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Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Digital gifting was convenient — until it started to feel like new social obligation
'Too easy to ignore': Korean Gen Z on the perks and pressures of online gifting culture Twenty-three-year-old Kim begins her day the way many young Koreans do — by checking her phone. As she scrolls through unread messages on the messenger app KakaoTalk, a small gift icon appears next to an old classmate's profile. It's his birthday. Kim hesitates. They haven't spoken in over a year, but she remembers he sent her a delivery food coupon last fall. After a moment of deliberation, she returns the gesture with a Starbucks "gifticon" of equal value. That tiny icon, built into Korea's most-used messaging app, is part of KakaoTalk Gifts, a feature that lets users send anything from coffee coupons to luxury goods. Among the most popular offerings are gifticons — digital vouchers redeemable for specific items like beverages or desserts. This isn't a fringe phenomenon. According to Kakao, the company's prepaid commerce balance, or money preloaded for gift-related purchases, reached 96.6 billion won ($74 million) in the fourth quarter of 2024, a 3.5-fold increase from a year before. Nationwide, e-coupon services, including gifticons, formed a market worth 8.6 trillion won in the same year. With the rise of these services, digital gift-giving has evolved into a kind of social currency, especially for Generation Z, or those born from 1997 to 2012. In a survey of 100 Koreans in their 20s active on social media, conducted by The Korea Herald this year, over 90 percent reported using online gifting platforms. Nearly 97 percent cited convenience as the top reason. Twenty percent said they spend between 30,000 to 50,000 won each month on digital gifts, while another 20 percent spend up to 70,000 won — roughly equivalent to a full day's work on minimum wage. 'It's really just a digital extension of what we already do,' said Kim, 26, who recently graduated from university. 'My family gives and receives envelopes for Seollal, for Chuseok, for weddings, for first birthdays. We've always had a give-and-take culture.' What's changed, she said, is how automated and accessible it's become. 'Kakao will send you reminders. 'Don't forget to celebrate!' Then it shows you a perfectly curated list of gifts. Rice cakes, cake sets, bubble tea … all just a click away.' Trapped by politeness But many also admit that the act no longer feels optional. 'The gift option makes it weird to just congratulate someone's birthday with words,' said Jeon, 25, a bartender in Seoul. 'There's this silent expectation. If you don't send something, it feels like you're being cold — even if you're just not that close anymore.' Jeon shared that she's sometimes felt 'held hostage by politeness,' especially when the recipient is someone she no longer has a meaningful connection with. 'I once got a Baskin-Robbins coupon from a girl I hadn't seen since high school. I appreciated it, but then I felt guilty. Her birthday came two months later, and I ended up sending her something back, even though we hadn't talked in years.' Twenty-nine-year-old Kim, a graduate student juggling classes and part-time work, said the absence of a 'no thanks' button makes it worse. 'You either ghost the message, which feels rude, or accept that you owe them.' Kim added that the emotional toll doesn't end with the gift itself. 'If someone gives me a coupon, I feel like I have to reply, thank them, keep the conversation going ... even if we're not actually close. It's not friendship — it's etiquette.' Park, 25, a user experience design student, described it as a cycle of guilt. 'You want to stop, but then you remember they sent you something last year. I've definitely sent coffee coupons out of guilt.' Some even confessed to 'strategic gifting' — sending small tokens to maintain surface-level connections or avoid awkward silences. 'It's emotional labor,' Park said. 'But instead of doing it in person, we're doing it through vouchers.' Park, 28, recently returned to college after military service and a gap year. As an unpaid intern preparing for graduate school, he finds the economics of gift-giving difficult to justify. 'Most of the gifts my friends wish for are things like convenience store sets, desserts or drink coupons,' he said. 'One item doesn't cost much, but when you have 20 friends ... it adds up.' Park sometimes scrolls through friends' Kakao profiles to check their wish lists, trying to find gifts that look meaningful but cost less. 'It's like tactical generosity,' he said, laughing. 'I want to seem thoughtful, but I'm broke.' He added that digital gifts also create a strange kind of visibility. 'Everyone sees that you didn't send something. You start comparing. Did this friend get more? Did I forget someone?' New rules for digital giving? As gifting continues to digitize, some Gen Z Koreans are beginning to question the expectations surrounding it. A few are starting to set personal rules: no reciprocal gifts, limits on birthday spending or silent 'likes' instead of presents. 'I've started replying with a message instead of a gift,' said Jeon. 'Sometimes I say, 'Let's grab coffee in person next time.' If they're real friends, they'll understand.' Others are trying to step back from gifting altogether. 'I told my close friends: no gifts this year. Let's just meet,' said Kim. 'Honestly, that made us closer.'
Korea Herald
01-04-2025
- Climate
- Korea Herald
2024 recorded as S. Korea's hottest year since 1973
Climate change impacts were 'keenly felt' in 2024: KMA administrator South Korea's nationwide average temperatures reached up to 14.5 degrees Celsius in 2024, making it the warmest year since 1973, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration's annual climate report released Tuesday. According to the KMA's report, Korea saw 103.6 abnormally warm days based on daily low records and 76.7 abnormally warm days based on daily high records. Abnormally warm days, as defined by the KMA, refer to a day when daily low and high temperatures fall within the top 10 percent of historical averages for that time of year. The average summer temperature was 25.6 C, marking summer 2024 the hottest since 1973. Based on average summer temperature records, it was also 1.9 C higher compared to previous years. A high number of tropical nights – referring to overnight temperatures remaining at or above 25 C from 6:01 p.m. to 9 a.m. the following day – were also observed at 20.2 days, which was 3.1 times higher than previous years. Summer also lasted much longer in 2024, with abnormally warm temperatures recorded into September. That month, Korea saw 19.7 abnormally warm days based on daily lows, while 16.9 abnormally warm days were observed based on daily highs. During the Chuseok holiday, or Korea's mid-autumn festival, all parts of Seoul were put under a heat wave warning, the latest warning ever issued in the capital city since the heat warning system was introduced in 2008. Such findings regarding abnormally warm temperatures were not just made by Korea's weather agency. The World Meteorological Organization also commented on its recently published report, 'Significant Weather and Climate Events 2024,' stating, 'South Korea experienced the hottest summer in 2024.' Prolonged high temperatures, triggering heat waves and tropical nights, also caused great damage to crops, as up to 3,477 hectares of farmland and 17,732 hectares of rice paddies were damaged. By region, the most severely affected areas were the North and South Jeolla provinces and South Chungcheong Province, with reported damages of up to 3,098 hectares, 9,261 hectares and 2,979 hectares, respectively. Additionally, up to 3,704 cases of heat-related illnesses were also reported from May 20 to September 30, a 31.4 percent increase compared to the reports made in 2023. Due to high temperatures, the surrounding seas of Korea were also unusually warm. The average sea surface temperature in 2024 reached 17.8 C in Korea, the highest it has been in the past 10 years from 2015 to 2024. Additionally, the number of days that saw abnormally high sea temperatures was recorded at 182.1 days, which was 3.6 times higher than the 10-year average of 50.4 days. Such high sea surface temperatures prolonged into winter, triggering heavy snowfall in November as cold air passed over unusually warm waters of the West Sea. In November 2024, unusually heavy snowfall was observed, particularly focused in the Greater Seoul area and Gangwon Province, with some regions seeing accumulated snowfall of up to 40 centimeters over three days. According to the KMA, the number of heat wave days has generally increased while the number of cold wave days has decreased, observing climate records between 1973 and 2024. With 2024 being Korea's hottest year, KMA Administrator Chang Dong-eon regarded last year as a year when the impacts of 'climate change were keenly felt.' 'The KMA will continue to accurately analyze the scientific causes of climate change and extreme weather patterns to provide timely information to government agencies, industries and the public to safeguard the people's lives and their safety,' Chang continued.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sea-Tac Airport gets new direct route to this popular overseas destination
This story was originally published on Alaska Airlines is launching nonstop service between Seattle and Seoul, South Korea this fall, expanding its international footprint in time for one of South Korea's most significant holidays. It's part of a larger strategy to leverage its Hawaiian Airlines partnership to service additional international destinations. The new route from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Incheon International Airport begins Sept. 12, the airline announced Tuesday. The launch aligns with Chuseok—Korea's harvest festival, often compared to Thanksgiving—which takes place October 6. Seattle to Seoul five days a week Flights in the long-haul, widebody Airbus A330-200 from Seattle to Seoul will operate five days a week, departing Wednesdays through Sundays at 3:25 p.m. and arriving in South Korea at 6:50 p.m. local time the following day. Return flights will leave Incheon at 8:50 p.m. and land at Sea-Tac at 3 p.m., operating Mondays and Thursdays through Sundays. The new service is part of Alaska Airlines' broader international expansion strategy. The company plans to serve at least 12 nonstop international destinations, including Tokyo Narita. Daily flights between Seattle and Tokyo Narita begin on May 12.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alaska Airlines announces new nonstop flights between Seattle and Seoul Incheon beginning Sept. 12 on Hawaiian Airlines
The new route will link the Pacific Northwest and South Korea as Alaska builds our hometown Seattle hub into a new global gateway SEATTLE, March 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines has set the date for new nonstop service between Seattle and Seoul Incheon on Hawaiian Airlines. Starting Sept. 12, 2025, guests can fly in comfort on our long-haul, widebody Airbus A330-200 aircraft to South Korea's capital city. We initially announced the new international route this past December. Tickets can now be purchased at and With the combination of Alaska and Hawaiian, Seattle is transforming into the West Coast's new premier global gateway. By 2030, we plan to serve at least 12 nonstop international destinations with widebody aircraft from Seattle, including Seoul Incheon and Tokyo Narita. Daily flights between Seattle and Tokyo Narita begin on May 12. Alaska's Seattle hub is the largest airline hub on the West Coast, serving 104 nonstop destinations across North America for convenient travel options and connections. "With our robust network, we can connect our guests through our global gateway in Seattle for convenient nonstop service to Seoul and Tokyo, with additional connections to other Asian destinations with our global partners," said Andrew Harrison, chief commercial officer at Alaska Airlines. "As we grow our global network from Seattle in the coming years, we'll announce new international routes to dynamic destinations that we know our guests are going to love to visit." The new service between Seattle and Seoul Incheon will take flight just before the start of Chuseok, also known as Korean Thanksgiving Day – one of the nation's most important and festive holidays. It takes place in early October this year, allowing travelers to visit with family and friends in South Korea with Hawaiian's award-winning service and hospitality. We look forward to adding our flagship Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to the Seattle-Seoul Incheon route soon. City Pair Departure Arrival Frequency Aircraft Seattle – Seoul Incheon 3:25 p.m. 6:50 p.m. +1 W, Th, F, Sa, Su A330 Seoul Incheon – Seattle 8:50 p.m. 3:00 p.m. M, Th, F, Sa, Su A330 All times local; September schedule shown About Alaska Air GroupAlaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, with McGee Air Services a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. With hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, we deliver remarkable care as we fly our guests to more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. Alaska is a member of the oneworld Alliance with Hawaiian scheduled to join in 2026. With oneworld and our additional global partners, guests can earn and redeem miles for travel to over 1,000 worldwide destinations. Guests can book travel at and Learn more about what's happening at Alaska and Hawaiian. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as "ALK." View original content: SOURCE Alaska Airlines
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
I moved to South Korea without knowing anyone. A family of strangers took me in, and we're still in touch 18 years later.
I moved to South Korea when I was 24 to teach English. I was lonelier than I had ever been when I met a local family. We are still in touch 18 years later, and their daughter is the age I was when I met them. My life in Korea got off to a rough start. Six days after settling into suburban Seoul to teach English, I arrived at my apartment to find my key didn't work. Strange, I thought. The key had worked that morning when I left. I walked to the school and found all my belongings in garbage bags. The owner informed me that he didn't have a job for me after all and then loaded my stuff into the school van. He was passing me along to a friend on the other side of Seoul who needed a teacher. Without much agency, I fell in line. The new apartment was nestled at the end of a rundown alley. It was small, musty, and filled with sterile fluorescent light. The new town was on the very outskirts of an expanding metropolis, the last stop on the newest subway line. To fill the time, I signed up for taekwondo in the evenings. I was the only adult in a dojo full of small children, some of whom I taught during the day. It was like that episode of Seinfeld where Kramer takes karate. I Skyped home often from dark and smoky PC bangs (internet cafés) to connect to the people who knew me. I was lonelier than I had ever been. Then I met the Kims. They owned the restaurant at the end of my alley. It was called The Pig House and served exactly what you'd expect from a restaurant with that name. Winding aluminum ducts snaked down like tentacles to the grills at each table. One day, a woman approached me. It was a friend of theirs who spoke English who said the Kims asked if I would tutor their daughter, Eujin, who was six. I agreed. I gave Eujin lessons on the heated floor of a small room in the back of the restaurant, often while her dad, Byungdong, watched Korean soap operas beside us. Soon, I was having dinner there most nights after taekwondo. Eujin's mom, Myungjoo, bought an English phrase book that she used as a tool in our nightly conversations. Once, frustrated with each other and eager to practice English, I witnessed an argument using the book. Myungjoo searched for the right insult. "Talking to you is like talking to a brick wall," she over-enunciated. Byungdong grabbed the book, flipping pages for the proper retort. A full minute passed. "You don't know what you are talking about," he clapped back, his face contorting as it always would when he tried to pronounce English words. Our relationship deepened. They took me to noraebangs (karaoke rooms) with their extended family. I spent Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving, with them. On weekends, sometimes we would pile into Byungdong's taxi and go hiking in places I never would have found. Other times I took them into Seoul to explore the neighborhoods I was discovering because they rarely went into the city. I realized throughout all of this my loneliness was melting away. But it was more than that. As an only child of a divorced family, spending time with the Kims was like therapy I never knew I needed. I left Korea after seven months but never lost contact with the Kims. Today, Eujin is 24, the age I was when we met. I have kids of my own who are roughly the ages she and her brother Woonghee were back then. Eujin's English is great, and we Skype regularly. She sends my kids Christmas gifts. I give her interview advice. We talk about the Squid Game and share recipes. The Kims want to come to the US, and we've told them they will always have a place to stay. After all, that's what family's for. Read the original article on Business Insider
