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  • Travel & Food

    Meet Korea’s pioneering ‘instant noodle critic’

    For many, instant noodles are a quick, cheap meal designed for convenience. But for Ji Young-jun, Korea's pioneering "ramyeon critic," they represent a lifetime of history, complex food science and a rapidly growing cultural phenomenon. Ji’s unconventional journey into the world of noodles began during a period of personal frustration. After enduring consecutive failures on Korea's grueling college entrance exam, he enlisted in the military. It was while wandering the aisles of the military commissary (PX) that he found an unexpected spark of inspiration. "Before finishing my service, I set a humble goal for myself: 'Let’s taste every single instant noodle available here,'" Ji recalls during an interview with The Korea Times, Monday. "Astonishingly, that simple objective completely revitalized my military life and filled it with excitement. I wanted to carry this amazing energy into the civilian world, so in 2013, I began sharing my detailed reviews on social media." For a decade, Ji balanced his passion for instant noodles with a stable career as a primary school teacher. However,

    4 MIN READBy Park Jin-hai
    Meet Korea’s pioneering ‘instant noodle critic’
  • Travel & Food

    Hong Kong teams up with Korea's travel industry group to invite tourists back

    2 MIN READBy Baek Byung-yeul
    Hong Kong teams up with Korea's travel industry group to invite tourists back
  • Trends

    Why Gen Z are turning to 'worry stones' to ease anxiety

    2 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    Why Gen Z are turning to 'worry stones' to ease anxiety
  • People & Events

    'KPop Demon Hunters' director visits Lotte World Adventure

    1 MIN READBy Jhoo Dong-chan
    'KPop Demon Hunters' director visits Lotte World Adventure
  • People & Events

    Exhibition honors heroes of Korean War

    2 MIN READBy Jhoo Dong-chan
    Exhibition honors heroes of Korean War
  • Korean Heritage

    Rare shamanic paintings gain national heritage status

    2 MIN READBy Jhoo Dong-chan
    Rare shamanic paintings gain national heritage status
  • Music

    Lim Yunchan wins Instrumentalist of the Year at Germany's top classical awards

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Lim Yunchan wins Instrumentalist of the Year at Germany's top classical awards
  • Trends

    Rare Pokémon cards fetch premium prices among Gen Z, sparking thefts

    2 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    Rare Pokémon cards fetch premium prices among Gen Z, sparking thefts
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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

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Trends

Neukgu Bread: Escaped wolf inspires bakers, sports teams

Neukgu, a gray wolf that escaped from O-World theme park in Daejeon, has become inspiration for the city's snack lovers. Harehare, a bakery in Daejeon, recently launched a limited-edition "Neukgu bread" to celebrate the animal's safe return, featuring the wolf’s face drawn in chocolate on the crust. The bakery reported that its daily stock of 50 buns sells out within minutes of opening. The wolf escaped from the zoo on April 8 and was recaptured by the authorities on April 17, but the attention didn't die down after its return to the theme park. In addition to Neukgu Bread, LG Electronics' Best Shop's Daejeon store used its massive digital billboard to send a message to the wolf on behalf of the townspeople. The previous "Come back, Neukgu" plea was replaced on April 17 with a celebratory "Thank you for coming back, Neukgu" message, which remains visible and part of the advertising rotation for the billboard. Equally intriguing is how Neukgu's story has become intertwined with the city's sports scene. People are calling Neukgu a "living lucky charm" because Daejeon's football and baseba

Apr 21, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Neukgu Bread: Escaped wolf inspires bakers, sports teams
Trends

Yongsan shopping complex in Seoul emerges as subculture hub, embracing consumer shift

Yongsan in central Seoul was once the capital of electronics in Korea. For those shopping for gadgets, a visit to the area was a must. However, after the widespread adoption of online shopping led to a decline in physical electronics sales, the neighborhood has found a new identity. The area, centered around I'Park Mall, is now emerging as a major hub for subculture content and pop-up events, drawing a growing number of visitors seeking unique offline experiences. The shopping complex embodies that transformation, shifting away from traditional retail to focus on fandoms built around animations, games and character-based intellectual property. Stores selling goods from popular franchises, alongside the country's largest Nintendo shop and Sony's PlayStation store, have turned the mall into a go-to destination for video game and subculture fans. Dopamine Station, which opened at I'Park Mall last year, is packed with visitors of all ages, even on weekday afternoons. The space brings together a wide range of goods such as merchandise from popular animation and game characters, mechanical key

Apr 21, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Yongsan shopping complex in Seoul emerges as subculture hub, embracing consumer shift
Travel & Food

K-food guide: These easy soybean sprout recipes combine taste, health benefits

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Soybean sprouts are one of the most representative foods made from soybeans. They are especially beneficial for maintaining bone density, making them particularly good for middle-aged women. In Korea, common soybean-based foods include soybean sprouts, tofu and fermented soybean paste. Soybeans are used not only for sprouts but also to make meju, the base ingredient of fermented paste. Soybean sprouts are considered a health food because they combine the nutrients of beans with the benefits of vegetables. They are low in calories, making them helpful for weight management. They are also rich in asparagine and dietary fiber, which can help relieve hangovers. Soybean sprouts pair well with perilla oil and sesame oil in both taste and nutrition. How to cook with soybean sprouts Soybean sprouts can be used in soups, side dishes, rice, stir-fries and more. To preserve their flavor and nutrients, they should be lightly blanched. When cooked on top of rice, it turns into a soybean sprout rice dish. Mixing it with a sauce made of soy sauce, perilla oil

Apr 21, 2026By Kormedi.com
K-food guide: These easy soybean sprout recipes combine taste, health benefits
People & Events

Italian Beauty Days 2026 brings cosmetics companies seeking Korean partners to Seoul

Italian beauty companies are stepping up their push into Asia’s most dynamic cosmetics market at Italian Beauty Days 2026, a two-day event in Seoul that brings together 16 Italian brands with Korean buyers for business-to-business (B2B) meetings, product showcases and technology demonstrations. Organized by the Italian Trade Agency in collaboration with the Cosmetica Italia association, the event — now in its third year — aims to expand Italian companies’ presence in Korea while fostering cross-border partnerships. The event highlights a wide range of products, including skincare, haircare, fragrances and professional beauty solutions, alongside emerging technologies such as AI-powered skin analysis tools. For many participating brands, Korea represents both an opportunity and a challenge. Known for its highly competitive and trend-driven beauty industry, the country is often seen as a testing ground for global expansion. “We are a relatively young brand, founded in 2017, and Asia is already our biggest market,” said Anna Rita Sollazzo, founder of Italian haircare brand Right

Apr 20, 2026By Anna J. Park
Italian Beauty Days 2026 brings cosmetics companies seeking Korean partners to Seoul
People & Events

Gov't launches monthlong coastal tourism campaign for May

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday it is partnering with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Tourism Organization to run a coastal tourism campaign throughout May under the slogan "May is the Month to Go to the Ocean." The campaign is an extension of the government’s broader spring domestic travel push, Travel Spring 2026, designed to boost regional economies throughout April and May. This year’s coastal campaign builds on its 2025 debut and focuses on encouraging longer stays in coastal regions by expanding overnight travel programs and accommodation benefits. The centerpiece program, Chef's Ocean Table, offers one-night, two-day trips pairing participants with professional chefs for guided visits to local fish markets, seasonal seafood dinners and local breakfast spots. Star chef Jung Ho-young will lead an East Sea event May 9-10, while chef Kim Sung-woon will host a West Sea edition May 30-31. Korea Tourism Organization regional offices will also run 32 coastal programs tailored to each area's character, including a pet-friendly program in Taean,

Apr 20, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Gov't launches monthlong coastal tourism campaign for May
People & Events

Jamsu Bridge to go car-free on Sundays for 8-week spring festival

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will close Jamsu Bridge to vehicles every Sunday for eight weeks starting Sunday, turning the Han River crossing into a pedestrian festival space through June 14. The “2026 Car-Free Jamsugyo Festival” will run from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. each Sunday along a 1.1-kilometer stretch of Jamsu Bridge and the adjacent Banpo Hangang Park, with programming focused on walking and leisure activities along the Han River. The event, now in its fifth year, has drawn a cumulative 5.3 million visitors through 2025. A second run is planned for eight weeks between September and October. Each of the eight Sundays features a distinct headline program. The series opens with “Easy Morning,” a walking and running event along a roughly 2-kilometer course organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Sports Council, with pre-registration capped at 2,000 participants. Subsequent weeks will feature a percussion parade on May 3; a live band concert on May 10; a sports day with team events on May 17; an acoustic guitar flash mob on May 24 led by singer-songwriter Beomjin and about 300 play

Apr 20, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Jamsu Bridge to go car-free on Sundays for 8-week spring festival
Travel & Food

Korea aims to become luxury travel hub through Virtuoso partnership

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) is stepping up efforts to transform the country into a premier destination for global high-end travelers by partnering with the world's leading luxury travel network. The state-run tourism agency hosted the 2026 Virtuoso Symposium in Korea last week and signed a memorandum of understanding with Virtuoso on Friday to elevate Korea's positioning in the global luxury travel stage. Virtuoso is a premier global network of luxury travel agencies featuring more than 22,000 advisors across 58 countries. The symposium brought hundreds of top-tier travel executives and advisors to Korea to experience the country's cultural and modern offerings. Following the signing ceremony, a welcome dinner was held to showcase the essence of Korean flavors. The event featured a performance titled “Mimesis” by the Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre, which is the follow up to their acclaimed work “One Dance” that previously sold out New York's Lincoln Center and won a Bessie Award. Ven. Seonjae, the first designated master of Korean temple food, also conducted a cooking

Apr 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Korea aims to become luxury travel hub through Virtuoso partnership
Korean Heritage

Korea Times opens photo contest of heritage sites across country

The Korea Times, in collaboration with the Korea Heritage Service, is hosting the Discover Korea's World Heritage photo contest, ahead of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to be held in Busan from July 19 to 29. To commemorate the prestigious international gathering, The Korea Times invites non-Korean nationals from around the world to share their special moments captured at Korea's magnificent heritage sites. Participants are required to choose a photograph of one of Korea's 17 designated UNESCO World Heritage sites or one of the 12 sites on the Tentative List currently being promoted by the Korean government for future inscription. New photos are not a must and participants are welcome to submit existing photos from their gallery or collection, as long as it is an original photo taken by the person submitting it. Along with the photo taken at a heritage site, the participants are required to include a short story about their visit to the site. They need to upload the photo on their public social media account with the following hashtags — #thekoreatimes #korea

Apr 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Korea Times opens photo contest of heritage sites across country
Travel & Food

Feeling stressed? Try these foods for 'happy hormones'

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Our bodies are heavily influenced by hormones. These chemical messengers are secreted by endocrine glands into the bloodstream and regulate nearly all physiological functions, including growth, metabolism, reproduction and body temperature, helping maintain overall balance. Even in small amounts, hormones have a significant impact on growth, sleep, stress, emotions and blood sugar control. When they are out of balance, the risk of disease increases. On days when you feel especially exhausted or overwhelmed, why not try foods that help promote the release of “happy hormones”? According to U.S. health and medical outlet Healthline, here are some foods that may help improve your mood. Spicy foods Eating spicy foods triggers the release of endorphins to counteract the pain sensation on the tongue. Endorphins are often called “natural painkillers,” and they can create a sense of pleasure while helping relieve stress. However, eating spicy foods too frequently may irritate and thin the stomach lining, potentially leading to gastrointestinal

Apr 20, 2026By Kormedi.com
Feeling stressed? Try these foods for 'happy hormones'
Travel & Food

Add a splash of color to your table with these antioxidant-rich foods

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. When the body’s cells are exposed to oxygen for too long, oxidation occurs. As oxidation progresses, cells age more quickly, increasing the risk of cancer and various degenerative diseases. Antioxidants are substances that help prevent this process. In essence, antioxidants play a key role in slowing cellular aging. Foods high in antioxidants help eliminate free radicals — often referred to as harmful oxygen species — thereby aiding in the prevention of aging and disease. Kale is one of the most representative antioxidant-rich foods. It provides beta-carotene and vitamins E and C, all of which are antioxidants. Adding kale to salads or smoothies is an easy way to meet your daily intake. However, kale is not the only way to obtain antioxidants. Many other foods are also rich in these beneficial compounds. Tomatoes Antioxidants are chemical compounds that help neutralize or remove harmful free radicals and come in various forms. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a type of antioxidant also known as a carotenoid. You can get sufficient amounts by

Apr 20, 2026By Kormedi.com
Add a splash of color to your table with these antioxidant-rich foods
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