Almost ubiquitous in Seoul, bakery chains seek higher growth overseas

Digital technology empowers individuals to emerge as media organizations

Today, in a world where anyone can easily upload a video of themselves doing anything and everything, video blogging has become the new mode of self-expression.“Vloggers” ― or video bloggers, who film or live-stream their thoughts, ideas and interests, have become tremendously popular here in the past years. Some of them rack up fans just like K-pop celebrities, while others are earning significant income through broadcasting online.The genres vary, befitting the increasing influence of video co

Mobile-friendly Korea is ‘exciting market’ with robust growth potential for the top video-sharing website

Facebook remains the king of social media for now, but its reign is not eternally secure, and evidence for this can be found in one of its own affiliates: Instagram. A growing number of Facebook and other social media users are setting up accounts on Instagram to share their personal photos. Celebrity photos on Instagram ― often uploaded by the stars themselves ― are avidly consumed by both fans and the media. The number of Korean users is estimated at more than 4 million, the majority of them b

The Korean Instagram users with the most number of followers are, rather unsurprisingly, K-pop stars. The following are the top Instagram users with their accounts and the number of followers each one has.1. G-Dragon @xxxibgdrgn (Big Bang) 4.4MLeader of YG Entertainment boy band Big Bang, G-Dragon, also a solo artist, is drawing a growing number of followers with photos reflecting his fashion sense.2. Chanyeol @real__pcy (EXO) and Taeyeon @taeyeon_ss (SNSD) 4M   EXO’s Chanyeol and Girls’ Generat

South Korean YouTube star Na Dong-hyun ― better known by his alias “Great Library” ― says anyone can be a celebrity on the global video-sharing platform if they can stay consistent and unique. “Some beginners think they should be more outstanding or brilliant than the current hit YouTubers. What you need, however, is sustainable content and a unique character,” Na said in an interview with The Korea Herald.The 37-year-old has garnered 1 million subscribers on his YouTube channel by playing onlin

Korean hospitality industry strives to accommodate tourism boom

In the heart of Jongno-gu, just east of Gyeongbokgung Palace, lies the quaint hillside neighborhood of Samcheong-dong, well-known for its abundance of chic cafes and small gift shops. From offering simple one-room hanok stays to the more sophisticated options of established hanok boutique hotels ― such as the Cheong Yeon Jae Hanok Hotel or the Haeinjung Boutique Hanok Hotel ― this area has been a magnet for tourists looking to regale in the out-of-the-box lodging experience and a taste of past-t

When Paul McCartney was planning a visit to Korea for his first concert in Seoul on May 2, he requested his team to find a hotel with a room that comes with a balcony.In the overpopulated business district of Gangnam, a hotel room with a balcony is rare. When everyone was curious where the 72-year-old rock star stayed, his fans on a hunt to spot their star found out that McCartney was staying at the Ritz-Carlton, Seoul, located just 5 kilometers from the concert venue at Jamsil Sports Complex. L

At its core, the function of a hotel is to offer guests a place to stay the night. However, in Korea, luxury hotels are widely known for another function: hosting gatherings of various types and sizes. These events have become an important source of revenue for hotels, which are facing fierce competition from guest houses offering cheaper accommodations and rental services like AirBnB. “If you look at the sales figures, banquets such as conferences and weddings make more than rooms,” said Hannah

Urban dwellers have, at least once, dreamed of taking a spontaneous trip with little or no planning.Kim Ka-young, cofounder of Bonbonlab, the developer of hotel booking application Hotel Now, was one of them.When Kim was in her senior year at a local university, she randomly took a train to Busan without planning what to do and where to stay. She then realized that there was no affordable accommodation available for her that night. She contacted some 20 hotels and hostels, but they demanded a su

The catchphrase, “Do what you love,” holds special significance when it comes to craft brewing, according to Brian Do, the operator of the Hand and Malt Brewing Co. “Running a craft brewery requires a great deal of passion and love for beer,” said Do, who calls himself chief beer taster. “If not, a brewer cannot produce beer with consistent taste and quality,” he stressed.Korea’s craft brewery business is still in an infant stage, with a limited number of mass produced insipid light lagers havin

On a Saturday afternoon, the Coex mall in southern Seoul teemed with people. They were of different ages, different styles and sexes. But had one thing in common ― they sought a good time at the mall. They would come hand-in-hand, window shop, point at things they liked and go in, or just pass by. Some would queue in front of popular restaurants, or enjoy a cup of coffee. At the center of the mall is a plaza where rather-unknown buskers would play a tune or two, making people stop for a while an