-
How a paralyzed activist wrote a master’s thesis with half a million blinks—and rewired his world
For disability activist Jang Ik-sun, hope isn't just a feeling — it’s the eye-tracking software he has mastered to draft policy proposals, the half-million blinks that earned him a master’s degree, and the gaming system he engineered to keep playing despite being almost completely paralyzed GWANGJU --- Jang Ik-sun wrote his master’s thesis one blink at a time. About half a million times, to be exact. For most people, blinking is an unconscious act — something they do effortlessly 20,000 times a
March 29, 2025 -
Why Koreans don't apologize when bumping into others
Crowd density isn't the only reason minor physical contact is tolerated in South Korea During William Smith’s first experience riding the subway in Seoul several years ago, he initially felt that some Koreans were rude and didn’t respect other passengers’ personal space. People would push past him and walk away without apologizing. “In the United States, if I accidentally bump into someone — even after apologizing — I could be accused of something like sexual harassment. But here, people seem mo
March 24, 2025 -
In Seoul's millions of homes, where's mine?
Affordable rent and a convenient commute shouldn't be all that matters Seoul, where I have lived by myself since 2012, is by far the largest and most populous city in South Korea, and it is also where more people live alone than any other region in the country. A February 2024 government report showed that there were 1.99 million single-person households in Seoul, accounting for 44.5 percent of all households in the city. Finding a place to live in the country's most expensive city can be a chal
March 22, 2025 -
When calligrapher has an entrepreneurial spirit
From traditional 'seoye' to commercial branding, Lee Sang-hyun transforms calligraphy into modern art form As a child, Lee Sang-hyun had no interest in sitting down and holding a pen. At the age of 11, his mother, hoping to nurture focus and discipline in him, enrolled him in an after-school program that teaches “seoye,” or traditional calligraphy. Instead of grabbing a pen, he spent his days grinding an inkstick on a slab to make ink. When the teacher was not looking, he would scribble on the w
March 19, 2025 -
Once a cheap option for students, Gosiwon now draw foreign clientele
Initially built for exam preppers, low-cost rooms attract foreign travelers seeking deposit-free accommodation, authentic Korean experiences Gosiwon, the housing setups reminiscient of a cocoon originally built for exam preppers, have long been associated with urban and youth poverty. The common narrative is that rising home prices in cities force more people to live in the basic, minimal accommodations with little to no amenities. In recent years, though, the tiny, low-budget rooms seem to have
March 18, 2025 -
S. Korea's cable car boom: Not everyone is excited
Excitement grows over new cable car projects at Korea's iconic mountains, but environmental concerns persist Rachel Linderman, a German resident of Seoul, was thrilled to hear the news that a new gondola lift will open as early as this year, connecting Myeong-dong Station to the top of Namsan. This will be the second cable car at Namsan, following the first one that opened in 1961. "When my parents visit Korea, I always take them there (Namsan via cable car). I love the panoramic views through t
March 15, 2025 -
Where industry meets artistry
Imagine a neighborhood in Seoul where metal workshops collide with colorful street art. It’s an unexpected fusion — industrial and artistic, raw yet creative — but somehow, it works. Welcome to Mullae-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Just five minutes from Mullae Station’s exit 7, this neighborhood hums with energy. Spot a metal giraffe? You’re in the right place. Keep walking, and you’ll find a giant welded mask — an iconic sculpture representing Mullae’s ironworking legacy. Old-school steel shops
March 11, 2025 -
Solo living: a new norm in Seoul
Nearly half of all households in South Korean capital now consist of one person, and there's a reason for that "You become an adult only after you've put your hair in a topknot," a traditional Korean saying goes, referring to the premodern custom of a man putting his hair in a topknot for a wedding ceremony. Conventional wisdom that had dominated Korean society of yesteryear was that one truly comes of age only after committing oneself to marriage. That notion is quickly changing, however, with
March 10, 2025 -
Spiritual, but not religious: For more Koreans, mindfulness matters more than membership
In Korea, being 'spiritual but not religious' means trading rigid doctrine for personal rituals, from temple meditation to shamanistic traditions South Korea, at least in modern times, has never had a religious identity centered around a single faith. People have followed various major established religions, including Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism and shamanistic traditions, often mixing and matching beliefs to suit their needs. Despite this diversity and fluid approach, nearly half of th
March 8, 2025 -
Reality vs. TV drama: Korean trauma nurse talks 'Trauma Code: Heroes on Call' and 'missing' nurses on choppers
In Netflix's latest hit medical drama series "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call," an air ambulance often turns into a high-stakes operating room. Trauma surgeons making bold incisions mid-flight in a race against time keep viewers on the edge of their seats. However, there's an important element missing: The presence of trauma nurses. According to Kim Dong-ju, a 33-year-old nurse at a trauma center at the Catholic University of Korea Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, it is generally a team of two — a
March 5, 2025 -
Korea’s fitness paradox: Gyms are closing, but boutique studios are thriving
For years, Korea’s gyms battled to offer the lowest prices — but as closures mount, boutique studios believe community matters more than affordability When economic uncertainty looms, people often cut back on dining out, travel and entertainment. But one expense some South Koreans are unwilling to forgo is their boutique fitness membership. “It’s a lifestyle, not a luxury,” Jamie Kim, CEO of F45 Training & FS8 Korea, told the Korea Herald. Kim’s observation reflects a growing trend in Korea’s fi
March 2, 2025 -
When sun sets, raccoon dogs come out to play in Seoul’s parks
With raccoon dogs spotted in 16 of Seoul's 25 districts, the city faces a new challenge: how to coexist with these unexpected urban dwellers As darkness falls over the West Seoul Lake Park, the park’s busiest visitors emerge – raccoon dogs. These furry wild animals -- a canine species not directly related to North American racoons -- pay little attention to humans and their pets. While some moved away slowly when people approached, others were bolder, sitting right in the middle of the park’s ma
Feb. 27, 2025 -
Real-life version of 'Lovely Runner' couple melts millions of hearts
Kim Hye-mi, Samsung IT developer with disability, shares TV drama-like love story with colleague, viral wedding performance In June last year, a South Korean couple’s wedding video went viral as a real-life version of a love story that had just aired in the hit TV drama “Lovely Runner.” In the video, the groom shields his bride, who uses a wheelchair, with a yellow umbrella after serenading her, re-creating one of the most memorable scenes from the drama series. "I never expected the video to bl
Feb. 26, 2025 -
Wedding cash kiosks are here. What do Koreans think about them?
In South Korea, self-service kiosks have been proliferating. They take coffee orders at cafes, process meal selections at restaurants and manage ticketing at movie theaters. But one machine has recently stirred debate by automating something some believe is more traditional: the giving of cash gifts that guests bring to weddings. A photo of such a kiosk went viral online, stirring up both fascination and unease. Some praised it as a practical update to a long-standing custom, while others found
Feb. 25, 2025 -
Bags becoming 'babies': Korea's strange honorific twist
Struggling with honorifics, obsessed with propriety, Koreans show respect to everything from coffee to vitamins When is an object referred to as if it were alive — like a person, a baby or a friend? In Korean, a cup of latte served at a cafe is personified and respected with honorifics, and a vitamin supplement sold via a home shopping channel is referred to as a "child devoted to filial duty," with sellers encouraging potential customers to "adopt" the items and "bring them home." Personificati
Feb. 22, 2025