Korean-style fried chicken has made a name for itself in the global food scene with its crisp texture and various seasoning sauces.  On its home turf, it has become the subject of a debate among local foodies after a famous food critic Hwang Kyo-ik slammed chefs who make the dish for using small chickens and relying too much on sauce.  “Korean chicken is not tasty because the chicken is small. The dish sold at local restaurants uses a broiler weighing about 1.5 kilograms. It i

Several years ago, I was on vacation in Korea’s east coast with my family, riding three-wheeled all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Our guide told us to go up a steep mountain in the rain. Unfortunately I had a very bad fall, which led to a fracture on my upper femur bone right below the socket. Long story short, instead of spending the day riding ATVs we rode ambulances. I had surgery and was hospitalized for a few days. During the hospitalization I lost over 4.5 kilograms due to the stress and

InterContinental Seoul pesents ‘Romantic Holiday’ Package Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Samseong-dong announced its plan to offer the Romantic Holiday Package, prepared especially for lovers in the Christmas and year-end season, until Dec. 31. A body oil and body lotion set worth 174,000 won from French haute couture beauty brand BULY 1803 is included as a Christmas gift. A complimentary bottle of Mosel Christmas wine for a year-end mood and a tin of cookies are also provid

Dried persimmons are considered a representative Korean traditional snack, one that was long favored by royalty. Because of an arduous cultivation process, dried persimmons were only available to people of high class.  People from Haman, North Gyeongsang Province, take deep pride in their dried persimmons, which are extremely chewy and sweet. The texture and sweetness are achieved by drying them in the clean wind at the apex of Yeohangsan, which stands approximately 770 meters above sea l

Seasoned dried sea lettuce with chili pepper bugak Every year in late fall Yeongseonsa staff trim chili peppers, the last harvest of the season, and prepare a generous batch of bugak by coating them with glutinous rice paste and drying them. Whenever the temple has an event, big or small, they deep fry this bugak, mix it with chili paste (gochujang) and grain syrup and serve. If you pan-fry dried sea lettuce (parae), which has the savory taste of the sea, and mix together with bugak, it will en

With Christmas right around the corner, there’s never been a better time to listen to K-pop especially tailored for the festive season. Following is a selection of Christmas music featuring BTS, Davichi and Wheein and Ailee sure to create just the right Christmas mood for listeners. BTS’ “Butter (Holiday Remix)” K-pop sensation BTS is ringing in the season of festive joy with its first-ever Christmas-themed song, “Butter (Holiday Remix),” released on Dec.

InterContinental Seoul pesents ‘A Bite of Winter’ package The InterContinental Seoul Coex in Samseong-dong is offering the “A Bite of Winter” package for customers wanting to escape the cold with warm winter treats. Freshly baked twisted doughnuts and churros from the hotel bakery will be served with two cups of hot chocolate, as well as complimentary access to the hotel‘s relaxing 25-meter indoor pool and fitness club, which is bathed in natural light and overlo

The end of the year is almost here, but relief from the two-year disruption to life as we know it still eludes us. A hidden location in central Seoul can perhaps give you a moment of escape, to take comfort in the familiar. Opened in 2015, Charles H. at Four Seasons Seoul is a speakeasy bar behind an unmarked door, downstairs from the hotel lobby. The bar is named after Charles H., an avid traveler and cocktail book writer in the early 20th century. The bar is based on New York’s subterr

It took becoming a chef for Yoon Tae-hyeon to realize his lifelong dream of becoming a playwright. “My tofu plays Romeo, and rice wine Juliet. The side dishes play the role of supporting actors creating the overall mood, while the main dish comes out as the lead character of an epic drama, called the Hwanggeum Kongbat,” said Yoon, who is the owner-chef of Hwanggeum Kongbat, a Michelin Green Star restaurant that offers some 20 different tofu dishes. Yoon, now in his 50s, had given

If you are hosting a dinner party, this Korean pork dish will definitely be delicious and memorable for your guests. Have a bossam party! You will love the taste and texture, and most of all, it’s fun dining together making bossam wraps with varying ingredients. What is bossam? Bossam is a popular Korean dish, consisting of boiled pork belly wrapped with napa cabbage leaves or lettuce, and served with dipping sauce. Traditionally a thick cut of pork belly is boiled in a slightly flavore

Grand InterContinental Seoul presents ‘Christmas Cake’ Grand Deli, located on the ground floor of Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in southern Seoul, offers holiday cakes made by three master patissiers, including Kim Dong-woo, in charge of the hotel’s bakery team. Kim recommends three cakes for this year-end season -- chocolate tree mugwort cake with delicate mugwort cream on top of chocolate sheet cake; pine tree cake decorated with a Christmas tree made from Chantilly cr

GANGNEUNG, Gangwon Province -- After a two-year break forced by the pandemic, the long awaited Gangneung Coffee Festival returned for its 13th edition, Thursday to Sunday. With the slogan, “Nonetheless, coffee,” some 80 coffee-themed booths were set up at Daedohobu Gwana, a site where central government officials from the capital visiting the region stayed during the Goryeo Kingdom and Joseon era. Friday saw its signature program, “100 People 100 Tastes,” a massive sim

Localro, a popup store located in Seongsu-dong, a hip neighborhood in eastern Seoul with emerging artists and vibrant flea markets, displays local food products in neatly designed packaging. Since its opening on Nov. 16, the store has steadily attracted passersby who had no prior knowledge of the store, but ended up leaving with a handful of goods. The 13-day popup event is organized by the Korea Tourism Organization and run by Project Rent, an offline platform marketing company, with aims to

When you hear the word bulgogi, you immediately think of the famous Korean beef dish. However, bulgogi isn’t limited to beef. Try this chicken bulgogi -- Korean chicken barbecue -- and you will be surprised how wonderful chicken tastes. Chicken bulgogi, also known as dak bulgogi, is often confused with dak galbi, another spicy Korean chicken recipe. While dak galbi is chicken and vegetables pan-fried all together with a spicy sauce in one skillet, dak bulgogi is solely chicken without any

Andaz Seoul Gangnam launches ‘Guy’s Night Out’ Andaz Seoul Gangnam, a lifestyle hotel located in Apgujeong, is offering the “Guy’s Night Out” staycation package, featuring spacious luxurious accommodations in an Andaz Suite for up to four people. The package includes a special drink basket with Grey Goose vodka, four bottles of beer and a “Hangover Food Set” packaged with hangover-helper drinks, seafood ramen and french fries. Complimentary acce