“Neck fans” are a popular item in the summer which can be worn around the neck and help fight off heat. Without having to be handheld, the gadget is praised as a clever invention by those who want a cooling breeze just for themselves while on the go, such as joggers, delivery workers or just outdoor lovers. According to Shinsegae International’s lifestyle brand Jaju, sales of summer home appliances including portable fans saw a 144 percent jump between June 27 and July 10 c

Consumer Aug. 8, 2022

K-pop cover dance videos rack up tens of thousands of views on YouTube. They are filmed in places all around the world, from a shopping mall in China to a park in Spain. In the clips, young dancers, typically dressed in colorful and coordinated outfits, show off their moves to an intrigued audience, as the latest K-pop hits play through the speakers. Exuding confidence, the dancers look almost as if they are in their own music video. In her book “K-pop Dance: Fandoming Yourself on Social

K-pop July 27, 2022

Earlier this year, South Korea had two young figures sitting atop rival political parties as the living embodiment of their commitment to introducing new blood. A few months and two major elections later, their place in the country‘s partisan politics seems increasingly tempestuous. Lee Jun-seok, the chairman of the ruling People Power Party, saw his membership suspended by the party’s ethics committee earlier this month after allegations surrounding sexual bribery emerged. Ove

Politics July 20, 2022

Thousands of people gathered in front of City Hall in Seoul to attend the Seoul Queer Culture Festival on Saturday, marking the event’s return after two years of a pandemic-induced hiatus. With rainbow flags, colorful outfits, face paint and glitter, participants celebrated their identities and diverse sexual orientations, and joined the march for LGBT rights.  This year’s event took place with the slogan “Let’s live, unite and go forward.” In the early eveni

Social Affairs July 16, 2022

The annual Seoul Queer Culture Festival returned to the streets of Seoul on Saturday after a two-year pandemic hiatus. This year’s event took place but not without controversy as it took more than two months for the city government to grant it’s approval, drawing criticism from activists and event organizers. Though the main event, including a march through central Seoul, took place Saturday, the festival, which also includes an LGBT film event, runs until the end of July.

National July 16, 2022

From traffic and weather to music, current South Korean affairs and the latest COVID-19 case counts, Seoul’s mostly English-language radio station TBS eFM has kept expat listeners updated on issues and matters that impact their life in Seoul. Running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the station has struggled financially since its 2008 launch, but has managed to continue serving the expat population thanks to city funding. Now, its future looks uncertain. “As the foreign popul

Social Affairs July 16, 2022

Ever wondered how fried chicken would pair up with mint and chocolate? For those who have, the South Korean unit of fried chicken chain KFC has released a mint chocolate-flavored dipping sauce. The sauce, which is part of a seasonal collaboration with local food delivery app Baemin, will be available until Aug. 8 at locations across the country, excluding a select few. The mixture of “rich and sweet chocolate” and a “fresh mint flavor” has created the new sauce, the

Consumer July 13, 2022

The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, famously known as the Unification Church, has come under scrutiny following the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Japanese media have reported that Tetsuya Yamagami, the man behind the fatal attack, mentioned a religious group as his motive to the investigators. He believed the former PM was linked to the religious group, which he said brought financial problems to the family after his mother donated huge sums to t

Social Affairs July 12, 2022

From Japan to India, the US and countries in Europe, summer has arrived early this year with stifling heat domes and deadly temperatures. South Korea is no exception to the global heat crisis, and city and district officials are introducing novel measures to help residents stay cool and healthy. Yongsan District, one of the 25 districts in the capital city, has recently opened seven air-conditioned rooms in a local hotel to single and low-income seniors aged 65 and above to stay for free durin

Social Affairs July 5, 2022

Whether it’s soju and beer with colleagues or wine with friends, drinking is an important part of socializing in South Korea. South Koreans drank an average of 8.3 liters of alcohol in 2019, according to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, citing OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) Health Statistics 2021. Though the average amount of alcohol consumed by South Koreans is below the OECD average, 2014 data from market research firm Euromonitor foun

Consumer July 4, 2022

A four-day workweek is a hot topic now globally, with thousands of workers in the UK partaking in the largest experiment to date of a shortened work schedule. In South Korea, a law that caps weekly working hours at 52 is facing scrutiny for the opposite reason. Last week, Labor Minister Lee Jeong-sik said that the government would consider revising the current 52-hour workweek system to a monthly basis, allowing employers and workers to exercise more flexibility. In other words, longer worki

Politics June 30, 2022

As a cruise ferry on Han River was about to leave the dock on a Tuesday afternoon in June, dozens of seagulls began to gather around. Some sat on the top rails of the ship while others began to fly around as passengers started to come out to the deck. Once the engine starts, you get the sense what they are here for. People were holding snacks with their fingers or throwing them for the birds to eat. Laughter and joyful scream filled the ship as people of all age groups -- from elderly peopl

Mobility June 27, 2022

When navigating through Seoul’s subway system, you will see that some stations have two names. Euljiro 3-ga Station, located in central Seoul with Line 2 and Line 3 running through, is also called “Shinhan Card station” after a credit card company whose headquarters is 10 minutes away on foot. English teacher David Stewart, 31, said displaying two names, which is designed to generate additional income for the city’s railway system, is understandable. “I barely p

Social Affairs June 19, 2022

On a weekday evening, one cafe in western Seoul is about to close for the day while customers are still chatting away and enjoying their coffee. Repurposed from a shoe factory, this cafe is one of several trendy spots across the city that attract coffee drinkers and cafe enthusiasts alike, as numerous Instagram posts tagging the location show. “Industrial interior designs display the appeal of raw materials. Since it can give off a vintage or clean feel depending on the finish, demand i

Consumer June 16, 2022

Seoul’s citizen-led council decided on Wednesday to allow the Seoul Queer Culture Festival to take place at Seoul Plaza next month, but only for one day. The decision comes two months after the organizing committee of the event filed a request in April to use the central plaza located in front of Seoul City Hall for six days from July 12-17. The event will go ahead on July 16, marking the first time the LGBTQ event will take place in person in three years. The festival took place onlin

Social Affairs June 15, 2022