Multicultural South Korea: Congolese Refugee Receives Death Threats
“How are you?” I asked him. “I’m very fine!” Yiombi Thona answered. “Don’t worry too much about that. I’m used to it.” On the other end of the phone, Thona was referring to the multiple death threats he
Don't Let Go: Those Balloons Can Kill
Earlier this month, Lotte Corporation launched thousands of balloons into the air to mark the opening of its World Tower in Seoul. It was a beautiful sight, and a typical practice at such occasions. Balloons are released into the sky all the time: at weddings, ceremonies, parties; even
The Presidential Race Is On: Ten Minutes of Live Newstertainment
Sohn Suk-hee’s live interview with Hong Joon-pyo didn’t go the way he planned. Sohn, the president of broadcaster JTBC’s news division, is arguably South Korea’s most famous news anchor. He’s perceived as a hero in many young, progressive circles: He
Will Park Geun-hye Pay Her Lawyers?
Former president Park Geun-hye hired a total of 14 lawyers to defend her in the huge political scandal that led to her impeachment — and now incarceration. “How did Park Geun-hye manage her colossal legal fees? By not paying her lawyers,” broadcaster TV Chosun
Sim Sang-jung: A Superwoman Without Superpower
She calls herself the maid to Park Geun-hye’s princess. She’s the fringe to Park Geun-hye’s mainstream status. Park grew up in a castle: the president’s official residence that her father occupied for 18 years until his assassination in 1979, to which she returned many years later
WHO vs. South Korea Guidelines for Air Quality
Today, two South Korean cities once again ranked in the world’s top ten for bad air quality. Seoul, the country’s capital and most populous city, was one of the two. The air pollution ranking around 2 p.m. KST. Air Quality Index (AQI) 101-150 is&
South Korea's Impossibly Mundane Superheroes
Superman, Spiderman, Wonder Woman. … Our best-loved superheroes are an unusual and flamboyant bunch. In South Korea, meanwhile, a different breed of wonder-figure is winning over the people: the Office Hero. The Office Hero doesn’t have supernatural abilities, technically speaking. He or she works in an office,
Time to Stop Skirting the Issue: Sexualization of School Uniforms in South Korea
“3D bodyline.” “A tulip body-line to turn men’s heads.” “A skirt that really brings out those lines.” “Freely adjustable length.” Guess what kind of product this ad is promoting. It’s an ad for girls’ school uniforms. One Twitter user recently uploaded a photo
South Korean Comedy's Misogyny Machine
“Ugly and fat” is one of her most marketable characteristics. She talks openly about her weight and invites guffaws for saying that even her tongue is fat. She makes passes at sexy male celebrities, which people think is funny, because — duh — it’s a fat
"Above 19 Not Allowed": Condoms For Sale, Teenagers Only
Instinctus is not your average South Korean company. It’s run by a 26-year-old CEO who openly identifies as a bisexual, and sells certified vegan condoms manufactured in Thailand. More recently, it has garnered media — and police — attention for installing condom vending machines, only for teenagers.
Awesome Humor on Display at Park Geun-hye's Ouster
Even ten years from now, many who were in South Korea on Mar. 10, 2017, will remember how they were feeling that morning, when South Korea’s Constitutional Court upheld the December impeachment and formally removed former president Park Geun-hye from office. Many yelled with joy,
Special Probe Wraps Up 90 Days of Scandal and Fatigue
After a tumultuous 90 days, the final press conference was short. Just fifteen minutes, no questions accepted. It's the biggest corruption scandal of the nation, and they hold a fifteen-minute briefing with no Q&A? #수사결과발표 #특검 #국정농단 — Jihye Lee 이지혜 (@TheJihyeLee) March 6,