar, Busan has yet to burst into autumn gold and amber, leaving foliage spots still verdant, the state weather agency said. According to the Busan branch of the Korea Meteorological Administration, as of Wednesday, South Korea's second-largest city has not officially begun its autumn foliage season, nearly a week behind the city’s average, with ginkgo trees typically changing color by

Social Affairs Nov. 7, 2024

Seoul’s plant-distribution initiative has proven effective in improving the mental health of young Koreans living in social isolation and seclusion, city officials said Tuesday. In a survey of 302 Seoul residents aged 19 to 39 who received free plants such as ivy, dwarf umbrella trees, hoya lisa, and Chinese evergreens as part of the city-run program, 90.9 percent reported that growing the plants at home positively impacted their mental well-being. Participants reported increased self-effi

Social Affairs Nov. 5, 2024

An older Korean person at your usual bus stop mumbles something that sounds almost like a question about the weather. To be polite, you respond, only for them to glance at you and dismiss it casually with a shrug, saying, "Oh, I was just talking to myself." A 36-year-old American living in Seoul surnamed Rodriguez recalls encountering this situation upon first arriving here. Near him, an older Korean woman had murmured in Korean, “It's so cold." Assuming she was speakin

Hashtag Korea Nov. 3, 2024