P(r)aying for Bigotry at Handong University
“Homosexuality is not just any crime. It’s a serious problem that tries to change laws, systems, society and culture and corrupt our children.” Jei Yanggyu, a professor at Handong University, voiced such concerns on the university’s internal website on Dec. 23. “If Handong loses its identity as
Juwon Park: On Cryptocurrency for PRI
An excerpt of business writer Juwon Park’s “I am a 24-year-old South Korean and my hopes are in cryptocurrency” has been published on PRI’s The World. “Cryptocurrency … is like a ray of sunshine for me,” Park, who recently invested about $2,500
Stop Attributing Everything to Confucianism
To some, Confucianism is synonymous with East Asia. Anything and everything about East Asian countries, good or bad, seems to be explicable through Confucianism. Perhaps sociologist Max Weber set the trend when he argued in 1915 that Confucian values had discouraged capitalist development in China. A century later, the Economist
K-pop 101: Why Do Artists Keep Singing "Niga"?
Don’t worry, it has nothing to do with the N-word. Niga (니가) in Korean literally means ‘you.’ More specifically, 니 (ni) means ‘you’; 가 (ga) is a particle that indicates the noun attached to it is the subject of the sentence. K-pop, which stands for Korean popular music, is
What Are North and South Korea’s Propaganda Loudspeakers?
Walk around Seoul and the chances are you’ll hear catchy K-pop tunes playing out of various shops, bars and restaurants. But did you know that North Korean soldiers may be humming along to the same songs in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) — the inter-Korean frontier, also known as the
Let's Talk About Depression Differently
In a country plagued with high suicide rates, there is still surprisingly a lack of informed awareness about mental health. Pervasive stigma surrounds depression and therapy. The former is still commonly perceived lightly as a passing mood, an exaggeration, a passing abnormality; there is little awareness about the usefulness of
How Influential Is Islam in South Korea?
Islam has a very small presence in South Korea. As recently as 2005, the religion section in the country’s census did not offer “Muslim” as a category. Currently, the number of Muslims in South Korea reportedly stands at roughly 200,000, or about 0.4 percent of the population.
Good Luck Making It As Korean in America
“Let’s hope for the best with your interviews. But I’d also be prepared for an unfortunate outcome.” This line appeared in a recent Buzzfeed video titled “Making it as Korean in America,” which garnered more than 850,000 views on YouTube. In this scene, a lawyer wishes a
Is It Still Hanbok if It's See-through?
Let’s face it. Hanbok may be beautiful to look at but cumbersome to wear. But 24-year-old CNe Choi is trying to change that. She has been attacked for allegedly debasing tradition — by adding her unique touches, from see-through materials to bold patterns. But she has also attracted
Ignorant Dog Owners, Not Dogs, Should Be Blamed for Canine Aggression
Last fall, many South Koreans were up in arms over a pet. On Sep. 30 a French bulldog named Bugsy entered the elevator at an apartment complex in southern Seoul and bit a neighbor. The victim later died of blood poisoning. Bugsy belongs to a well-known K-pop star, and the
Ben Jackson: On Korea's Problem of Apartment Development in Internazionale
Our environment editor Ben Jackson’s article “A Complex Issue: The Apart-ization of South Korea” has been translated into Italian and reprinted in Internazionale (not yet available online).
A K-pop Star for One Day
Going to a noraebang and belting out a tune or two is a favorite pastime for South Koreans. Some companies, though, see an opportunity in elevating this mundane experience to a new level: helping Chinese tourists feel like a K-pop star for one day. For more on this story, read: