SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea’s economy has recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic faster than expected, with GDP growing 1.6 percent during the period between January and March of this year compared to the previous quarter.   The GDP growth surpassed the level at the end of 2019 before the economy was hit by the pandemic. South Korea reported its first COVID-19 case in January 2020.   Among the world’s top 10 economies, only three countries have achieved that feat.

A key visual of the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Seoul Summit. Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs ● The   May 30-31 P4G Seoul Summit will bring Korea to the forefront of those nations leading efforts to combat climate change.    ● Korean energy producers are banding together to accelerate the switch to renewables after President Moon announced a strengthened   Nationally Determined Contribution towar

K-pop girl group Brave Girls. Courtesy of Brave Entertainment ● Fan-generated  YouTube compilations are messing with K-Pop formulas.  ● One girl group spent a decade going nowhere in K-pop world until a YouTube compilation of their heartfelt performances of one of their songs at army camps shot it to No. 1. ● Soldiers in their captive audiences dancing wildly and leaving positive comments on Brave Girls’ video garnered the group a second, or first, lo

Plastic surgeon-cum-novelist Kim You-myung. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul ● Plastic surgeon Kim You-myung has published two novels with medical themes and another is on its way. ● He likens his passion for writing to the force that compels some people to become a mudang, Korean shaman.   SEOUL, South Korea -- The plastic surgeon and writer who goes by the pen name Kim You-myung is no stranger to death.   In fact he witnessed many deaths in

Photojournalist-turned-farmer Lim Young-ju. Courtesy of Lim Young-ju ● Korea used to import all of its coffee. It is growing coffee beans now, albeit with a modest start. ● The homegrown coffee is fresh with an earthy, smooth and acidic taste that leaves a sweet and fruity aftertaste. ● Farmers are optimistic about mass coffee production in the future since non-indigenous green tea trees adapted well to the climate of Korea’s southwest.   DAMYANG