In the sweltering heat of summer, patbingsu, or shaved iced with red beans, is a popular treat.The most classic type of bingsu, which refers to desserts made of shaved ice and condensed milk completed with various toppings, patbingsu looks like a white mountain with burgundy lava. Patbingsu’s overall taste is sweet, as the red beans have been simmered with sugar for hours and milk is used to make the shaved milk. The pleasure comes from the unexpected clash of textures. While the red beans are m

Newly-opened boutique hotel Ryse hopes to offer a trendy and artistic hospitality experience to guests, embracing the “Hongdae culture.” Hongdae area in western Seoul refers to the neighborhood near Hongik University, known for its art school, and the neighborhood‘s young and artistic crowd fill the area with a cool vibe and energy. RYSE from rooftop bar Side Note Club (RYSE)Ryse, part of Mariott’s Autograph Collection, officially opened its doors to guests and non-guests on May 24, hoping to re

Lili Reynaud-Dewar‘s show at Atelier Hermes draws critical eyes to Marfa, minimalist mecca

Ven. Pomnyun, a celebrated Buddhist monk here, will hold a special talk with the English-speaking expat community in Korea on June 15 for two hours from 7-9 p.m. at the Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul.The occasion is prepared for the growing population of foreign residents in Korea to join in the conversation regarding the recent developments related to South and North Korean relations. A simultaneous interpreter will help run the program.According to Jungto Society, a humanitarian group led

[Herald Interview]A scent can be described as the last garment to complete one’s ensemble -- with Korea no exception to the trend.Among a slew of perfumes displayed at department stores, however, Korean brands rarely make the list. French and other European fragrances dominate the market with the iconic Chanel, Dior, Nina Ricci, Yves Saint Laurent and Lancome as the leading players.The products of Korean perfume houses, such as Perfumelifer, Edenique, Better Than Alcohol and Soohyang, can be fou

Lee Hyun-min, 31, frequents a small bookstore Mystery Union whenever he feels like reading a spine-chilling thriller book. “The store is small and hard to find, but I bet almost every mystery lover in Korea would know this place,” Lee told The Korea Herald.Just like Lee, a growing number of Koreans are hunting for books at small yet specialized bookstores.While large bookstores continue to dominate the market, small players are discovering their own profitable niche.  Poetry bookstore `Wit n Cyn

MOSCOW/SEOUL -- Park Sae-eun, a "premier danseur" of the Paris Opera Ballet, has won best female dancer at one of the ballet world's most prestigious awards.The South Korean dancer picked up the award at the Benois de la Danse awards ceremony in Moscow on Tuesday (local time), beating five competitors from ballet companies all around the world.She was recognized for her lead role in "Diamonds," which is part of the "Jewels" trilogy from choreographer George Balanchine."Thank you a lot for the pr

Summer has suddenly arrived in Korea after an untimely wet and humid May. Temperatures soared up to 31 degrees Celsius Friday, prompting many Koreans to either head outdoors to enjoy the sun or indoors to avoid the heat.Korea is becoming increasingly known for its myriad of themed cafes and equally diverse drinks served in cafes. The following are five iced drinks recommended by Cafe Huamdong, located in Seoul‘s Yongsan-gu. Ice cream cafe latte (Lim Jeong-yeo/The Korea Herald) Ice in a cup (Rumy

MMCA show highlights artists and engineers who pioneered intertwining of art, technology

Coin karaoke’s surging popularity reflects importance of autonomy among 20- and 30-somethings　

The actual smoking rate among women is likely to be nearly triple the official count of 6.4 percent, due to women's underreporting, a health professor said in a report Monday.The smoking rate was measured at 40.7 percent for men and 6.4 percent for women in 2016.According to Jeong Geum-ji of Yonsei University's graduate school of public health, the difference between men and women in the incidence rate for lung cancer was narrower than the gap in the smoking rate. In 2015, for example, 17,015 me

While the link between smoking and a range of cancers is well known, the World Health Organization warned Thursday there was too little awareness of tobacco's impact on the human heart.On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day Thursday, the UN health agency hailed that smoking had declined significantly since year 2000, but warned that there were still far too many people indulging in the dangerous habit.And it cautioned that research showed there was "a serious lack of knowledge" about the differ

Local campground does away with resort-like services, offers raw natural beauty

The camping season is here and many are packing their bags with tents and fancy gear to enjoy outdoor barbecues. But Han Ho-jun, a 45-year veteran of camping, says the true charm of the outdoor life lies in bush craft.“You can truly feel the freedom of thriving in the wild, and obtain a sense of accomplishment by building your own shelter and tools with the materials you find in nature,” Han, 45, told The Korea Herald.  (Han Ho-jun)Bush craft is a term referring to wilderness survival skills, an

Taste of Singapore at Millennium Seoul HiltonMillennium Seoul Hilton’s all-day-dining buffet restaurant Cafe 395, will introduce Singaporean cuisine from June 12-19. The restaurant has invited two guest chefs from Singapore, including Chef Bryce Li from M Social Hotel. He and his assistant chef will introduce a “kopitiam” style Singapore food to the buffet, presenting foods of various cultures and styles. The hotel hopes the promotion will serve as a chance to show why Singapore is known as the