Why Are South Korea and North Korea Enemies?
The first thing that needs to be addressed is, are South and North Korea enemies? My short answer would be yes and no: They are frenemies in a love-hate relationship — a result of a complicated history of division that originates in the Cold War. To get into the details,
Ho Kyeong Jang: On #MeToo in South Korea for BBC World
Did #MeToo just start in South Korea? Well, yes and no. There hasn’t been the sort of huge, widespread hashtag campaign that #MeToo has prompted; but there has been similar hashtag campaigns in the same spirit. Korea Exposé writer Ho Kyeong Jang spoke to BBC World about the
Study: "Dating Violence Prevalent in Seoul"
88.5 percent of women living in Seoul have experienced dating violence, in some form or another, according to a report published on Jan. 30 by Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG). The report, titled “Dating Violence Leads to Domestic Violence After Marriage,” was based on an online survey of 2,000
Why Are South Koreans "Meh" About North Korea in the Olympics?
#Olympics: Why are some South Koreans “meh” about North Korea’s presence? Sports diplomacy? Symbolic peace gestures? Sure, it’s not the first time North and South Korea have done all this. But remember, the last time the two even communicated was in February 2016. At
The Artist Painting Seoul's Streets
Meet the street artist painting her impressions of Seoul — on Seoul. She illustrates the walls and buildings of the city, filling them with vibrant colors and characters.
Se-Woong Koo: On US Policy Toward N Korea for Al Jazeera
Our publisher Se-Woong Koo wrote in Al Jazeera’s opinion pages about the implications of the recent decision by the Trump administration to abort the nomination of a hardliner for the post of ambassador to South Korea.
#MeToo Didn't Just Start in South Korea
On Jan. 29, prosecutor Seo Ji-hyeon appeared on national television with revelations that shocked South Korea. Speaking on cable channel JTBC, Seo gave a detailed account of her sexual assault at the hands of a colleague eight years ago. Seo, formerly an award-winning prosecutor with a promising future, had once
Do I Need to Wear a Face Mask in South Korea?
Walk along the street in any South Korean city and you’ll see plenty of people wearing surgical-style face masks. Covering the nose and mouth and held in place by elastic loops that reach back behind the ears, the masks are cheap and sold in almost all convenience stores and
What's in an Olympics Medal?
What can show a fundamentally Korean DNA while resonating with a global audience? Industrial designer Lee Suk-woo designed the medals for the Pyeongchang Olympics, which starts next week. Korea Exposé spoke to him about his thought process.
Pyeongchang: Halal Food for Athletes But Not Regular Visitors?
Muslim athletes will now be able to get halal food at Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, after official caterer Shinsegae Food received halal certification from the Korea Muslim Federation (KMF) on Jan. 29 for its cafeteria at the athlete’s village. But for regular spectators and tourists, it remains unclear if and
Kimchi Premium and S. Korea's Cryptocurrency Mess
On Jan. 30, the government regulations regarding the cryptocurrency market in South Korea went into effect. What is the ‘kimchi premium’? Check out the video above. For a more detailed look at the premium and the government regulations, read Raphael’s “Kimchi Premium? Arbitrage? Regulations?
Karma Back! Buddhist Ad Campaign Tries to Reverse Falling Numbers
Radiant smiles invite potential novices into a life of monasticism. “Joining the clergy: the most brilliant choice of my life,” reads the slogan above the good-looking young monk and nun. Welcome to Buddhist recruitment, 21st century style. Released last November by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, South Korea’s