Lifestyle - The Korea Times

CICI invites Vivian Han to highlight culinary diplomacy

The Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) hosted renowned restaurateur Vivian Han at its monthly CQ Forum Tuesday, where she spoke about her efforts to promote Korean cuisine as a form of diplomacy. CICI, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening Korea's global presence, hosts the monthly forum, with "CQ" standing for culture and creativity quotient. Han, 58, is a leading figure in modern Korean cuisine and CEO of Congdu, a restaurant with three locations across Seoul. CICI invited her to speak at the forum as she is "a Korean food expert dedicated to spreading the excellence of Korean cuisine." Han gained national recognition in 2017 when she was invited by Cheong Wa Dae, Korea's presidential office at the time, to oversee the state banquet for U.S. President Donald Trump during his visit to Korea under the Moon Jae-in administration. At the forum, she shared the behind-the-scenes story of preparing that high-profile dinner and her broader philosophy on using Korean food to engage with the world. Among her illustrious career, one of Han's most memorable experiences was pla

Mar 26, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

CICI invites Vivian Han to highlight culinary diplomacy

Top 50 Asian restaurants glitter with annual awards in Seoul

An event honoring Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants took place in Seoul, Tuesday, for the second straight year, with four Korea-based restaurants making the top 50 list. The annual event was hosted jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Mingles, Korea’s only three-star Michelin restaurant, secured the fifth spot, while Onjium ranked 10th, 7th Door ranked 23rd and Eatanic Garden placed 25th. Gaggan in Bangkok, which ranked third last year, topped the list. Launched in 2013, Asia's 50 Best Restaurants celebrates regional gastronomy and provides culinary insights for global diners. The list is created by the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, a group of over 300 restaurant industry leaders, and its credibility is ensured by Deloitte’s global oversight. The ranking covers six voting regions: India & Subcontinent; Southeast Asia; Hong Kong, Taiwan & Macao; Mainland China & Korea; and Japan. This year’s top 50 consisted mostly of restaurants from Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Bangkok and Shanghai. Prior to the award show, the Briti

Mar 25, 2025By Ko Dong-hwan

Top 50 Asian restaurants glitter with annual awards in Seoul

Cinnamon shows promise for easing chronic migraines

Cinnamon, one of the world's three major spices, may help relieve symptoms of chronic migraines, according to a new study. Professors Kwon Seung-won and Lee Han-gyul of the Stroke and Neurological Disorders Center at Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital said on Monday that they had confirmed the positive effects of cinnamon on hard-to-treat migraine symptoms. Chronic migraines refer to headaches that persist and worsen over time. The researchers treated a 73-year-old man who had experienced no improvement despite taking migraine medication for three years following his diagnosis. He was prescribed herbal medicine containing cinnamon, and his symptoms were assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for pain. The patient's NRS pain score (on a 10-point scale) and headache frequency (four times per week) gradually decreased depending on how many days he had taken the herbal treatment. By day 42, his NRS had dropped to 5 and the frequency to once a week — enough for him to discontinue his previous migraine medication. By day 146, his NRS was 2, and headaches occurred zero to

Mar 25, 2025By KTimes

Cinnamon shows promise for easing chronic migraines

Michelin-starred chef highlights Korean ingredients as future global trend

Star chef Son Jong-won, head chef of two Michelin one-starred restaurants Eatanic Garden and L'Amant Secret, noted Korea’s abundance of distinctive ingredients from the country’s unique geography of mountains and coastlines on three sides. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korean Food Promotion Institute organized the “Taste of Hansik, Taste of Korea” event to promote Korean cuisine, in time for the 2025 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants event, which was held in the country on the day for the second time since last year. During the event at Korea House in central Seoul, Tuesday, Son shared his insights on the evolution and expansion of Korean cuisine. “When I first came to Korea (after working abroad), I was actually quite dissatisfied with the ingredients. Like, I would think, ‘Where are the ingredients I used in the U.S.? There’s no fresh asparagus here,’ and I thought cooking here would be difficult. Then, I realized my perspective was quite narrow,” he said. “Korea is surrounded by seas on three sides for so many types of fresh seafood ingredien

Mar 25, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee

Michelin-starred chef highlights Korean ingredients as future global trend

Top 50 Asian restaurants glitter with annual awards in Seoul

'Coffee doesn't affect your sleep? That's not a good sign,' says doctor

Korea remains one of the most sleep-deprived societies in the world as four out of 10 Koreans experience sleep disorders and the country's average sleep duration ranking near the bottom among major nations. Sleep deprivation is not just a personal issue but a major public health problem that must be addressed collectively, Shin Won-chul, a neurologist at Kyung Hee University Hospital in Gangdong, Seoul, said in a recent interview. “People say, ‘You’ll sleep forever when you die, so why sleep now?’ That shows just how lightly Korean society treats sleep,” said Shin, who is also president of the Korean Society of Sleep Research (KSSM). According to a 224 KSSM report on sleep habits, Koreans sleep for an average of six hours and 58 minutes, which is 18 percent less than the OECD average. Sleep quality also ranks among the worst globally. A February report by IKEA on global sleep habits ranked Korea 50th out of 57 countries with a sleep quality score of just 59. Only 17 percent of Korean respondents rated their sleep quality positively, the lowest rate among all countries surveyed.

Mar 25, 2025By KTimes

'Coffee doesn't affect your sleep? That's not a good sign,' says doctor

Chef Anh Sung-jae warns of scam targeting Mosu Seoul reservations

Chef Anh Sung-jae reported a scam targeting customers who want to make reservations at his newly reopened fine dining restaurant, Mosu Seoul. The chef posted a warning on his Instagram, alerting customers of fraudulent activities whereby individuals impersonate Mosu Seoul to demand advance payment for the restaurant's tasting course via unauthorized methods. "This is an emergency notice regarding Mosu Seoul reservations. We have identified cases in which perpetrators forwarded calls to Mosu's official phone number using a KT service and falsely requesting advance payment,” he wrote, sharing that he had reported the incidents to the police. "Mosu only accepts reservation payments through the Catch Table app and never requests bank transfers. If you are asked to pay a deposit through any method other than Catch Table, it is an act unrelated to Mosu. We deeply regret that our valued customers are being affected by this and sincerely hope that no further harm occurs." Mosu Seoul temporarily closed in early 2024 after becoming Korea’s sole three-Michelin-starred restaurant in 2023 and 202

Mar 24, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee

Chef Anh Sung-jae warns of scam targeting Mosu Seoul reservations

K-pop stars share favorite foodie spots in Seoul

In Seoul, a city renowned for its vibrant food scene, K-pop stars have pulled back the curtain on their favorite local eateries, sharing them through shows and YouTube content. From hidden gems to trendy spots, these K-pop star-approved restaurants are quickly garnering the spotlight, giving fans a taste of authentic Korean cuisine to stylish restaurants with a touch of K-pop connection. G-Dragon’s go-to spots MBC’s new show “Good Day” kicked off last month with high anticipation as G-Dragon joined hands with star producer Kim Tae-ho for his first solo variety show. As the show follows the singer’s journey to collaborate with different individuals from various fields for inspiration to create a song, the spots he visits to meet his guests are also coming to viewers’ attention. In its first episode, G-Dragon reunites with comedian Jeong Hyung-don at Dongmyo Galbi, a barbecue restaurant, reigniting the unique chemistry they’ve shown whenever the BIGBANG member guest-starred on the hit variety show “Infinite Challenge.” Meeting up with Jeong and musician Defconn, G-Dragon w

Mar 20, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee

K-pop stars share favorite foodie spots in Seoul

From K-pop to kimchi: How Korean cuisine is conquering the world

Korean cuisine and food culture, known as "hansik" in Korean, is gaining global popularity. This surge is driven by frequent exposure in TV series, movies and the online world of K-pop stars, as well as its reputation for being a healthy diet. The trend is further highlighted by Korea hosting this year’s Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants (A50BR), an international gastronomic event, for the second straight year. The event will take place from Saturday to Wednesday across multiple locations in Seoul, featuring banquets, discussions, workshops, an awards ceremony and more. It is jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The number of hansik restaurants recognized by the Michelin Guide, a prestigious global standard for fine dining, is on the rise, showcasing both traditional and modern Korean cuisine. As of this month, 36 hansik restaurants worldwide have earned Michelin stars. Notably, Atomix in New York was ranked sixth in the world and first in the United States by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants last year. “Korean j

Mar 20, 2025By Ko Dong-hwan

From K-pop to kimchi: How Korean cuisine is conquering the world

'Gimbap' becomes mainstream food worldwide thanks to drama 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo'

The global success of the 2022 ENA drama “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” has propelled "gimbap" — steamed rice and various ingredients wrapped in dry seaweed — into the ranks of globally recognized Korean cuisine, according to an analysis featured in a major U.S. newspaper.

Mar 19, 2025By KTimes

'Gimbap' becomes mainstream food worldwide thanks to drama 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo'

Can Netflix's 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' rekindle Jeju tourism boom?

The global popularity of Netflix’s original Korean series "When Life Gives You Tangerines" could help spark a long-awaited rebound in the stagnant tourism industry of the southern resort island of Jeju.

Mar 19, 2025By Lee Hae-rin

Travel & Food