South Korea’s café culture is getting stricter. Starbucks Korea has issued a new rule asking customers not to bring bulky office gear—like desktops, printers, or desk dividers—into cafés.
Starbucks Korea Says: Bring Your Laptop, Not Your Printer
Author Archives: easykorean
From 한류 to Harmony: South Korea’s Multicultural Shift
South Korea is moving toward becoming a more multicultural society (다문화 사회) with over 2.11 million foreign residents—about 4.1 % of the population—as of early August 2025.
Seoul’s Summer Love Story: You, Me, and a Million Bugs
South Korea is facing a quirky cultural challenge this summer: lovebugs (연애벌레 yeonae beol-le) have invaded hiking trails and city streets around Seoul and Incheon. These harmless insects swarm in mating pairs, blanketing paths and even spilling into cafés and public transit.
Honbap Nation: How Eating Alone Became Korea’s Trendiest Habit
Seoul’s solo-dining lifestyle has entered a vibrant new phase. The 트렌드 (trend) of 혼밥 (honbap)—eating alone—has expanded into 혼호텔 (hon-hotel) and 혼요리 (hon-cooking) experiences, where individuals enjoy meals solo in Instagrammable cafés or self-cook gourmet dishes at home. Honjok (혼족), the “solo tribe,” now embraces these 독립적인 경험 (independent experiences) as a form of self-care and creative expression.
Seaweed with Soul: The Secret Life of Gim (김)
More than a simple seaweed snack, gim is a beloved Korean culinary staple made from red algae genera like Pyropia. It’s toasted, seasoned, and savored as a crispy side dish or banchan (반찬). From nutritious benefits—rich in iodine and protein—to sustainable harvesting methods, the article reveals why gim is so essential in Korean cuisine.
Robots, Ramps, and Rescue Missions: Seoul’s High-Tech Showdown
Seoul is gearing up for its first-ever AI Robot Show (서울 AI 로봇 쇼) from September 30 to October 2, 2025, at COEX in Gangnam.
Scarcity Sells: Seoul’s Summer Pop-Up Boom Explained
Seoul’s Seongsu‑dong has become the heart of a summer 팝업(pop-up) boom. Brands like Coupang, Musinsa, LG Electronics (“Lifezip Housewarming”), and Lotte Wellfood are launching thematic stores focused less on sales and more on immersive experiences—think arcade games, exclusive tastings, and social media‑worthy interiors .
