Cold Wave Despite the Start of Spring? This Week Stays Freezing! 🥶❄️

February 3rd marks Ipchun (입춘), the start of spring in the traditional calendar, but a cold wave is set to hit Korea. In Seoul, the morning low will drop to -7°C, while nationwide temperatures will range from -9°C to 2°C. Even in the afternoon, it won’t get much warmer, staying between -4°C and 5°C. Plus, strong winds will make it feel even colder.

The skies will gradually clear up in the morning, but areas like the west coast of Chungnam, Jeolla, and Jeju may see cloudy weather with possible snow or rain. With temperatures fluctuating throughout the week, make sure to dress warmly and take care of your health! 🧣

Only 2.2% of Residents Reapply—Just One for OB/GYN 🏥❗

Of the 9,220 resident doctors who resigned, only 199 (2.2%) have reapplied for residency training starting this March. OB/GYN, one of the most avoided specialties, had just one applicant, raising serious concerns about staffing shortages.

Other departments also saw alarmingly low numbers: Radiation Oncology (3 applicants), Urology, Plastic Surgery, and Ophthalmology (5 each), and Neurology and General Surgery (7 each). Even relatively more popular fields like Internal Medicine (24) and Orthopedics (22) fell short of filling their quotas.

The government has relaxed some restrictions to encourage residents to return, but the impact has been minimal. Training hospitals will hold additional recruitment this month—will the numbers improve? 🤔

"Hon-bap" is short for "eating alone" in Korean. These days, eating by yourself isn't considered a special thing anymore. In fact, it’s increasingly seen as a comfortable and free way to enjoy a meal. Especially for busy modern people, eating alone has become a normal part of daily life.

Origin and Background
The term "hon-bap" emerged alongside social changes. In the past, eating alone was often seen negatively, but as a culture of enjoying meals by oneself spread, it gradually became accepted as a natural way of life. In recent years, this "hon-bap" culture has particularly gained traction among younger generations. Nowadays, many restaurants even offer special menus designed for people who enjoy eating alone.

Characteristics

• Enjoying a meal freely, even when alone.
• The appeal of having personal time without worrying about others.
• Places where people can enjoy hon-bap are typically small restaurants or cafes that are ideal for eating by yourself.

Examples
"I was so tired today, so I just solved it with hon-bap."
"Hon-bap culture is trending these days, and I sometimes enjoy eating alone too."
"I really love reading a book while eating alone."

Hon-bap Culture and Korean Society
In Korea, eating alone used to be seen as a symbol of loneliness, but recently, the culture of enjoying meals by yourself has spread. Especially for office workers and people with busy schedules, eating alone has become more common, and spaces or foods tailored for hon-bap have started to appear.

Hon-bap represents more than just eating alone. It reflects a modern way of life where people enjoy spending time by themselves and value their personal time. 🍛