Munbaeju, a traditional Korean liquor made of grains, including non-glutinous millet and red sorghum (Courtesy of KOCIS)   Amid rising interest in Korean culture and food, traditional Korean alcohol is also gaining attention.   Soju, the clear liquor that comes in an iconic green bottle, is an inseparable part of daily life in Korea. It is consumed everywhere and appears often in Korean dramas where characters enjoy shots with samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly).

Budaejjigae combines foreign-based ingredients like ham and sausage to a traditional Korean stew that includes red pepper powder and kimchi. (Courtesy of gettyimagesbank)   People have long exchanged ingredients and cooking methods with neighboring countries and even far off continents. New ingredients and methods have been used to add exotic flavors to indigenous food and create fusion cuisine or entirely new dishes.   Koreans have mastered such recreations a

Unification Minister Kwon Young-se speaks during a press conference in Seoul, December 13, 2022. The ministry recently disclosed its annual report on human rights abuses in North Korea. (Courtesy of Ministry of Unification) The South Korean government recently published a report on human rights abuses in North Korea, revealing the reclusive regime’s brutal acts such as public executions of pregnant women and children.     The 450-page report was disclosed

Lia Kim, co-founder of 1MILLION Dance Studio, poses at her studio in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul, February 21. (Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk) Dancer/Choreographer Lia Kim never imagined achieving international stardom when she co-founded 1MILLION Dance Studio in 2014. When YouTube started to become a platform that allowed people to make it big in pretty much any field, Kim jumped on board by uploading videos with her dance crew.   The number of subscribers grew

Kkaennip jangajji (pickled perilla leaves) often requires two people to separate the leaves. This situation has caused heated (but never serious) debates in Korea in recent years. (Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk)   In recent years Koreans, especially young ones, have been engaged in debates over hypothetical situations, mostly involving a person, his/her romantic partner and a friend of the same gender as the person.   The debates revolve around questions li