South Korea - The Korea Times

Wall-mounted soap: not as dirty as you think?

A foreigner walks into a public washroom at a Korean train station. On the way out, he is horrified to find no soap at the sinks. Then he witnesses a Korean next to him grab a blue knob that's affixed to the wall by a metal rod, and perform what to the foreigner appears to be a vulgar gesture. That's the soap! Is it even sanitary?

Feb 17, 2024By Jon Dunbar

Wall-mounted soap: not as dirty as you think?

Liquid Arts Network keeps creative juices flowing in Busan

The most important letter of the alphabet in Korea is K. But it doesn't always stand for Korea, especially if you're in Busan, where it might also be used to refer to Kenneth May, the director of Liquid Arts Network, an arts community that was founded in the southeastern city almost 24 years ago.

Feb 14, 2024By Jon Dunbar

Liquid Arts Network keeps creative juices flowing in Busan

Why Korean conservatives are more open to immigration than liberals

In most Western countries, voters who identify themselves as liberal tend to be more open toward expanding immigration. But the same rule does not hold in South Korean politics.

Feb 13, 2024By Jung Min-ho

Why Korean conservatives are more open to immigration than liberals

Baekusaeng Makgeolli brews premium traditional alcohol in Ahyeon Market

Tucked away amid the phalanx of high-rise apartment complexes that have overrun western Seoul's Ahyeon-dong, there's a narrow corridor cutting through the area that still bustles with foot traffic during the day. At night, it glows with the welcoming lights of a few remaining establishments. One of those is Baekusaeng Makgeolli, a brewpub specializing in traditional Korean alcohol.

Feb 11, 2024By Jon Dunbar

Baekusaeng Makgeolli brews premium traditional alcohol in Ahyeon Market

Taking Korean companies to the top of online search engines

Despite Google’s worldwide dominance, Korea stands out as one of the few nations where the U.S. tech giant isn’t the primary tool for online searches. Instead, Koreans mostly turn to social media and the nation’s top web portal Naver for their digital inquiries.

Feb 11, 2024By Jon Dunbar

Taking Korean companies to the top of online search engines

British ambassador to give RAS talk on missions to both Koreas

Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea invites the British ambassador to give a talk right after the Lunar New Year long weekend. As British ambassador to Korea, Colin Crooks also holds the title of honorary president of RAS Korea, the world's oldest Korean studies organization founded in 1900.

Feb 10, 2024By Jon Dunbar

British ambassador to give RAS talk on missions to both Koreas

Documentary features Korean photographer’s journey in Madagascar

Film director Zeong Cho-sin’s latest documentary work, “Madagascar Music,” was made in Madagascar, Africa’s largest island country known for its abundance of wildlife and natural beauty. Before the film's premiere last November, a book was published in Korean in July 2023 with the same title authored by Zeong’s wife, Kim Sun-hee, who was part of the group’s journey to Madagascar during the filming. “My wife and I went to Madagascar together for the first time and then I filmed the documentary," Zeong told The Korea Times. "She helped me a lot. Then after we got back to Korea, I said to my wife, 'You should write down the story, the whole story about our travel and our making of films and anything about the journey.'" They shot over 100 hours of film in Madagascar, which was made into the 78-minute documentary. The film spotlights Shin Mi-sik, a Korean documentary photographer and philanthropist who has built public libraries for children in Africa — three in Madagascar and one in Ethiopia. It follows Shin on a trip to Africa in 2023, in which he invites Korean musician and

Feb 9, 2024By Bereket Alemayehu

Documentary features Korean photographer’s journey in Madagascar

Levant brings taste of Middle East to Jeonju

In the bustling city of Jeonju, nestled next to Jeonbuk National University, a unique Turkish-Arabic restaurant named Levant has been making waves in the local culinary scene. Owned and operated by the dynamic duo of Yara Abu Dakka and Mohannad Al Ajami, this family business has successfully carved a niche for itself by offering a fusion of Southern Turkish and Syrian flavors since its inception in 2021. Levant's journey began as a passion project, born out of the owners' desire to connect with their diverse backgrounds. Abu Dakka, half Palestinian and half Turkish-Syrian, and Al Ajami, half Moroccan and half Syrian, both born and raised in Dubai, embarked on this culinary adventure during their time as students at Jeonbuk National University. The homesickness and the need for familiar food prompted them to create a restaurant that not only offered a taste of home but also introduced their unique blend of cultures to the local community. "We always had a special recipe that no one else had. It usually combines a taste of two or more cultures that we belong to," Abu Dakka explained. The

Feb 7, 2024By Chantal Terblanche

Levant brings taste of Middle East to Jeonju

RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK HBC's Chimac Life does Korean fried chicken right

The cultural phenomenon of "chimaek" — the delightful pairing of Korean-style fried chicken with refreshing beer (maekju) — is celebrated in its full glory at Chimac Life in Seoul’s Haebangchon neighborhood where crispy, crunchy fried chicken isn’t just for dinner, it’s a lifestyle. Chimac Life specializes in flavor-filled, hand-battered chicken. They have been a local favorite for fried chicken lovers since 2014 because they have mastered this beloved Korean tradition — the fusion of savory, perfectly seasoned chicken along with the cool, crisp taste of beer. Chimac Life's signature Original Fried Chicken stands out for its unique combination of flavor, texture and preparation. The chicken is hand-battered, ensuring a more personalized and artisanal touch than your run-of-the-mill Korean fried chicken joints which use machine processing. This method results in a coating that is perfectly crisp and holds onto the flavors well. The spiciness is calibrated to be mild — but be advised, it offers a pleasant heat that enhances the chicken's natural taste without overpowering

Feb 6, 2024By Mark Boesch

[RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK] HBC's Chimac Life does Korean fried chicken right

Pub crawl aims to bring out HBC's LGBTQIA+ community over long weekend

A pub crawl event spanning three LGBTQIA+-owned businesses in central Seoul's Haebangchon (HBC) neighborhood this Sunday promises to "Make HBC Gay Again."

Feb 6, 2024By Jon Dunbar

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