The island of Jejudo is sometimes called the “Hawaii of Korea” because of its amazing natural beauty, with gorgeous white sand beaches and stunning waterfalls. What really sets Jeju apart, however, are the three UNESCO designations that highlight the island’s diverse natural, geological and cultural heritage. Jeju was named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2002, a World Heritage Site in 2007 and a Global Geopark in 2010.  Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak Tuff C

The 2024 Korean Culture Content Creators Appointment C eremony ( Courtesy of the MCST ) This year, 2,641 people have been appointed as Korean cultural promoters who will share their perspectives about Korea on the international stage. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) held an appointment ceremony for this year’s class of Korean culture promoters on April 30, 2024.  Of those selected this year, 1,387 people from 93 countries were n

The exhibition "Korean Embroidery in Modern Times" being held at the Deoksugung Gallery of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art , Korea ( Courtesy of the MMCA ) Korean embroidery is a traditional craft that uses needles and colorful threads to decorate fabrics. I t has developed unique and beautiful styles through exchanges with other East Asian countries o ver the course of 2,000 years. However, due to the delicate nature of the materials, few

In this age of mass-produced clothing, it is not often that the clothes we wear go on to produce a meaningful story. One Korean social enterprise, however, is using discarded firefighting equipment to create fashion items that help wearers think of firefighters. In doing so, the company honors the service of firefighters while promoting sustainability by giving a second life to materials that would otherwise be thrown out. “Hero’s House Keyring” made fro

KMA/NIMS ( Korea Meteorological Administration/National Institute of Meteorological Sciences) Atmospheric Research Aircraft (Courtesy of the K MA ) Korea has long looked to cloud seeding, a technology that generates rainfall, to combat fine dust from both domestic and foreign sources. Increasingly, however, the country has shifted its focus to using cloud seeding to combat wildfires and droughts caused by abnormal weather patterns. The Korea Meteorological Administrat

Gyejoksan’s Red Clay Trail, the longest barefoot walking trail in Korea (Photo by Kim Byoung-gu, Hongcomm.) Barefoot walking is currently a craze in Korea. Many people have joined the trend after hearing reports about how walking barefoot can cure illnesses. When you walk barefoot, the muscles around your feet get more exercise than when you wear shoes. This improves reflexes and balance and strengthens the foot muscles, which can keep the feet healthier. Added to this a

(Photo by Kim Byoung-gu, Hongcomm.) Korean snack companies are thriving as their products are in high demand globally. One brand, Kkobuk Chips (Turtle Chips), has become extremely popular among young consumers in the United States. These chips are now available in all branches of Five Below, a discount chain, and are even served in snack bars at Google and Netflix offices. With distribution in 23 countries worldwide, including the United States, Australia, Canada and Germany,