South Korea is currently in the midst of a tourism boost.
An estimated 400,000 people from around the world gathered in Seoul to celebrate the 10th anniversary of K-pop boy band BTS. And the Seoul International Book Fair, where Sharjah is guest of honour, is also currently under way.
However, for those who can't make the trip over to the East Asian country, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate or get immersed in culture while in the UAE. Here are six places to visit.
Korean Cultural Centre, Abu Dhabi
The centre on Yas Island is probably the best place to immerse yourself in South Korean culture in the UAE.
It hosts exhibitions, workshops, concerts and other activities such as cooking classes on a regular basis, giving visitors the chance to learn more about the East Asian country and the many facets of its culture.
The venue also has classrooms for language classes, a stage for shows and workshops, and a library with about 1,500 books.
Hyu Korean Restaurant, Dubai
The no-frills restaurant in Dubai's Jumeirah Lakes Towers offers an authentic Korean dining experience, serving the famed Korean do-it-yourself barbecue and dishes such as jjamppong (noodles in a spicy seafood soup) and tteokbokki (rice cakes cooked in a spicy sauce).
The restaurant is a hidden gem in the sea of flamboyant Korean restaurants in Dubai, offering a stripped-down dining experience.
www.instagram.com/hyurestaurant
Mukbang Shows restaurant, Dubai and Abu Dhabi
The Filipino-owned Korean barbecue restaurant is inspired by mukbang, or the eating show that originated in South Korea in which a host consumes various quantities of food while interacting with the audience.
It has two locations in Abu Dhabi, one on Muroor Road near Al Wahda Mall and another on Electra Street behind City Seasons Hotel. The venue also has an outpost in Dubai, next to the Deira bus station.
A range of a la carte dishes are available on the menu, but the standout offering is the live barbecue with a variety of raw unlimited servings of Wagyu, tenderloin, strip loin and rib-eye steaks. Aside from the food, the interiors of the restaurant also showcase other aspects of Korean culture, with displays of the Asian country's traditional attire.
Madang, Abu Dhabi
It's a little far out, at Al Ghazal Golf Club right by the Abu Dhabi airport, but it's worth the journey.
Madang not only serves up authentic dishes and Korean barbecue, but does so in a charming, down-to-earth restaurant that doubles as a karaoke venue with views of the golf course.
There's also a little Asian grocery store out front for stocking up on speciality ingredients before leaving.
1004 Gourmet, Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Restaurants aside, South Korean culture enthusiasts can visit Asian supermarket 1004 Gourmet to stock their kitchen with the country's delicacies, such as mandu (dumplings), fish cakes, cooking pastes and other ingredients.
The brand has four shops across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as an online store. The branch in Reem Island is the biggest and sells dozens of brands, from food to skincare and make-up. There is also fresh produce and seafood, as well as other items imported from Japan, Thailand and China.
Family K Mart, Dubai
From different Korean condiments to snacks and more, Family K Mart sells plenty of authentic Korean foods, from rice and grains to frozen goods such as rice balls and mandu. The store also has a small restaurant inside, Roll and Bubble, which serves boba teas, Korean rolls and other dishes. Located in Al Barsha, Family K Mart delivers across the UAE including to Al Ain and Al Ruwais.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
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PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS
Bournemouth 1 Manchester City 2
Watford 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Newcastle United 3 West Ham United 0
Huddersfield Town 0 Southampton 0
Crystal Palace 0 Swansea City 2
Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0
West Bromwich Albion 1 Stoke City 1
Chelsea 2 Everton 0
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Burnley 1
Liverpool 4 Arsenal 0
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE |
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Japan |
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Norway |
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Canada |
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Singapore |
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Australia |
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South Korea |
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
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Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')
Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')
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Huddersfield Town 2 Manchester United 1
Huddersfield: Mooy (28'), Depoitre (33')
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An exchange traded fund is a type of investment fund that can be traded quickly and easily, just like stocks and shares. They come with no upfront costs aside from your brokerage's dealing charges and annual fees, which are far lower than on traditional mutual investment funds. Charges are as low as 0.03 per cent on one of the very cheapest (and most popular), Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, with the maximum around 0.75 per cent.
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The first ETF was launched as recently as 1993, but the sector boasted $5.78 billion in assets under management at the end of September as inflows hit record highs, according to the latest figures from ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm.
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€39 million: Liverpool agreed a fee, including add-ons, in the region of €39m (nearly Dh176m) to sign Salah from Roma last year. The exchange rate at the time meant that cost the Reds £34.3m - a bargain given his performances since.
13: The 25-year-old player was not a complete stranger to the Premier League when he arrived at Liverpool this summer. However, during his previous stint at Chelsea, he made just 13 Premier League appearances, seven of which were off the bench, and scored only twice.
57: It was in the 57th minute of his Liverpool bow when Salah opened his account for the Reds in the 3-3 draw with Watford back in August. The Egyptian prodded the ball over the line from close range after latching onto Roberto Firmino's attempted lob.
7: Salah's best scoring streak of the season occurred between an FA Cup tie against West Brom on January 27 and a Premier League win over Newcastle on March 3. He scored for seven games running in all competitions and struck twice against Tottenham.
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8: As well as his fine form in England, Salah has also scored eight times in the tournament phase of this season's Champions League. Only Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, with 15 to his credit, has found the net more often in the group stages and knockout rounds of Europe's premier club competition.
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