Lifestyle - The Korea Times

How to celebrate Pepero Day, Korea's sweetest tradition

If you happen to be in Korea on Nov. 11, you might notice store shelves overflowing with boxes of thin, chocolate-coated biscuit sticks. Welcome to Pepero Day, one of Korea’s most vibrant and fun informal holidays. First launched by Lotte Wellfood in 1983, Pepero has grown from a simple brand name into a household term representing all long, thin biscuit sticks here. Legend has it that the phenomenon started in the 1990s when middle school students in Yeongnam began exchanging the biscuit sticks with a sweet wish, "May we both grow tall and slender!" Today, the tradition has evolved into a nationwide celebration of friendship, romance and affection, where exchanging Pepero sticks is the ultimate way to show someone you care. Whether you are looking for a quick wallet-friendly treat or an over-the-top artisan gift, here is your complete guide to navigating Pepero Day. Convenience store favorites Participating in Korea’s most popular November tradition does not require breaking the bank. Ahead of Nov. 11, the country’s leading convenience store chains — CU, GS25, 7-Eleven and Emart24

2d agoBy Park Jin-hai

How to celebrate Pepero Day, Korea's sweetest tradition

Busan nears 4 mil. foreign visitor mark after beating 2025 total in 9 months

Long viewed as a scenic coastal secondary stop for international travelers venturing outside Seoul, Korea’s second-largest city is rapidly transforming into a standalone global destination. Driven by expanded direct flights, cruise traffic, and a surge in international visitors, Busan welcomed 3.93 million foreign tourists in the first nine months of 2026, the Busan Metropolitan Government said Friday. The figure easily surpassed the southeastern port city's total visitor count of 3.64 million for all of 2025 and positions it to clear its annual target of 4 million visitors well ahead of schedule. The shift marks a crucial milestone in Korea’s broader efforts to disperse tourism beyond the capital. Nationwide, international arrivals rose 21.5 percent over the same period, but Busan saw a 47 percent surge — more than double the national growth rate. Unlike past years, when foreign tourists typically entered Korea through Incheon International Airport before taking high-speed trains south, travelers are increasingly bypassing Seoul altogether. Nearly 63 percent of foreign visitors to

Nov 8, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

Busan nears 4 mil. foreign visitor mark after beating 2025 total in 9 months

Up to 2,500 microplastic particles found in tea bags after 3 minutes in hot water

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Drinking a cup of hot tea may expose people to microplastics, particularly when tea bags are made from plastic materials. When exposed to hot water, these tea bags can release tiny plastic particles into the beverage. Microplastics are plastic fragments smaller than 5 millimeters. They can enter the human body through food and drinking water, and some studies have suggested potential links to inflammation and cellular damage. A recent study found that nylon tea bags released up to approximately 2,500 microplastic particles when steeped in hot water. Researchers at Recep Tayyip Erdogan University in Turkey placed nylon tea bags sold in the country into 150 milliliters of water heated to approximately 95 degrees Celsius and steeped them for three minutes. An analysis of the resulting water detected between 555 and 2,498 microplastic particles. The researchers said that immersing tea bags in hot water could cause tiny plastic particles and chemical substances to leach into the water. The nylon tea bags used in the study were made from plastic fibe

Nov 8, 2026By Kormedi.com

Up to 2,500 microplastic particles found in tea bags after 3 minutes in hot water

What you need to know about 2 Joseon-era cookbooks that won UNESCO recognition

Among the many surviving books from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), "Suunjapbang" and "Eumsikdimibang" stand out as valuable records of the country's culinary heritage. Meaning various ways to entertain refined gentlemen, "Suunjapbang" is a collection of recipes documenting the food culture of aristocratic households in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province. First written by Confucian scholar Kim Yu in the 16th century, it was later complemented by his grandson Ryeong in the 17th century. "Eumsikdimibang" was compiled around 1670 by Lady Jang, the wife of local scholar Lee Si-myeong (1590-1674). Meaning correct ways to appreciate food taste, the book contains 146 recipes covering various dishes and methods of making alcoholic beverages. On Thursday, the two cookbooks were jointly inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register, recognizing their historical and cultural significance. With the latest inscription, Korea now has eight entries on the regional register. The two books share an important connection: Both document the culinary traditions of the Andong area. B

Nov 6, 2026By Kim Se-jeong

What you need to know about 2 Joseon-era cookbooks that won UNESCO recognition

Winter delicacy returns to Korea as plunging Pacific catch drives up prices

As the first crisp autumn winds sweep across the East Sea, the port city of Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province begins producing "gwamegi" — Korea’s cherished winter delicacy of dried Pacific saury. But this season, a sharp slump in oceanic catches is turning the savory staple into a luxury commodity. Pohang launched a nationwide promotional blitz on Wednesday at the National Assembly in Seoul, introducing the 2026–2027 season. Celebrated for its rich, chewy texture and deeply savory flavor, gwamegi is traditionally crafted in the seaside town of Guryongpo by hanging cleaned saury on wooden racks, allowing the freezing night temperatures and icy coastal winds to slowly dry and cure the fish over several weeks. In Korean culinary culture, the delicacy holds a storied place as a nutrient-dense winter superfood. Packed with omega-3 fatty acids, the partially dried fish is prized for promoting cardiovascular health and circulation. It is typically served wrapped in fresh seaweed or perilla leaves, with spring onions and a dab of vinegar and chili sauce as condiments. However, this yea

Nov 4, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

Winter delicacy returns to Korea as plunging Pacific catch drives up prices

Everland invites visitors to enjoy fall foliage, baby animals, special shows

Everland, Korea’s largest theme park, said Monday that visitors can enjoy peak fall foliage, newly unveiled baby animals and seasonal shows this month. Autumn leaves across the park are expected to peak this week, according to Samsung C&T’s resort division, which operates the park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, about 40 kilometers south of Seoul. Members of Garden Pass, the park’s garden subscription service, can now join a guided program at the Secret Ginkgo Forest near Everland. The company says it is Korea’s largest ginkgo grove, with some 30,000 trees that have grown over more than half a century on about 150,000 square meters of land. Participants can walk the forest with a guide and meditate in hammocks. Visitors can also see the foliage from rides such as Thunder Falls, a rapids ride, and Monimo Rush, which lifts riders 56 meters above the ground. At Panda World, Shubao, a 5-month-old giant panda cub, has been on public display since Oct. 30. Born in June, Shubao is the fourth cub born to the park’s pandas Aibao and Lebao, after Fubao and twins Ruibao and Huibao. The cub

Nov 2, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

Everland invites visitors to enjoy fall foliage, baby animals, special shows

Think flipping meat twice makes it juicier? Korean pork expert says the opposite

"Is it really true that meat tastes better if you flip it exactly twice? That might work for very thinly sliced pork belly. But with meat of ordinary thickness, juices move in the direction the heat is applied. If you want to keep the juices toward the center and make the meat moist, it's better to flip it frequently." Cha Ho-myung, a former chef with 26 years of experience who now leads the Meat&Food Food Solution Team at Sunjin Technology Research Institute, challenged a widely held belief about grilling meat as he taught the science behind cooking pork at Yaksan Dwaeji, a restaurant in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, on Oct. 14. The lesson was part of the practical training for "Grilling Meister," a private certification program introduced in 2021 by Sunjin, the agricultural and food company behind Sunjin Pork, Korea's first branded pork product. Candidates first take an online written test covering pork production, processing and nutrition. Then comes the centerpiece of the certification process: a practical exam for participants to demonstrate their skill in grilling "samgyeopsal", o

Oct 30, 2026By Hankookilbo

Think flipping meat twice makes it juicier? Korean pork expert says the opposite

Danyang's traditional market embraces Dracula theme to pitch local garlic

Count Dracula might want to reconsider his weekend travel plans. Danyang Gugyeong Market in North Chungcheong Province is turning into a garlic lover’s paradise — and a vampire’s worst nightmare — from Friday to Saturday for the 2026 Danyang Garlic Festival Season 2: Count Dracula’s Secret Shop, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) said Thursday. Organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the KTO, the event fuses local six-clove garlic with gothic fantasy to create an unforgettable traditional market experience. Last year’s Dracula Garlic Night drew nearly 8,900 brave souls, but this year's sequel promises to raise the stakes. Local shopkeepers are dressing up as immortal shopmasters, offering rich culinary delights while turning the market aisles into a haunted gauntlet. Visitors can embark on a ghostly stamp tour, creeping through secret shops decorated with cobwebs and bats to claim exclusive souvenirs. For foodies dying to satisfy their appetite, the festival features the Secret Banquet, a prebooked four-course fine dining experience showcasing local gar

Oct 29, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan

Danyang's traditional market embraces Dracula theme to pitch local garlic

Global trekkers climb Seoul's rocky mountain trails for scenic views, nature

Under a clear autumn sky, 18 international hikers from diverse backgrounds gathered outside Exit 1 of Gwanaksan Station on Monday to kick off the three-week "2026 Seoul Hiking Week: Autumn." Their objective for Day 1 was Mount Hoam, one of the peaks on the larger Mount Gwanak in southern Seoul, an "extreme course" route designed to showcase Seoul's rugged urban terrain. Running through Nov. 15, the Seoul Hiking Week is centered around three mountains in Seoul: Mount Bukhan, Mount Bugak and Mount Gwanak. Before hitting the trail, participants stopped at the Seoul Hiking Tourism Center directly connected to the station. By scanning a simple QR code, trekkers accessed the center's equipment rental service — complimentary exclusively during the event period — to gear up with hiking poles, gloves, backpacks, windbreakers and hiking boots. After a quick group stretch at the trailhead, the multinational group set off into the forest. Just minutes into the uphill climb, the trail passed a row of wooden statues lined up along the left side of the path. The lead guide paused to explain the cu

Oct 28, 2026By Park Jin-hai

Global trekkers climb Seoul's rocky mountain trails for scenic views, nature

Korea eyes 30 mil. tourists with regional push

Korea is working to open an era of 30 million foreign visitors by shifting its tourism focus from Seoul to regional areas, Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young said Wednesday. "An unprecedented future has already arrived and Korea is fully preparing to welcome 30 million and eventually 40 million overseas travelers," Chae said during a press conference in Seoul. "To ensure that regional tourism genuinely drives local economies, we will manage not just the total number of inbound visitors, but also focus on qualitative growth while actively addressing overtourism concerns." The country's tourism sector is currently riding a wave of record-breaking growth, with cumulative foreign tourist arrivals surpassing the 2025 annual total of 18.94 million as of Tuesday. Despite global challenges like high oil prices, inflation and the Middle East conflict, the ministry credited K-culture popularity, industry innovation and local hospitality for the steady growth. To sustain this upward momentum, the government has boosted its 2027 budget for the tourism sector to 1.756 trillion won ($1.31 billion), a 19 p

Oct 28, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

Travel & Food