Seoul identifies five more affected hospitals

American missionary, journalist and educator fought for Korea’s liberation from Japan, laid foundation for modern education

Amid deepening concerns over the spread of the Middle East respiratory syndrome, foreign residents here have remained relatively calm, noting MERS fears have escalated partly due to Seoul authorities’ “clumsy” handling of it and excessive media attention.Some expats pointed out that the government failed to effectively communicate with Koreans as well as foreigners, worsening concerns over MERS, which has killed six of the 87 confirmed cases as of Monday.“Considering how few have actually been a

ULJIN COUNTY, North Gyeongsang Province ― Roughly a four-hour drive from the bustling city center of Seoul lies the peaceful, coastal county of Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province.Known to locals as the snow crab capital of the peninsula, the area has a well-established reputation of having some of the freshest and most affordable raw fish restaurants in the country. However, aside from its delectable sashimi selection, Uljin is also an ideal blend of coast side splendor and vast mountain ranges ―

The Korean government on Friday named the hospital in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, where 71 percent of all confirmed Middle East respiratory syndrome cases in Korea have occurred since May 20, backtracking on its previous stance to withhold a list of affected facilities.Visitors to the facility ― now identified as Pyeongtaek St. Mary’s Hospital ― from May 15-29 have been urged to report themselves to the authorities.As of Friday afternoon, the virus had killed four people, infected 42 and push

From Japanese-style classics to authentic French pastries, variety grows in Korea’s bread scene

At around 12:40 p.m., people started lining up in front of Lee Sung Dang Bakery’s modest-size branch inside a department store in Jamsil, southern Seoul. The reason for the wait is the bakery’s signature red bean buns which come out at 1 p.m.“The line isn’t too bad today,” said Lee Yoon-mi, a customer in her 50s carrying five red bean buns and five vegetable buns on her tray. “I am just glad that I don’t have to go all the way to Gunsan to taste this treat.”Lee Sung Dang, the oldest bakery in Ko

Caribbean Bay to unveil ‘Mega Storm’ Caribbean Bay, the world’s largest indoor/outdoor water park, is getting set to introduce the world’s largest funnel water slide -- Mega Storm.The new attraction is only the second of its kind in the world, following Yas Waterworld’s Dawwama ride in Abu Dhabi. Caribbean Bay’s Mega Storm measures 355 meters, roughly 1.5 times bigger than the Dawwama. The large-scale inner tube waterslide will take riders through an exhilarating series of heart-stopping quick d

Despite the vast demand for additional chains in other, more populated areas like Seoul and even abroad, Sungsimdang stubbornly refuses to expand beyond its three local stores, which have now become Daejeon landmarks. “We want to be unique to the Daejeon area and provide a flavor that people can only taste when visiting here,” said Kim Kang-eun, head of public relations at Sungsimdang. That flavor is the reason foodies and tourists from all over the nation have flocked to the Eunhaeng-dong area

OPS Bakery, BusanOPS’s signature menu is the hagwonjeon, which in Korean means “pastry for hagwon,” or after-school lessons. The idea was to create a simple, hearty snack that Korean children could gobble down with a glass of milk before heading to an evening of grueling studies. Made with eggs and honey from Gyeongju’s Mount Tohamsan, the sweet, spongy cake embodies a typical Korean mother’s caring for her child, said OPS.Another specialty of the bakery is the pollack roe baguette, which combin

During the recent Jeonju International Film Festival, everyone who visited Jeonju seemed to have the same souvenir in mind: a box of bakery PNB’s famous choco pies. The bakery’s bright orange shopping bags were ubiquitous around its branches, and hourlong lines snaked around corners.PNB (also known as Pungnyeon Jegwa) first opened in 1951 in Jungang-dong, Jeonju, and has been passed down through three generations. Instead of choosing to continuously change and expand its offerings, the bakery ha

Summer Splash  at Grand Hyatt IncheonGrand Hyatt Incheon has launched its new “Grand Summer Splash Package,” available from July 17 to Aug. 31. Guests who book the package before July 7 will enjoy a 55,000 won ($50) discount. The package‘s “Fun” option, priced at 235,000 won, includes a one-night stay, breakfast for two, free access to the Grand Play World program and a souvenir. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s three swimming pools, complimentary access to the fitness center and a free shuttle

Street food is an intrinsic part of Korean society, and where there are cups of dried squid, heated silk worm larvae and bowls of spicy rice cakes, there are also pastries that are uniquely Korean.Walk down almost any bustling shopping district or high-time nightlife area and street food vendors selling various types of pastry and cake snacks are an inevitable find; whether it’s the ever-so popular “boongabbang” ― a red bean paste-filled sweet pastry shaped like a fish ― or the sweet-eggy goodne

Artisans turning to age-old starter traditions to craft French-style bread

Seoul confirmed on Friday the fourth death from Middle East respiratory syndrome, while five more have been diagnosed with MERS in the country. One of the newly confirmed patients is an air force officer.As of Friday morning, the virus has killed four people, infected 41 and pushed public health officials to quarantine more than 1,600 others. The numbers are expected to rise as the Seoul municipal government said Thursday that the 35th confirmed patient, a medical doctor, may have exposed 1,500