Whether it is groceries, clothing, furniture, jewelry or electronics, shopping has never been easier than in South Korea, where it is possible to buy just about anything from the comforts of one’s home using a smartphone or computer. Regardless of the convenience, thousands of Koreans today continue to head to city centers to visit shopping malls, which have evolved from singular department stores into mega “multiplex malls” ― urban hotspots offering not only shopping opportunities, but also a w

What do Les Quatre Temps and Tokyo Midtown have in common? First, they are shopping malls, with the former located in the La Defense district just west of Paris, and the latter in Japan’s capital. Second, they are successful malls, even in the era of e-commerce. They have converged retail, entertainment, residences and hospitality inside one complex, allowing locals and tourists to quench their thirst for entertainment and relaxation. Jose B. Alvarez, former president and CEO of supermarket chai

Herald Interview - While shopping malls have been conventionally tagged as an aggregator of shops, the future of shopping malls lies in being multipurpose public places, claimed Paco Underhill, a noted shopping-related behavior-researcher. Shopping malls will not only cover shopping and dining but also residences and workplaces, and whether Koreans will be able to embrace it all will be the key to the shopping business’ future, Underhill said in a recent telephone interview with The Korea Herald

Two distinct worlds connected for nearly 1,000 years

Itaewon, where Korea meets Muslim world

When Lee Haeng-lae was introduced to Islam in the 1950s, his image of the religion was like most other people during that time: the Koran in one hand, and a sword in another. But after a trip to Malaysia, he realized that Muslims were not violent people and ultimately converted to the religion in the early 1960s.Embracing Islam was not an easy task in a country where the religion has struggled for years against the perception that it is radical and violent. “My father particularly flat-out said,

Two sides expand cooperation for second regional boom

In a highly connected society swamped by hand-held digital devices, more and more people are harking back to simpler times.

The last time Lee Soo-jin carried her own coloring book inside her bag was more than 25 years ago, but it’s a hobby she’s recently picked up again. Lee is not alone ― coloring books are no longer just for kids. “When I was young, I would use my crayons and color until it was broken,” she said. “My favorite was the book of Disney princesses.” Now, the 33-year-old office worker doesn’t use pink and red to color Cinderella’s dress, nor does she ask her mom to buy her a new book. Instead, she takes

Koreans embrace analog tools to seek self-expression, nostalgia and humanistic imperfection

Natural, realistic sound of vinyl records appeals to young Koreans

South Korea is flooded with digital entertainment, ranging from mobile gaming apps to live streaming of personal lives.Oddly enough, the digital onslaught has not killed the old appetite for what scholars describe as the “multisensory experience” unique to analog products. One such analog product group through which Koreans are finding a nostalgic reprieve from digital information overload is toys.Toys are no longer just for kids. The toy market dedicated to Korean adults alone is an estimated 7

Jupan, a time-honored form of calculator also known as the abacus, is reemerging in South Korea as an analog tool to sharpen mental acumen in the era of digital distraction. The abacus was first presented as drawings of circles by Babylonians around B.C. 3000. It was later modified into the shape we know now ― the rectangular wooden frame and beads strung up on metal rods ― by the Chinese in A.D. 1300, who called it “suanpan.” Koreans adopted it in 1400 under the name “jupan.” By visualizing num