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Kim Se-jeong

Korea Times K-Culture Reporter

I am covering trend, food and fashion. Previously, I covered diplomacy, city, environment and unification.

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South Korea

Few know new zip code system

By Kim Se-jeongThe nation will adopt five-digit zip codes instead of the current six-digit format starting Saturday ― a change not many people know about.Many have criticized the government for not doing enough to let the public know about the change.While the current codes are comprised of three numbers, a dash and three more numbers, the new five-number codes will not have a dash. The first three digits will signify the location of the province, city and district, and the remaining two digits for the rest of the address.The change is part of the government’s effort to unify administrative districts, which were previously categorized from one governmental organization to another. The street name-based address system, which was introduced in 2014, was part of that effort.However, many citizens say they have not heard about the change just days before the new system goes into effect.“No one told me about the change,” a housewife surnamed Choi complained. “It will not change my life anyway, because I don’t use the postal service often. I don’t r

Jul 30, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Travel & Food

HOTEL LOBBY

 Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel presents its “Big Family” package for guests planning a family trip in the city.The package includes a one-night stay in two deluxe rooms, breakfast buffet for four and free access to the hotel gym and swimming pool. The second room must be occupied by those aged 18 or younger. The hotel’s signature restaurant, Feast, where breakfast is served, has a buffet of international dishes with a noodle station, Korean cuisine, grill, and dessert station.The package costs 418,000 won excluding tax, and will be available until the end of the year. For more information and reservations, call (02) 2211-2100 or visit www.sheraton.com   Park Hyatt Seoul presents its “Mothers and Daughters” package from Aug. 1. The package includes a one-night stay, breakfast for two at Cornerstone, a 20-minute foot care session, two glasses of champagne at Park Club Spa, free Wi-Fi and access to the fitness studio, swimming pool and sauna.The package also includes a gift of skincare products by Lyanature, a local brand. The type of

Jul 30, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
HOTEL LOBBY
Travel & Food

Oakwood Premier in Seoul reborn after 11 years

Oakwood’s two-bedroom suite livingroom / Courtesy of Oakwood Premier Coex Center SeoulBy Kim Se-jeongOakwood Premier Coex Center Seoul completed its renovation earlier this month. The new interiors and upgraded facilities have put the country’s first international service residence brand in the minds of local and foreign business travelers.All 280 of the serviced apartments, which opened 11 years ago, were renovated.“As one of the leaders in the serviced residence market, Oakwood is constantly looking at ways to improve its offerings and enhance its residents’ experience,” said Y C Shim, general manager of Oakwood Premier Coex Center. “We do not just provide service apartments. We listen to our residents and believe that by doing so, wonderful memories can be created through their stays with us.”The renovation has transformed the property’s classic interiors with a chic and contemporary design that appeals to international travelers. Each apartment has been outfitted with veneer wood flooring and dark wood furnishings, accentuated with

Jul 30, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Oakwood Premier in Seoul reborn after 11 years
Travel & Food

Citadines widens accommodation options in Busan

The 42-story serviced residence Citadines Haeundae Busan guarantees a stunning view of the beach, ocean and cityscape. / Courtesy of Citadines Haeundae BusanMax Philips, area manager for The Ascott LimitedBy Kim Se-jeongAre you thinking about traveling to Busan, for business or leisure?If so, you’re in luck. Citadines Haeundae Busan, an international serviced residence brand, is scheduled to open on Aug. 15, widening your choice of accommodations in the nation’s most popular beach town.Citadines Haeundae is a brand of Singapore-based The Ascott Limited, the world’s largest serviced residence owner-operator.The apartment’s facilities are what distinguish it from competitors in the city. Each of its apartments has a fully-equipped kitchen with glassware, crockery, cutlery and other utensils, a refrigerator, rice cooker, electric kettle and toaster, making Citadines perfect for guests who do not always want to eat out. No other accommodation in the city offers a functional kitchen.Each apartment is also equipped with multi-split type air conditioning an

Jul 30, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
Citadines widens accommodation options in Busan
South Korea

High-end taxis will debut in Oct.

By Kim Se-jeong Thirty high-end taxis will be in service in Seoul from October, accommodating the needs of people seeking a quality transport service, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG), Wednesday.The new high-end taxi or “gogeup taxi” service follows a revised law on passenger transport which allows vehicles with engines of more than 2.8 liters engine to run as premium taxies.According to the SMG, the 30 new taxis will be bigger than ordinary taxis. They will also only be available if advance bookings are made.  The basic fare is likely to be set between 7,500 won ($6.5) and 8,500 won; ordinary taxis charge only 3,000 won. The new taxis will also be more expensive than the current deluxe black taxis or “mobeom” that charge 5,000 won for a basic fare.The gogeup taxies will not have meters. “We are discussing with the taxi operator, High End, about how to charge fees,” an SMG official said. “We’ll decide what factors will be included for charges and what fares will be.”He also said that any vehicle

Jul 29, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
South Korea

Environmental activists oppose railway project near Korean border

By Kim Se-jeong The government’s railway project near the inter-Korean border is drawing opposition from civic activists who say the project will destroy the habitat of red-crowned cranes, an endangered species.Environmental groups claim the government has promoted the project without a due review process regarding the environmental effect.The project in question is to restore Gyeongwon Line, an old railway connecting Yongsan in Seoul and Wonsan, a North Korean city in the east coast. The 223.7-kilometer railroad, which began operation in 1914, has been blocked since the Korean War.The railroad in South Korean territory is now available from Yongsan Station to Baengmagoji Station in Cherwon, Gangwon Province, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to extend it 9.3 kilometers toward the border to Woljeongni Station in a village just outside the demilitarized zone (DMZ).A groundbreaking ceremony will be held earlier next month to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japan in 1945. The construction is expected to be completed

Jul 27, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
South Korea

'Cultural diversity education key to multiracial future'

By Kim Se-jeong Since the late 1990s, Korea has seen a growing number of immigrant spouses, especially wives. As the number increased and such people needed help to adapt themselves to living here, the government introduced support programs for them in 2006.After ten years, experts now say the policy should evolve according to social changes, shifting from unilateral support to measures to accept and develop diversity.The initial focus a decade ago was helping immigrants settle into a new environment, as without any state support, they struggled because of the language barrier, cultural differences and abusive spouses. Support programs often included lectures on how to make kimchi or how to wear hanbok, traditional Korean clothes.In 2008, the law on supporting multiracial families was set up, under which Multicultural Family Support Centers were established across the country.As the number of children from such families grew, many of them had difficulty in catching up with school life due to language problems and financial difficulties, and so government policy shifted to assist

Jul 24, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
South Korea

MERS outbreak 'virtually' over here

By Kim Se-jeong The government will announce early next week that Korea is virtually free from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) epidemic, according to officials from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Prime Minister’s Office, Friday.It will hold a meeting next Tuesday to urge the public to “return to their normal lives.”“The number of people in isolation will be zero on July 27,” a ministry official said. “The prime minister will convene a meeting and make a national address telling citizens that there’s no threat of MERS anymore.”But, it will not be an official declaration of the outbreak’s end, because one patient has still tested positive for the deadly virus which killed 36 people in Korea.The World Health Organization earlier recommended Seoul make the MERS-free announcement 28 days after the final patient’s recovery, twice the virus’ incubation period of 14 days. According to the recommendation, the official end of the epidemic may be in the latter half of next month.“It will take to

Jul 24, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
South Korea

Wet weekend expected as typhoon approaches

By Kim Se-jeong Rainfall is expected in most parts of the country over the weekend as typhoon Halola approaches the peninsula, according to the national weather agency, Friday.The Korea Meteorological Agency (KMA) said that Seoul, and Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces will see up to 150 millimeters of rainfall and the west coast, up to 120 millimeters, as Halola is expected to pass through the Korea Strait. Sunday.Halola, moving at 12 kilometers per hour, is expected to be 340 kilometers off Japan’s southernmost island of Okinawa by Saturday afternoon.It is the third typhoon to hit the peninsula this summer. Earlier, Chan-hom bombarded Jeju Island’s mountain region with 1,400 millimeters of rain, while Nangka killed two people and cancelled flight and cruise operations.“The typhoon is coming toward Jeju and southern parts of the country,” a weather agent said. “It is moving a bit more westward than initially expected, meaning it could have an influence on the peninsula. Citizens are advised to keep monitoring weather information.”The rain will co

Jul 24, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
South Korea

K-pop festival criticized for poor preparation

By Kim Se-jeong The government plans to hold a large-scale K-pop festival next month in Seoul in an effort to revive local tourism in the aftermath of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).However, concerns are growing over whether the event will take place at all. Criticism has mounted that the government decided to host the festival without enough preparation or communication with relevant authorities.According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Thursday, the festival is scheduled for Aug. 4 at Seoul Plaza in central Seoul. The ministry is working with the Korea Tourism Organization in laying out details and promoting the event overseas.But the ministry and the KTO only started to discuss the event on July 6 and got the permission to use the plaza from the Seoul Metropolitan Government on July 17.They also say they would have top K-pop stars performing; the online advertisement on the KTO’s website already highlights that the festival will feature high-profile groups.However, as of Thursday, less than two weeks before the show, no definitive lineu

Jul 23, 2015By Kim Se-jeong
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