For those eager to learn about the history and making of traditional Korean alcohol, Seoul has a number of places dedicated to showcasing local liquor. One such place is The Sool Gallery, nestled in Seoul’s traditional neighborhood and tourist hotspot of Insa-dong. The Sool Gallery is a traditional Korean liquor exhibition and tasting room that opened its doors last year. Catering largely to tourists and foreign travelers, the gallery provides educational programs about traditional drinks run by

Architect Kim Min-kyu returns home, applies ‘fermentation architecture’ thesis to expand family business

Before the colonial Japanese government imposed its liquor tax law here in 1909, the country’s alcohol scene was varied and vibrant, with local breweries concocting their own beverages.Korea’s rapid, centralized modernization in the postwar years produced a handful of drinks -- soju, beer and makgeolli in particular -- that quenched the thirst of industrialists and salarymen alike. Korea’s traditional liquors, including takju (opaque, coarsely fermented drinks), yakju (filtered rice wine), soju

South Korea has had 11 presidents -- six of them directly elected -- but nearly all saw a gloomy end to their terms. Three were forced to step down, one was assassinated and another jumped to his death after retirement. Most had their legacies tainted by scandals and two of them were put behind bars.President Park Geun-hye, the only woman and unmarried leader of the 11, appears to have failed to escape the trap. With 16 months left in her five-year term, Park is facing a humiliating crisis that

Cheong Wa Dae and its inner workings are mostly veiled, apart from a museum about the history of former presidents and video clips of high-profile meetings aired on TV. So to many South Koreans, the allegations that Choi Soon-sil, President Park Geun-hye’s civilian friend, had been freely coming and going into the presidential palace are beyond comprehension, not to mention her suspected meddling in state affairs and alleged pocketing of taxpayers’ money. Located at the foot of Bugaksan in centr

Less than a decade ago, Halloween was nothing more than a fancy-dress party known to Koreans through Hollywood movies. Now, it’s common to see people here donning masks and capes and stores promote Halloween-themed treats throughout October.The festive holiday has become a marketing dream here and everyone is keen to get their share. Models present various Halloween-themed products at Lotte Mart in Guro, Seoul. (Lotte Mart)Irene Park, 28, is planning to dress up as Alice from “Alice‘s Adventures

Kindergarten parties run the risk of turning into a costume competition for moms

For 48-year-old Yeom Deok-gi, settling in the countryside had always been the dream.Now a mushroom farmer, the former soldier said the pressure of South Korea’s competitive and hectic society had motivated him to take on the rural life.  Yeom explains greenhouse mushroom farming. (Yoon Min-sik/The Korea Herald)“It’s stress, really. You know how you try to hold it in, but sometimes feel like you’ve had enough and are about to explode? I felt I would explode someday, which is why I came here,” he

In much of the developed world, retirees dream of escaping the city and settling down in the countryside where the air is cleaner, and life is quieter and simpler. In South Korea’s hyper-competitive and fast-changing society, many mid-career professionals, too, fancy a rural life. (Bloomberg)This younger group is choosing rurality not to retire, but to have a more fulfilling working life in a healthier environment away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Many are drawn by the rural way of li

After hesitating for a long time, Choi Hyeong-tae, a 64-year-old retiree in Seoul, finally made up his mind to live in the countryside for the rest of his life. Then he faced the next question, “Where and how?”Instead of hurrying to a real estate agency to buy a rural home as many do, he visited one of the nation’s support centers for people looking to move to rural areas, where systemized directions to relocating and living in the countryside are offered. From April, Choi took a course provided

Baseball boom shows no sign of abating, diversifying fan base

Spectators come in representative colors. Electrically amplified cheering and sing-alongs by fans of each team echo throughout ball parks. Cheerleaders, dancing along to K-pop hits during the breaks, wow the tens of thousands in the crowd. The cheering culture of South Korean baseball fans can be overwhelming -- something akin to the overflowing emotions pioneered by the high-profile cheering squad at the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup. Back then, a number of Korean soccer fans clad in trademark red

Hot dogs and nachos are often associated with baseball in the United States. For Korean baseball fans, however, the range of options is far wider. The variety of food available at ball games is a boon for Korean baseball buffs, including Kim Young-won, who frequented the Lotte Giants’ home ground Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan city during the time he lived there.“You only really go to the stadium for the food and the fun that comes with it,” Kim said, “The distance to the field is too far from

Hair care industry grows amid increasing number of people losing their hair

Some apply hair ointment, some spray herbal hair restorer, some take pills, some visit a hair clinic, and some even receive hormone injections, all to stop balding. From low budget daily regimens to pricey scalp treatments, there is a wide range of methods to put an end to hair loss.Scalp acupuncture is performed to increase scalp blood circulation at Thebom Korea Medicine Clinic Bundang Branch. (Thebom Korea Medicine Clinic)“I try to stay away from coffee, and make sure to blow dry my hair afte