Having lived in the United States since her childhood, 27-year-old graduate student Lee Hee-jung was surprised when she saw her roommates sifting through the garbage to separate milk cartons from trash bags filled with paper. “Back in the U.S., I would lump together trash and put it on the road where trash operators would pick it up. Since recycling is not mandatory in our state, that was pretty much all I had to do. Now I struggle here with my roommate nagging me for not following the recycling

Since the early 2000s, South Korea welcomed a new group of writers who delved into their unique experiences as Korean millennials, as well as the horrors and joys of modern Korean life.Among them, one of the most prominent writers is Kim Ae-ran, who rose to instant literary stardom in 2003 when her short story, “No Knocking in this House,” won the Daesan Literary Award.Kim Ae-ran (Yes 24)It depicted the life of five young women who live in separate rooms at a boarding house but have minimal cont

Library-style cafes rarely spur reading, but provide new cultural hub

Online literature works captivate readers for a quick entertainment fix

When R-rated flick “Fifty Shades of Grey” opened in theaters here in February, the box-office score was a big disappointment with only 364,410 tickets sold. However, the story was different in the e-book market. The eponymous title, written by E.L. James, nabbed No. 1 in March for several consecutive weeks on major e-book charts, including Yes24, Kyobo Bookstore and Interpark, while the paper copy didn’t even reach the top 10 list. The book’s latest sequel “The Grey” also ranked high on e-book c

In today’s fast-paced and competitive society, it is quite a challenge to keep in touch with people we cherish.  The rising popularity of bicycles has made bicycle clubs a potential solution for quenching our thirst for human affection by forming new relationships. Such clubs, which often offer a family-like atmosphere, come with the added benefit of staying fit and healthy at the same time. Since riding in groups requires strong teamwork at times, especially on rough routes, it is often said to

As the seasons turn and fall comes into full swing, the streets are seeing more office workers commuting on bicycles. 　A recent poll conducted by job searching portal www.career.co.kr showed that 30 percent of office workers from a randomly selected pool of 440 people commuted on bicycles. The benefit of daily exercise and cost-efficiency of the man-powered vehicle were cited as the two major reasons for cycling to work. Park’s shot of a fellow cyclist returning home from work　Civil servant Park

Bicycles enjoy rising popularity for business and pleasure

Korea’s bicycle industry is changing.  　As a growing number of upper-income professionals pick the two-wheelers to commute to work, enjoy it as healthy hobby and, moreover, express themselves, the premium bicycle market is booming, driving the whole industry forward. 　According to market analysts, 30-40 year old professionals have become major consumers of the local bike industry, which is estimated at 550 billion won ($487 million) in size this year. It’s a big change from the past when the maj

Magnificent scenery with thrill of excitement is worth two-hour bike ride

As bikes become more popular, and pricey, bicycle-related crimes are also on the rise. 　 A few weeks ago, Lee Sung-jae, a 25-year-old university student, parked his bicycle on a public bike rack close to Seoul’s Wangsimni Station, safely padlocked. When he got back to the rack the next day, however, what he found was his precious bicycle completely knocked over and without the front wheel. 　 “I had to carry my bicycle without a wheel all the way back home that day,” he said.

While the translation of different languages is one of the most commonly known forms of interpretation, there are other unique types of interpretation that serve to protect the people or connect societies that otherwise remain poles apart.Air Force interpreter officers salute at a ceremony in March at the Air Force’s Operations Command in Osan Air Base, Gyeonggi Province, marking their completion of training. (Air Force)They range from sign language translators who act as the gateway to the outs

Tension filled the room as a senior Seoul official sat at the negotiating table with his U.S. counterparts and a professional interpreter. Seeking to break the ice, he told them a story starting with a Korean proverb. Word for word, it was supposed to be “Too many boatmen steer a boat to the mountain.” Instead, the interpreter opted for what she believed was a more comprehensible expression, “Too many cooks spoil the broth.” Yet the official, who had expected to hear “ship” or “mountain” to his

Working beside society’s elite, they fly hundreds of thousands of miles every year on charter planes. They speak about pressing brainteasers with the top actors on the world stage. They have access to the heavily fortified Cheong Wa Dae and its inner workings, as well as those of other presidential offices around the globe. Despite their seemingly coveted call of duty, almost the only time they make the headlines is when they blunder. At times, they are bewildered by the convoluted, highfalutin