More Koreans seek simpler lives by organizing and minimizing

Miso CEO Victor Ching dreams of creating a cleaning business version of Uber

A couple of years ago, college student Do Ji-eun unfollowed every single person she followed on Instagram. She started to follow people again, but choosing only those whom she really cared about. Painstaking though this process may seem, Do said that cutting off unnecessary ties had a positive impact. In Korean, an “inmaek diet” -- inmaek meaning relationships in Korean -- involves detaching oneself from numerous acquaintances or personal connections. It’s a common practice for Koreans suffering

My tiny studio apartment found its ideal identity as “home” only after I removed all the unnecessary items.It was at the school library where the idea of throwing away some of my personal belongings came across my mind. The book titled “Living with Less” by Mary Lambert, a decluttering and feng shui consultant in the UK, offered a way to create comfort by getting rid of excessive possessions at home.As I wanted a fresh start for 2018, minimizing the clutter was the perfect shift. Decluttering th

Following a 4.8-magnitude earthquake detected near the coastal city of Pohang last month, experts are again voicing concerns that the Korean Peninsula may no longer be safe from strong shock waves.The earthquake was an aftershock of the 5.4-magnitude earthquake that occurred in the same city in November last year. While no lives were lost in the November earthquake, some 1,500 residents in the area were left homeless. The quake is creating concerns as experts have repeatedly predicted the likeli

Strawberry afternoon at Sheraton D Cube CityFor those who are unsure who filling a buffet of strawberries can be, Sheraton Seoul D Cube City has prepared a strawberry afternoon tea set. On an intricately designed tea tray, 12 sweets and snacks, all centered on the use of fresh strawberries, are prepared. The hotel’s Lobby Lounge on the 41st floor is widely known for its panoramic view of the city. While enjoying the tea set, one can get a bird‘s eye view of the city. The tea set is offered until

Korean-American rapper PH-1 talks about Gatsby-inspired album and faith

The hip-hop scene is characterized by its own style of dress -- its loose yet cool sense of fashion. Thanks to the music genre’s recent boom, more people than ever are seeking to dress like the rappers and DJs that they admire. Hip-hop fashion is more commonly referred to as street fashion in Korea. Though the term was originally used to differentiate the “realway” look from the runway one, it is now used to signify a hip-hop style. Rap has been creating a buzz in the last couple of years. Audit

Subculture of hip-hop has grown to claim place in hearts of Koreans as way of life

A scene that may seem weird or unique to foreign bystanders is the common ritual in South Korea to celebrate the Lunar New Year: younger family members make a full bow, or saebae, to their elders, as they receive envelopes -- of cold, hard cash -- as gifts carrying messages of the best wishes for the future.As relatives gather for the Seollal holiday, usually at the home of the “highest-ranking” member of the extended family, they dress in neat garments, sometimes traditional hanbok, and take pa

Lunar New Year a time for solidifying business relationships with gift boxes, and showering family with gifts of cash

Lunar New Year, or Seollal, like Christmas season in the West, is supposed to be a fun and relaxing family time. But for some -- especially married women in Korea -- the holiday is more regarded as a time of endurance with long hours of domestic labor. Stemming from the Confucian tradition in which making the home is the sole “virtue” of wives, visiting the home of the husband’s parents is prioritized during the holidays. While at their in-laws, it is mostly the women’s’ responsibility to cook t

Valentine day at Millennium Seoul Hilton Millennium Seoul Hilton has prepared everything needed for the special day, from dinner to gifts. Gourmet six-course dinner can be met at the hotel’s Italian trattoria, Il Ponte. The set menu consists of carpaccio, pasta, entree and dessert, a gratifying combination. The course costs 110,000 won and requires a minimum order for two. The hotel’s Cilantro Deli, located on the first floor, offers the classic but romantic gifts for lovers, including premium c

Official licensed goods are available at Lotte Department Store branches, tourist spots and Olympic venues

The term “soul food” was coined in southern US states by African-Americans in the 1960s. Soul food reflected the sorrow and pain among slaves in the region who had to make do with the food they were given. These days, however, the meaning has somewhat changed to convey nostalgic dishes that give people comfort.The English term is now also commonly used among South Koreans to describe dishes that are quite different to traditional meals that hark back to the Joseon era.As Koreans’ soul food has i