Pet ownership in Korea has reached a record 15.46 million people (반려인), nearly 30% of the population.
Around 5.91 million households (가구) now have pets, mostly dogs (강아지) and cats (고양이). However, over 80% of pets are left home alone (혼자 집에 있음) for nearly 6 hours daily. This rise in pet culture (반려동물 문화) is changing how Koreans live and spend.
Naengmyeon (냉면) is a Korean cold noodle dish made with thin, chewy noodles—often from 메밀 (memil, buckwheat) or 고구마 전분 (goguma jeonbun, sweet potato starch). It’s served in either 물냉면 (mul-naengmyeon, icy broth) or 비빔냉면 (bibim-naengmyeon, spicy mixed version). Common toppings include 소고기 (sogogi, beef), 오이 (oi, cucumber), 배 (bae, Korean pear), and 삶은 달걀 (salmeun dalgyal, boiled egg). The dish is refreshing, tangy, and perfect for hot weather.
According to the Ministry of Labor, South Korea’s average monthly wage reached ₩3.97 million in April 2025 (~$2,900 USD), up 2.7% from 2024. However, real wages—adjusted for inflation—barely grew, showing just a 0.6% increase. Income gaps remain wide as financial workers earned over ₩7 million (~$5100USD/month), while restaurant and hotel staff earned around ₩2.18 million (~1600USD/month). Minimum wage in South Korea is 10,030Won (~$7.35USD) per hour.
South Korea is forecasted to welcome over 20 million foreign tourists this year—surpassing the previous high of ~16.4 million tourists in 2024. This boom is expected to generate around $20.2 billion in revenue, accounting for approximately 2.5% of national consumer spending. This data comes from a report by the Hyundai Research Institute.
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Serving salads, poke bowls, wraps, hot bowls, sandwiches, and soup, Salady is a Seoul chain with 6 locations. We visited the Seoul Gangnam location.
Tucked along the peaceful Yangjae Stream in Dogok-dong (도곡), you’ll find a charming lineup of cafés, bakeries, and restaurants perfect for a relaxing stroll or a quiet bite. One standout is Sim Jae (心斋), a specialty dessert café known for its creative fusion-style cakes sold by the slice. While this location focuses on cakes, Sim Jae’s other branches also serve up tarts, bagels, brownies, and a variety of other handcrafted treats—each one as thoughtfully made as its serene name suggests.
유자쌍화 (Yuja Ssanghwa) is a Korean herbal tea that blends yuja (yuzu citrus) with ssanghwa, a traditional tonic made from multiple medicinal herbs.
The drink is known for its immune-boosting, energizing, and warming properties—excellent for fatigue or on cold days. 쌍화 provides a gentler long-term energy boost, a bit different than a caffeinated energy drink.
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