European Christmas MarketEuropean Christmas Market aims to exchange and promote cultural values with international visitors and local residents by celebrating Christmas in the European tradition. Visitors can experience European Christmas through food, music, performances, and other enjoyable events.The event is held at the Seongbukcheon Fountain Square in Seongbuk-dong, Seoul, Saturday and Sunday, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.It is open to visitors of all ages.For more information in Korean, English,

Despite market growth, most massage therapists in Korea illegal under medical law

The perfect recipe for pottery is one that requires patience and perseverance. But here’s a man who can tell the temperature of his kiln by looking at the colors of the flame, who knows the best layer of earth for his ceramics.For over 30 years, Lee Jong-neung has poured his soul in to the art of Korean pottery. His only goal: to establish an original line of ceramics that would represent modern Korea. Lee Jong-neung works at his kiln in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Heral

Old family house transforms into cafe-lifestyle space

Korean retailers Homeplus and Wemakeprice have discontinued sales of Fukushima-imported instant noodles after the product’s place of origin label stirred up health concerns.Otaru Shio Ramen -- produced in Fukushima, Japan, and imported to Korea by Homeplus and Wemakeprice -- has Fukushima printed as the area of production in Japanese. However, the Korean label specifies only Japan as the place of origin, prompting some consumers to point out that the translated label is misleading and takes away

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, widely considered the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, expressed support for South Korean President Moon Jae-in‘s efforts to bring reunification of Koreas closer to reality.Visiting Korea to lead a special service commemorating the 50th anniversary of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Seoul, Bartholomew said the Orthodox community around the world is praying for a peaceful reunification of the peninsula. This marks the fourth time he has visi

‘Cour des Miracles’ at Doosan Gallery Seoul

Seoul Metropolitan Government has teamed up with startup company OME to run a cooking class for foreigners at a Korean traditional market.OME’s cooking class is one of the eight tourism programs selected for “Seoul Tourism Startup 2018,” a series of programs aiming to provide “unique” travel experiences for foreigners visiting Korea.  (Seoul Metropolitan Government)Participants will learn basic Korean phrases and use them to buy fresh ingredients from the Euljiro Jungbu market. Later, they will

In spite of recent efforts to denuclearize North Korea, the image of the communist state remains unfavorable for most people around the world. From the country’s brash threats to its human rights record to the unpredictability of its young leader, dealing with Pyongyang has never been an easy task.However, Teresa Song, a South Korea-born British entrepreneur, says she wants to promote another side of the country through paintings depicting the country’s relatively-untouched nature.  Teresa SongT

Along with the staycation boom, lifestyle boutique hotel brand Lacasa Hotel hopes to be a big player in the hospitality market with new and renewed properties. Lacasa Hotel Seoul, located in Sinsa-dong of southern Seoul, recently renewed its penthouse floor and restaurant. After the renovation, the top floor now houses two rooms: the Loft House and Garden House.  Lacasa Hotel Seoul Lacasa Hotel SeoulThe rooms, with separate bedroom and living room spaces, are designed to accommodate brand events

Samyang Food announced on Friday that the discontinued “Haek Buldak Spicy Chicken Ramen” will return, with an upgrade to make the ramen even spicier than before.  (Samyang Food)“We decided to officially bring back the product to express our gratitude to customers who loved the ‘Haek Buldak Spicy Chicken Ramen.’ Samyang Food will strengthen communication with customers to put out products that meet the public demand.” Samyang Food said.The renewed Haek Buldak Spicy Chicken Ramen, also known as 2X

Traveling across border county of Ganghwa-gun, seeing glimmers of past and peaking into future

Millennium Seoul Hilton’s Taipan welcomes new head chef Cho Nae-sung

Bucheon Aiins World festival  The miniature theme park Aiins World is hosting the World Nightview Fantasy Lighting Festival. The festival runs from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and is closed on rainy days. The last admission is at 10 p.m. The admission fee is 16,000 won for adults and 13,000 won for children. It is open to visitors of all ages. For more information, call the travel hotline at 1330 for Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese services. The homepage (www.aiinsworld.com) is only avai

Buddhist temples are religious places, but temple stays offer participants a chance to look into themselves and find inner peace, regardless of their religion.For a one-day inner journey, I recently headed out to Heungguksa, located on the mountain ridges of Nogosan in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, an hour drive northwest of central Seoul.  Heungguksa (By Im Eun-byel / The Korea Herald)Because the trip was rather short, I was not expecting much seclusion. Compared to other temples, Heungguksa is mu