Among Korean teens and twenty-somethings, a quiet but powerful trend is growing: the love for harmless content and ordinary happiness. Instead of loud, shocking, or competitive posts, young people are gravitating toward gentle videos of puppies, simple drawings, small desserts, cozy rooms, miniatures, reading, and slow daily routines. Another popular idea is enjoying “a very ordinary day” — finding joy in coffee, walking home, or watching the sunset.
In South Korea, the hyper-local app Karrot Marketplace (당근마켓) isn’t just for selling used items anymore — it’s quietly becoming a social experiment. The app connects neighbors who live nearby, encouraging face-to-face meetups for simple trades. But lately, something funny has been happening after these exchanges.
A growing trend on Karrot and social media shows neighbors casually suggesting, “Want to grab fries?” after completing a deal. Not coffee. Not a full meal. Just french fries. It’s low-pressure, inexpensive, and universally loved. A sofa pickup turns into a five-minute fry break. A book sale becomes a sidewalk snack date. Fries have somehow become the unofficial friendship starter of Korean neighborhoods.
Following the merger with Korean Air (completed December 2024), Asiana Airlines has fully relocated its Seoul–Incheon Airport (ICN) operations from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 as of January 14, 2026 — a key step toward the integrated carrier launch in 2027.
Incheon Airport’s Terminal 1 (T1) served as Asiana’s home for over 25 years, with four lounges — Business Suite, Business Lounge East, Central, and West — spread across the departure hall. Terminal 1 remains a major hub for many other international airlines, including Star Alliance carriers like Air Canada, Air India, EVA Air, Lufthansa, and Turkish Airlines.
With the move, Terminal 2 (T2) — modern, spacious, and opened in 2018 — now hosts both Korean Air and Asiana flights as part of the unified operation. Korean Air is actively expanding T2 lounges (Prestige, First, Garden) to accommodate the increased network, nearly doubling overall lounge space and adding reservation systems to improve passenger flow. They’re a big step up from T1’s existing Asiana lounges.
Good news for United Airlines (UA) Star Alliance Gold members: you can still access the existing Asiana lounges in T1 as well as the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge before your move, even though main operations have shifted.
There’s two shower rooms and an LG Styler (sanitize and deodorize) in the SilverKris lounge.
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Kimchi Fried Rice (Kimchi Bokkeum-bap 김치 볶음밥) is one of Korea’s most loved comfort foods. Simple, fast, and affordable, it transforms leftover rice and fermented kimchi into something deeply satisfying. The tangy, spicy flavor of aged kimchi becomes richer when stir-fried with garlic, sesame oil, and a touch of gochujang. Many Koreans add spam, tuna, bacon, or vegetables, making it endlessly customizable.
Historically, kimchi fried rice grew from a culture of minimizing waste and maximizing flavor. It is commonly eaten at home, in small restaurants, and even as late-night food. Warm, filling, and nostalgic, kimchi fried rice proves that inexpensive ingredients can still create bold, unforgettable comfort food.
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Some Facts
The Gosok (Express) Bus Terminal in Seoul’s Gangnam district is one of Korea’s busiest intercity transport hubs, seamlessly connected to shopping and dining at Shinsegae Gangnam, a flagship department store opened in 2000.
On June 7, 2024, Shinsegae introduced the House of Shinsegae—an upscale food hall focused on premium brands, elegant design, and curated dining experiences. It contrasts with Famille Station, the earlier food court concept near Central City that opened in the mid-2010s, which focused on casual, varied quick dining.
Seoul is rolling out English-labeled taxi receipts to make rides clearer and safer for foreign visitors. Until now, receipts were issued only in Korean, making it difficult for tourists to understand base fares, late-night surcharges, or extra fees.
2025’s Korean college entrance exam (su-neung) sparked controversy when the English section turned out to be far harder than expected. It was last offered on November 13, 2025 and takes the entire day. Although English is graded on an absolute scale, the test included abstract passages and complex logic, leaving many students overwhelmed.
