Life&Culture
LLG In series
Stories of love, life and growth
#Interview
# Human story
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LLG In series
Stories of love, life and growth
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How a paralyzed activist wrote a master’s thesis with half a million blinks—and rewired his world
For disability activist Jang Ik-sun, hope isn't just a feeling — it’s the eye-tracking software he has mastered to draft policy proposals, the half-million blinks that earned him a master’s degree, and the gaming system he engineered to keep playing despite being almost completely paralyzed GWANGJU --- Jang Ik-sun wrote his master’s thesis one blink at a time. About half a million times, to be exact. For most people, blinking is an unconscious act — something they do effortlessly 20,000 times a
March 29, 2025 - 16:00:00
When calligrapher has an entrepreneurial spirit
From traditional 'seoye' to commercial branding, Lee Sang-hyun transforms calligraphy into modern art form As a child, Lee Sang-hyun had no interest in sitting down and holding a pen. At the age of 11, his mother, hoping to nurture focus and discipline in him, enrolled him in an after-school program that teaches “seoye,” or traditional calligraphy. Instead of grabbing a pen, he spent his days grinding an inkstick on a slab to make ink. When the teacher was not looking, he would scribble on the w
March 19, 2025 - 10:04:38
Real-life version of 'Lovely Runner' couple melts millions of hearts
Kim Hye-mi, Samsung IT developer with disability, shares TV drama-like love story with colleague, viral wedding performance In June last year, a South Korean couple’s wedding video went viral as a real-life version of a love story that had just aired in the hit TV drama “Lovely Runner.” In the video, the groom shields his bride, who uses a wheelchair, with a yellow umbrella after serenading her, re-creating one of the most memorable scenes from the drama series. "I never expected the video to bl
Feb. 26, 2025 - 10:46:16
How much can a pencil sharpener mean to its owner?
More than you’d expect, says Kim Won-rae, warranty service provider of Hi Shapa sharpeners ICHEON, Gyeonggi Province — How much can a pencil sharpener mean to its owner? In Kim Won-rae’s world, it means a lot. At his workshop in Icheon, outside Seoul, where he fixes sharpeners as old as 30-plus years, Kim has every reason to believe so. As the sole warranty service provider for TiTi’s Hi Shapa pencil sharpeners, Kim keeps a binder full of heartfelt letters — cherished memories from users sent al
Feb. 19, 2025 - 10:07:03
Ukrainian mom's take on parenting in South Korea
Mom of 1-year-old son, Anastasiia Novikova extols Korea's postpartum care center, vibrant online communities for new moms, but questions no outings for newborns in first 100 days Anastasiia Novikova, a Ukrainian who has been living in South Korea for nearly a decade, is discovering a side of the country she wouldn’t have known if she hadn’t become a mother a year ago. At a "joriwon," a Korean postpartum care center, she experienced firsthand the support and healing period granted to Korean women
Feb. 12, 2025 - 13:47:09
After surviving coma on honeymoon, this bride is ready to reclaim bliss of newlywed life
Kim Ye-byeol, recovering from partial paralysis due to a brain hemorrhage, embraces a delayed beginning to life with her devoted husband When Kim Ye-byeol opened her eyes after three weeks lost in the void of unconsciousness, she found herself lying in a hospital bed, with a strange man by her side. The man was calling her name, his voice choked with tears. “He kept talking to me, but I couldn’t hear him clearly and his face appeared to be split in two,” said Kim, now 29 years old, recalling the
Jan. 29, 2025 - 16:00:00
A $2 kimchi stew with God’s love: How this Catholic priest fights youth hunger
One day, a woman in her 50s dined at Youth Mungan, a small restaurant that serves only one dish, a steaming bowl of kimchi jjigae for just 3,000 won, or a little over $2. After finishing her meal, she insisted on paying for everyone's meals that day — a total of around 100,000 won. "It was not that big of a sum. So, I just thought, 'What a nice gesture,'" said Catholic priest Gabriel Lee Mun-su, who runs the restaurant, during his interview with The Korea Herald. But what struck him was what hap
Jan. 22, 2025 - 13:24:41
Turkish delivery rider to start own restaurant after accident
Despite valid visa, Samet Yesiltas faces hostility amid rise in illegal foreign drivers For Samet Yesiltas, a 27-year-old Turkish food deliverer in South Korea, wearing a face cover is essential. It's not just to shield him from the cold, but to hide his non-Korean appearance. “When I stop at traffic signs, I often hear curse words from Korean delivery workers, and even ordinary drivers” as soon as they realize he's not Korean, Yesiltas said, speaking in Korean. “It happens a lot these days, but
Jan. 15, 2025 - 13:13:47
An Englishman and his photobook haven in Seongsu
Alan Eglinton, visual artist and owner of Same Dust in Seoul, hopes to connect with artists and art lovers through photography Seoul’s hipster capital of Seongsu-dong is bustling like never before, its streets and cafes drawing throngs even in the winter cold. Fancy pop-up stores are around virtually every corner, each one a magnet for an endless stream of picture-perfect moments. Overlooking an intersection near Exit 5 of Ttukseom Station, Same Dust is a quiet refuge for the artistically inclin
Jan. 8, 2025 - 17:37:43
Lights, camera, annyeong: How comedian brought Korean dialogue to Nollywood
Written, produced by K-drama-loving Kemz Mama, ‘My Sunshine’ a bold mix of two worlds oceans apart Kemi Ikuseedun, better known as “Kemz Mama,” is a Nigerian actor, comedian and content creator who turned her love for Korean drama into a groundbreaking project. Her debut film, “My Sunshine,” is a hi
Dec. 16, 2024 - 21:53:11
Korea's rising star of climate activism: a former top-tier corporate lawyer
Solutions for Our Climate started as a one-man effort. Now it‘s nurturing the next generation of environmental leaders When Kim Joo-jin joined a small environmental club at Seoul National University, he had no idea it would reshape his life. From pursuing a career in law to founding an environmental
Dec. 11, 2024 - 10:45:04
Typical Korean weddings were too boring. So they made their own
The Korea Herald was invited to the wedding of influencer couple Nour and Yang, where Lebanese, American and Korean cultures mingled If you’ve ever attended a Korean wedding, you know the drill: First, hand over an envelope of congratulatory money at the front desk to receive your meal coupon, then
Nov. 6, 2024 - 13:21:01
Repairing toys seemed like simple task. It turned out to be deeply emotional
More than just stitches, ‘toy doctor’ Kim Kap-yeon mends hearts of those who love their stuffed buddies In “Toy Story 3,” protagonist Andy grew older, developed other interests and ultimately gave his toys away to a little girl before leaving for college. But not everyone finds themselves able to sa
Oct. 23, 2024 - 16:09:52
To heal the tiny animals, vet turns to creativity
Specializing in animals from snails to birds to tigers, every patient treated a step towards healing planet, says Choi Young-min Veterinarian Choi Young-min is a beloved figure in the animal care community. A regular on popular TV program “Animal Farm,” Choi treats a wide variety of creatures, from
Oct. 9, 2024 - 13:07:33
She lost son to suicide. Now she is on front line of suicide prevention
Park In-soon‘s journey from a grieving mom to a voice of comfort for those experiencing personal crises Park In-soon can never forget August 2009. That was the month her son ended his life at 23 years old. Her son had been struggling with depression, but he had told her that he was feeling better. B
Sept. 26, 2024 - 08:12:50
