Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Where to try different types of naengmyeon, from Pyongyang to Busan styles

Nothing says Korean summer quite like a bowl of naengmyeon — cold noodles served in icy broth or fiery sauce. Once a winter dish from the North, it has become a warm-weather favorite with regional variations. From subtle broths to sweat-inducing sauce, naengmyeon comes in diverse styles. The Korea Times rounds up some of the best places to try them across the country. 1. Taste of North Korea In Seoul, you’ll find some of the best-known renditions of naengmyeon rooted in the North. The subtle, broth-based Pyongyang naengmyeon and the spicy, chewy Hamhung-style versions both came south with refugees during and after the Korean War. Longstanding institutions like Eulji Myeonok and Ojang-dong Heungnamjip continue to serve these classic styles with loyalty to their origins. Eulji Myeonok ■ Address: 12 Samil-daero 30-gil, Jongno District, Seoul ■ Phone: 02-2266-7052 ■ Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Saturday It’s not every day that the closure of a restaurant makes headlines. But that was exactly the case with Eulji Myeonok back in 2022. A time-honored eatery beloved for its classi

Jun 28, 2025By K-culture Desk

Where to try different types of naengmyeon, from Pyongyang to Busan styles

Instant naengmyeon kits to enjoy cold noodles at home

When it's too hot and humid to budge, let alone cook, instant naengmyeon (cold noodles) is a quick, refreshing fix you can enjoy without leaving home. Korea's naengmyeon meal kit market is no small niche. The market is estimated to be worth around 80 billion won ($58 million), reflecting strong demand for ready-made options that deliver both flavor and ease. On the shelves of a supermarket near Seoul Station, rows of naengmyeon kits from major food brands were front and center, catching the eyes of sweaty, weary shoppers in search of something cool and quick. Pulmuone, one of Korea's top food companies, recently expanded its lineup beyond its classic options like Pyongyang naengmyeon, dongchimi (watery kimchi with radish) naengmyeon and Hamhung-style spicy naengmyeon. New on the shelves this summer are hanwoo mul naengmyeon (cold noodles with Korean beef broth), Sokcho-style kodari (half-dried pollack) naengmyeon and a spicy arrowroot noodle version, offering more variety for fans of the dish. CJ CheilJedang, the market leader in instant naengmyeon, also offers crowd favorites through it

Jun 28, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

Instant naengmyeon kits to enjoy cold noodles at home

Guide to naengmyeon, Korea's summer noodles

On a sweltering summer day in Seoul, nothing cuts through the heat quite like a bowl of "naengmyeon" — slippery, chilled noodles served in icy broth, topped with slices of meat, pickled radish and pear. For many Koreans, braving the midday sun to queue up for this refreshing comfort food has become a summer ritual. But behind the chill lies a dish shaped by migration, memory and reinvention — a bowlful of Korea’s past and present. History Although Korean cold noodles are believed to have originated as early as the middle of the 918–1392 Goryeo Dynasty, written records from that era are scarce. Early references describe "putting noodles in cold grain water," a likely precursor to naengmyeon. The earliest known mention of naengmyeon by name appears much later, in "Gyegokjip" (1643), a collection of essays and poems by scholar Jang Yu of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty. In a poem titled "Jajang Naengmyeon," he recounts eating cold noodles served in jajang, a purple broth made from omija (Schisandra berries). A more vivid account appears in "Dasan Simunjip," a collection of writings by

Jun 28, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

Guide to naengmyeon, Korea's summer noodles

Mondrian Seoul Itaewon hosts TEDxSeoul annual event

Mondrian Seoul Itaewon, a five-star lifestyle hotel at the heart of Seoul's vibrant Itaewon neighborhood, has signed a memorandum of understanding with global ideas platform TEDxSeoul and will host the TEDxSeoul 2025 annual event Sunday. Blending TEDxSeoul’s motto, “Ideas Change Everything,” with the hotel’s goal of encouraging creative collaboration, the partnership — signed on April 11 — includes hosting TEDx events, producing cultural content and co-launching community-centered initiatives. Under the theme "CROSSOVER," TEDxSeoul 2025 will feature speakers who embody the idea of breaking boundaries and forging new paths. Participants include Gareth Weir, deputy ambassador at the British Embassy in Seoul; political scientist Kim Ji-yoon; Yoon Kyung-a, head of KT AI Tech Lab; pop artist Nancy Lang; and other leaders from academia, business and the arts. The program will also offer interactive sessions, idea presentations and experiential content, with a networking night in the hotel lobby. “Through this collaboration with TEDxSeoul, we hope to position our hotel as an open p

Jun 26, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Mondrian Seoul Itaewon hosts TEDxSeoul annual event

China overtakes Japan as top destination for Korean travelers

China has overtaken Japan as the top travel destination for Koreans, driven by a surge in weekend trips and improved travel conveniences that are reshaping regional tourism patterns. Recent data from Trip.com shows that bookings for round-trip flights departing Korea after 6 p.m. on Fridays and returning by Sunday have surged by more than 150 percent in the first five months of 2025 compared to the same period last year. Notably, more than 80 percent of these bookings were made by solo travelers or pairs, highlighting the growing appeal of quick, flexible getaways over traditional family vacations. Local market research firm Consumer Insight also confirmed China’s rise to the top, naming it the leading overseas destination for Koreans, followed by Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand. “The demand for short, spontaneous trips — so-called ‘night goblin’ getaways — has soared, and China’s proximity and evolving travel infrastructure have made it the go-to choice for Korean office workers,” Consumer Insight stated in its latest report released Wednesday. The shift is d

Jun 25, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

China overtakes Japan as top destination for Korean travelers

Korea Beauty Festival blends K-pop glamour with wellness trends

For 22-year-old Shaantika Bhat, coming to Korea has always been her biggest dream. Growing up as one of the few Asians in her Baltimore neighborhood, she found community and identity through Korean culture — especially Korean food, K-pop and K-dramas — during her teenage years. But as she began planning her first trip to Seoul, she quickly discovered that navigating the latest Korean beauty trends was more daunting than she had imagined. “We were having a hard time finding the personal color analysis or skincare program. As English speakers, Naver was a whole new platform and the beauty-related experiences we found on Klook were expensive,” she said, referring to the international travel and experiences booking company. That changed when she and her friend landed at Incheon International Airport last week and picked up a leaflet for the Korea Beauty Festival. Their visit to the festival’s main venue at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul on Friday exceeded all expectations, offering a wide range of K-beauty events and promotions — all for free, in one place. “This event made e

Jun 23, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Korea Beauty Festival blends K-pop glamour with wellness trends

Aurora may be visible in Korea this summer: 3 good spots to watch rare event

Forget trekking to the Arctic. This summer, the skies over Korea may offer a rare surprise. The Aurora Borealis, also known as the northern lights, is renowned for its otherworldly beauty, but not typically visible from Korea. People usually travel to Arctic regions like Norway, Iceland or Alaska, U.S., to catch a glimpse of the elusive celestial phenomenon. Thanks to heightened solar activity, the aurora could become visible here this summer, giving Korean skywatchers a reason to look up. “Auroras happen when solar activity is high, and we’re experiencing that kind of activity this summer,” Won Chi-bok of the Korean Amateur Astronomical Society told The Korea Times. Auroras occur when supercharged particles from the sun race toward earth at speeds of up to 72 million kilometers per hour. When they collide with the upper atmosphere, earth’s magnetic field acts like a protective shield, redirecting the particles toward the north and south poles. There, the interaction between solar particles and atmospheric gases creates breathtaking ribbons of light that shimmer across the night

Jun 20, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

Aurora may be visible in Korea this summer: 3 good spots to watch rare event

Lotte hotel elevates Gyeongju's hospitality ahead of APEC summit

Lotte Hotels & Resorts announced on Monday that it had provided a comprehensive protocol training program for accommodation professionals in Gyeongju, sharing nearly five decades of expertise in top-level guest services in order to raise the bar for local hospitality standards ahead of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The training focused on Lotte’s world-class experience in hosting heads of state and major international events. Lectures and practical exercises in hosting VIPs were led by experts from the acclaimed concierge team at Lotte Hotel Seoul and the company’s hospitality training center, Service Academy. Notably, the program covered cultural sensitivity and personalized service. Attendees explored detailed manuals covering diverse national customs, religious considerations and diplomatic protocols in preparation for welcoming dignitaries from around the world. Participants in the initiative included the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ APEC preparation task force, the North Gyeongsang Province’s APEC support team, the Presidential Suite committee and

Jun 17, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Lotte hotel elevates Gyeongju's hospitality ahead of APEC summit

Vietnam’s Nha Trang emerges as top early summer destination for Korean travelers

As Korea faces unseasonably hot weather, more travelers are planning early summer vacations — and the coastal city of Nha Trang, Vietnam, has emerged as the most popular international destination among Korean tourists, according to recent data. Global travel platform Agoda revealed Thursday that based on hotel search data for June and July check-ins, Nha Trang ranked No. 1 among Korean travelers’ preferred overseas destinations. Often called the “Naples of Vietnam,” the city overtook last year’s top pick, Tokyo, which dropped to second place. Other highly searched destinations included Fukuoka and Osaka in Japan and Da Nang in Vietnam, placing third through fifth, respectively. The continued global inflation trend appears to be shifting demand toward nearby destinations that offer affordable prices and shorter flight times. China is also emerging as a new hotspot. Search volumes for Qingdao and Shanghai surged by 212 percent and 207 percent, respectively. This spike is attributed to China’s temporary visa exemption program for Korean nationals, introduced in November 2023. For

Jun 13, 2025By Hankookilbo

Vietnam’s Nha Trang emerges as top early summer destination for Korean travelers

Korea has many beautiful places to visit, says Turkish expat

"Just like how I, as a Turk, don’t know much about Turkey myself, there are also some Koreans who mistakenly think, ‘I have to go abroad to travel. What is there to see in Korea anyway?’ But that’s absolutely not true. Korea has so many beautiful places (to visit).” That’s what Kuvvet Ayse, 28, from Trabzon, Turkey, told The Korea Times in fluent Korean, Tuesday. Kuvvet became the first foreigner to visit all 76 sites in the Korean Heritage Passport, a campaign created by the Korea Heritage Service (KHS). The 76 destinations are part of the KHS' Visit Korean Heritage Campaign, which promotes cultural tourism by issuing special passports that visitors can stamp at each site. On the list are royal palaces in Seoul, the National Intangible Heritage Center in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province; Buddhist temples on the east coast; National Maritime Museum of the National Research Institute of Maritime Heritage in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province; Soesokkak River Pool on Jeju Island and more. Kuvvet completed the entire journey in just two months, averaging one site per day starting in April

Jun 12, 2025By Kim Se-jeong

Travel & Food