Lifestyle - The Korea Times

K-travel guide: An architectural tour of Seoul's Bukchon area

April, when cherry blossoms reach full bloom, marks the peak of spring in Korea. In central Seoul, where skyscrapers dominate the skyline, those in search of a quieter, more tranquil landscape often head to Bukchon. Set between Gyeongbok Palace and Changdeok Palace, with Mount Bukak in the background, Bukchon has become a familiar stop for foreign tourists dressed in hanbok and posing for photos against palace walls. Long lines outside popular restaurants have also become part of the scene. Chun Kyung-hwan, head of the architecture firm Thescape, opened a hanok architecture office in Bukchon. He said he often asks himself why the neighborhood’s scenery never seems to lose its appeal. Now, as an “architecture docent” who has been guiding visitors through Bukchon’s hidden charms since June 2022, he shared his answer while leading one of his walking routes. Geonchunmun, the east gate of Gyeongbok Palace His architectural journey begins at Geonchunmun. The reason, he explains, is that the gate makes it immediately clear that Bukchon, unlike other areas whose boundaries are drawn for a

Apr 6, 2026By Hankookilbo

K-travel guide: An architectural tour of Seoul's Bukchon area

Pairing tomatoes with sugar? Rethink some go-to food combinations

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. There are certain food combinations that are commonly consumed. These pairings are not only about how well the flavors complement each other, but also how the nutrients in each food interact to enhance absorption and create a synergistic effect in the body. Such combinations are often referred to as foods that “pair well.” Apples and chocolate are a good example of a well-matched pairing. In the United States, it is common to enjoy snacks made by inserting a stick into an apple and coating it with melted chocolate. When the flavonoids found in chocolate combine with quercetin present in apples, they act as powerful antioxidants that help eliminate reactive oxygen species in the body, making this combination beneficial health wise. However, some foods that are frequently eaten together may not actually be a good match. They may seem to go well together in terms of taste, but from a health perspective, they can be less beneficial — or even counterproductive. Based on some latest sources, here are some food pairings to avoid. Tomato & sugar

Apr 6, 2026By Kormedi.com

Pairing tomatoes with sugar? Rethink some go-to food combinations

Eating salads alone won't accelerate weight loss

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Many people trying to lose weight instinctively turn to salads filled with vegetables. However, restricting meals in an extreme way can actually lead to binge eating. Experts emphasize the need for a diet that sustains a feeling of fullness, often cautioning against dieting while enduring hunger. Instead, they recommend combining protein and soluble dietary fiber to sustain the feeling of being full. Studies show that as protein passes through the gastrointestinal tract, it stimulates the release of a hormone called GLP-1, which creates a feeling of fullness through the same mechanism as the key ingredient in the weight-loss drug Wegovy. Experts say this should be combined with dietary fiber — such as that found in apples, kiwis, and blueberries — that reaches the large intestine and triggers additional satiety hormones. In fact, multiple studies have shown that diets high in protein are effective in reducing appetite and promoting weight loss. In particular, consuming sufficient protein at breakfast tends to reduce total daily calorie int

Apr 6, 2026By Kormedi.com

Eating salads alone won't accelerate weight loss

From viral sweets to indie films: Best things to do in Gwangju

On game days, lines outside a rice cake shop near Gwangju Songjeong Station can stretch more than 50 meters, a familiar scene that even local taxi drivers anticipate, often naming the destination before passengers finish asking. "In my whole life, it is my first time seeing people line up like this at a rice cake shop," a taxi driver said. The draw is pumpkin injeolmi, a sticky rice cake from the bakery Changeok Tteok that has become a viral sensation drawing crowds rivaling the craze for the Dubai chewy cookie. Yet, while domestic tourists travel across the country for this longtime local favorite, the true appeal of Gwangju reveals itself in the quiet, unhurried neighborhoods just beyond the bakery lines. Here, the buzz of viral food trends serves merely as a gateway to the city's true draw: a quiet dedication to rich architectural heritage and back-to-basics culinary craftsmanship. Historic cafes and traditional sweets In the historic center, the districts of Yangnim-dong in Nam District and Dongmyeong-dong in Dong District — locally dubbed "Dongridan-gil" — offer a patchwork of mo

Apr 4, 2026By Hankookilbo

From viral sweets to indie films: Best things to do in Gwangju

Cucumber benefits include weight loss, bone health

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. The best time to eat cucumbers, which can be found all year round, is from April to July. In Korea, they make fabulous kimchi or pickles, or they can be just included in a salad. They are often dismissed as nutritionally light, but they bring a wide range of health benefits — from supporting bone health to aiding weight management and stabilizing blood sugar levels. Rich in vitamin K for bone health A single cucumber can provide more than half of the recommended daily intake of vitamin K, a nutrient essential for blood clotting and bone metabolism. Vitamin K helps calcium bind effectively to bones, lowering the risk of osteoporosis while also preventing calcium buildup in blood vessels. Cucumbers are low in calories but rich in dietary fiber, magnesium and potassium, making them an ideal food for those trying to lose or maintain weight. Nutritionists recommend eating them with the peel, where much of the fiber is concentrated. Blood sugar management With a glycemic index of around 15, cucumbers are considered a low-glycemic index food, meaning

Apr 3, 2026By Kormedi.com

Cucumber benefits include weight loss, bone health

Everland's spring reinvention features upgraded safari, performances

YONGIN, Gyeonggi Province — Since opening in 1976, Everland theme park has led the Korean leisure industry and evolved into a unique destination on the outskirts of Seoul where visitors can enjoy botanical gardens and wildlife alongside world-class amusement rides. To mark its five decades of history, the park is undergoing a spring transformation by reopening its iconic Safari World with a renewed focus on animal welfare and launching a series of large-scale performances that redefine the visitor experience. Eco-friendly, animal-centered Safari World Safari World is one of the most popular attractions at Everland and a key part of its identity that sets it apart from other amusement parks. The redesign of Safari World marks a significant shift from simply viewing the animals to understanding their behaviors and habitats. After about a year of preparation, the reopened Safari World offers a more immersive experience where visitors can observe eight species of predators, including lions, tigers, brown bears and hyenas. “The most important focus of the renovation was animal welfare,”

Apr 3, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

Everland's spring reinvention features upgraded safari, performances

K-food guide: Easy ways to enjoy mugwort

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. In April, one of the most beloved seasonal greens on Korean tables is mugwort, a leafy herb known for its distinctive aroma and numerous health benefits. In season across Korea, China, Japan and other parts of Asia — as well as some areas of Europe — mugwort has long been used both as food and traditional medicine. In Korea, it is commonly incorporated into dishes such as mugwort rice, kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and sujebi (hand-pulled dough soup), adding a fragrant, earthy flavor to everyday meals. The compound cineole, which gives mugwort its distintive scent, has powerful detoxifying effects. It inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria such as E. coli and diphtheria bacteria, and stimulates the secretion of gastric juices, helping improve digestion. Mugwort is also known to help combat spring fatigue, a common seasonal condition. How to choose fresh mugwort According to Korea’s National Institute of Crop and Food Science, here are a few tips when selecting mugwort. Choose bunches with full, leafy growth rather than sparse stems, and lo

Apr 3, 2026By Kormedi.com

K-food guide: Easy ways to enjoy mugwort

How texture is shaping Korea's current food trends

On a recent weekend afternoon, Hwang In-woo, a university student in his 20s, found himself standing in line for something called “Butter rice cakes” — yet another trending dessert he never intended to try. Hwang said he has been eating his way through Korea’s latest food crazes largely at the urging of his girlfriend, who regularly discovers new items on social media and insists they try them together. “I wouldn’t usually go out of my way to buy these if it weren’t for her,” he told The Korea Times. But as he found himself unintentionally following the trends, he began to notice they all shared something in common beyond just flavor. “Most of them are chewy or soft, so you really don’t need much stress or strength to enjoy them,” he said. “The Dubai-style cookie was the most surprising. It looks soft, but then you get these crispy bits inside. That feeling really stayed with me.” Hwang’s observation points to a quiet but decisive shift in Korea’s food culture, where texture — how something stretches, resists, collapses or melts in the mouth — has become

Apr 2, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min

How texture is shaping Korea's current food trends

These self-esteem improvement tips may change your life

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Self-esteem refers to the mindset of valuing oneself and accepting who you are in a positive way. Independent of external judgments, it is the inner capacity to recognize your own worth, playing a crucial role in emotional stability and interpersonal relationships. Self-esteem is distinct from pride. Pride tends to be sensitive to others’ opinions and often acts as an outward defense mechanism to avoid yielding to others. Self-esteem, by contrast, is an inner value rooted in a sense of stability — respecting and loving oneself as one is. According to a study that tracked more than 9,000 Americans from birth to age 27, early childhood, particularly the first six years of one's life, and the home environment leave a lasting impact on self-esteem. But for adults. What, then, can be done to build it? Drawing on insights from sources including the British daily, The Guardian, here are ways to develop stronger self-esteem. Don't compare yourself to others It is never OK to compare yourself to others. In particular, it is big taboo to draw compari

Apr 1, 2026By Kormedi.com

These self-esteem improvement tips may change your life

From K-pop stage to kitchen: BTS V’s oil pasta recipe includes this special sauce

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. BTS member V's oil pasta recipe is going viral. V appeared as a guest on the YouTube channel, “Fairy Jaehyung,” earlier this week, sharing his recent food experiences. When host Jung Jae-hyung asked whether filming the past variety show “Jinny’s Kitchen” had been difficult, V said, “It felt like I actually went there to work, not to film. Since I had no know-how working in a restaurant, I learned everything by trial and error.” “I think I could do better now. Recently, I even made vongole pasta by myself,” he added. When Jung jokingly said, “That’s a lie,” V laughed and shared his pasta recipe. V said, “It’s aglio e olio, but I added clams. First, sauté minced and sliced garlic, then add olive oil and white wine and reduce it. Add clams, and once they open, remove them. Then add peperoncino for some spice. Put the pasta back in and stir-fry, then place the clams on top.” He added, “I was told to add a bit of oyster sauce. It tasted pretty good.” Clam Aglio e Olio: Lower blood sugar spike The clam aglio e olio tha