Andrew Farrell

South Koreaâ€™s annus horribilis

Last update: 11:09 | 01.07.14 | © Metro Éireann

This year will be remembered as South Korea’s annus horribilis – and we’re not even halfway through it.

Homeland favouritism is nothing new

Last update: 03:19 | 15.03.14 | © Metro Éireann

The world’s attentions may have turned away from Sochi, but the recriminations are still ongoing. For South Korea, expecting their greatest Winter Olympics display, there is only disappointment and indignation. The expectation was for an impressive haul

Gravy train for Koreaâ€™s English teachers reaches end of the line

Last update: 02:45 | 15.02.14 | © Metro Éireann

A friend from San Francisco recently admitted to me that his primary reason for returning to South Korea was to “ride the gravy train one last time”.

South Korea looks to make a lasting impression at Sochi

Last update: 02:30 | 01.02.14 | © Metro Éireann

Friday 6 February sees the opening ceremony of the 22nd Winter Olympic Games in the Russian city of Sochi. A total of 88 countries will be represented at the games in the Black Sea resort city, and seven of those will be making their debut at this event.

A worrying change in the weather

Last update: 18:14 | 01.12.13 | © Metro Éireann

It’s early December as I write this, and something very peculiar is happening to the climate in South Korea. The normally chilly but bright early winter mornings have been replaced by an eerie fog blanketing much of Seoul and surrounding areas. Mountain-tops

â€˜KT Wizâ€™ hope to capitalise on Koreaâ€™s baseball fever

Last update: 17:41 | 01.12.13 | © Metro Éireann

Baseball is becoming such an unstoppable force on the Korean peninsula that in an effort to further milk every last won from the public, the Korean Baseball Organisation (KBO) has put the final touches on a 10th expansion team that will join the country’s

Koreans do weddings differently

Last update: 15:16 | 01.12.13 | © Metro Éireann

After four years living in South Korea, very little of the country’s identity really shocks me anymore. There are utterly maddening stories but nothing – unlike in my first two years – that hits you like a train of cultural importance.

South Korea makes some moves on gender inequality

Last update: 15:02 | 01.12.13 | © Metro Éireann

It’s almost a year since the people of South Korea elected Park Geun-hye, daughter of murdered former military leader Park Chung-hee, as president of the country. Park was the leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, and favourite for the top job following

â€˜KKKâ€™ cartoon another low for Korean baseball

Last update: 15:56 | 01.10.13 | © Metro Éireann

On 3 September, LG Twins pitcher Rad-hames Liz appeared to attempt to bean – or intentionally strike with the bal – SK Wyverns’ Choi Jeong twice in one game.

No place for the â€˜uglyâ€™

Last update: 15:46 | 15.09.13 | © Metro Éireann

It was during the dog days of winter in 2009 that the realities of plastic surgery in my adopted home of South Korea finally hit home.

Koreaâ€™s new plastic ideal

Last update: 15:16 | 01.09.13 | © Metro Éireann

The figures are often disputed, depending on which journal or website is your source, but according to data released by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons in 2011, South Korea has the highest number of cosmetic procedures per capita

Koreaâ€™s new plastic ideal

Last update: 15:16 | 01.09.13 | © Metro Éireann

The World at Home

Last update: 12:42 | 15.08.13 | © Metro Éireann

North Korea still has friends in high places... ask China

South Korea should be ashamed - but not for Asiana 214

On 6 July last, Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crashed on its final approach to San Francisco Internat-ional Airport. The Boeing 777 – which departed from Incheon Airport, west of Seoul – was carrying 291 passengers from nine countries.

Racism gets a walk in Korean baseball

Kim Tae-kyun is a baseball player for the Hanwha Eagles in Daejeon City. He is a batter of exceptional talent, despite playing for the worst team in the country. His glittering career includes winning the gold medal at the 2010 Asian Games.

South Korean soccer stars survive by the skin of their teeth

No matter how South Korea performs at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, they will be talking about the night of 18 June this year for a very long time.

Despite global fears, itâ€™s just another year: New tensions between North and South Korea have a ring of dÃ©jÃ vu about them, writes Andrew Farrell

Later this month, both North and South Korea will commemorate the beginning of the Korean War in June 1950. The war, which lasted just over three years, concluded on 27 July 1953 – making this year the 60th anniversary. With my sister due to visit Seoul

Koreaâ€™s distinct take on funerals

After almost four years in South Korea, working with countless colleagues attending numerous birthday parties and weddings, I finally experienced a Korean funeral for the first time.

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