The Korea Times

Busan public bath becomes ‘digital detox’ haven for younger generation

BUSAN — On a recent Saturday, in the quiet residential district of Namsan-dong, Busan, a group of young women gathered at Geumsaemtang, a neighborhood bathhouse which was once dismissed as a fading relic of the past. Casually dressed, the women moved from one large bathtub to another, then to a steam sauna. No one spoke, instead focusing on their individual relaxation. These women are part of a growing number of young Koreans taking part in "accompanied bathing" as means of relaxation and "digital detox" that temporarily but completely disconnects people from the pressures of work and social media. Geumsaemtang is leading the trend. Built in 1995, this classic bathhouse features windows emblazoned with the slogan "Bathing is a washing machine for the soul," while inside whimsical characters and quotes about bathing are scattered throughout the space. A new cultural phenomenon, "accompanied bathing" sees individuals meeting through online communities to visit bathhouses together. A key rule for these gatherings is anonymity — participants refrain from exchanging personal details to en

Apr 24, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Busan public bath becomes ‘digital detox’ haven for younger generation

Others

Comedian Lee Su-ji skewers Korean social absurdities in viral skits

Comedian Lee Su-ji has turned Korean social absurdities into viral satire on YouTube's “Hot Issue Ji” and Coupang Play's “SNL Korea.” Her recent sketches target overbearing parents and online misinformation, blending sharp humor with painful realism. One standout episode, titled “Kindergarten Teacher Lee Min-ji’s Never-Ending 24 Hours [Human Documentary: Real Extreme Jobs],” shows Lee as an overworked teacher with her face marked by heavy dark circles from exhaustion but still trying to keep her composure under relentless pressure from parents. Her attempts to stay upbeat in the face of increasingly absurd demands are both funny and uncomfortably relatable. In the video, Lee's character starts her day at 4 a.m. and attempts to accommodate a barrage of unreasonable requests: assigning children to classes based on their MBTI personality types, or using eucalyptus-infused plant-based wipes during bathroom breaks for the kids. When a parent questions her personal life after spotting her in Seoul’s Apgujeong, she hits a breaking point — her eardrum seemingly bursts — yet

Apr 17, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Comedian Lee Su-ji skewers Korean social absurdities in viral skits

Travel & Food

Guide to Seoul’s top 5 rice cake spots

For Koreans, “tteok” (rice cakes) are more than a snack — they’re edible markers of life’s most meaningful moments. From the milky-white “tteokguk” (rice cake soup) served on New Year’s Day to symbolize long life, to the half-moon “songpyeon” shared during the harvest festival of Chuseok as a wish for good fortune, these simple rice confections for long sat at the heart of Korean celebration and memory. Once seen as an “acquired flavor” in Western markets for its distinct chewiness and elasticity, tteok is now winning fans across North America and Europe — propelled by the unstoppable rise of the K-wave. Last month, Seoul-based American TikToker Carson Allen posted a “mukbang (eating broadcast) feast” video featuring Korean rice cakes. Sampling everything from airy “sul-tteok,” rice cakes made with fermented rice wine, to rich, cream-filled modern takes, her clip drew 134,000 likes and hundreds of intrigued comments. Around the same time, a viral video of Korean-American creator Elizabeth biting into “kkul-tteok,” honey-filled rice cakes racked up 1

Apr 17, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Shows & Dramas

'KPop Demon Hunters' star to play farmer in SBS rom-com

Ahn Hyo-seop, who shot to global fame as the voice of Jinu in the animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," is returning to the small screen as a perfectionist farmer. In SBS’s new romantic comedy "Sold Out on You," Ahn plays Matthew Lee, a genius cosmetic researcher and passionate mushroom farmer who becomes entangled day and night with Ye-jin (Chae Won-bin), a “sell-out queen” home-shopping host. Ahn, who attended the 98th Academy Awards last month after "KPop Demon Hunters" took home two trophies, said, “I actually finished all my dubbing work before shooting this drama, so I had some breathing room," during a press conference for the drama at SBS headquarters in Yangcheon District, Seoul, Wednesday. “After working on emotionally heavy projects that made me think deeply about life, reading this script felt very healing. There’s no villain here — just an honest story about everyday life,” he said. He said he threw himself into learning to drive a tractor. “I wanted to soak in the countryside and really live the life of a farmer.” Director Ahn Jong-yeon described the series

Apr 15, 2026By Park Jin-hai

'KPop Demon Hunters' star to play farmer in SBS rom-com

Korean Heritage

Korea’s heritage sites in spotlight as UNESCO meeting in Busan nears

The 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee comes to Busan this July, marking Korea's first time hosting the premier global forum on heritage preservation. The milestone gathering is anticipated to cement the nation's leadership in protecting and inscribing culturally and historically important sites, while spotlighting its cultural diplomacy on the world stage. This annual session, running from the opening ceremony on July 19 to its closing on July 29 at the BEXCO convention center, will be the first hosted by Korea in its 38 years with the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Some 3,000 delegates from 196 countries will converge under one roof to decide which iconic sites will be selected. Korea, serving a four-year term as chair country for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee through 2027, will have a special opportunity to shine as host. "Korea stepping up as the World Heritage Committee's chair nation and a core player leading on preservation and interpretation carries huge weight for our global leadership," Huh Min, chief of Korea Heritage Service (KHS), said at a recent press conferenc

Apr 15, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Korea’s heritage sites in spotlight as UNESCO meeting in Busan nears

Shows & Dramas

'Absolute Value of Romance' turns teenage imagination into heartfelt drama

Coupang Play’s upcoming coming-of-age drama “Absolute Value of Romance” is expected to be a mix of awkward teenage moments, bittersweet humor and a touch of fantasy. At its heart is Yeo Eui-ju (Kim Hyang-gi), a seemingly ordinary high schooler who secretly pens bold “Boys’ Love” (BL) web novels. Her quiet routine takes an unexpected turn when four charismatic new teachers join the faculty, unknowingly becoming the muses for her stories and the catalysts for her emotional awakening. “When I had the chance to review scripts a few years ago, this project stood out the most,” director Lee Tae-gon said during a press conference for the series at The Saint in D-Cube City in Guro District, Seoul, Tuesday. “I signed the writer immediately. I wanted to direct this myself because of the youthfulness and fun it exudes. Just as Qin Shi Huang searched for the herb of eternal youth, I felt that working on this project would make me younger,” he added. The series marks a departure for lead actor Kim, known for the film “Along with the Gods Gods: The Two Worlds” (2017) and its 20

Apr 14, 2026By Park Jin-hai

'Absolute Value of Romance' turns teenage imagination into heartfelt drama

Shows & Dramas

'The Scarecrow' revisits infamous serial murder case

The infamous Lee Choon-jae serial murder case, which haunted Korea for decades, are returning to the small screen in the new crime thriller “The Scarecrow.” Inspired by one of Korea’s most notorious serial murder cases that began in 1986, the crime thriller delves into the investigation surrounding the nation’s worst killing spree. The real-life case left an indelible mark on the public’s memory. Once an unsolved mystery, it resurfaced in 2019 — 33 years later — when the full truth finally came to light, reigniting nationwide attention. The ENA series, which premieres April 20, follows an elite detective and a cold-blooded prosecutor as they form an unlikely alliance to uncover the truth behind a series of killings spanning 30 years. Park Hae-soo stars as Kang Tae-joo, an ace detective known for his sharp intuition and relentless observation skills. After being reassigned to his rural hometown of Gangseong, he becomes involved in a serial murder case and unexpectedly reunites with Cha Si-young (Lee Hee-jun), a prosecutor who was once his nemesis during their school days. “A

Apr 13, 2026By Park Jin-hai

'The Scarecrow' revisits infamous serial murder case

Shows & Dramas

Woo Do-hwan pushes his limits for Netflix’s 'Bloodhounds'

Since his 2011 debut, Woo Do-hwan has forged a reputation as a relentless actor, infusing gritty action series and soulful dramas alike with his singular intensity. Netflix’s crime thriller “Bloodhounds” has now thrust him onto the global stage. Woo said that after wrapping Season 1, exhaustion left him doubting whether he could summon the strength for more. “But once Season 2 got the green light, it felt like stepping onto a battlefield,” he told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Thursday. “Unlike other dramas, this one demands everything — body and soul — leaving no room for anything else. Even off days mean training, building strength for the fight ahead. But when Season 2 was confirmed, excitement took over. I trained harder than ever,” he said. “Bloodhounds” Season 2 sends Gun-woo (Woo) and Woo-jin (Lee Sang-yi) into the brutal arena of a global underground boxing league, where money and mayhem reign, unleashing another barrage of crowd-pleasing hooks. For Season 2, Woo bulked up 13 kilograms through more systematic training. “Season 1’s Gun-woo was still

Apr 9, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Woo Do-hwan pushes his limits for Netflix’s 'Bloodhounds'

Shows & Dramas

Jung Ji-hoon reinvents villain archetype in ‘Bloodhounds’ Season 2

Singer-actor Jung Ji-hoon, better known by his stage name Rain, takes on his first villain role as Baek-jeong, the operator of a global illegal boxing league, in Netflix series "Bloodhounds" Season 2. The high-octane action crime thriller, directed by Jason Kim, centers on the two young boxers battling Iron Knuckle Fighting Championship, a dark web-based organization hosting brutal matches fueled by high-stakes gambling and coercion, pulling protagonists Gun-woo (Woo Do-hwan) and Woo-jin (Lee Sang-yi) into its violent underworld. He said the project was “physically exhausting but also emotionally draining.” “My character doesn’t have much of a backstory. The director didn’t want him to become a cliché villain. Usually, when you play a bad guy, you act nice and then suddenly turn evil — that roller‑coaster of intensity can make the performance stand out. But the director told me not to do that," he said in an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Wednesday. "He wanted the character to start off already furious, with no change in tone, so that was challenging."

Apr 8, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Jung Ji-hoon reinvents villain archetype in ‘Bloodhounds’ Season 2

Shows & Dramas

Netflix series ‘Beef’ Season 2 incorporates more Korean elements: director

The award-winning Netflix series "Beef," which swept categories at the Emmys, Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, returns April 16 with its second season. Korean American director and writer Lee Sung-jin said he was excited but found Season 2 “even harder than the first” season to make as he aimed to “take some big swings and risks while retaining what is special about the show" during an online interview with The Korea Times on Tuesday. Unlike Season 1’s road rage feud between lonely strangers, Season 2 unfolds at an elite country club where a young couple witnesses a shocking fight between their boss and his wife, and the web of blackmail that follows involving both couples and the club’s owner, Korean billionaire Chairwoman Park (Youn Yuh-jung). While Season 1 focused on Korean American stories, Season 2 explores a mixed-race character’s Korean roots. “It’s a bridge between West and East,” Lee said. “Charles’ character is half Korean, caught in an identity tug-of-war as he’s pulled into the upper echelons of Korean society — the world of chaebol (conglo

Apr 7, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Park Jin-hai

Read more

Busan public bath becomes ‘digital detox’ haven for younger generation

Comedian Lee Su-ji skewers Korean social absurdities in viral skits

Guide to Seoul’s top 5 rice cake spots

'KPop Demon Hunters' star to play farmer in SBS rom-com

Korea’s heritage sites in spotlight as UNESCO meeting in Busan nears

'Absolute Value of Romance' turns teenage imagination into heartfelt drama

'The Scarecrow' revisits infamous serial murder case

Woo Do-hwan pushes his limits for Netflix’s 'Bloodhounds'

Jung Ji-hoon reinvents villain archetype in ‘Bloodhounds’ Season 2

Netflix series ‘Beef’ Season 2 incorporates more Korean elements: director

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