Entering Korea as a Foreigner During COVID-19 Crisis
Borders are being shut. Flights are reduced. Can a foreigner enter South Korea while coronavirus rages on? Here is the full explainer.
Jieun Choi
Euljiro: A Hub of Innovation Under Threat of Destruction
The Euljiro area in central Seoul remained intact for decades, providing affordable work space to numerous small manufacturers and artisans. But change is coming all at once, and now this thriving community of businesses is under threat.
The K-beauty Nation Begins to Question Its Obsession With Beauty
In a country known for its obsession with appearance and thriving makeup culture, dubbed "K-beauty," some women are starting to say the strict standards of beauty are a form of "corset" imposed by patriarchy, to be removed and discarded.
Koryo Saram: 4th Generation Redefines Korean ‘Roots’
His mother tongue is Russian. His ancestors left Korea to settle in Uzbekistan. Now, a fourth generation Koryo Saram is 'back' in the land of his great grandparents.
Koryo Saram: Korean Noodle from Kazakhstan
Oksana is a chef from Kazakhstan who makes the noodles of her ancestors. Her sense of history stays alive through her food.
Koryo Saram: Between the Former USSR and Korea
This is the story of a people that are still in search of an illusive homeland. Their predecessors left Korea to escape Japanese colonialism, only to face Stalin's harsh immigration policies in the former USSR. Who are the Koryo Saram?
Painting a World in Two Square Meters
66-year-old Hong Gu-hyeon lives in a room smaller than two square meters in Seoul. He paints mountains and oceans and dreams of creating an artwork big enough to cover the wall of a building.
Conscientious Objector: Why I Refuse to Serve
Technically at war, South Korea requires mandatory military service of all 'able-bodied' men up to the age of 35. That doesn't mean everyone agrees to go -- even though refusing comes with consequences.
동아시아에서 일어나는 모든 현상을 ‘유교 때문’이라 결론짓지 말자
외신을 보면 ‘유교’는 ‘동아시아’와 같은 의미를 가지고 있다는 주장이 종종 나타난다. 하지만 아시아 국가들 사이에도 상당한 차이가 존재한다. 그 차이를 무시하고 그들의 총체적인 성공과 문제점을 단순히 유교를 통해 설명하는 건 매우 서구적인 관점에서 동양을 대상화하는 오리엔탈리즘이라 할 수 있다.
Who Is to Blame for the Ills of South Korea’s Musical Industry?
Over the past 20 years, the South Korean musical industry has experienced explosive growth. But it has failed to develop artistically, depending on big-scale Western productions. The problem lies with local production companies that prioritize profit over quality, some say. But many industry insiders blame the fans.
Seoul’s Skyscrapers Are an Unlikely Home for Honeybees
In smoggy Seoul, a hopeful beekeeper wants to promote urban beekeeping and raise awareness about disappearing honeybees. We met him on a high-rise, coincidentally on the day of the first inter-Korean summit between Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un.
Grilled Pork Belly: A South Korean Love Story
Samgyeopsal, or pork belly, is an essential element of Korean BBQ. But many are oblivious to its origins and how short its history is.