Drinking is almost a national sport in Korea, and soju takes a large chunk of the market.Soju is so popular that the fact that mineral water sales outpaced those of soju at one of Korea’s largest supermarket chains made headlines in 2015. Soju comes in many shapes and guises, ranging from the cheap but effective brands that cost about $1 a bottle at a supermarket to those produced using traditional methods with significantly higher price tags. Regardless of the quality of soju, “anju,” or food e

Every Thursday evening, a group of 20 people gather at a hands-on food lab on the 10th floor of a quiet building in Jongno, central Seoul. The lab of Makgeolli School is clean, with five smooth countertops surrounded by barstools, and earthen pots and ingredients stacked against the walls. There are huge sinks for washing rice, pots for steaming it, huge earthen jars for fermentation, and smaller jars and bottles labeled with the names of herbs and medicinal ingredients for flavoring. Students h

Instead of tearing down buildings and starting anew, regions across Korea have given neglected areas a new purpose for public use. Here are eight urban renewal projects that aim to transform rural, run-down or deserted areas into praised landmarks.　Seoul Station overpass SeoulThe Seoul city government plans to transform Seoul Station overpass, a 1-kilometer-long section of a flyover near Seoul Station, into a pedestrian walkway as part of its urban renewal projects. Dubbed Korea’s version of New

Regions push projects to revive shattered communities, boost local economy

A few years ago, office worker Lee Yu-na had a nightmare finding parking space when visiting Bukchon Hanok Village, one of the popular tourist destinations in northern Seoul. Despite her unsavory memory of paying fines for parking her car in a no-parking area, she had to visit the village again last month, on request by her friend from the U.S. But this time she felt more confident. A smart parking lot management solution developed by smart parking app operator ParkingCloud is installed at the J

Last month, an elevated road crossing located near Seoul Station officially closed down, signaling the beginning of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s 23.2 billion won ($18.95 million) project to turn the decades-old structure into a high-rise public park.　Led by Seoul City Mayor Park Won-soon, the plan is aimed at transforming the 46-year-old overpass in central Seoul into a pedestrian park by 2017. The mega project is similar to the High Line Park in New York City, a landmark urban renewal ca

When Heo Nanseolheon (1563-1589) was just 8 years old, she wrote her iconic piece “Inscriptions on the Ridge Pole of the White Jade Pavilion in Kwanghan Palace,” a poem filled with a unique imagination about the world of spiritual beings. Today, the piece is still considered as the work of a poetic genius -- who later died at age of 27, after suffering an unhappy marriage and the deaths of her two children.　Heo is one of very few women writers from Korea’s Confucian Joseon kingdom (1392-1897), w

“Mediocrities everywhere, I absolve you. I absolve you, all,” uttered Antonio Salieri in the 1984 film “Amadeus,” loosely based on the real life of the Italian classical composer and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.　As Mozart’s less-capable archrival, the movie version of Salieri was forced to shudder in jealousy, marvel with wonder, and bear witness to the immortal genius of a man many consider to be one of the greatest musical talents of all time. 　Throughout history, tales of those with exceptional c

The debate over gifted education in Korea is generally played out between two sides: Opponents argue the special education program is tailored for the select few and undermines the principle of equal opportunity, while others see the programs as a chance to foster smart minds who can lead the nation. (Chung Hee-cho/The Korea Herald)An expert in gifted education agrees with the latter. Suh Ye-won, director of the state-run National Research Center for Gifted and Talented Education, says such educ

Screengrab from the SBS show “Finding Genius.”A toddler, a little over 2-years-old, waddles in front of the camera and onlookers to look for a Chinese character on the screen. Still in diapers, the boy identifies the word.The screen changes to flash “I touch my eye” in English, which 27-month-old I-jun also reads out.The scene is from the 37th episode of “Finding Genius” from local broadcaster SBS, a weekly show dedicated to shining a spotlight on children with unusual talents or skills. In Kore

Last month, 18-year-old Song Yoo-geun retracted his first academic paper “Axisymmetric, Nonstationary Black Hole Magnetospheres: Revisited” -- which would have made him the youngest-ever Korean Ph.D. -- after he was accused of plagiarism.The shattered legend of a science prodigy once dubbed “boy genius” by media -- and showered with government support from 2010 -- sent shockwaves across the country and stoked questions over whether Korea was headed in the right path in educating its “gifted” chi

Many cities around the world call themselves “the city that never sleeps,” but few live up to that reputation as well as Seoul. The raging nightlife has become a trademark for Korea’s capital, with countless bars, clubs, coffee shops and noraebang (karaoke bars) that welcome in party animals right up until sunrise.　Naturally, Seoulites have developed a high standard for what they are looking for in the perfect club party experience. 　Clubs in Seoul boast some of the most stylish venues in the wo

Clubs are a cultural touchpoint, where music, fashion, visual art and performing arts intersect, influence and blend with one another, says DJ KingmckA DJ, or disc jockey, is much more than just a person who plays recorded music for the audience -- he or she is the director of the performance, headliner of the night’s show, and a trademark of the club industry. DJ Kingmck (Deadend Movement)　Amid the fast-changing cultural trends of these days, it is also an occupation that needs to be redefined

While clubbing in Korea, you may hear a lot of familiar words with unfamiliar meanings or completely new terms altogether. Provided here by The Korea Herald is a dictionary of sorts to help you sail smoothly through the country’s nightlife scene. Syndrome (Syndrome-Redcool Photography)　Clubs, nightclubs, “booking” and cabarets　In Korea, there is a clear distinction between clubs and nightclubs. Clubs are your traditional jam-packed dance halls filled with hip-hop or electronic dance music.　Meanw

A team of Korea Herald reporters went on a weekend crawl of clubs in Seoul’s infamous clubbing districts of Gangnam, Hongdae and Itaewon. The following is our tried and tested list of the hottest clubs in Seoul now. Gangnam, glitz and glam　The inspiration behind that galloping hit track by rapper Psy, Seoul’s well-off Gangnam area is the home ground of some of the most glamorous and sophisticated clubs not only in Korea, but worldwide. Club of clubs: OctagonOctagon (Octagon)　To play it safe, Oct