Jang Yun-jeong, 28, grew up in a world where numbers defined her worth. From academic achievements to salary and social status, her standing was calculated in terms of scores, grades and ranks. At school, where comparison was at its most ruthless, Jang received report cards after every midterm and final exam, which displayed her rank in each subject within her class and the entire school. These numbers made her constantly aware of where she stood relative to her classmates. "Feeling the nee

They now seem to be everywhere, moving in groups, their presence felt on every corner of Seoul. "Running crews" -- groups of people that meet to run together at a specific time and place, otherwise known as run clubs -- have taken over Seoul's streets, parks and riverside tracks, reflecting the country’s growing obsession with one of the oldest and most basic human activities. "There are tons of them now," said Patrick Hong, 26, a frequent runner on the trails arou

Find the answer at the bottom. “Roasting beans on a lightning bolt” is an idiom widely used in daily conversation in South Korea. It means that someone is acting with such urgency that they could, figuratively, roast beans on a lightning bolt. The phrase is often used with a rather negative nuance, such as to describe the hasty and impatient nature of a person when they are trying to complete something at an unrealistic pace. Variations with the same meaning include “l

Tyler Rasch and Nidhi Agrawal, who have called South Korea home for years, are no strangers to wearing many hats. Rasch is a well-known TV personality renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of Asian history and culture. He's also an author, translator, social media influencer and climate activist. Agrawal, who moved to Korea in 2016 keen on bridging the Indian and Korean markets, has a background across the IT industry and has juggled numerous TV and lecture appointments. The two public pe

As the summer heat gives way to the crisp autumn air, it's time to start thinking about protecting yourself and your loved ones from the flu. If you’re a foreign national resident in South Korea, you may be eligible for free seasonal flu shots, one of many immunizations offered under the government's National Immunization Program, as long as you meet the same priority group criteria applied to Korean nationals. Korea’s vaccine program covers for free 18 essential vaccines f

A large group of people wearing blue headphones, dance out in the open by the Han River. But no music is blaring. This is a silent disco. Instead of speaker stacks, DJs broadcast their sets directly to wireless headphones, allowing people to adjust the volume to their liking. This creates a more personalized, immersive experience while minimizing noise pollution, meaning people can gather and dance in places they normally couldn't. And in this case, it was the Han River's parks. More

Find the answer at the bottom. South Korea boasts one of the world's strongest military forces, a result of the Korean War (1950-53) having ended in an armistice but without a peace treaty, with continuing threats from nuclear-armed North Korea across the border. The country marks Oct. 1 every year as the Armed Forces Day, to honor the services of all military personnel -- including young conscripts -- to the nation. All able-bodied male South Korean citizens over age 19 are requir

Park In-soon can never forget August 2009. That was the month her son ended his life at 23 years old. Her son had been struggling with depression, but he had told her that he was feeling better. But two months after he stopped taking his medication, he took his own life. For Park, the news of his death felt like receiving a life sentence. She could not sleep. All she wanted was to follow him in death. Several weeks later, she got into a car accident, while driving home from a sunrise service a

Cho, a 31-year-old cafe owner in Seoul who requested anonymity, used to run a popular spot for pet owners. Her cafe, known for its dog-friendly atmosphere and puppuccinos, a drink for dogs, regularly welcomed customers with their pets. Occasionally, she would bring her own dog to work. But recent government warnings have made it difficult to allow dogs on the premises. “I received a warning from the government about having dogs here,” Cho said. “They told me a complaint was fil

In the middle of a bustling ballgame, a cheerleader casually fixes her makeup, seemingly preoccupied and unbothered — until a catchy beat suddenly brings her to her feet. She seamlessly launches into a dance routine, swiveling and swinging her thumb up and down to the bouncy, squeaky rhythm. This is not your typical cheerleading performance full of energy and acrobatics. Instead, the cheerleader maintains a cool, nonchalant expression as she throws her elbow up in place. The transition fro

Safety ranks high on the list of priorities for South Korean and foreign residents alike when choosing where to live in the country. But despite extensive online access to public records, assessing the relative security of specific Korean cities and neighborhoods remains a surprisingly challenging task. For starters, Korea generally presents an impressive safety profile, with homicide rates ranging from 0.5 to 0.6 per 100,000 residents according to the latest estimates from the United Nations Of

Kang Joo-hye is an artist who has a unique view of the world — literally. Blind in her right eye and experiencing double vision in her left, she chooses to communicate with the world through art. Created under the pen name “Migeung” — meaning crazily or beautifully positive — her drawings betray no hint of this struggle; they exude warmth and positivity. The survivor of two serious car accidents understands the media’s fascination with her story. However,

In South Korea, speed is key. What needs to be done quickly? Virtually everything. As encapsulated in the running joke that “ppalli ppalli” -- where "ppalli" translates to "quickly" or "hurry up" in Korean -- is one of the first Korean phrases that visitors pick up here, Koreans tend to display minimal tolerance for delays. “Being quick is considered to be efficient, at least in my workplace,” Song Min-jae shared, a Seoul resident in his

Chuseok, one of Korea’s two main traditional holidays, is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month on the lunar calendar. This year, it falls on Sept. 17, with the day before and the day after also designated as official public holidays. Chuseok is also known by other names, including “Hangawi (한가위).” A native Korean term, “Hangawi” combines two words: "han" (한), meaning “big,” and "gawi" (가위), meaning “middle or center.&rd

In today's digital landscape, emojis contribute a great deal to communication, but how well do they translate to the corporate world? For some, these symbols are efficient tools for communicating in the workplace, while for others, they seem unprofessional. Over 60 percent of workers in South Korea use emojis at work, according to a recent survey conducted by tutoring platform Preply. While about 90 percent of those emoji users exchanged them with peers at work, use with senior colleagues

Find the answer at the bottom. Hahoe is a traditional clan-based village in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, known for having the oldest surviving masks for mask dance dramas in South Korea. Eleven Hahoe masks have been passed down, representing different characters in a stage play, including a lion, a bride, a monk, a noble and a scholar. Traditionally, such masks were made from gourds or paper and burned at the end of the performance. However, Hahoe masks were crafted from wood and prese

A quiet revolution is sweeping through one of Korea’s most iconic street foods: tteokbokki. Once the beloved snack of schoolgirls and the young at heart, these chewy rice cakes drenched in sweet and spicy sauce have transcended their street food origins, thanks to the relentless innovation of the local meal kit industry. At an E-mart outlet in central Seoul, Korea's largest discount store chain, which this reporter visited on Aug. 27, there were over 20 different varieties of ready-to

Find the answer at the bottom. Portraits of people featured on a country’s banknotes are a reflection of the country's pride, identity and heritage. They often depict prominent figures from the past such as national leaders, scientists, artists or activists who have made significant contributions to the nation’s development. In South Korea, the banknotes come in four denominations: 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 50,000 won. Each features a different historical figure from the Jo

“Are you cool with Android?” Kwon Jung-hyeon, a soon-to-be middle school student, hesitated and shook his head. At 12, he said he had never considered using a mobile device that wasn’t an iPhone. Chae Yeon-woo, a 14-year-old middle school student, already owns an iPhone and iPad. She said if she could get a smartwatch, she would choose an Apple Watch to add to her collection. For her, the Samsung brand feels "bland,” catering to people of all ages but not appealing

  Oh Yoon-suk, a 43-year-old office worker in Busan, addresses his father -- but not his mom -- using honorifics. “I call my mother ‘eomma,’ but with my father, it’s always been ‘abeoji,’” he explained. “Eomma” is a less formal term for “mother,” while “abeoji” is a more respectful way of saying “father.” It’s similar to saying “father” instead of “dad.” Oh’s linguis