Book stands and other reading accessories that hold your book in a comfortable viewing position have long been favorites for many readers. Now, trendy accessories, from the practical to the cozy and cute, are making waves among bibliophiles by making the hobby not only more enjoyable, but also aesthetically pleasing. Among the most popular "dokseotem," a portmanteau of the Korean word for reading and the English word "item," are book covers. Available in a variety of styles

Culture Dec. 18, 2024

Nothing is better than celebrating the holiday season with something to unwrap and enjoy. While finding the perfect gift for that special someone may not be easy, there are some things that should be avoided when giving presents in South Korea. Sharp objects While a beautiful blade seems a sensible gift for for the home cook on your shopping list, giving knives and scissors -- basically, anything that is sharp or used for cutting -- is a no-no. Such gifts risk signaling the cutting off of the

Culture Dec. 17, 2024

Competition at the 9th Korea Musical Awards will be fierce, with musical big-names Kim Jun-su, Jo Jung-suk, Michael Lee, Yoo Jun-sang, Lim Gyu-hyung and Hong Kwang-ho eyeing the award for best male actor. The Korea Musical Theater Association unveiled the nominees for the awards, slated for January next year, during a press conference held at the Artist House in Seoul on Monday. A total of 81 musical productions were considered for the nominations. In the grand prize category are "Gloomy

Culture Dec. 16, 2024

When Yoon Suk Yeol, 63, won South Korea's top job in 2022, some anticipated that he would heed the will of the people, tackle class inequality and build a country that could make everyone proud, as he vowed in his victory speech. Yet, throughout the years, the conservative leader has fallen short. Despite diplomatic initiatives that improved relations with Japan and the US, and bold moves to address the nation's shortage of doctors in key areas, he couldn't stop his approval ratings from sliding

Politics Dec. 14, 2024

Restaurants run by chefs who appeared in Netflix's "Culinary Class War" came into the spotlight this year, while the most popular dining trends were sushi omakase, bagels and Korean barbecue, according to the 2024 gourmet trend report published by restaurant reservation platform Catch Table on Friday. The trend analysis is based on reservations made between January and October to determine customers' dining habits and preferences. Riding the wave of the Netflix cooking battle

Food Dec. 13, 2024

The Pantone Color Institute, which has declared a Color of the Year since 2000, has chosen "Mocha Mousse" for 2025 -- a shade that evokes a sense of comfort and warmth. The institute explained that the hue for the year ahead is "an evocative soft brown that transports our senses into the pleasure and deliciousness it inspires" that could create a comfortable environment for those wanting respite from life's daily demands. The Pantone Color Institute is a US-based consu

Culture Dec. 11, 2024

The 19th edition of the Craft Trend Fair will kick off Thursday at Coex in southern Seoul, shedding light on "everyday luxury," from luxury goods crafted by artisans to items of everyday use. The four-day event, which will be held under the theme "Extraordinary Objects that Shine in My Life," is organized by Kang Jae-young, the artistic director of the 2023 Cheongju Craft Biennale. Some 280 exhibitors, including international and overseas galleries and related craft institu

Culture Dec. 10, 2024

First lady Kim Keon Hee narrowly avoided a special counsel investigation on Saturday as a revote on a bill to launch a probe into allegations against her fell just two votes short of passing in the National Assembly. In a vote of 198-102, the bill to appoint a special counsel narrowly failed to win the required two-thirds majority in the 300-member parliament. The revote took place before a separate motion to impeach Yoon, which also got scrapped due to a lack of quorum. While the rejection spar

Politics Dec. 8, 2024

Special investigation units to probe President Yoon Suk Yeol's sudden declaration of martial law that lasted six hours and threw the country into chaos are being formed as he faces an impeachment vote Saturday at 7 p.m. The prosecution's investigation team will be led by Park Se-hyun, chief prosecutor of Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, according to officials. The day before, Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung ordered prosecutors to open their own investigation and assigned the case

Politics Dec. 6, 2024

Amid growing calls for President Yoon Suk Yeol to be suspended, the emergency medical professors at Seoul National University and Seoul National University Hospital on Friday were set to hold a press conference at the school at 2 p.m. to urge Yoon's impeachment. This marks the first action among the medical circles calling for the unpopular president's impeachment. "Dear South Korean citizens, are you not afraid that the martial law declaration grants the president the power to wi

Social Affairs Dec. 6, 2024

The opposition-controlled National Assembly on Thursday voted to impeach the chief of the state auditor and three top prosecutors over issues related to the relocation of the presidential office and scandals surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee. The motion was against Board of Audit and Inspection Chair Choe Jae-hae, Lee Chang-soo, chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, and two of Lee's deputies -- Cho Sang-won and Choi Jae-hun. The motions passed over 188-4 votes against Ch

Politics Dec. 5, 2024

President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law declaration spilled over into the health care sector on Thursday, facing harsh criticism from the medical community and the nation's top health and welfare official. Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong, who attended the Cabinet Meeting just before the martial law announcement was made late Tuesday, said during the National Assembly's health and welfare committee meeting on Thursday that he "does not agree with the martial law decl

Social Affairs Dec. 5, 2024

The six-hour standoff that tossed the South Korean democracy into turmoil on Tuesday echoed images of the powerful authoritarian rule during the 1970s and 80s, leading many people to revisit the times of suppression through the use of coercion and brutality. This also gave a familiar reminder of the dark chapter of the country's history where the military arrested protesting activists and banned political activity, and media -- across all mediums -- censored. "As a person who experienc

Politics Dec. 4, 2024

Cho Kuk, leader of the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, said early Wednesday that he believed President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law was "illegal," adding that it goes against the law and is a move that warrants the president's removal from office. "If President Yoon Suk Yeol does not comply with the National Assembly's resolution (to lift the emergency martial law), that would be considered both illegal and a criminal act," Rep. Cho told

Politics Dec. 4, 2024

Under the decree issued by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Park An-su that went into effect as of 11 p.m. on Tuesday, all medical professionals must resume their duties within 48 hours Those affected include striking intern and resident doctors opposing the government's quota hike in medical school admissions or those who have walked out of their medical roles. The decree came nearly an hour after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law late Tuesday. Medical professionals who fail to comply

Politics Dec. 4, 2024