The McDonald’s outlet near Sinchon Station Exit No. 3 has closed for good after serving its last customers on its final day of business Wednesday. The restaurant was a landmark in the district, selling burgers for 20 years in the vicinity of Yonsei University. When news hit social media in mid-March that the outlet was going to be shuttered due to rising rent, online reactions ranged from disbelief to shock. The McDonald’s sign was taken down from the Sinchon Station branch at around 1:30 a.m. T

High levels of fine dust were observed in South Korea on Friday, with yellow dust coming from China. As of 2 p.m. on the day, the concentration of fine dust was over 300 micrograms per cubic meter in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. In Incheon, South Chungcheong Province, Sejong, Ulsan and Busan, levels of fine dust went over 200 micrograms per cubic meter. Local governments issued PM 10 advisories, which are issued when fine dust with density of over 150 micrograms per cubic meter continues for two

Kyochon Chicken, the biggest fried chicken franchise in South Korea, will begin charging a fee of 2,000 won ($1.80) per delivery, starting May 1.Kyochon said it is currently in talks with all franchise members across the nation to put the plan into action.  (Kyochon)The company decided to charge the fee, as higher delivery costs are hurting the profitability of its franchise restaurants. The Korean government’s decision to raise the minimum wage has imposed burdens on business owners here, leadi

Since 2014, student models of Daeduk University have hosted an unusual catwalk under cherry blossom trees in full bloom.Daeduk University is located in the center of South Korea in Daejeon and runs a two-year program for aspiring models. Students learn proper posture and the many ways to execute a walk with style. The university’s “Department of Model” was established in 2014 and has since gained fame through its catwalk under the cherry blossoms. Both male and female students participate, altho

A South Korean software company has launched a specialty tour service targeting foreign visitors hoping for their own “oppa,” as depicted in Korean TV dramas. Korean women use the term “oppa” to address an older male family member, friend or romantic partner of the same generation. The service -- “Oh My Oppa” -- allows foreign visitors to “rent an oppa.” “It started out as a joke that foreigners coming to Korea expect to find men like the ones they see on dramas, but no, there aren’t any men on

CGV is offering discounts to anyone who speaks a foreign language or dresses in a cultural costume on April 1 while purchasing tickets in person at the counter. “It’s a one-day event where we’re saying we’ll give discounts to practically anyone and everyone,” a representative of CGV told The Korea Herald on Thursday.“You don’t even have to speak a proper foreign language. Say whatever gibberish, we’ll still give the discounts.” Movie tickets will be offered at a reduced rate of 8,000 won ($7.50)

The new SBS series “Switch: Change the World” depicts a petty conman serving justice to the corrupt rich by faking the role of a prosecutor.The aim of the program is to deal a cathartic blow to the world where true villains live in penthouses while petty criminals are put behind the bars.The satisfaction will be thrilling, promised director Nam Tae-jin, at the press conference for the show held at SBS headquarters in Mok-dong, Seoul, Wednesday, where he was joined by the main stars Jang Geun-suk

A victim of dating violence that shocked Korea last week came forward to share her story in detail on a live radio program Tuesday.The woman, a college student in Busan, claimed that her boyfriend had ordered her to dress in white clothes so that he could “beat her red,” sending a wave of shock and outrage at local online communities.The man is accused of beating the victim unconscious after she asked to end their three-month relationship. He then dragged the unconscious victim to his apartment

Spring blossoms at Sky Park in Sangnam-dong, Seoul, have fought their way out to shine in a city covered in a veil of fine dust.The extreme levels of fine dust in the country are expected to continue for the time being, according to the National Institute of Environmental Research. Ultra-fine dust bypasses the body‘s natural respiratory filter to go directly to the lungs, and can cause cancer in the long run. A safe rule to follow on smoggy days is to wear a mask for outdoor activities and wash

The six-day 2018 fall-winter HERA Seoul Fashion Week came to a close Saturday, but not without leaving a lasting imprint of the vibrant fashion scene that is to unfold in Korea this coming season.If the head-turning runway shows were the flame, the magic that took place backstage was what stoked the fire of the fashion week. (Shot and edited by Lim Jeong-yeo)Makeup artists expertly maneuvered their brushes and powdered models to prepare them for the runways. Amorepacific’s cosmetics brand HERA w

Lights dimmed across the city of Seoul on Saturday in celebration of Earth Hour, a one-hour event that involves switching off unnecessary electricity to conserve energy and take action against climate change.This year’s Earth Hour was at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday. From 5 p.m. on the day, people gathered at Seoul’s Cheonggye Plaza to sign a petition board set up by the Worldwide Fund for Nature in celebration of a movement to connect to the Earth. Messages crammed the board, such as “Fine dust, I wan

Yongma Land, a closed down theme park in the northern corner of Seoul, has lately seen an influx of visitors coming around to take photos with the battered vintage amusement rides in the background.The place can be eerie on first impression, with deserted rides standing still as if frozen in time. But since the park began to appear in K-pop videos and dramas, it has gained popularity even among foreign travelers. Perhaps the biggest boost the park received was through K-pop group Crayon Pop’s mu

The PyeongChang 2018 Winter Paralympics wrapped up Sunday, passing on the baton to Beijing, the next host city for 2022. The event in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, set a new record for a Winter Paralympics event with the participation of a total of 567 athletes from 49 countries. In the previous Winter Paralympics held 2014 in Sochi, Russia, a total of 547 athletes from 45 countries had taken part. In addition, North Korea, Georgia and Tajikistan made their Winter Paralympic debuts this year.So

The McDonald’s outlet at exit 3 of Sinchon Station in Seoul will close for good next month. The specific move out date has yet to be decided, but the company said the closure was confirmed.“The decision is final. There will be no taking it back,” a McDonald’s representative familiar with the matter told The Korea Herald.The Sinchon branch served as a landmark meeting spot in the area. In the 20 years of the shop’s history since opening doors in 1998, it wouldn’t be an understatement to claim tha

Domestic Korean travelers took out the biggest portion of Airbnb users in Korea in 2017, followed by tourists from the US and Singapore.According to Airbnb on Wednesday, over 1.8 million travelers made use of some 37,000 Airbnb listings last year. Of the figure, 66 percent were Korean tourists traveling domestically. As for the foreign visitors, those from the US and Singapore were the most comfortable using the home-sharing service, respectively taking out 18 percent and 13 percent of the local