A woman seeking fertility treatment for a second child found her car vandalized after she brought her first child with her to a fertility clinic, sparking debate online over whether children should be brought to such facilities, local media reported Wednesday. According to the Korean-language daily Chosun Ilbo, the incident occurred at a clinic in Gyeonggi Province. After an appointment, the woman, in her 30s, returned to the parking lot with her toddler son and discovered her car had been scrat

The ambulance call for a senior citizen who fell on the street has sparked an online debate over the proper use of emergency medical services, according to online communities Thursday. In a post on Blind, a workplace community app, one user said an elderly woman stumbled and fell while walking along a path within their apartment complex. A nearby resident who saw it immediately called 119, the emergency hotline. The woman was transported to a nearby hospital. The user added that she is said to h

As wedding costs continue to climb, more Koreans are rethinking one of marriage's most enduring symbols: the wedding rings. A recent survey by matchmaking agency Duo found that Korean couples spent an average of 360 million won ($253,000) on wedding preparations — including costs associated with the marital home — in 2023 and 2024. As expenses rise, some are cutting back where they can, starting with the rings, which many couples may already have from earlier stages of their relationships. “It f

At Seoul’s Yeouido Hangang Park, the mecca for the city's running crews, four new taboos are shifting the vibe of the jogging trail. A banner, posted along the walkway, outlines the four guidelines which prohibit: 1) shirtless running, 2) clapping or cheering, 3) running in large groups and 4) shouting “make way” at other pedestrians. It also features messages urging group joggers to be mindful of others, with messages like “Run safely in two lines” and “This park is for everyone.” The banner co

When Kang, a 32-year-old resident of Uijeongbu in Gyeonggi Province, was out for a walk with her puppy, she noticed it suddenly sniffing intensely and staring at the yard of a day care center inside her apartment complex. What she found was a miniature zoo, where animals like baby goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, turtles, and parrots were kept in plastic cages — something she would normally expect during a zoo trip, not a walk around her apartment. "I was curious and kind of excited when I first saw

In South Korea, self-service kiosks have been proliferating. They take coffee orders at cafes, process meal selections at restaurants and manage ticketing at movie theaters. But one machine has recently stirred debate by automating something some believe is more traditional: the giving of cash gifts that guests bring to weddings. A photo of such a kiosk went viral online, stirring up both fascination and unease. Some praised it as a practical update to a long-standing custom, while others found

South Korean fandoms are renowned for their deep loyalty, with fans often viewing their idols not just as entertainers, but as role models. Fan connections tend to deepen when their actions receive support from their stars. Members of the K-pop girl group NewJeans, for example, pre-paid for food and beverages at several restaurants near the National Assembly in December last year, to support fans who joined the massive rally calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol amid the martial

Content creators filming in public spaces: A new norm to embrace or a behavior to regulate? One-person media is enjoying a heyday in Korea. The number of domestic digital creators, including YouTubers and TikTokers, exceeded 35,000 in 2023, with the personal media industry‘s total revenue reaching 4 trillion won ($2.8 billion), according to a report by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission released in January. The rapid growth of digital con

Child stars have long been a staple of the entertainment world, and their stage has expanded to social media. These new young personalities, often managed by their parents, amass huge followings, raising questions about the consequences of early fame and its ethical boundaries. A recent controversy

When someone you personally know passes away, how do you mourn? For some, posting about it on social media, particularly Instagram, has become a part of the mourning process. Following the death of actor Song Jae-rim on Nov. 12, the platform was flooded with tributes. Friends and colleagues posted m