Lifestyle - The Korea Times

From tangerines to olives: How climate change is reshaping Jeju agriculture

SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — Beneath the iconic slopes of Mount Halla, Jeju’s orchards are starting to look a little different. Tangerines still dominate the island’s fields, but now olive trees, with their silver-green leaves and Mediterranean flair, are taking root, reshaping the island’s agricultural identity as it gets warmer and drier. In the beginning of September, clusters of light green olives — some already darkening — dangled from trees that swayed gently in the wind, ahead of their harvest. Seom Olive, an olive farm run by Kim Gil-young, focuses on breeding and preserving olives. Kim, one of Korea’s olive pioneers, sees potential for wider cultivation. “Jeju’s climate is definitely changing, and it’s becoming favorable for olive trees,” he told The Korea Times. According to Kim, the island’s May and June — a critical period for pollination of olive trees — are getting drier in recent years. “The fact that it’s dry when pollination takes place is an advantage for olive trees,” he said. He explained that unlike other plants, olive trees rely only on w

Sep 18, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

From tangerines to olives: How climate change is reshaping Jeju agriculture

Korea is now growing tropical superfoods — try these easy recipes

Quanzhou preserves multicultural legacy as ancient maritime Silk Road hub

QUANZHOU, China — Marco Polo recalled Quanzhou in the 13th century as “the Haven of Zayton, frequented by all the ships of India, which bring thither spicery and all other kinds of costly wares.” The Venetian explorer portrayed the southeastern Chinese city as the beating heart of the maritime Silk Road, a view echoed by the Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta, who described it as “one of the greatest ports in the world, if not the greatest.” Their words conjure images of harbors teeming with vessels from every corner of the globe, vibrant markets and neighborhoods where every faith and culture were welcome. Today, Quanzhou continues to enchant visitors with its serene, scenic atmosphere of lush parks, gentle rivers and historic mountain retreats. The city’s tranquil atmosphere endures in the incense wafting from ancient temples, the bustle of street markets and centuries-old bridges and historic architecture. Here, the spirit of multicultural China comes alive, sustained by a long tradition of dialogue and diversity. Once deemed the “Emporium of the World,” Quanzhou is making

Sep 18, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Quanzhou preserves multicultural legacy as ancient maritime Silk Road hub

Korea’s first 'humanities garden' opens in Yangpyeong after 13 years of planning

In a secluded valley in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, a unique cultural space has opened to the public — a garden designed to embody the spirit of philosophy, art and Korean tradition. The Médongaule, which opened on Sept. 1, is being described as Korea’s first "humanities garden." Its name, derived from a native Korean term meaning “a valley once filled with vibrant blooms of morning glory," carries both geographical and botanical significance. The project was the vision of a wealthy entrepreneur who, after selling the company he had built for over a decade, spent the last 13 years creating a place where philosophical reflection could take root. He drew inspiration from Friedrich Nietzsche’s concept of the Übermensch, deciding to leave a legacy for future generations. The garden spans nearly 198,000 square meters and is divided into three parts: a traditional Korean garden, a modern garden blending art and philosophy and a large forest. The design involved prominent architects and landscape designers, including Seung Hyo-sang. Admission is 50,000 won ($36) per person, and acces

Sep 17, 2025By Hankookilbo

Korea’s first 'humanities garden' opens in Yangpyeong after 13 years of planning

How 'Bon Appetit, Your Majesty' created a K-food craze

“Bon Appetit, Your Majesty,” the tvN weekend drama that has stirred a global K-food craze, has unveiled behind-the-scenes details of its elaborate food sequences. The series has showcased a variety of fusion dishes that highlight the flavors of Korean cuisine as well as cooking scenes ranging from a royal chef selection contest to high-stakes culinary battles with national pride on the line. Creations such as sous vide steak, doenjang (soybean paste) pasta and Peking duck rolls — made with traditional ingredients and palace-inspired recipes enhanced by modern techniques — have given viewers at home and abroad a taste of Korea’s culinary richness. It is not only the food that has captured attention. The production also integrated traditional tools to substitute for modern kitchen appliances. For example, bamboo molds were used to shape raw beef in a haute cuisine course, and noodle presses were adapted to make pasta for doenjang dishes. Subtle details, such as chefs personally preparing dishes in front of diners to whet appetites, further enriched the viewing experience. Yeon J

Sep 17, 2025By Xportsnews

How 'Bon Appetit, Your Majesty' created a K-food craze

Korea takes spotlight as Trip.com rolls out data-driven travel picks

INCHEON — Trip.com, a leading online travel platform, underscored Korea’s growing role in global tourism on Tuesday as it introduced its data-driven curation service, Trip.Best, at a media event at Incheon’s Paradise City resort. Korea was selected as the inaugural host for the Trip.Best 2025 gathering, marking a strategic move that underscores the nation’s growing influence in global tourism. Trip.Best is Trip.com’s annually updated, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered service that curates and ranks hotels, restaurants and travel destinations in more than 15,000 cities across 200 countries by analyzing booking data and user reviews to provide themed recommendations in 14 categories, helping travelers make confident choices in an information-heavy market. Since its launch in Korea in 2018, visits to Trip.com’s website and app have risen 144 percent in the first half of 2025, with a surge in repeat bookings underscoring strong customer loyalty. “Korea is becoming a strategic hub in the global travel market. Expanding the base of loyal customers and analyzing diverse trend d

Sep 17, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Korea takes spotlight as Trip.com rolls out data-driven travel picks

Korea launches major fall tourism campaign to boost local economies

Korea has launched a major autumn tourism campaign, offering discounted travel packages, regional festivals and expanded public-private partnerships in a bid to revive local economies, the government said Tuesday. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism launched the campaign together with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Six major business associations, including the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also joined the effort, signaling strong collaboration between government and industry. At a declaration ceremony at the Korea Tourism Organization’s (KTO) Seoul center, participating groups pledged to promote travel to lesser-known regions while supporting small businesses and local service providers. Jointly organized by the culture ministry and the KTO, the campaign runs until November and is designed to mobilize both public resources and private networks. K-pop singer Chuu has been appointed as an honorary ambassador to draw younger travelers. The initiative features a suite

Sep 16, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Korea launches major fall tourism campaign to boost local economies

PHOTO Heartthrob Park Bo-gum named Incheon airport ambassador

Actor Park Bo-gum and Incheon International Airport Corp. President Lee Hag-jae pose for a photo during a ceremony for this year's honorary ambassador at the airport, Monday. Following in the footsteps of figure skating icons Kim Yuna and Cha Jun-hwan, K-pop girl group aespa and climber Um Hong-gil, Park will promote Korea's busiest air travel hub for three years. Courtesy of Incheon International Airport Corp.

Sep 16, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

[PHOTO] Heartthrob Park Bo-gum named Incheon airport ambassador

Korea’s side dishes generosity under scrutiny amid restaurant reuse concerns

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. A restaurant that reused leftover side dishes was recently caught and ordered to suspend operations, reigniting concerns over recurring hygiene violations. Despite declining in recent years, the practice of recycling side dishes — taking food left by one customer and serving it to another — continues to resurface, posing serious health risks. Health experts warn that consuming food contaminated with another person’s saliva can lead to hepatitis, stomach ulcers and even stomach cancer. Helicobacter pylori doubles stomach cancer risk A recent study published in the Journal of Gastric Cancer found that infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria doubles the risk of developing stomach cancer. The findings were based on a comprehensive analysis of 507 studies. Other lifestyle factors also significantly increase the risk: excessive alcohol consumption raises it by 1.5 to 2.2 times, salty foods by 1.4 to 2 times and smoking by 1.3 to 1.8 times. Processed meat, red meat, and refined grains were also linked to higher risk. Conversely, diets rich in

Sep 13, 2025By Kormedi.com

Korea’s side dishes generosity under scrutiny amid restaurant reuse concerns

Dance festival celebrating 'KPop Demon Hunters' to be held at Seoul Plaza

Seoul Plaza will transform into a dance stage for global fans of Netflix’s animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” this Sunday, as the city hosts the 2025 Seoul Hunters Festival featuring dance, music and interactive K-pop programs. Organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Tourism Organization, the event will be held at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall on Sunday at 6 p.m., featuring cover performances inspired by the film’s soundtracks and choreography. Singer-rapper DinDin and television personality Cho Hyun-young will host the event, which will showcase 10 teams from across Asia, the Americas and Europe. While some teams will travel to Seoul to perform in person, others will join the competition through an online stream. Organizers said one of the highlights will be the appearance by Choding Huntrix, a young cover team composed of elementary school students whose performance clips recently surpassed 9 million views on YouTube. The competition will be divided into dance and vocal categories and structured in rounds, using five iconic songs featured in key scenes of t

Sep 12, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Dance festival celebrating 'KPop Demon Hunters' to be held at Seoul Plaza

Korea looks to escape rooms to drive next wave of tourism

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has launched a new initiative to promote escape room venues, known locally as “bangtalchul cafes,” as the next wave of Hallyu tourism, aiming to make the experience more accessible to international visitors. Escape rooms are immersive spaces where participants solve themed puzzles to escape an indoor entertainment facility within a set time limit. The craze gained momentum in Korea in the mid-2010s, evolving from simple lock-and-key setups to elaborate scenarios featuring intricate storylines and technology. Today, these indoor entertainment experiences, celebrated for their blend of challenge, teamwork and storytelling, take inspiration from Korean myths, pop culture and historical events and are often located in vibrant entertainment districts. KTO’s K-Quest Tour program is designed to showcase the appeal of local escape rooms to international tourists, as indoor entertainment experiences currently enjoy explosive popularity among young Koreans. This trend, officials note, is part of a broader “dailycation” movement that sees travelers se