Tragedies like Sewol, Itaewon play a part in breakdown of public trust, some say

In 1957, first chartered plane took off for US carrying Korean war orphans, opening doors for massive 'baby exports.' Now adoptees demand answers, truth

Find the answer at the bottom of the page. Birthdays are a joyous occasion, but some Koreans have an unusual way of celebrating them with saengil-bbang. Saengil-bbang is a combination of the word meaning birthday in Korean -- "saengil" -- and the word “bbang,” which usually means bread or cake. "Bbang" is used here as a suffix to indicate nasty violent celebrations. It refers to the practice in which close friends hit each other on their birthdays. Usually conside

  Koreans prefer to reach across the table to grab something rather than asking another to pass it to them. They do so because they don't want to interrupt those who are eating. However, dining etiquettes may vary from culture to culture and some people may prefer asking a person who is near an item to pass it to them in order to avoid passing their hands over someone else's food. Min Byoung-chul is an endowed chair professor at Chung-Ang University who is widely known as a multicultural

After the difficulties of the pandemic, soaring utility prices push small, neighborhood bathhouses to the brink of extinction

Feel the distinct vibe surrounding Konkuk Univ. Station: Shops, eateries and bars

In revenge drama 'The Glory,' dish is a metaphor for solitude, loss of joy, while in 'Attorney Woo' it carries the warmth of childlike innocence, parental love

Destroyed front pages and coverage of 1960 protests indicate darker days of Korean democracy

Find the answer at the bottom of the page. Some Korean proverbs are associated with specific places. In “Even the view of Geumgangsan can be enjoyed after eating,” which Koreans would be heard saying in just seven syllables -- Geum-gang-san-do shik-hoo-kyung -- the mountain is used as a symbol of an awe-inspiring spectacle or an exceptionally good experience. (The last three of the seven letters are from Chinese characters which respectively mean "eating" "after&quo

The act of honoring the spirits of ancestors by offering them food and drinks during the Lunar New Year has been considered a serious tradition for centuries in South Korea. But this year, some families have decided to honor the tradition in a lighter mood, according to photos gone viral on online communities. Versatile screen This photo, uploaded by an anonymous user and shared on Instagram, shows a clever use of a wall-mounted TV screen, a staple in Korean living rooms. Instead of keeping

In Korea, once you're seated at the table, it is common etiquette to wait until the oldest person starts eating before you start enjoying your meal. Also, before taking your first bite, it's polite to say “Jal-meok-get-sseumnida” or “I'll eat well” as a way to express your gratitude for the host. Add this phrase to your Korean dining etiquette list and you will never have to worry about offending your Korean friends. Min Byoung-chul is an endowed chair pr

Once US military rations, canned meat has become an everyday staple and go-to gift item during major holidays

North Korea is clamping down on the use of South Korean slang and expressions, which experts in Seoul see as a response to the growing influence of South Korean dramas and films in the reclusive state. According to the North’s official Korean Central News Agency, the communist regime has adopted new legislation that seeks to impose stronger punishment on its residents who taint the “Pyongyang standard language” with foreign influences. It was among the issues and agenda items d

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related. Find the answer at the bottom of the page. Upon entering certain Seoul subway cars, there are single seats at the end of a row, colored in pink. These pink seats mark priority sitting exclusively for pregnant women, a system that was first introduced by the Seoul government for transit buses in 2009 and the subway in 2013. Since then, pregnancy priority seating has been added to publi

Most Koreans expect jesa to be snuffed out sooner or later