There’s a lovely item in today’s Korea JoongAng Daily about a report by the Bank of Korea (including the above image) on how people have been attempting to disinfect their banknotes to protect themselves from Covid-19. Putting them in the washing machine and then the tumble dryer, or microwaving them, is not recommended. “The central … [Read More]
Category: Modern Life
The advance of Korea’s longevity
According to a study by Imperial College London and the World Health Organisation, “average life expectancy is set to increase in many countries by 2030 – and will exceed 90 years in South Korea.” The press release accompanying the report revealed: The five countries with the highest life expectancy at birth for men in 2030 were: … [Read More]
A survey of post-millennials – and South Korea shows its expected malaise
Another of those surveys, and guess where South Korea ends up in the rankings? As you might expect from the land of Hell Joseon, the statistics do not look great: second from bottom in terms of overall happiness. Around 1,000 15-21 year-olds from each of 20 countries were surveyed between September and October 2016 as … [Read More]
Looking back at 2015: Domestic news
Our final look back at 2015: mainly domestic news stories from South Korea. In the news After 62 years of adultery being a criminal offence in the ROK, the constitutional court decided to decriminalise it by a vote of 7 to 2. Four out of ten married Korean males heaved a sigh of relief and shares … [Read More]
Busan will be extinct before Seoul, apparently
The report doesn’t seem to have been translated into English yet, and I can’t find it in Korean on the website of the National Assembly Research Service, but it has certainly provided some eye-catching headlines, the general gist being that “South Koreans will be ‘extinct’ by 2750 if nothing is done to halt the nation’s … [Read More]
Is this for real? I’m so dead!
“A fine for a person who exposes his or her skin is too much. Is this for real? I’m so dead!” Lee Hyori is said to have tweeted in this week’s non-story. Park Geun-hye’s cabinet approved a revision on 11 March that regulates certain “inappropriate” social behavior such as stalking and public indecency, which includes … [Read More]
Looking back at 2012: Domestic news
In our final round-up of Korea-related stories which caught our eye in 2012, we look at domestic and business news. Modern Life and how to escape it. Korea came 24th out of 34 leading countries in an OECD quality of life index, coming bottom of the class in job security and gender income inequality and … [Read More]
Seoul’s host bars
Lucy Williamson on an interesting emerging phenomenon in Seoul: host bars, where women pay for men’s company. First on the Today Programme (15 August), then on Crossing Continents (16 August), now in the Magazine (18 September) [Read More]
Korea and the tsunami
Some links relating to Korea’s response to the Japanese tsunami Korean Entertainers Step Up to Help Japan (Chosun Ilbo) http://bit.ly/dTcArk Even anti-Japan groups join the aid bandwagon – (JoongAng Daily) http://bit.ly/eraCyA Putting aside negative feelings toward Japan – A former comfort woman calls for philanthropic aid to neighbor http://bit.ly/eMcpW3 Quake moves Japan further away from … [Read More]
From Bra Day to Kiss Day, Korea has it all
Valentine's Day, White Day, Black Day… My favourite is Samgyeopsal day, March 3rd. And Green Day, for soju drinking. The Joongang Ilbo has a useful list. http://bit.ly/gWEWnD #. Many of them involve the 14th of the month. [Read More]
Things that brightened Koreans’ lives in 2010
This year, Twitter, novellist Lee Oi-soo and Cambridge economist Ha-joon Chang brightened Koreans’ world – according to the Korea Green Foundation http://bit.ly/hvf11m # [Read More]
The instant six-pack
I heard that in Korea you can get 6-pack implants like you get breast enhancement. Can anyone confirm? Won Bin's was impressive in Ajosshi – but I’m sure his was natural. [Read More]
Strains in a mixed marriage
Did you know resting your chin in your hands is considered rude in Korea? But not quite grounds for divorce. http://bit.ly/d6qHuY. Korean man tries to divorce his Vietnamese wife who stared at him while he ate. # [Read More]
A sunny day in Busan
Haeundae Beach, Busan, 1 August 2010. Now that's what I call crowded, and supports the contention that Koreans like to go on holiday in crowds. But why are all the rubber rings yellow? http://bit.ly/c701UB # [Read More]
SNSD at an East Coast resort – a Korean man’s favourite holiday
Korean men want to go on holiday with Girls’ Generation, according to a KBS survey. Now that’s being greedy. http://bit.ly/a4zZ4O # And while on the subject of holidays: doing the arithmetic, does this mean around 6-7 million Koreans will be heading to the East Coast at the end of July? http://bit.ly/9HYiuk #. (47% of a … [Read More]
The attractions of North Korean restaurants
If ever you're on holiday in Cambodia this looks like the restaurant to visit. A North Korean noodle restaurant known for its beautiful waitresses – including the “North Korean Kim Tae-hee:” http://bit.ly/bHmvzR # …but if you work in South Korea you haven't got long to get there: an average of only 4.1 days for your … [Read More]