The Korea Times

Surprising Korean spots that look just like Italy, Canada in ‘Can This Love Be Translated?’

Netflix’s hit romantic comedy “Can This Love Be Translated?,” starring Kim Seon-ho as Joo Ho-Jin and Go Youn-jung as Cha Mu-hee, follows a romance that unfolds across languages and cultures. The chart-topping series takes viewers on a globetrotting journey — but not every dazzling European villa or Canadian getaway is what it seems. While the show boasts memorable scenes filmed abroad, some of its “overseas” locations were actually shot in Korea, transformed by clever set design and scenery to double for spots in Italy, Canada and beyond. Here’s a guide to the Korean locations standing in for international destinations — places that made the drama’s world-hopping romance possible and can be visited without ever leaving Korea. Peninsula Lounge, Lotte Hotel Seoul The hotel where top star Cha meets interpreter Joo in Italy was actually filmed at the Peninsula Lounge inside Lotte Hotel Seoul. The hotel is known for its winter strawberry buffet featuring a selection of premium desserts. Visitors can also enjoy live jazz performances at the lounge. Website: www.lottehotel.com/

Jan 28, 2026By Ahn Seo-hyeon

Surprising Korean spots that look just like Italy, Canada in ‘Can This Love Be Translated?’

5 charming filming locations from Netflix’s 'Can This Love Be Translated?'

Travel & Food

When winter turns sweet: Everything you need to know about Korean strawberries

Each winter, Korea turns pink. Strawberry cakes fill coffee shop displays, limited-edition desserts sell out within hours and social media feeds overflow with glossy red berries. Behind the seasonal craze lies a carefully cultivated industry that has turned Korean strawberries into a global benchmark for sweetness and quality. Korean strawberries are thought by some to be among the sweetest and most flavorful in the world, with farmers utilizing advanced agricultural technology. But what makes Korean strawberries so addictive? Part of the answer lies in Korea’s cultivation methods, but their popularity is also driven by an established seasonal food culture. Each winter, strawberries take center stage across the country, inspiring a wave of limited-edition desserts and specialty menus. Strawberry-themed desserts From luxury hotels to chain cafés and neighborhood bakeries, strawberry-themed products routinely sell out during peak season. Sungsimdang, a well-known bakery in Daejeon, is famous for its winter-only Strawberry Siru, a layer cake that draws customers from across the country.

Jan 20, 2026By Kim Sur-hyun and Ahn Seo-hyeon

When winter turns sweet: Everything you need to know about Korean strawberries

Trends

Korea’s favorite baby names of 2025

From shopping for baby items to setting up nurseries, expecting parents have to prepare extensively before their newborn arrives. As they reach the final stages of pregnancy, they face one of their most meaningful tasks: choosing the baby’s name. Traditionally, Korean names were based on Chinese characters ("hanja"), shared family syllables passed down through generations, or astrological readings meant to bring good fortune. Today, however, naming trends have changed. Over the past few years, many parents have favored short, easy-to-pronounce names that feel modern. Ease of pronunciation, uniqueness, how it sounds and how it’s spelled in English are now key considerations, emphasizing Korea’s changing culture and global awareness. These were the most popular Korean baby names of 2025, according to Namechart, a website that tracks baby name trends based on data from the Supreme Court of Korea’s Family Relations Registration System. 2025 top 10 boy names: 1. Do-yun 2. I-jun 3. Si-u 4. Ha-jun 5. Tae-o 6. Do-hyeon 7. I-an 8. I-hyeon 9. Seo-jun 10. Eun-u 2025 top 10 girl names: 1. Seo-y

Jan 13, 2026By Ahn Seo-hyeon

Health

Aekyung Industrial recalls China-made toothpaste over use of banned chemical

Public concern is growing after triclosan, a preservative banned from oral care products, was detected in six types of toothpaste sold by Aekyung Industrial, the manufacturer of Korea’s widely used “2080” toothpaste brand. The company stated that it confirmed the presence of trace amounts of triclosan in toothpaste products manufactured by its Chinese supplier, Domy, which were sold domestically. It has suspended imports and distribution of the affected products and begun a voluntary recall. Triclosan was once widely used in cosmetics and hygiene products but has since been restricted from oral care products in Korea due to concerns about endocrine disruption and potential links to cancer. According to Aekyung Industrial, the products containing triclosan were manufactured from April 2023 and had been sold for approximately two and a half years. The company added that the remaining 127 toothpaste products under the 2080 brand are all domestically produced and unaffected. The six recalled products include: 2080 Basic Toothpaste, 2080 Daily Care Toothpaste, 2080 Smart Care Plus Tooth

Jan 13, 2026By Ahn Seo-hyeon

Aekyung Industrial recalls China-made toothpaste over use of banned chemical

Entertainment

10 iconic hallyu moments turning a decade old this year

As BTS prepares for its full-group comeback in March and Netflix animation hit "KPop Demon Hunters" continues to draw global attention, hallyu, or the Korean wave, is showing no signs of slowing down. Looking back at the last decade, 2016 was a landmark year that set the stage for today’s global hallyu wave — K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, debuted in 2016 and that same year, the Korean drama "Descendants of the Sun" made a splash as stars Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo gained global fame. Hit dramas, breakthrough idols and blockbuster films did not only entertain — they shaped fandoms, created trends and exported Korean culture across the world. Here's a rundown of 10 iconic moments, songs, films and dramas from 2016 that set the foundation for hallyu's worldwide growth. January: “Reply 1988” Airing from late 2015 to January 2016, "Reply 1988" captured the hearts of viewers with its nostalgic portrayal of Korea in the 1980s, family bonds and first love. The final episode recorded a peak rating of 21.7 percent, the highest ever for a cable TV drama at the time. February: “Descendan

Jan 8, 2026By Ahn Seo-hyeon

10 iconic hallyu moments turning a decade old this year

People & Events

How to enjoy ice skating in Seoul for less than $1

Looking for a place to enjoy ice skating in Seoul? Every winter, an outdoor ice rink opens at Seoul Plaza next to a large Christmas tree. This year’s theme is “Winter Ring,” symbolizing a festive ring blooming over the city. The rink will be open until Feb. 6. Admission costs 1,000 won ($0.70) per session, with each session lasting one hour. In addition to the main rink, the venue features a mini ice rink exclusively for young children, making it a family-friendly destination. Lockers are also available to store personal belongings at a cost of 1,000 won. Under current safety guidelines, admission is limited to people aged 7 and older. How to use the rink: 1. Reserve tickets online at seoulskate.kr or purchase them on site. 2. Pick up skates at the rental counter. 3. Put on gloves and a free helmet before entering the rink. *Gloves are required and must be brought by visitors or purchased on site. Location: Seoul Plaza (110 Sejong-daero, Euljiro 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul) Operating hours: Sunday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday / Public Holidays: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Dec 30, 2025By Ahn Seo-hyeon

How to enjoy ice skating in Seoul for less than $1

Travel & Food

How European Christmas treats became winter staples in Korea

Every December, Seoul embraces the seasonal festivities with widely advertised Christmas-themed specials. Through the years, Christmas in Korea has evolved from a small religious affair to an extravagant celebration of the end of the year with family and friends. Christmas became popularized in Korea as different forms of Christianity spread in the 18th and 19th centuries, and emerged as a secular celebration in the 20th century. The celebration was first designated a national holiday in 1945 under the U.S. military government. As the holiday’s spirit of joy, love and hope resonated, get-togethers, gift-giving and festive celebrations became more widespread, especially among younger Koreans. These are now part of the local Christmas culture, but draw heavily from European and North American traditions. As the air turns crisp and city streets glow with lights, many Koreans find themselves thinking of Europe’s Christmas markets. Scenes that once required flights no longer feel so far away, with snow-dusted public squares, warm mulled wine and sweet treats found in spots all over Seoul

Dec 22, 2025By Ahn Seo-hyeon

How European Christmas treats became winter staples in Korea

People & Events

Get ready, Seoul: Magikarp migration to splash into Cheonggye Stream

For many in their 20s and 30s, Pokémon remains a nostalgic part of childhood, with the popular cartoon continuing to draw strong interest in Korea. The game Pokémon GO surpassed 7 million mobile downloads in its first week in Korea in 2017, and more than 100 million units of limited edition Pokémon-themed bread were sold in 2022. Last year, a large-scale Ditto project at Lotte World Mall attracted massive crowds in Seoul. Building on this popularity, Magikarp — the seemingly weak but beloved Pokémon known for its dramatic evolution into the dragon-like Gyarados — takes center stage this winter in the “I LOVE Magikarp” project. The project will bring 100 Magikarp lanterns to Seoul's Cheonggye Stream, offering fans a unique Pokémon-themed winter experience. Running from Dec. 12 to Jan. 4 between Gwang Bridge and Jangtong Bridge in Jongno District, "I LOVE Magikarp" is part of the annual Seoul Lantern Festival and includes in-game Pokémon GO events, a pop-up Magikarp shop and other themed activities. For all Pokémon fans, here's the ultimate guide. 1. Magikarp Lantern Install

Nov 27, 2025By Ahn SeoHyeon

Get ready, Seoul: Magikarp migration to splash into Cheonggye Stream

Law & Crime

Man arrested for killing designated driver by dragging him 1.5 km

Police have arrested a man in his 30s on murder charges for allegedly dragging a 60-year-old designated driver behind his car for 1.5 kilometers in Daejeon. Daejeon Yuseong Police said Thursday that the suspect, identified only as A, was sent to the prosecution in custody. According to the police, the incident happened on Nov. 14 at around 1:15 a.m. The suspect, who was reportedly intoxicated, forced the driver, identified as B, out of the driver's seat and outside of the car with the door open while the vehicle was moving and continued driving for about 1.5 kilometers. The car eventually struck a roadside guardrail, and B, partially restrained by his seatbelt, suffered severe head injuries. He was transported to a hospital in an unconscious state but later died. CCTV footage showed the car traveling with the driver's door open, leading officers to arrest A at the scene. Police said his blood alcohol level exceeded the legal limit. He had been drinking with colleagues and was on his way to Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. Audio from the vehicle’s dashcam reportedly captured sounds

Nov 27, 2025By Ahn Seo-hyeon and Ahn SeoHyeon

Man arrested for killing designated driver by dragging him 1.5 km

Environment & Animals

Parrot ruffles feathers by showing up uninvited at Seoul cafe

Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station received an unusual report on Sunday of a parrot allegedly taking a sip from a customer's cup of coffee. When officers arrived at the scene, they found the culprit to be a medium-sized parrot weighing about 0.5 kilograms. The uninvited guest had flown in through a window and surprised patrons by darting around the outdoor seats. Before the parrot was rescued by authorities, the coffee shop owner fed it some snacks while some customers pet it. The bird is believed to be an endangered yellow-headed amazon (Amazona oratrix), a species native to Mexico and northern Central America. The species is characterized by its bright yellow head, green plumage, social behavior and unique vocal abilities. With only 4,000 left in the world, the yellow-headed amazon is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This designation prohibits private ownership. However, it remains unclear whether the parrot is privately owned or from a nearby area. If the parrot's original home cannot be identified w

Nov 18, 2025By Ahn Seo-hyeon and Ahn SeoHyeon

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