Discover Korea

  Sunscreen Is More Than Sunburn Protection: UV Damage, Wrinkles, Dark Spots, Skin Cancer and Daily Skin Protection Introduction: “Why Do You Wear Sunscreen Every Day?” Living and working in Australia, I often notice something interesting when it comes to sunscreen. I apply sunscreen every morning as part of my skincare routine. Sometimes my colleagues at work see me using sunscreen and ask: “Why do you wear sunscreen every day?” Some of them are genuinely surprised when I tell them that I apply it even when I am not planning to spend hours outside. Their questions made me realise that many people still think of sunscreen mainly as something you use when you go to the beach, swim outdoors, play sport, or spend a hot summer day under the sun. For me, growing up with Korean skincare habits, sunscreen has always felt a little different. In Korea, it is very common to hear that sunscreen should be the final step of your morning skincare routine. You may even hear people say that you sh...

A Crispy, Chewy Korean Street Food Filled with Sweet Cinnamon Sugar If you ever visit Korea during the colder months, there is one street food that is almost impossible to ignore: hotteok (호떡) . Imagine walking down a busy Korean street on a cold winter day. Somewhere nearby, you hear the gentle sizzling sound of dough cooking on a hot pan. Then comes the smell of warm brown sugar and cinnamon. A vendor presses a small ball of dough flat on the griddle, flips it over, and hands you a golden-brown pancake in a little paper cup. That warm, sweet pancake is hotteok, one of Korea’s most loved street snacks. Today, instead of buying hotteok from a street vendor, I decided to make it myself at home. And the best part? You don't need complicated Korean ingredients or special cooking equipment. With flour, yeast, sugar, cinnamon, nuts and a frying pan, you can bring a little taste of a Korean street market into your own kitchen. What Is Hotteok? Hotteok is a traditional Korean sweet pancak...

  Introduction: What Should You Actually Buy at Olive Young? Walking into Olive Young for the first time can be both exciting and slightly overwhelming. One shelf is filled with calming toners, another is covered in colourful cushion foundations, and almost every product seems to have an award sticker or a “BEST” label. So, what should you actually put in your basket? Instead of choosing five random viral products, I selected five items that can work together as a simple Korean skincare routine. The list includes a cleansing oil, toner, exfoliating pad, hydrating serum, and sunscreen. Each product has a clear purpose, well-known ingredients, and a texture that helps explain why Korean skincare has become so popular worldwide. Of course, no skincare product suits everyone. Your skin type, allergies, current routine, and climate should always be considered. However, if you are visiting Olive Young and do not know where to begin, these five products provide a very practical starti...

   Introduction – I Thought Olive Young Was a  Cosmetics Brand Until recently, I believed Olive Young was simply another Korean cosmetics brand. Living in Melbourne, Australia, I had heard the name many times while browsing Korean beauty products online. I often saw people saying, "I bought it at Olive Young," so naturally I assumed Olive Young was the company that made those products. Then I started researching K-beauty more seriously for my blog and social media. That was when I discovered something surprising. Olive Young is not a cosmetics brand at all. It is Korea's largest beauty and wellness retailer, bringing together hundreds of different brands under one roof. Imagine walking into a store where you can compare skincare, makeup, haircare, health supplements, beauty devices, fragrances, and lifestyle products from hundreds of companies—all in one place. What surprised me even more was seeing the excitement outside Olive Young's very first U.S. flagship store. ...

  Homemade Tteokbokki: Korea’s Favourite Comfort Food Tteokbokki is one of Korea’s best-known street foods. Its chewy rice cakes, spicy-sweet sauce, and comforting flavour make it a favourite among both children and adults. Today, I made a generous homemade version with fish cakes, ramen noodles and plenty of vegetables. Adding ramen noodles turns ordinary tteokbokki into rabokki , a popular combination of ramen and tteokbokki. It is filling, colourful and perfect for sharing with family or friends. Ingredients 400 g Korean rice cakes 1 packet of instant ramen noodles 2 sheets of Korean fish cake 2 cups of water 1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean red chilli paste) 1 tablespoon gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes) 1 tablespoon soy sauce 3 tablespoons sugar Sliced onion Chopped cabbage Sliced carrot Chopped spring onion A little minced garlic, if desired You can adjust the amount of vegetables according to what you have at home. How to Make Tteokbokki If...