u/GJWon

A new sculpture in Gwanghwamun Square: A comb? Lamb ribs?

A sculpture with far-right political objectives.

As of May 2026, the Mayor of Seoul is under investigation regarding the last election. There is a strong prediction that he will lose the local elections in June.

This sculpture symbolizes saluting with a gun to the nations that dispatched troops to the Korean War. Why is it controversial? Gwanghwamun is a symbol of Korean democracy, and there are many other symbols there. The Mayor of Seoul is attempting to win elections by emphasizing the Korean War, which symbolizes the Cold War, and bringing in outdated ideologies.

The project was completed just three weeks before the local elections on June 3, 2026. Viewed as Mayor Oh Se-hoon's "hasty completion for the election," it is being criticized as a showpiece administration designed to rally conservative votes.

There are persistent criticisms that this large-scale project, with a budget exceeding 20 billion won, was pushed through without sufficient public consensus. Koreans mock this sculpture by referring to it as lamb ribs, a comb, or a gym treadmill.

The sculpture features a militaristic design that turns Gwanghwamun into a parade ground, with the angled columns and their arrangement blatantly embodying the "Present Arms" stance, where a soldier holds a rifle in front of their body.

This is because the installation of a sculpture with an authoritarian and rigid military image in Gwanghwamun—a sanctuary of democracy home to the statues of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin—undermines the identity of the square.

This sculpture, resembling a "bizarre altar," will be moved to another location by the New Mayor after the election.

The green trend, which was fueled by matcha and Doujjonku, has subsided, and now the purple "Ube" is taking its place. Leading domestic coffee chains, as well as bakeries and convenience stores, are flooding the market with related products.

Ube is a type of purple yam cultivated in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. It is characterized by a flavor similar to purple sweet potatoes but with a much more vivid purple color. It is said to have captured the tastes of the MZ generation because it can produce vibrant colors without artificial dyes. Furthermore, its image as a "superfood" rich in anthocyanins makes it popular among young people seeking caffeine-free beverages.

Another factor contributing to its spread is that the burden of product development is not significant, as it involves adding color and flavor to existing desserts. It is a raw material that allows for the expansion of series lineups within a relatively short period. Purple is being used because it is loved on social media as an "Instagrammable" color and because it is derived from a naturally occurring purple plant. Twosome Place garnered attention by launching three types of ube beverages and the ‘Ube Abak’ cake. Starbucks Korea made the ‘Ube Basque Cheesecake,’ previously sold only at select locations, available for purchase at stores nationwide. Paul Bassett introduced the Ube Caffè Latte, while the donut specialty brand Knotted successively released six new ube menu items, including donuts and beverages such as the Ube Milky Cream Donut and Ube Dubai Purple Donut.

Paris Baguette launched a fresh cream bread combining ube and custard cream. Dunkin' also recently introduced two types of ube donuts and one beverage exclusively at Wonders stores. Yonsei Dairy also released the ‘Yonsei Milk Ube Fresh Cream Bread,’ reflecting the ube trend. It maximizes the creamy flavor by combining soft milk cream with ube cream. Convenience store chain CU introduced a "Ube Series," launching dessert products utilizing ube—such as rolls, sticky rice cakes, and brioche—in succession, starting with Ube Basque cheesecake. Shinsegae Food also released "Ube Cream Mochi Bread" through its E-mart and Traders bakeries.

It is also gaining popularity overseas. In the United States, Starbucks introduced "Ube Coconut Latte" and "Iced Ube Coconut Macchiato," which have become popular. Major U.S. retailers Trader Joe's and Walmart have also set out to expand their product lineups, including ube ice cream and spreads.

A commemorative event for the "629th Anniversary of King Sejong's Birth" will be held at 6:00 PM on May 15 at the Heungnyemun Plaza of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul.

"King Sejong's Birth" is a commemorative day held to celebrate the birth of King Sejong on May 15, 1397, and to honor his achievements; it was designated as a national commemorative day in November 2024.

Held under the theme "Yeominrak, Enjoying with the World," this year's event will be hosted by actor Ryu Seung-ryong and will feature traditional arts performances such as the National Gugak Center's "Daechwita" and "Yeominrak," as well as dance performances that reinterpret tradition in a modern way, including "Jeongdaeup Ilmu" and "Polaris and Twenty-Eight."

The awards ceremony for the "Sejong Culture Award" will also take place, presenting prizes to individuals and organizations that have contributed to the creative development of Korean culture across four fields: the Korean language and Hangeul, culture and arts and humanities, national cultural welfare and diversity, and cultural exchange, cooperation, and globalization. Various pre-event exhibitions and hands-on activities for citizens to enjoy will also be held.

From 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on the 15th, activities such as the "Hunminjeongeum Preface Rubbing Experience" (Korean Language Culture Alliance), "Making an Angbuilgu Sundial Experience" (National Science Museum of Gwacheon), the multimedia experience "Hangeul Playground" (National Hangeul Museum), "King Sejong and Korean Medicine" (Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine), the traditional instrument "Danso Making Experience" (National Gugak Center), and the "Making Sejong Era Employee ID Cards" (Federation of Korean Language and Culture Centers) will take place at Heungnyeomun Plaza.

Additionally, on the afternoon of May 14th, the day before the commemorative ceremony, an event will be held in front of the Statue of King Sejong at Gwanghwamun to project congratulatory messages from citizens onto the ground.

Preparing for the KBO Before Going to the Stadium: As of May 10, 2026, the KBO League is past the early part of the season and entering the middle.

1. Current Standings (As of May 10)

The league is currently dominated by a Big 3 consisting of KT, LG, and Samsung.

1st KT Wiz : Dominant leaders with elite balance.

2nd LG Twins : Trailing 1st place by 1.5 games.

3rd Samsung Lions : On a 6-game win streak.

4th SSG Landers : Solidly holding the upper-mid tier.

5th KIA Tigers : Struggling to maintain a .500 record.

6-8th Doosan / NC / Hanwha : Stuck in a tight mid-low tier battle.

9-10th Lotte, Kiwoom : Bottom tier (Kiwoom on a 5-game skid).

2. Analytical Breakdown

The Surge: Samsung Lions

Samsung is the hottest team in the league right now. Their 6-game winning streak is built on a stabilized starting rotation and high-leverage hitting. They have moved from a "contender" to a legitimate threat to the top two spots.

The Standard: KT Wiz and LG Twins

KT Wiz: Their statistical dominance is no fluke. They lead the league in run differential, suggesting their current first-place standing is sustainable.

LG Twins: While they are keeping pace with KT, their performance in high-pressure series (like the recent set against Hanwha) has been the key to staying 2nd.

The Slump: Kiwoom Heroes

Kiwoom’s 5-game losing streak highlights systemic issues. Their bullpen is overtaxed, and the lineup lacks the depth to overcome early deficits. Without a major tactical shift, they risk being distanced from the rest of the pack early.

3. Future Outlook & Predictions

The Battle for 2nd Place: The upcoming series between LG and Samsung (starting May 12) is the most critical matchup of the month. If Samsung maintains their momentum, we could see a swap in the 2nd and 3rd rankings by next week.

The Mid-Tier Bottleneck: The gap between 5th (KIA) and 8th (Hanwha) is negligible. Expect heavy volatility in these positions. The team that manages their pitcher rotation most efficiently during the upcoming humid weeks will likely emerge as the 5th seed favorite.

Roster Adjustments: We are entering the window where underperforming foreign players (pitchers in particular) are typically replaced. Teams in the bottom half, specifically Lotte and Kiwoom, will likely look for "mercenary" upgrades to spark a mid-season turnaround.

The league is currently a top-heavy race. KT Wiz remains the team to beat, but Samsung’s rapid ascent has disrupted the KT-LG duopoly. Keep a close eye on the Samsung vs. LG series—it will dictate the narrative for the remainder of May.

Starbucks Korea, together with the Korea Green Foundation, will hold a customer-participatory eco-friendly event at Seoul Forest on May 15th. The event will feature resource circulation experiences, exhibitions of recycled products, coffee for customers using personal cups, and silent movie screenings.

This event will be held at the Starbucks "Rest Road" rest area and lawn plaza in Seoul Forest, where the Seoul International Garden Expo is being held.

"Rest Road" is a rest area of approximately 300 pyeong created by Starbucks in Seoul Forest Park to commemorate its 22nd anniversary in 2021. It was prepared based on the actions of 4,700 customers who participated in the "Cup Embracing Tree" campaign at the time.

Customers who visit "Rest Road" on the day of the event can participate in the stamp tour. The mission consisted of touring the rest area on the "Rest Road," viewing the recycled product exhibition, participating in eco-friendly activity pledges, and subscribing to the Starbucks YouTube channel. Customers who complete all missions will receive a Starbucks coffee grounds flowerpot using coffee grounds.

An exhibition introducing Starbucks' resource circulation activities will also be held on-site. Flower pots recycled from coffee grounds from the store, notebooks and postcards made from collected milk cartons, and keychains made from waste plastic will be introduced

.

Starbucks also operates the mobile coffee trailer 'S:Buckcha'. Ice coffee will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis to customers who bring their own cups starting at 2 PM.

The silent film screening event 'Green Cinema' will be held at the Seoul Forest lawn plaza at 4:30 PM and 7:00 PM. Visitors will wear wireless headsets and watch the movie. The screening film is the documentary "Whale and I," which deals with changes in the marine ecosystem.

Pre-registration for Green Cinema is available until May 11th on the Starbucks application, website, and the Korea Green Foundation website. We will recruit a total of 600 people, up to 300 per session, through a lottery. Starbucks tumblers will be provided to pre-registered winners.

[NAVER Maps]

Seoul Forest Shieotda Gill Trail

720 Seongsu-dong 1(il)-ga Seongdong-gu Seoul

https://naver.me/Ix0WreM4

The reason why foreigners flock to pharmacies in Jongno for skincare products can be broken down into a few simple points:

In most countries, skincare is divided into "mild" cosmetics (sold in stores) and "strong" medicines (requiring a doctor's prescription).

Korean pharmacies sell high-concentration treatments—like potent scar gels or pigment-correcting creams—over the counter without a prescription.

For foreigners, these are seen as "super-powered skincare" that actually delivers visible results compared to standard lotions.

Korea is a global destination for dermatology procedures (lasers, boosters, etc.).

After getting a treatment, patients need specific creams to help their skin heal.

Jongno pharmacies stock these professional-grade recovery products at a fraction of the price you would pay at a clinic or abroad.

Platforms like TikTok and Xiaohongshu have turned specific Korean ointments into viral sensations.

Products like Acnon (for acne), Noscarna (for scars), and Melatoning (for dark spots) are now famous worldwide.

Foreigners often walk in with a screenshot on their phone, and because Jongno pharmacists are used to tourists, the transaction is incredibly fast and easy.

Jongno 5-ga is famous for its massive, warehouse-style pharmacies.

Prices here are often 20–40% cheaper than those in tourist heavy areas like Myeongdong or Gangnam. International visitors see it as a "bulk-buying" destination—stocking up for themselves and friends for the entire year.

For foreigners, Jongno pharmacies are the ultimate "Beauty Life Hack." They offer high-potency, clinic-level solutions at wholesale prices with the convenience of a regular retail store.

The popularity of Pumpkin Injeolmi (Korean rice cakes coated in crumbs) boils down to a clever blend of tradition and modern dessert trends. Here is an analytical breakdown of why it has become such a hit:

1. The "Cake-like" Texture

Unlike traditional rice cakes that can be very chewy or heavy, Pumpkin Injeolmi focuses on a melt-in-your-mouth softness. By adding a high content of steamed pumpkin to the dough, it achieves a delicate, airy texture. When paired with fluffy castella (sponge cake) crumbs instead of coarse bean powder, it feels more like a premium pastry than a ritualistic rice cake.

2. Subtle Natural Sweetness

In the modern food scene, "not too sweet" is often the highest compliment for a dessert. Pumpkin Injeolmi relies on the natural sweetness of kabocha squash, providing a deep, earthy flavor that doesn't overwhelm the palate. This makes it highly "snackable" and appealing to both health-conscious younger generations and older adults who avoid sugary treats.

3. Visual "Instagrammability"

The vibrant, saturated yellow color of the pumpkin is naturally eye-catching. In the era of social media, the bright contrast between the yellow interior and the snowy cake crumbs makes it look beautiful on camera, driving its popularity through word-of-mouth and "unboxing" videos.

4. Accessibility and Modern Packaging

The rise of "Tteok-keting" (a portmanteau of Tteok and Marketing/Ticketing, referring to the craze of buying famous rice cakes online) changed the game. Many famous shops now offer:

- Individual wrapping: Perfect for quick breakfasts or office snacks.

- Flash-freezing: Allowing the cakes to maintain their original texture even after being shipped across the country.

Pumpkin Injeolmi succeeded because it rebranded a traditional food. It stripped away the "old-fashioned" image of rice cakes and replaced it with a refined, soft, and visually pleasing experience that fits the lifestyle of a modern foodie.

[NAVER Maps]

Ajindang Rice Cake Shop

120-1 Nagwon-dong Jongno-gu Seoul

https://naver.me/G0JgpwPd

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