This boiling hot noodle soup is a popular summertime dish in Korea. Kalguksu literally means “knife noodles”, but it actually refers to a steaming hot noodle soup that’s traditionally made with handmade, knife-cut noodles. There are many variations using different ingredients for the soup base or for the dough. Dak (chicken) kalguksu is made with a rich chicken broth, and shredded chicken meat. For convenience, you can use commercially packaged fresh kalguksu noodles available in the refrigerat

With about 70 percent of land in South Korea covered by mountainous regions, hiking is a familiar and accessible pastime for many Koreans.During the summer, Koreans often visit the mountains and spend time in the valleys and riverside to ward off the heat and escape from the daily grind. Here are several popular valleys to visit for the summer.　Achimgari Achimgari (Yonhap)Achimgari, a valley located on Mount Bangtaesan in Inje, Gangwon province, is famous for its trekking course.It has earned it

(123rf) As the summer sun takes its toll on the best of outdoorsman, some are turning to night hiking. Exploring the wilderness in the dark is a whole new experience that simulates all one’s senses, enthusiasts say, if one only follows key safety tips. Seoul’s Yangcheon-gu, the first district to launch an official nighttime trekking program in 2011, is holding a weekly group hiking program every Thursday evening until Aug. 27.Approximately 100 people sign up for the 2-hour excursion, said Kim Se

Taste of Thailand at Sheraton D Cube City  Sheraton D Cube City Hotel is presenting authentic Thai dishes for its “Thai@Feast” promotion from Aug.7-27 at the hotel’s signature restaurant Feast on the 41st floor. The menu will be prepared by guest chefs from Thailand’s Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit in Bangkok. The chefs will present an assortment of Thai dishes including the Kaho Samunprai Nai Kratong Tong, or organic crispy rice, and Kanom Pang Na Goog, a deep-fried shrimp toast with sweet plum sauc

 The Incheon International Airport will hold cultural performances to help travelers beat the heat during this summer vacation season. The “Fantastic Summer Concert” will be held from July 28 to Aug. 2 at the airport’s Millennium Hall on the first floor of its passenger terminal. The concert, which is open to all visitors for free, will be held for about 90 minutes on July 28 at 10 p.m., and at 4 p.m. on July 29 through Aug. 2. 　K-pop stars including Lena Park will hold a live-stage concert. Als

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that the Korean Pavilion at the Milan Expo saw more than 1 million visitors since it opened to the public in May.The ministry in partnership with the Korea Tourism Organization and Korean Air awarded a round-trip ticket from Milan to Incheon to the 1 millionth visitor, who came from Rome. The Korean Pavilion at Milan Expo (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)The ministry said that some 12,000 tourists have been visiting the Korean Pavilion a d

Air Busan has started offering direct flight services to the tourist island of Guam from Busan, making it the airliner’s 15th international route.The budget airliner will be offering Busan-Guam flights four days a week on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.Air Busan flight No. BX612 will take off from Busan at 10:15 p.m. and land in Guam in the Western Pacific at 3:10 in the morning the following day. Flight No. BX611 will leave the island at 4:10 a.m. and arrive in Busan at 7:10 a.m. on t

An international cultural forum in Seoul in late summer will assemble the world’s creative opinion leaders to experience, discuss and globalize Korean culture. The Culture Communication Forum, organized by the Corea Image Communications Institute, will be held from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, inviting 14 influential figures, including a festival director, dance director, museum director, performance producer, policy advisor, architect, curator, journalist, former broadcaster, cartoonist, musician, singe

“IS Report” By Samuel Laurent, Korean translation by Eun-Jung Felsner / (Hanul Publishing Group) Since it declared statehood about a year ago, the Islamic State, a jihadist militant group, has been making headlines with beheadings of hostages, terrorist attacks and other nefarious activities to push for its religious causes.Despite the U.S.-led fight against the radical group, the IS has been strengthening its clout in Iraq, Syria and beyond, as if to confirm the revival of a “caliphate,” a poli

Showing contempt for the calendar, expats in Gwangju are holding a Christmas-themed family event at the height of summer in aid of disadvantaged children. Saturday’s “Christmas in July” event will raise money for Adopt a Child for Christmas, a campaign that provides gifts to children each Christmas at orphanages in the Gwangju area.Christmas in July will include a Hawaiian shirt contest, paper snowflake lessons, Christmas card making, and a water balloon toss and other party games, while a conce

As part of ongoing efforts to help expats integrate into Korean society, the Itaewon Global Village Center held its first town meeting specifically for Islamic and African residents on Friday. There are now 270,000 foreign residents in Seoul, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Muslim and African residents make up a small minority of the total, but are two communities that have thrived in the Yongsan district. The Itaewon Global Village Center is one of several operated by the Seoul

A group of Korean children play an exhibition game of Gaelic football during halftime at the Connaught final at MacHale Park in Ireland as part of a program organized by Seoul Gaels to promote the sport. (Seoul Gaels)Ask Korean students what sports they play and you will usually hear the stock responses: soccer, basketball or baseball. However, 15-year-old Lee Si-hun plays an unusual sport ― Gaelic football. The sport, originating from Ireland, can be described as an interesting cross between ru

Peruvian cuisine, famous for its diversity and creativity, has come to the fore of international attention in recent years, abetted by experimental efforts and proactive promotion. Eight Peruvian restaurants were listed last year in a list of Latin America’s 50 best restaurants sponsored by mineral water brand Acqua Panna S. Pellegrino, and two were included in its list of the top 50 in the world. Peru’s disparate ecosystem, biodiversity and climate from the Pacific Ocean, Lake Titicaca, Andes M

Kick-start to durable plan of healthy living