Fluttering their shaggy hair against the wind, Sapsaree dogs run towards Dr. Ha Ji-hong as he steps into the pen. The once-endangered canine breed of Korean origin has made a dramatic comeback, thanks largely to decadeslong preservation efforts by Dr. Ha, also known as ”Father of Sapsaree.“The long-haired dogs were killed en masse for their fur to make winter coats for Japanese soldiers, as documented in state archives during the period of Japanese colonial rule in Korea. In the turmoil of war a

A world-famous ice fishing festival will open in Hwacheon this weekend to animate the economy of this remote mountainous town near the border with North Korea, organizers said Monday.The annual Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival will kick off Saturday on a frozen river in the town, about 120 kilometers northeast of Seoul, for a run ending Jan. 28. The event will feature a wide variety of winter activities.More than one million people are expected to flock to the town to drop a fishing line through

Some 41 percent of adult men are overweight, much higher than 24 percent for women, according to an obesity report out Sunday that showed the correlation between body size and income level.The report was released by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) based on 13.95 million people who received medical checkups last year. Results showed that 41.28 percent of men and 23.74 percent of women were overweight, meaning their body mass index exceeds 25. (123rf)According to the findings, 29.99 p

The long, shaggy hair of Sapsarees flutter against the wind as they run across a hillside pen in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province.The Korea Sapsaree Foundation compound houses more than 300 Sapsarees, a once-endangered Korean native breed of dogs brought back through decades of preservation efforts.These bear-like Sapsarees, whose name means “one that dispels evil spirits,” have traditionally been kept as guard dogs as well as beloved pets.Characterized by abundant hair that falls over their

Swellfish dishes at Millennium Seoul HiltonMillennium Seoul Hilton’s Japanese restaurant, Gengi, is offering a promotion of swellfish dishes, which are considered a delicacy in the Japanese cuisine. The finest flavors and tender texture of swellfish, or fugu, are brought to life by the hotel’s veteran chefs. Genji’s chefs are offering various swellfish dishes on both the a la carte menu and Kaiseki menu. The dishes will include swellfish sashimi, swellfish in a stone pot, grilled swellfish, deep

Seoul Christmas FestivalSponsored by Seoul Metropolitan City and Korea Tourism Organization, Seoul Christmas Festival is taking place at Cheonggye Plaza, the center of Cheonggyecheon Stream. Visitors can enjoy fancy illuminations, a Christmas tree and photo zones. Various events and programs are also prepared for a heartwarming end-of-the-year experience for everybody.A New Year’s Eve music performance and New Year’s Countdown will take place to commemorate the new year. The event lasts until Tu

“Seoul Hot Winter Market” is set to take place at Yeouido Han River Park from Tuesday to Friday, Seoul Metropolitan Government said Friday.The market will feature about 30 food trucks that sell exotic dishes from all around the world, such as tacos, pad thai, sushi and steak. (Yonhap)Visitors can buy handmade accessories and home decorations from 130 market booths installed at the park. Musicians will busk every 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.The market will be open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 3 p.

Korea’s beauty YouTubers are the ambassadors to the complex world of ever-expanding K-beauty products. If you are looking to vamp up your beauty bag, check the vloggers below for reviews and tips on how to get the K-beauty look. PONY (Screencaptured from YouTube)1. PONYWith over 3 million subscribers on YouTube, Pony has gained “beauty guru” status with a huge following around the world, particularly in her native Asia. Formerly in charge of CL’s makeup, PONY is known for her glam looks powered

The year-end is a time for family, and visiting the local theater for a musical can please all generations.With 2018 just days away, here are some of the musicals you might want to check out to celebrate the New Year.Sister ActThe only English-language production on our list, this piece brings the 1990s comedy-classic movie to the stage. Packed with humor, disco and the soulful music of 1970s Philadelphia, the musical stars Dene Hill as the protagonist Delores Van Cartier, a nightclub singer who

Homegrown craft beer joint owner turns a Korean-style house into bed-and-breakfast

Dental reshaping, a procedure to change a tooth‘s length, shape or surface, is common especially among celebrities to improve the appearance of their smile. However, nowadays, dental veneer treatment is much preferred for aesthetic purposes since the conventional orthodontic treatment, which involves braces and wires, takes an average of one year or more to complete. Sesigan Dental Clinic’s Sun Jong-yeonDental veneers are a thin porcelain shells that are used to cover the front of the teeth. The

Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo were spotted at a local bowling alley on Dec. 24. According to various news reports, the celebrity couple was seen bowling with some friends on Christmas Eve. In the revealed photos, the two actors, donning casual outfits, spent time at a bowling alley in Itaewon, Seoul.  (Weibo)Starring together as the lead couple of the drama series “Descendants of the Sun,” the couple tied the knot on Oct. 31, 2017.(khnews@heraldcorp.com)

To mark the first sunrise of 2018, Seoul is set to hold various festivals around the city on Jan. 1, the city government said Monday. The first sunrise will be seen from the city at around 7:47 a.m., according to Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute.Seoul introduced the 20 best spots to view the sunrise, including six mountains located near downtown Seoul, 11 mountains located in the outskirts of the city and three big parks. The places are listed below. (Yonhap)1. Six mountains near the

A Santa Claus village in Bonghwa County, North Gyeongsang Province, welcomed visitors on Christmas Day, Yonhap News Agency reported. (Yonhap)The county held the opening ceremony of its 2017 Winter Santa Village at Buncheon Station Plaza. About 500 people, including locals and tourists, flocked there to enjoy a Nanta performance and a prize draw. The PyeongChang Olympics torch relay also took place at the ceremony. (Yonhap)The village features Christmas-themed installations, including an igloo an

Holiday feast at Millennium Seoul HiltonMillennium Seoul Hilton is offering Milton’s Festive Feast, a dining and entertainment promotion for the holiday season. The event will be held at the Atrium on the third floor on Sunday starting at 6 p.m., and features a buffet of various dishes, Santa Claus, live piano and brass music, a photo zone, comedy show and raffle. The hotel has been celebrating Christmas for the last 22 years. The two-floor lobby is decorated with a 10-meter Christmas tree, Sant