Jang – the soul of Korean cooking – goes global

Dec 02, 2024

Meju (fermented soybean blocks) drying under the eaves at Sunchang Gochujang Folk Village (Photo courtesy of the Korea Tourism Organization’s PhotoKorea) As the fermented sauces that define Korean cuisine, jang contain both culinary excellence and profound cultural significance. Master artisan Ki Soon-do, who preserves Korea’s jang-making traditions, describes it as “the backbone of our cuisine, playing a crucial role in shaping our unique cultural identity.&

Staging heritage: The new wave of Korean traditional arts

Dec 02, 2024

Korea’s traditional performing arts are experiencing a remarkable revival, sparked by the international release of the drama “Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born” this November. Set in the 1950s, in the aftermath of the Korean War, the series follows two women in the Maeran National Theater Troupe: the gifted pansori performer Yoon Jeong-nyeon (Kim Tae-ri) and ambitious student Heo Young-seo (Shin Ye-eun), who are mentored by theater director Kang So-bok (Ra Mi-ran). The

The romantic soul of Mokpo

Dec 02, 2024

(Photos courtesy of Kim Byung-gu, hongcomm.) Mokpo was the fourth Korean port opened to foreign trade. Planned as a modern city from the start, its early days were marked by explosive growth. Today, the old downtown boasts many heritage sites that have weathered the passage of time. Flanking this part of the city is Yudalsan Mountain, which offers serene views of Korea’s southwestern archipelago that unfold like a traditional East Asian painting. Let’s dive into th

Green giants: How Korean shipbuilders are transforming the global maritime industry

Dec 02, 2024

Korea’s globally dominant shipbuilding industry has begun pioneering eco-friendly propulsion systems. In a bid to further transform the maritime sector, the government and private sector teamed up to unveil the “K-Shipbuilding Super Gap Vision 2040” last July. Over the next decade, over 2 trillion won will be invested in ammonia-powered vessels, liquefied hydrogen carriers and autonomous ship platforms. Through this strategic initiative, Korea aims to secure revolutionary tec

Beyond targets: Korea’s environmental success story

Dec 02, 2024

Last year, Korea exceeded its greenhouse gas reduction target by 6.5 percent thanks to multiple factors: improved industrial infrastructure, favorable global economic conditions and ramped up carbon-free power generation in nuclear power plants and other fields. (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock) Korea achieved an environmental milestone by surpassing its ambitious climate goals in 2023. The country significantly reduced its greenhouse gas emissions in areas ranging from energy

Growing interest helps K-alcohol broaden Hallyu

Dec 02, 2024

The hit song “APT.” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars has raised interest in somaek (soju mixed with maekju [beer]). (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock) The Somaek Pocha pop-up store at Lotte Duty Free’s showroom in Myeong-dong, Seoul, in September (Photos courtesy of Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co., Ltd.) These days, the expansion of Korea’s cultural influence is being driven by more than just K-pop and K-dramas. Korean drinks have recently come

Addressing tomorrow: Korea’s navigation revolution

Dec 02, 2024

Street sign (above) that utilizes a road name-based system to assign specific numbers and make addresses easy to find (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock) A decade ago, Korea embarked on a revolutionary change, forever transforming the way people find their way around all over the country. Moving away from the outmoded century-old land lot-based system that Korea took on in the colonial period, the nation has fully embraced a new comprehensive road name-based address system.