Lifestyle - The Korea Times

INTERVIEW Mukbang YouTuber spreads joy of being vegetarian

Chang Ji-eun, a YouTuber who uploads vegan mukbang videos on her channel “jiAang Dan,” poses with dishes. / Courtesy of Chang Ji-eunBy Anna J. Park Chang Ji-eun, 33, is a YouTuber who regularly uploads “mukbang” videos on her channel. What makes her channel distinctive from other Korean YouTubers, though, is that everything she eats during the show is vegan.Her videos may help viewers break their preconceptions about vegan food because what she eats appears just like the meals and snacks non-vegans partake in. She eats what seem to be hamburgers, hot dogs, and stir-fried noodles with shrimp, and scones with large chunks of butter. The only difference is that her hamburgers and hot dogs are made using meat substitutes, mostly made using beans, chickpeas or lentils. The “pseudo shrimps” are also created using, potatoes and wheat. She makes the butter herself using almond milk and coconut oil. During a recent interview with The Korea Times, Chang said she started her YouTube channel, because she wanted to change the public's perception of veganism and

Jul 30, 2019By Anna J. Park

[INTERVIEW] Mukbang YouTuber spreads joy of being vegetarian

Korean Air's on-time flight rate rises

Korean Air headquarters at Gangseo-gu, Seoul / YonhapBy Lee Suh-yoonKorean Air has improved its on-time arrival and departure record in the first half of the year compared to 2018, according to recent rankings and published data. Flightstats, which tracks and compares major airlines' on-time performance every month reported that 80.4 percent of Korean Air's flights arrived less than 15 minutes after the scheduled time in the first half of 2019.The record puts Korean Air in the 13th place for most punctual airline ― a significant jump from 34th place for the same period last year. Flightstats tracked the actual gate arrival time, cancelation or diversion of flights each month. In June alone, Korean Air ranked seventh for on-time arrivals. Departure gate delays were also less common this year, according to the airline. Between January and June, 83.8 percent of Korean Air's 49,166 international flights took off within 15 minutes of the scheduled time ― 11.8 percentage points higher than the same period last year. The on-time departure rate for domestic flights also increased by 7.5 perc

Jul 29, 2019

Traveling with pet new fad in town

More hotels and other types of lodging facilities are now accepting pets. / gettyimagesbankBy Kang Seung-wooAn owner of a Chihuahua, who wants to be identified only as Kwon, is busy nowadays searching for accommodation for an upcoming family trip.However, unlike a few years ago when her family first traveled with their dog, she is finding planning the vacation far easier as there are a growing number of facilities ― even some hotels ― that are welcoming “canine guests.”“There are a lot of pet-friendly facilities now, and because having a pet is so common nowadays, more hotels allow people's animal companions to join them on their travels,” she said.As Kwon's case shows, the rapid growth of the local pet population is making the domestic lodging and travel industries more pet-friendly.According to accommodation booking app Good Choice, Tuesday, there are more than 700 properties accepting pets across the country.The app added the number is a sharp increase compared with 70 in 2016. By type, vacation houses accounted for 81.5 percent, followed by guesthouses at

Jul 25, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Paradise City collaborates with Sisley

A deluxe suite at Art Paradiso / Courtesy of Paradise CityWonderbox offers fantasy for both children and adults By Kang Seung-wooArt Paradiso, the boutique hotel of Paradise City in Incheon, will launch a promotion in partnership with French cosmetics brand Sisley, under which customers will receive the brand's limited edition gift set.According to Paradise City, its Tropical Art Paradiso package will feature Sisley's “Eau Tropicale” set, comprised of an eau de toilette and a perfumed body lotion.“The perfume has a fresh, floral and sunny fragrance that offers an invitation to travel to a tropical paradise,” a Paradise City official said.“The creamy and soft moisturizing body lotion is beautifully scented, and offers long-lasting hydration.”The Tropical Art Paradiso package features Sisley's eau tropicale eau de toilette and moisturizing perfumed body lotion. / Courtesy of Paradise CityAlong with the special set, the package also features a special breakfast at Serase and complimentary access to the swimming pool, Club Chroma and Paradise Art Space

Jul 25, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Seoul Summer Sale

Foreign tourists enjoy “samulnori,” traditional Korean percussion music, in Myeong-dong, Seoul, Sunday, as the Seoul Tourism Organization held a promotion event for the Seoul Summer Sale that will runs until the end of July. The annual festival is designed to give foreign tourists visiting Seoul remarkable shopping benefits by providing a variety of discount coupons that can be used in department stores, duty-free shops and supermarkets in the city. / Courtesy of Seoul Tourism Organization

Jul 25, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Hotel Lobby

By Kang Seung-wooJW Marriott Dongdaemun offers outdoor terrace party The JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul is presenting its Cheers Night, a summer party on an outdoor terrace in the heart of the city until Aug. 31.Available at The Lounge in the hotel lobby or on the outdoor terrace of the 11th floor rooftop bar, The Griffin, it features a plate of five assorted canapes crafted by Swiss executive chef Michel Eschmann and a choice of one bottle from among three world-renowned premium champagnes ― Moet and Chandon, Perrier-Jouet Brut and Andre Clouet Silver Brut Nature.The chef's canape menu includes smoked salmon mousse topped with caviar, tuna tartare with avocado, dill and lavosh, and ricotta cheese with rucola and zucchini. The promotion is available from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Lounge and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Griffin. Alcove Hotel Seoul reborn The Alcove Hotel Seoul has been renamed Hotel Crescendo Seoul, managed by Accor and Ambassador to introduce the latest dining concepts that focus on culinary arts and music.As its name suggests, the property will seek to highlight the

Jul 25, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Chef spreads Italians' comfort food in Korea

Enrico Olivieri, left, and his wife Filippa Fiorenza run the Sicilian restaurant Ciuri Ciuri in western Seoul. They pose for a photo after an interview with The Korea Times, Thursday, at the restaurant. / Korea Times Photo by Lee Gyu-leeBy Lee Gyu-leePizza and pasta are common dishes known in Korea to represent Italian cuisine. But, the owner of Italian restaurant Ciuri Ciuri, located near Hongik University in western Seoul, says Italian food is a lot more than just those two.Chef Enrico Olivieri, 51, and his wife Filippa Fiorenza, 49, run the Sicilian restaurant together.Opened in 2014, the restaurant received three forks in 2017 on Italian wine and food guide Gambero Rosso, which is equivalent to three stars on the Michelin Guide for Italian restaurants. The interior of the restaurant features the ocean-like theme of Italy's largest island Sicily with blue walls and hand-crafted accessories on a fishing net. “I hope to introduce regional Italian food and spread the culture among Koreans,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times at the restaurant, Thursday. Orig

Jul 23, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee

Chef spreads Italians' comfort food in Korea

PHOTOS Mud festival begins in Boryeong

By Jung Min-hoThe annual Boryeong Mud Festival, one of the most famous summer events in Korea, opened Friday on the mud flats of the coast of this western city.The 10-day event, scheduled to run through July 28, is expected to attract many visitors from home and abroad, with dozens of interesting programs set up to entertain them on the South Chungcheong Province city's Daecheon Beach.Here are some of the most eye-catching moments of the first day.Tourists enjoy the Boryeong Mud Festival on Daecheon Beach at Boryeong in South Chungcheong Province, Friday. YonhapYonhapYonhapYonhapYonhap

Jul 20, 2019By Jung Min-ho

Mud festival begins in Boryeong [PHOTOS]

Banyan Tree refurbishes signature restaurant

Festa by mingoo seeks to offer an urban green dining concept. / Courtesy of Banyan Tree Club and Spa SeoulBy Kang Seung-wooThe Banyan Tree Club and Spa Seoul has refurbished its signature restaurant with a Michelin star chef to offer an urban green dining concept.Kang Min-gooThe property has appointed Kang Min-goo as the executive chef of “Festa by mingoo.” Kang, 36, is the owner and chef of Mingles, a contemporary Korean fine dining restaurant with two Michelin stars, who has proven his exceptional expertise by introducing a new level of Korean cuisine.“Festa by mingoo offers a familiar but sophisticated gourmet experience with its rustic European cuisine which is crafted with chef Kang's passion and creativity,” the hotel's President Choi Jong-yoon said in a press conference, July 8, to mark its official opening at the hotel.“The diverse and creative a la carte menu options created with seasonal ingredients offer an authentic taste which can be enjoyed at affordable prices in a relaxing atmosphere.”Kang said, “I want to introduce European c

Jul 18, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

Banyan Tree refurbishes signature restaurant

INTERVIEW CEO brings Prestigious startup to Korea

Suomi Park-Fujiwara, founder and CEO of travel platform startup Prestigious, headquartered in Paris, poses for a photo during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Garosugil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, July 15. Korea Times photo by Jung Da-minBy Jung Da-minBeing a mother and a CEO of a startup at the same time is largely about managing time and planning schedules, said Suomi Park-Fujiwara, 39. She is the founder and chief of Prestigious, a travel platform startup introduced recently to Korea, which aims to provide personalized travel experiences. As a mother of a four-year-old girl, Park says she strategically makes a plan for the whole year every January to make sure she has some quality time to spend with her daughter. “I go for trips at least twice a year with my daughter, each time to a different destination,” Park said, during an interview with The Korea Times, July 15, at a cafe in Garosugil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. “The most important thing is to plan my schedule well and to actually implement the plans.” Park said she also wants to be a successful business

Jul 17, 2019

Travel & Food

Travel & Food

INTERVIEW Mukbang YouTuber spreads joy of being vegetarian

Korean Air's on-time flight rate rises

Traveling with pet new fad in town

Paradise City collaborates with Sisley

Seoul Summer Sale

Hotel Lobby

Chef spreads Italians' comfort food in Korea

PHOTOS Mud festival begins in Boryeong

Banyan Tree refurbishes signature restaurant

INTERVIEW CEO brings Prestigious startup to Korea

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