The Korea Times

VIDEO A day of a Korean psychiatrist living in a country that won't admit it needs one

South Korea has held the highest suicide rate in the OECD for years — more than double the global average. It also has one of the lowest doctor-to-patient ratios in the developed world. The math is grim, and well-documented. What it doesn't explain is why so many Koreans who need help still won't walk through a psychiatrist's door. The reason often comes down to two letters and a number. In Korea's national health insurance system, every psychiatric visit is logged under an "F code" — the classification used for mental and behavioral disorders. F32 for depression. F41 for anxiety. F90 for ADHD. The codes are protected by medical confidentiality law and cannot be shared without the patient's consent. And yet the fear of the F code is one of the most persistent reasons Koreans avoid psychiatric care. Patients worry the code will resurface — in a future insurance application, a background check, some unspecified moment where a single record might cost them something. It is a fear shaped less by what the law permits than by what Korean society still quietly believes: that depression i

May 20, 2026By Yu Seung-eun

[VIDEO] A day of a Korean psychiatrist living in a country that won't admit it needs one

Howdy Korea

VIDEO A day spent with a Korean taekwondo master who looks after 200 kids

If you have ever lived in Korea, you have likely witnessed groups of children gathered at school gates and apartment complexes to be ushered into waiting vans. But this is no attempted abduction — the vehicles are a cheerful yellow, and the adults are masters of the Korean martial art taekwondo. These yellow vans are a ubiquitous part of the Korean landscape, prepped to coordinate moving young children from school to studies to home for busy parents. They belong to the local cram school, or hagwons, and a significant majority are operated by taekwondo dojangs, or training halls. This daily ritual exists because of a cultural and economic shift that began decades ago. As women entered the formal workforce in greater numbers and families came to rely on two incomes, it became necessary for parents to find a safe, structured environment for their children during the long afternoon gap between the end of school and the end of the workday. The "dual-income dilemma" is a defining characteristic of contemporary Korean society. According to Statistics Korea, approximately 48 percent of all mar

Feb 27, 2026By Yu Seung-eun

[VIDEO] A day spent with a Korean taekwondo master who looks after 200 kids

Howdy Korea

VIDEO Spirit mothers: Inside the resilient sisterhood of Korean shamanism

In the neon-lit alleys of modern Seoul, beneath the surface of one of the world’s most tech-savvy societies, an ancient rhythm persists. It is the beat of the janggu (drum) and the bells of the mudang — the shamans who have served as the spiritual intermediaries of the Korean peninsula for more than 5,000 years. Tracing their lineage back to the foundational Dangun myth, shamanism remains a resilient thread in the Korean cultural fabric. A new short documentary by Howdy Korea featuring the "Snowflake Witch" offers a rare glimpse into how this tradition is preserved through a unique, matriarchal apprenticeship that mirrors family bonds. In Korean shamanism, the transmission of knowledge is rarely academic; it is familial. Because the majority of shamans are women, they organize themselves into a hierarchy of "Spirit Mothers" and "Spirit Daughters." This is not a bond of blood, but of destiny. The relationship begins with shinbyeong — a "spirit sickness" that can only be cured when the afflicted individual accepts their calling through an initiation rite. The presiding shaman become

Jan 19, 2026By Yu Seung-eun

[VIDEO] Spirit mothers: Inside the resilient sisterhood of Korean shamanism

Howdy Korea

VIDEO We tested Asia’s best models with diet food. Were they fooled?

In a fascinating culinary experiment, three of Asia's top models were stumped by a phenomenon now sweeping the nation: South Korea’s ‘zero food’ trend. It is not merely a diet fad, but a major cultural and commercial movement. Fueled by rising health consciousness and a desire to enjoy traditional tastes guilt-free, the zero food market — which primarily focuses on replacing sugar with non-nutritive sweeteners and lowering overall calories — has exploded. Products like zero-sugar sodas, bread and snacks are now a staple in convenience stores and supermarkets, with consumers actively seeking ways to balance indulgence with their fitness goals. The challenge, hosted by Joel Jay Lane for The Korea Times’s "Foodie Korea" series, leveraged this trend, asking stunning contestants from the Asia Model Festival to blind-taste classic Korean dishes against newly developed, zero-calorie counterparts. Gathered from the prestigious Asia Model Festival at High1 Resort, the panel included Nina from Hong Kong, Bilric from Myanmar and the newly crowned Face of Asia winner, 19-year-old Ryu f

Nov 12, 2025By Yu Seung-eun

[VIDEO] We tested Asia’s best models with diet food. Were they fooled?

Howdy Korea

4 dishes, 2 worlds: How food explains my journey to K-Pop industry

What if the most honest memoir you could write wasn't in a book, but plated on a dish? In his latest video for Howdy Korea, host Joel Jay Lane conducts a novel experiment in vulnerability, using four iconic Korean meals to navigate the winding path of his life — a journey marked by cultural duality, the Korean entertainment industry and a reckoning with his past. Joel begins his confessional with a bowl of tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and sundae (blood sausage), a food his family bought at grocery store H Mart while growing up in the United States. He recalls the isolation of growing up half-Korean before K-pop’s ascent, when connections to his heritage were sparse. "That was my go-to comfort food, and I used to eat it with my hands in the backseat of my mom's car," he notes, underscoring how this simple street snack bridged a complex cultural gap. This duality is further highlighted by budaejjigae, or army stew, a dish intrinsically tied to his background as a military kid. With a father in the Army, the Spam and hot dog stew was a frequent family staple. The memory sharpens, how

Nov 3, 2025By Yu Seung-eun

4 dishes, 2 worlds: How food explains my journey to K-Pop industry

Howdy Korea

VIDEO Cheongnyangni & Gyeongdong merchants pick my dinner

Cheongnyangni and Gyeongdong offer a glimpse of the city’s everyday life, from seafood and produce to herbal medicine traditions. Near the market, the air is thick with the scent of ginseng and the briny freshness of seafood. Cheongnyangni and Gyeongdong markets have thrived side by side for decades in this part of eastern Seoul. Generations of merchants have built a community here, trading everything from everyday groceries to centuries-old remedies. Though beloved by locals, these markets remain overshadowed by tourist magnets like Namdaemun and Gwangjang; they offer a different kind of Seoul experience, rooted in daily life rather than sightseeing. Both markets trace their origins to the 1960s. Cheongnyangni began when farmers started selling produce near the bustling train station, which still serves as a key hub for domestic travel. Over time, it grew into a maze of stalls offering fruits, vegetables, seafood and household goods. Gyeongdong, just steps away, evolved along a different path, becoming Korea’s largest center for herbal medicine. Today, its shops brim with dried ro

Sep 12, 2025By Yu Seung-eun

[VIDEO] Cheongnyangni & Gyeongdong merchants pick my dinner

Howdy Korea

VIDEO The only restaurant where you can dine with a view of North Korea

Greewool, a restaurant beside the Ganghwa Peace Observatory, overlooks the confluence of the Han, Imjin and Yeseong rivers. Across the expanse, North Korean houses sit in plain view, and through the telescopes, a passerby on a distant road can sometimes be seen. It was here that the Howdy Korea team invited Soyeon Kim, a singer and entertainer whose life traces the divide between the two Koreas. Kim first attempted to defect at age 11, and at 13 finally crossed barbed wire into China, alone after her parents fled earlier without her. She lived there until 24, before resettling in South Korea and launching a career that has brought her into the limelight with programs like "Miss Trot 2." In an interview, Kim reflected on her journey and the growing presence of North Korean-born entertainers in the South, including the debut of idol group 1VERSE, which includes two defectors. “North Korea and South Korea — we are both people of joyful spirit. The fact that more of us are appearing on screen shows that North Koreans can shine just as brightly in culture as South Koreans," she said. Her s

Aug 22, 2025By Yu Seung-eun

[VIDEO] The only restaurant where you can dine with a view of North Korea

Howdy Korea

VIDEO First time at a Korean sauna (jjimjilbang): More than just a sauna!

“Strangers lay stretched out without the slightest inhibition. A young woman beside an elderly man, teenagers sprawled next to grandparents — nobody seemed to mind. In this space, the so-called 'Land of Etiquette' let its guard down. People lay in zigzags, exposing pale thighs with no shame.” — Choi Young-chul, Chosun Ilbo (2004), as cited in Culture and Society, Vol. 10 (2011) Nearly two decades after this observation was made, it still holds true. In Korea’s "jjimjilbang" — public saunas where people gather to sweat, sleep and snack — hierarchies dissolve. Bodies of every age and background lay scattered on tile floors, sprawled together in quiet camaraderie. If Korea is a society built on rules, the jjimjilbang is where those rules seem to soften. But this softness may carry a weightier meaning. In a country increasingly marked by generational separation, jjimjilbang might be one of the few places where old and young not only coexist but connect. In a recent episode of Howdy Korea, a YouTube channel produced by The Korea Times, host Yasmin Alaadin visits a jjimjilbang fo

Jun 5, 2025By Seungeun Yu

[VIDEO] First time at a Korean sauna (jjimjilbang): More than just a sauna!

Howdy Korea

VIDEO Why travelers to Korea shouldn’t skip a trip to Daiso

In Korea, $100 can go a long way, especially if you spend it at Daiso. The Howdy Korea team recently took on a $100 beauty shopping challenge at Daiso, the country’s beloved ultra-budget chain. The goal? To see just how many beauty items could be bought at what is essentially Korea’s version of a dollar store. The result: a staggering 42 items for just $105. Daiso operates under a six-tier fixed-price model, offering over 30,000 items ranging from stationery and household goods to cosmetics and tools. Every product falls into one of six price categories: 500 won, 1,000 won, 1,500 won, 2,000 won, 3,000 won, or 5,000 won — making the store a one-stop shop for bargain hunters. The brand proudly positions itself as the “nation's store,” and many Koreans would agree. And it’s not just a cultural fixture — it’s also a commercial powerhouse. In 2024, Daiso surpassed 4 trillion won in annual revenue, up from 3.46 trillion won the previous year. Its rise in popularity can be traced to three key factors: ownership identity, favorable timing (amid Korea’s sluggish economy) and pr

May 9, 2025By Seungeun Yu

[VIDEO] Why travelers to Korea shouldn’t skip a trip to Daiso

Howdy Korea

VIDEO A day with a K-pop star's makeup artist

"I feel like an idol!" Howdy Korea's host, Yasmin, exclaims her voice expressing disbelief as she catches her reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks are flushed with a soft cream blush, her lips shine with gloss and highlighter, and her hair is styled in polished twin braids — a look she hasn’t worn since childhood. It’s a moment of surprise and delight, captured during her visit to Soonsoo, one of Seoul’s most sought-after makeup salons. The salon in the middle of Chungdam-dong isn’t just any neighborhood beauty parlor. It’s a high-profile destination known to have served K-pop stars like Apink, IVE and Red Velvet’s Joy, as well as actors like Byun Yohan and rappers like Zico. At the helm is Jung-an, a seasoned makeup artist who has long worked behind the scenes for some of Korea’s biggest celebrities. When Yasmin requested a look inspired by BLACKPINK’s Rosé, Jung-an not only agreed but thoughtfully broke down Rosé’s signature aesthetic to tailor it to Yasmin’s features. Yasmin is not an anomaly: Her visit reflects a broader shift. An increasing number of foreig

Apr 16, 2025By Seungeun Yu

Yu Seung-eun

Read more

VIDEO A day of a Korean psychiatrist living in a country that won't admit it needs one

VIDEO A day spent with a Korean taekwondo master who looks after 200 kids

VIDEO Spirit mothers: Inside the resilient sisterhood of Korean shamanism

VIDEO We tested Asia’s best models with diet food. Were they fooled?

4 dishes, 2 worlds: How food explains my journey to K-Pop industry

VIDEO Cheongnyangni & Gyeongdong merchants pick my dinner

VIDEO The only restaurant where you can dine with a view of North Korea

VIDEO First time at a Korean sauna (jjimjilbang): More than just a sauna!

VIDEO Why travelers to Korea shouldn’t skip a trip to Daiso

VIDEO A day with a K-pop star's makeup artist

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