The Korea Times

Young couples turn to DIY weddings amid soaring costs

With the worsening economic downturn and inflation continuing to strain household budgets, young Koreans are taking matters into their own hands to have budget-friendly weddings, avoiding costly conventional wedding packages. For years, the so-called "studio-dress-makeup" package, which includes pre-wedding studio photo shoots, bridal dresses and makeup arranged through wedding planning companies, has been one of the essential parts of wedding preparation in Korea. However, recently, more soon-to-be-wed couples are designing their weddings independently, organizing everything from attire to accessories in a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach instead of expensive packages costing tens of millions of won. According to the online shopping platforms, searches for wedding-related keywords and sales have surged. The local shopping platform 29CM announced that affordable wedding fashion-related searches more than doubled this March compared to the same period last year. Sales for dresses and blouses, often chosen as alternatives to gowns for wedding pictures, increased by 20 percent and 30 percent,

Apr 1, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee

Young couples turn to DIY weddings amid soaring costs

Travel & Food

Farro rises as new superfood trend for slow aging diet

As more people embrace health-conscious living, the slow aging diet has emerged as a major movement in the food and wellness scene, bringing a wave of new dietary habits and superfoods into the spotlight. The latest rising star is farro, an ancient grain trending across Korea. Farro, an Italian word meaning ancient wheat grain, is often used to describe three different grains — einkorn, emmer and spelt — but primarily refers to emmer, which is produced in large quantities in Italy today. Originally cultivated in ancient Mesopotamia and once a staple for Roman soldiers, farro has gained renewed attention for its impressive nutritional profile and versatility in modern meals. The wheat grain entered the spotlight in Korea earlier this year when TV personality and model Hong Jin-kyung introduced it on her YouTube channel. She showed herself making "gimbap" (seaweed rice rolls) using rice mixed with farro, noting it helped her with weight management. The grain garnered even more popularity when other celebrities like Han Ga-in, Son Tae-young and Uhm Jung-hwa shared videos of themselves

Apr 1, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee

Farro rises as new superfood trend for slow aging diet

Shows & Dramas

Seo Kang-joon wraps up ‘Undercover High School’ in high spirits

Actor Seo Kang-joon reflected on wrapping MBC’s action comedy series “Undercover High School,” his small screen return after completing mandatory military service, saying he was pleased to show a new side of himself through the character Jung Hae-sung. "I remember the times spent working together with many staff members while filming this series. From the hot summer through the cold winter, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who gave their all without holding back,” Seo said through the broadcaster. "(The series) holds meaning in that it showed a new side of me after being discharged from military service. I was happy to meet this 'cool guy' Jung Hae-sung, who is quite different from the characters I've played before and I hope he is remembered in the viewers’ hearts further on. I want to express my thanks to everyone who cherished him." The 12-part series follows a National Intelligence Service ace field agent, Jung, who goes undercover at a prestigious high school. Disguised as the school’s newly transferred student, he carries out an operation to find King Gojong

Mar 31, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee

Seo Kang-joon wraps up ‘Undercover High School’ in high spirits

Seo Kang-joon steals spotlight in ‘Undercover High School,’ but critics call for greater depth

Trends

'Blokecore' gains popularity among among millennials, Gen Zers

Sports kits are now a fashion item for millennials and Gen Zers, who use their sports teams to create a stylish "blokecore" look in their daily lives. This trend has been especially boosted by the recent start of baseball’s KBO League and football's K League here, sparking increased interest in professional sports among people. The blokecore look is a stylish fusion of sporty streetwear that mixes sports jerseys with jeans, sneakers, tracksuits and other items to create a laid-back or urban street style. Hashtags with keywords like blokecore and "uniformlook" on social media have been trending with thousands of posts. To align with the fashion trend, local professional sports teams have unveiled new kits for the season, along with collaborations with fashion brands aimed at fans. Pro-Specs, a Korean sports brand, extended its sponsorship contracts with major baseball team LG Twins and basketball team LG Sakers, releasing various products for the 2025 season, including kits and team gear. LG Twins also recently partnered with local design studio Bloomingtale, which is highly popular amo

Mar 30, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee

'Blokecore' gains popularity among among millennials, Gen Zers

Shows & Dramas

Yook Sung-jae, Bona’s fantasy rom-com ‘The Haunted Palace’ to premiere in April

SBS’ new fantasy romantic comedy series “The Haunted Palace,” starring actors Yook Sung-jae and Kim Ji-yeon, who is also known as Bona, will debut on April 18. The 16-part period series will revolve around glass craftswoman Yeo-ri (Kim) and royal officer Yun-gap (Yook), whose lives intertwine in the aftermath of a paranormal incident within the palace. Yeo-ri is the only granddaughter of a famous shaman, but she is reluctant to accept her divine gift and fate to carry on his legacy. One day, she encounters a powerful evil spirit with a grudge against the royal family, leading her to help her creature-possessed first love Yun-gap and the king to get rid of the spirit. The series is directed by Yoon Sung-shik, who previously led the hit series “Mr. Queen” (2020) and “Hwarang” (2016), and is scripted by writer Yoon Soo-jung, whose previous work includes the 2014 period series “The King's Face” and the 2015 teen rom-com “Cheer Up!” Yook, who debuted as a member of the K-pop group BTOB in 2012, made his way into acting in 2013 with a minor role in the hit series “Reply

Mar 27, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee

Yook Sung-jae, Bona’s fantasy rom-com ‘The Haunted Palace’ to premiere in April

Shows & Dramas

Will Korea open pop culture Hall of Fame?

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is collaborating with entertainment industry figures — from actors and singers to voice artists and comedians — to create Korea's first official pop culture Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame will be a commemorative space covering all areas of Korean popular culture, serving as a comprehensive facility for archiving materials, providing education and creating a monument for artists who have contributed to the nation’s global cultural impact. To support this initiative, a private committee was launched last month, consisting of 27 notable figures from various entertainment fields, including actors Yoo Dong-geun, Lee Jung-jae, singer Rain and comedian Shin Dong-yup. From March to August, the ministry hosts monthly seminars to collect feedback and ideas from industry experts and popular artists about how best to develop the Hall of Fame. “This idea was first proposed 17 years ago but didn't materialize at the time. Now, however, the cultural environment has evolved drastically, and the global recognition and value of Korean pop culture have g

Mar 27, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee

Will Korea open pop culture Hall of Fame?

Music

K-Fellowship invites 11 arts, literature figures for cultural exchange

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is inviting 14 key figures in the performing arts and literature fields from 11 countries to join its fellowship program in Korea as part of the nation's efforts to enhance international recognition of Korean culture and arts and promote the exchange of cultural and artistic institutions. The ministry said Wednesday that it nominated 14 participants from around the world, including Germany, France, Hungary, the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, to take part in the 17th K-Fellowship program from May to October. Launched in 2009, the fellowship program has annually invited artists, cultural institution leaders and policymakers from major countries in which overseas Korean cultural centers are located. More than 200 notable figures have visited Korea through the program to expand their understanding of the country and strengthen their relationship with Korean cultural centers in their countries. "The K-Fellowship program should be more than just formal meetings and cultural experiences with domestic institutions, but a starting poi

Mar 26, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee

K-Fellowship invites 11 arts, literature figures for cultural exchange

Travel & Food

Michelin-starred chef highlights Korean ingredients as future global trend

Star chef Son Jong-won, head chef of two Michelin one-starred restaurants Eatanic Garden and L'Amant Secret, noted Korea’s abundance of distinctive ingredients from the country’s unique geography of mountains and coastlines on three sides. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korean Food Promotion Institute organized the “Taste of Hansik, Taste of Korea” event to promote Korean cuisine, in time for the 2025 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants event, which was held in the country on the day for the second time since last year. During the event at Korea House in central Seoul, Tuesday, Son shared his insights on the evolution and expansion of Korean cuisine. “When I first came to Korea (after working abroad), I was actually quite dissatisfied with the ingredients. Like, I would think, ‘Where are the ingredients I used in the U.S.? There’s no fresh asparagus here,’ and I thought cooking here would be difficult. Then, I realized my perspective was quite narrow,” he said. “Korea is surrounded by seas on three sides for so many types of fresh seafood ingredien

Mar 25, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee

Michelin-starred chef highlights Korean ingredients as future global trend

Top 50 Asian restaurants glitter with annual awards in Seoul

Travel & Food

Chef Anh Sung-jae warns of scam targeting Mosu Seoul reservations

Chef Anh Sung-jae reported a scam targeting customers who want to make reservations at his newly reopened fine dining restaurant, Mosu Seoul. The chef posted a warning on his Instagram, alerting customers of fraudulent activities whereby individuals impersonate Mosu Seoul to demand advance payment for the restaurant's tasting course via unauthorized methods. "This is an emergency notice regarding Mosu Seoul reservations. We have identified cases in which perpetrators forwarded calls to Mosu's official phone number using a KT service and falsely requesting advance payment,” he wrote, sharing that he had reported the incidents to the police. "Mosu only accepts reservation payments through the Catch Table app and never requests bank transfers. If you are asked to pay a deposit through any method other than Catch Table, it is an act unrelated to Mosu. We deeply regret that our valued customers are being affected by this and sincerely hope that no further harm occurs." Mosu Seoul temporarily closed in early 2024 after becoming Korea’s sole three-Michelin-starred restaurant in 2023 and 202

Mar 24, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee

Chef Anh Sung-jae warns of scam targeting Mosu Seoul reservations

Trends

Jennie's casual looks inspire return of oversized bags

Oversized bags are resurfacing as a fashion trend, dominating runways and street style for people seeking both style and functionality. When K-pop star Jennie of BLACKPINK casually shared her daily look outfits on her social media, the oversized COS quilted bag she regularly wears caught the eyes of fans, gaining explosive popularity globally. The lightweight and spacious bag was sold out soon after the artist was spotted carrying it. “I have a close friend who I share fashion issues with, and she was carrying (the COS quilted bag) one day. So I bought it too. And when I was touring, I carried it around conveniently. Then all of a sudden it was booming, so I was so surprised too,” the artist recently said during a YouTube talk show. Until just a few years ago, mini or micro purses that could only fit essentials like a smartphone and lipstick were popular. But like the COS bag, carryall bags have recently returned as a trend, especially among the younger generation looking for a stylish way to carry around their basics. The trend toward oversized bags is gaining traction among luxury b

Mar 24, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee

Lee Gyu-lee

Read more

Young couples turn to DIY weddings amid soaring costs

Farro rises as new superfood trend for slow aging diet

Seo Kang-joon wraps up ‘Undercover High School’ in high spirits

'Blokecore' gains popularity among among millennials, Gen Zers

Yook Sung-jae, Bona’s fantasy rom-com ‘The Haunted Palace’ to premiere in April

Will Korea open pop culture Hall of Fame?

K-Fellowship invites 11 arts, literature figures for cultural exchange

Michelin-starred chef highlights Korean ingredients as future global trend

Chef Anh Sung-jae warns of scam targeting Mosu Seoul reservations

Jennie's casual looks inspire return of oversized bags

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