Ganjanggejang, meaning soy sauce marinated crab, is called a “rice thief” in Korea. The nickname has two meanings. People eat a lot of rice with ganjanggejang to offset its saltiness. But also, it implies that the dish tastes so good that it is impossible to stop eating.(Video shot and produced by Lim Jeong-yeo / The Korea Herald)To make ganjanggejang, a possibly “inhumane” process is involved. Fresh, live crabs are pickled in a brine of soy sauce. The brine is strained, boiled and poured over t

In a weekly web cartoon series popular a few years ago, “Ladies Bathhouse Report,” the cartoonist and public bathhouse devotee showed in detail what Korean women do at public bathhouses.One of the concepts introduced in the series was “dalmogyok” culture, or “monthly bath” culture. The term refers to using monthly vouchers offered at a discounted price. The overall idea is similar to using a gym with a monthly membership. (By Park Hyun-koo / The Korea Herald)(By Park Hyun-koo / The Korea Herald)

Public bathhouses used to be part of Korea’s culture. On weekends, sons and fathers, daughters and mothers went to bathhouses together, small plastic baskets filled with toiletries in tow. The lifestyle reflected how difficult it was for an average household to have hot running water or a bathtub in the old days. But with changes in the housing environment, these days people mostly bathe at home and public bathhouses are considered out of date.The jjimjilbang has taken the place of bathhouses, f

The Gyeonggi International Cosplay Festival will be held from Wednesday to Sunday in Bucheon, a city west of Seoul. Cosplay involves dressing up like animation, video game or comic book characters.  Cosplayers’ parade (Korea Manhwa Contents Agency)On Saturday, professional cosplayers will parade along a 1.8-kilometer route around the Bucheon City Hall, showcasing their costumes. Music and other performances will entertain visitors. The highlight of the festival is the Gyeonggi International Cosp

MBC will present a remake of the BBC drama “Luther” this winter. For the Korean adaptation of the drama, actor Shin Ha-kyun will play the main lead character. David Belshaw, an international scripted producer at BBC Studios, recently visited Korea and met with the production team.  David Belshaw (left) and Shin Ha-kyun (MBC)“‘Luther’ is a great drama with a tight plot and interesting characters,” Belshaw said, showing his anticipation for the Korean remake. “Korean viewers will experience an int

New cosmetic brand Colours presents cosmetic products that are customized for each customer using artificial intelligence. Through the brand’s self-developed Skin Reading program, an individual can receive a diagnosis of one’s skin condition through a smartphone.  (Colours)The AI facial recognition technology diagnoses the person’s skin type and age. The program further analyzes the person’s eating habits, lifestyle and external environment, and predicts an expected aging process. After a thorou

It has been almost a month since a heat wave began sweeping across Korea. With temperatures breaking records, the unbearable heat has sapped people’s strength and made them lose their appetites. Here’s where boyangsik steps in. It refers to food that strengthens and replenishes the body. Though the nutritious dishes can be consumed at any time of the year -- such as when recovering from a surgery or after giving birth -- they are often sought after in summer. (123rf)In Korea, there is “sambok,”

Live in history at Nine Tree HotelNine Tree Hotel recommends guests to take a history tour of Seoul, with its Seoul Cultural Footsteps package. The package includes tickets to four palaces; Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung. Tickets for Seodaemun Prison History Hall and Seodaemun Museum of Natural History are also part of the deal. Breakfast for two are included well, along with a free bear doll and a late check-out option at 3 p.m. available.The package will be availa

Valleys have long been a classic summer vacation spot for Koreans. For those who are used to visiting only beaches and islands, escaping the heat by going to the mountains might sound strange. Why hike to escape the heat? (Yonhap)But the joy of dipping in brain-freezingly cold water after sweating buckets can be thrilling. Under the layers of green shade, one can enjoy a cool swim away from the scorching rays of the sun. Though the valley streams are neither wide nor deep, the excitement is ther

Mulhoe, cold raw fish soup, is a summertime delicacy in Korea. The dish could be described as sliced raw fish in cold soup with vegetables, or sliced carpaccio in seasoned broth. Though mulhoe can be consumed throughout the year, it is often enjoyed in summer. The broth, chilled with ice, cools the seasonal heat. Flavored with red chili paste, the broth also awakens a sluggish appetite with its spicy, sour and sweet taste. The harmony of the sweetness of the fish and spiciness of the soup leaves

Filmmaker Kim Ki-duk and actor Cho Jae-hyun have refuted additional allegations made by MBC’s investigative news show “PD’s Notepad.”After revealing allegations of sexual harassment and assault regarding the two in March, the show aired a follow-up story Tuesday. On Wednesday, Kim and Cho, refuted the claims.  Kim Ki-duk (left) and Cho Jae-hyun celebrate winning the Golden Lion at the 69th Venice International Film Festival for “Pieta” on Sept. 13, 2012. (Yonhap)Kim said through his attorney tha

Korean dramas “Mother” and “Fight for My Way” are among finalists competing for this year’s Seoul International Drama Awards. The organizing committee of the annual awards announced 28 television dramas from around the world had made it to its list of finalists during a press conference at Korea Press Center in central Seoul on Tuesday. Members of the organizing committee of the Seoul International Drama Awards 2018 speak at a press conference at Korea Press Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul on Tuesday

State broadcaster KBS blurred remarks related to feminism written by a high school student on a show, saying the action was taken to abide by the principles of a public broadcaster. “The Golden Bell Challenge” is a weekly quiz show that features a group of high school students who hold up whiteboards with answers on them in front of the camera. The participating students often decorate the remaining empty space of the whiteboards with various phrases alluding to their aspirations or love for the

Koreans who want to enjoy Vietnamese coffee are lining up in front of Cong Caphe in Yeonnam-dong, western Seoul. Cong Caphe, a Vietnamese cafe franchise with more than 50 stores, launched its first overseas store in Seoul on Tuesday. Cong Caphe in Seoul (Yonhap)News of the launch has been spreading on social media since it was made public on July 10. On Friday evening, a long line formed in front of the store, with people waiting to have a sip of Vietnamese coffee despite the scorching heat.  On

In a dimly lit room, a masked man in kimono focuses on his hands. Adding refinement to his artwork using bespoke utensils, he eventually blooms a beautiful, pastel-hued flower, yet an edible one -- wagashi.Junichi Mitsubori is a third-generation artisan of wagashi, traditional Japanese sweets made with bean paste, sugar and glutinous rice. Running a century-old shop handed down from his grandfather to father and then to him, he may seem like an average artisan who has inherited a family business

We have been told that insects will be a valuable food source in the future. But it is not easy to embrace the idea of having worms, crickets and grasshoppers on our plates. There are pioneers, however, bringing the future closer to us. While figuring out more efficient ways of farming and retailing edible bugs, they also work on developing recipes, inviting those with brave hearts. Dried crickets (Im Eun-byel/The Korea Herald) Edible Coffee at Seocho-gu, Seoul (Edible Coffee)Edible Coffee is a

For those seeking to experience the largest beer festival in the world while still staying in Seoul, Grand Hilton Seoul presents the 2018 Oktoberfest.　The hotel has been hosting Oktoberfest since 2007, attracting more than 1,000 visitors each year. This year’s event will take place on Sept. 8 at the hotel’s Convention Center. 　 Oktoberfest in Seoul (Grand Hilton Seoul)“If there is Chuseok in Korea, in Germany, the largest traditional festival is the Oktoberfest,” general manager Bernhard Brender

Oi buchu kimchi (Korean Bapsang)Cucumbers are in their peak season. This recipe is a quick and easy kimchi you can make with summer’s abundant cucumbers. It’s crisp, crunchy, and delicious.Buchu, or Korean garlic chives, is commonly added to oi kimchi, but you can use scallions instead if you like. Although not used in this recipe, a little bit of julienned carrot or red pepper will give the kimchi a nice pop of color. To make kimchi, you will need to salt the cucumbers first to draw out some wa

Eels for summer at Millennium Seoul HiltonMillennium Seoul Hilton’s Japanese restaurant Genji prepared a special eight-course set menu for guests who have lost their energy in the scorching summer heat. The course menu includes classic Japanese dishes such as sashimi and tempura. But what stands out the most is the Orotson eel teriyaki. Orotson eel is a wild, not farmed, eel found in the mud flats on the western coast of Korea. It is considered a great delicacy both in Korea and Japan, greatly n

Gomjangeo, often mispronounced as ggomjangeo, refers to inshore hagfish in Korean. Hagfish may not sound, or look, appealing, with its degenerated eyes and a snake-like body that produces slime when distressed. But that does not stop Koreans from taking up a culinary challenge with the sea-dweller.  (Shot and produced by Lim Jeong-yeo/The Korea Herald) After being thoroughly skinned, gomjangeo goes on the grill. Restaurants and pubs often grill them outside on a strong fire, such as