In South Korea, you can shop, dine and even see a doctor underground. But risks may lurk beneath

Beneath Express Bus Terminal Station, a major transfer hub for Seoul Subway Lines 3, 7 and 9, a massive labyrinth of underground shops unfolds, rivaling the scale of a department store. Known as GOTO Mall, this 880-meter-long underground shopping center, which begins at Exit 8-1, houses around 630 stores and is recognized as one of Seoul’s three largest underground malls, alongside those at Gangnam and Jamsil Stations. The underground mall offers a wide selection of goods, from clothing and shoe

May 4, 2025

Artificial? Yes. Still, an urban oasis

As you stroll along Hongje Stream in western Seoul, the gentle sound of flowing water grows with each step, while the breeze carries the scent of grass and spring flowers. These are signs that you're approaching the city's hidden oasis, where time slows and your thoughts fade simply by watching the water move. It is the "Hongje Steam Artificial Waterfall" in Seodaemun-gu, where water flows down a 25-meter-high, 60-meter-wide concrete structure built into the cliffs of Mount Ansan. On a breezy we

April 30, 2025

Reinventing life after K-pop trainee days

Beneath the glitz and glamour of K-pop, countless trainees, many still in their teens, spend years perfecting their vocals and choreography, clinging to the hope of one day stepping into the spotlight. A 2022 survey by the Korea Creative Content Agency put their numbers at 1,170. But this figure leaves out K-pop star wannabes outside entertainment agencies -- those training at independent dance studios or trying their luck on platforms like YouTube. For many, the pursuit consumes their entire ad

April 26, 2025

Mental distress on the rise among Gangnam children: data

Mental health concerns, including depression and anxiety, have been rising sharply among children in Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu and Songpa-gu, Seoul’s southern districts known for intense academic competition. In the three elite education hubs, the number of cases covered by the national health insurance system in which children under nine were treated for depression and anxiety jumped from 1,037 in 2020 to 3,309 in 2024 — nearly tripling over the five-year period, according to data from the Health I

April 25, 2025

'Kicked out in pajamas': Women in Seoul's fading red-light district protest evictions

On a busy Monday morning, two women in pajamas sat inside a small tent pitched on the sidewalk outside the Seongbuk District Office in northern Seoul. A dog rested beside them, drawing curious glances from passersby. The women are sex workers from Miari Texas, a red-light district in Hawolgok-dong, Seongbuk-gu. Having been forcibly evicted on April 17 from their homes, where they also worked, the two were now living in the tent — both as a form of protest and because they had nowhere else to go.

April 24, 2025

Na Kyung-won under fire for using viral Coldplay clip for own political campaign

Five-term People Power Party Rep. Na Kyung-won has outraged fans of British rock band Coldplay here for using clips from the band's recent Seoul concert to promote her own presidential campaign. Na’s official YouTube channel uploaded Monday a short-form video tagged with @coldplay that included scenes from the band’s concert held Friday at Goyang Sports Complex, northwest of Seoul, as part of its "Music of the Spheres" world tour. The band had returned to play in Korea after eight years. Friday’

April 21, 2025

Daiso: Dollar store where K-pop fans find new sanctuary

Photocard decorating — once the niche culture of teenage K-pop fangirls — is now catching on among fans worldwide. The trend involves embellishing collectible idol photocards with an array of materials, from glitter and beads to stickers, lace and miniature charms. Typically encased in clear plastic sleeves or vinyl holders, these decorated cards often evolve into intricate pieces of fan-made art. At the center of this growing subculture is Daiso, a popular dollar store chain in South Korea that

April 17, 2025

Ex-first couple to take 11 pets when they move out Friday

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, are finally set to leave their official residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, this Friday, taking with them their eleven pets, including both cats and dogs. This means the couple will be sharing their 4-bedroom apartment home at Acro Vista complex in southern Seoul, with their six dogs and five cats. Part of a 37-story high-rise complex comprising 757 residential and commercial units, the couple's home has a floor space of 164 square meters.

April 10, 2025

Inside Korea's empty classrooms and efforts to reimagine them

Amid dwindling birth rate, shuttered schools become a growing headache -- and potential asset -- for urban revitalization On a weekday afternoon at around 1:30 p.m., an eerie silence blankets the schoolyard of what was once Hwayang Elementary School in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Where children's laughter once filled the air, now only the rustling of trees in the spring breeze and occasional birdsong break the stillness. The human presence has shifted dramatically. Elderly residents with canes now walk

April 5, 2025

What S. Korea's political leaders have to say about Yoon Suk Yeol’s ouster

South Korea’s Constitutional Court on Friday confirmed President Yoon Suk Yeol’s removal from office. This marks the second time in the nation’s history that a sitting president has been removed in the middle of his term by impeachment. Below are reactions from prominent political leaders and other notable individuals to the historic moment. Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader, liberal Democratic Party of Korea Lee, the runner-up to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, is now the leading contender for

April 4, 2025