Despite love of down jackets, why are Koreans so indifferent to the warmth of their feet? Pedestrians bundled up in thick, knee-length padded jackets, but wearing slippers? This style, surprisingly common in South Korea during winter, often raises the eyebrows. A TikToker, who introduced himself as Russian, posted a video of several Koreans walking on the street in rubber slippers or Crocs sandals, commenting, "Such a fashion is unthinkable in my country." A similar observation was shared on Ins

South Korea has officially dropped traditional age-counting system that made everyone 1-2 years older. But many still use it. Why? When asked his age, Park Se-kyu used to answer in two simple ways: “I'm 34,” or “I was born in 1990.” But since June last year, his responses have expanded to three: “I'm 34 in Korean age,” ”Technically, I'm 33 in ‘Yoon Suk Yeol age,’” or “I was born in 1990." Whenever Park mentions his international age -- often referred to locally as “Yoon Suk Yeol age” after the K

When the North Korean mountain erupted in 946, it was more powerful than the one that buried Pompeii Straddling the border between China and North Korea, Mount Baekdu holds immense symbolic significance for the people on the Korean Peninsula -- so much so that it graces the lyrics of both Koreas' national anthems. Revered as the mythical birthplace of the Korean people, the 2,744-meter-tall mountain is steeped in legends and myths. One of them even features a mysterious creature dwelling in Heav

When it comes to putting garlic in their food, few cultures can match Korea's enthusiasm. While Italians might delicately saute a clove or two in olive oil, Koreans think nothing of tossing entire handfuls into a single dish. Their bold approach to the ingredient has become the stuff of legend, sparking both admiration and occasional bewilderment from foodies across the globe. "Korean food is never complete without garlic," says Han Jin-sun, head chef at The Korea Herald's company cafeteria. Pre

If you meet a South Korean, there‘s a 45 percent chance that their surname is either Kim, Lee or Park. And there’s an even higher probability -- some say nearly 90 percent -- that their surname originates from a bogus family tree. According to the latest census data from Statistics Korea, these thre

Before Donald Trump popularized the term “fake news,” a recurring April Fool’s Day hoax had already made the concept familiar to many Koreans. This joke -- coming back almost every April 1, yet still managing to deceive some -- happens to feature a group of American tourists on a tour of the scenic area of Seoraksan in Gangwon Province. A version of the fabricated news article, easily found with a basic search, has the title "11 American tourists booked for toppling Seor