Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Jilli SF turns makgeolli into Bay Area’s trendiest drink

SAN FRANCISCO — Jeong Hwang-hah, the young owner of Jilli SF, is bringing makgeolli — Korea’s centuries-old rice alcohol — to the heart of the Bay Area, bridging her background in tech with the rising popularity of Korean drinking culture in the United States. After spending years in the tech industry as a user interaction designer for Airbnb and several artificial intelligence (AI) companies, the 28-year-old made a shift to hospitality this year to launch Jilli SF, a San Francisco outpost of the popular Korean-inspired bar in Los Angeles. Her motivation was a deep love for Korean culture and a vision to create a communal space for food, drink and connection in the U.S. “I want Jilli SF to be seen as a Korean modern 'suljib,' but for everyone,” Jeong told The Korea Times. “I hope this place feels like a friend’s home — somewhere you can drop by after work, even alone, and instantly feel at ease. Familiar, yet new.” After years designing interfaces and AI products, Jeong felt everything online was starting to blur together and realized people were yearning for experien

Nov 6, 2025By Park Jin-hai

Jilli SF turns makgeolli into Bay Area’s trendiest drink

Fried kimchi, Hwangnam bread: Korean food that won APEC delegates' hearts

Korea’s gastro-diplomacy was in full swing during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, last week. The Korean government mobilized all available resources to please heads of states and delegates from Asia, the Americas and beyond. The official gala dinner on Friday evening drew much public and media attention, as Korean American star chef Edward Lee took charge of the menu. Yet, beyond the gala, several other Korean dishes — from time-honored classics to simple baked goods — impressed visitors with their taste and presentation. Fried kimchi Fried kimchi — a stir-fried version of Korea’s signature fermented cabbage — appealed to Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, and members of the United Arab Emirates legation. Their fondness was so great that they asked to take some home and the host hotel — Ananti Cove in Busan — presented the delegation with vacuum-packed bottles of fried kimchi as a gift. According to Korean reports, some delegates even asked a hotel employee for the

Nov 4, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

Fried kimchi, Hwangnam bread: Korean food that won APEC delegates' hearts

Korea offers half-price templestay programs to boost autumn travel

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday that it will offer a 50 percent discount on templestay programs nationwide throughout November, encouraging domestic and international travelers to experience Buddhist temple life as part of a fall travel campaign. The initiative, dubbed "Double Happiness Temple Stay," is the key feature of the "Autumn Travel for All 2025" campaign, a public tourism drive connected to the Korea Grand Festival — a large-scale government-led shopping and cultural event that runs both online and offline through Sunday. Second Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim Dae-hyun visited Magok Temple in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, Monday to inspect templestay facilities and gather feedback from staff ahead of the expected rise in visitors. Magok Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 2018, is among 158 temples across the country currently offering the overnight experience. A templestay is a cultural immersion program that invites participants to explore monastic life through meditation, tea ceremonies with monks, temple cuisine

Nov 3, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Korea offers half-price templestay programs to boost autumn travel

Lotte Hotels showcases Korean hospitality for APEC leaders in Gyeongju

Lotte Hotels & Resorts showcased the elegance of Korean hospitality on the global stage at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, providing high-level reception and catering services for world leaders and their delegations. Over 300 hospitality specialists from Lotte’s nationwide network were dispatched to handle accommodations and culinary operations. Each staff member underwent extensive training in international service etiquette, diplomatic protocol and scenario-based simulations. The hotel’s APEC VIP protocol team, led by veteran concierges recognized with the Golden Key from the international concierge association Les Clefs d’Or, oversaw the event’s hospitality operations. Lotte also held preparatory service workshops in Gyeongju, reinforcing the team’s commitment to delivering excellence grounded in traditional Korean values. Culinary preparations reflected both local flavor and symbolic harmony. Under the direction of master chef Kim Song-gi, the culinary team sourced ingredients directly from Gyeongju and devel

Nov 3, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Lotte Hotels showcases Korean hospitality for APEC leaders in Gyeongju

Gyeongju is worth visiting, with or without APEC

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — Thousands of international visitors arrived in Gyeongju at the end of October for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) events, where world leaders and global business figures shaped the agenda on trade and technology. But that is not the only reason to visit the city often described as a “museum without walls.” The city was the capital of the ancient Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. to 935 A.D.) for nearly a millenium, and is home to four UNESCO World Heritage sites and 36 state-designated national treasures, accounting for about 10 percent of the national total. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, more than 1.15 million foreign visitors traveled to Gyeongju between December 2023 and November 2024 — an unusually high figure for a city that is not a major metropolis. Many tourists told The Korea Times they were unaware of the major diplomatic gatherings being held at the time, but said they were still enjoying the city. Leo, a 60-year-old tourist from the United States, was not only unaware that the APEC meetings were taking place, but had

Nov 2, 2025By Park Ung

Gyeongju is worth visiting, with or without APEC

What are the cold-weather street snacks that actress Go Hyun-jung can’t resist?

As cold winds sweep through Seoul, seasonal snack stalls have begun to fill the streets with the familiar scent of roasted chestnuts, sweet potatoes and crispy fish-shaped pastries — and actor Go Hyun-jung is clearly savoring the new snap in the air. The veteran actor recently took to social media to share several photos and videos capturing the essence of Korea's colder seasons. Ko posted images of bungeoppang, a fish-shaped pastry filled with red bean paste, roasted chestnuts and roasted sweet potatoes without a caption evoking nostalgia for the country’s favorite cold-weather street foods. In another clip, Go appears in a padded jacket with her long hair down, smiling brightly as she enjoys a quiet moment. Fans were quick to note how her simple joy made the post feel “like winter itself.” The contrast between her warm, everyday charm and her chilling performance in SBS’s recent thriller “Queen Mantis,” where she played a serial killer, has drawn further attention online. Many viewers commented that her post felt like “a healing moment” after such an intense role. Go

Nov 1, 2025By Xportsnews

What are the cold-weather street snacks that actress Go Hyun-jung can’t resist?

Korea unveils Gyeongju-inspired menu for APEC leaders’ dinner

Gyeongju-inspired cuisine and a star-studded cultural performance were the highlights of the official welcome dinner for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting Friday, hosted by President Lee Jae Myung and the first lady Kim Hea Kyung, the presidential office said. This highly-anticipated banquet was the peak of a series of APEC official events where the drinks served, ranging from sparkling nonalcoholic tea drinks to traditional Korean rice alcohols, demonstrated Korea's deft blend of protocol and cultural diplomacy. Lee and his wife hosted the official dinner at the Lahan Select hotel for about 400 distinguished guests, including the heads of the 21 APEC member economies, representatives of international organizations and CEOs of multinational companies. The presidential office said the official dinner was designed to be a meaningful event where Korean culture, technology and a commitment to cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region connected seamlessly. The banquet featured a carefully curated menu developed with the help of Korean American celebrity chef Edward Lee, aiming to show bot

Oct 31, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Korea unveils Gyeongju-inspired menu for APEC leaders’ dinner

Guide to Seoul’s trendiest autumn fashion districts: Seongsu, Itaewon, Hongdae

As the leaves change color and clothing turns warm, fashion-forward travelers are invited to experience a stylish Seoul autumn in the most iconic fashion neighborhoods, selected by the Seoul Tourism Organization (STO). From industrial chic in Seongsu to cosmopolitan flair in Itaewon and creative innovation in Hongdae, these neighborhoods offer a fresh look at Korea’s evolving urban landscape. Seongsu, Korea’s hipster haven Once filled with light industrial shops and manufacturing, Seongsu — often dubbed "Korea’s Brooklyn" — now sits at the cutting edge of Seoul’s creative fashion scene. Factories and repair shops from the 80s and 90s have been transformed into pop-up stores, avant-garde cafes and exhibition spaces. Local flagship stores introducing new domestic brands and global fashion houses like Dior both have a strong presence in the neighborhood, creating a cosmopolitan energy amid the area's red-brick buildings. Iconic spaces, including Daelim Changgo and the converted printed shop cafe Zagmach, invite visitors to enjoy an industrial-meets-arts-vibe. A stroll starting fr

Oct 31, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Guide to Seoul’s trendiest autumn fashion districts: Seongsu, Itaewon, Hongdae

Indonesian diving paradise Manado welcomes Korean tourists

After arriving on the first Eastar Jet Incheon-Manado flight, tourists snorkel in the waters of Indonesia’s Bunaken National Marine Park, one of the world's top three diving destinations that is home to more than 1,300 marine species and 370 kinds of living coral, Wednesday. Eastar Jet became the first Korean carrier to launch a direct route to Manado, North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia, Oct. 26. Joint Press Corps

Oct 30, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Indonesian diving paradise Manado welcomes Korean tourists

Stone walls glowing under Seorak foliage: 500-year-old hanok village revives as travel gem

As autumn colors sweep across Mount Seorak, a quiet 500-year-old stone-wall village at its foothills is capturing travelers’ hearts. Sangdomun Village in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, is home to around 150 households and traces its history back to the early Joseon period (1392-1910). Once a popular stop for Seorak tourists, it faded from memory as large-scale resorts and new attractions emerged across Gangwon Province. But in recent years, the tranquil hanok-lined settlement has been rediscovered by younger visitors seeking slower, quieter journeys. The village, formed by families of the Andong Jang, Miryang Park, Gangneung Park, Gangneung Kim and Haeju Oh clans, has been inhabited by their descendants for centuries. Legend has it that Buddhist monks Wonhyo and Uisang achieved enlightenment here while traveling to Mount Seorak, after hearing a mystical chanting sound from the forest. The village name, Domun — meaning “gate to enlightenment” — stems from this tale. Sangdomun’s most striking feature is its endless stone walls, built shoulder-high with rough, round rocks polished smo

Oct 30, 2025By Hankookilbo

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