The Myth of S. Korea’s World-beating Nuclear Energy Exports
“Mommy, can I go and play by the nuclear power station?” — The above promotional image is from the website of KEPCO, South Korea’s largest energy provider. This autumn, South Korean media and netizens were busy arguing out the pros and cons of building new
Could Korean War II Drag in the World's Superpowers?
This article is meant to offer an answer to the following question posted on Quora: “Who would win in this war: the USA, the U.K, Japan, and South Korea vs Russia, China, and North Korea?” Without hyperbole, this has the potential to become a war to end
Nightmare Before Christmas: Battle of the Solos
Even the rain on Christmas Eve did not deter couples in South Korea from going out on dates. “I feel like we both took for granted that we would be spending Christmas together,” said Alice Son, a 22-year-old college student in Seoul, about her plans with her boyfriend. She said
Juwon Park: On Chaebols for BBC News
Korea Exposé’s business reporter Juwon Park was interviewed on Dec. 22 by BBC News, about the impact on chaebol culture in South Korea. What happens if Lotte’s Shin Dong-bin gets jailed? What’s the impact of Jay. Y. Lee of Samsung getting jailed? What’s
Food Porn Alert: Must Eats in South Korea
So you’re coming to South Korea, and not sure what to eat? Sure, you might have heard of bibimbap and bulgogi, but there’s so much more to try. Here’s our list of culinary delights, in no particular order, that aren’t to be missed when you&
Plane Madness? Second Airport Plan Angers Jeju Islanders
On Tuesday morning, the wind blew tufts of black hair across freezing paving stones by the Blue House. Giant fiberglass Pyeongchang Olympic mascots — a white tiger and an Asiatic black bear — looked on as five electric razors hummed across five scalps. Villagers from Seongsan, a quiet county on
KÉ Weekend Journalism School: 2018 Winter Curriculum
Korea Exposé invites you to join our journalism winter school! Whether you want to become a serious journalist, whether you want to write about social and cultural issues in English, or whether you just want to improve your English, all are welcome! YOU WILL GET: Valuable insights into how English-language
How Did South Korea Become So Rich?
Home to Samsung Galaxy phones, world-class internet speeds and Gangnam Style, South Korea was not always as glitzy and prosperous as it is today. Just half a century ago, the country was one of the world’s poorest, faring worse than that of its archenemy North Korea. After the Korean
Female Bus Drivers in Seoul
There are some 20,000 bus drivers in Seoul. Only 2 percent of them are women. Korea Exposé spoke to a couple of them to find out more about their job experience. Many jobs are still assumed to be “men’s/women’s jobs.”
We Need to Talk About Suicide Reporting
How do we find the optimal balance between our right to information, and the risks inherent in broad dissemination of sensitive information? Around 24 hours have passed since 27-year-old Jonghyun, a member of the popular K-pop group SHINee, took his own life. It’s already a huge story, both within
Obituary: The Legacy of Jonghyun
In an interview with Esquire magazine in April, Jonghyun of K-pop boy band SHINee shared the following story: “A few years ago, I cried in front of my mother and older sister. I was super drunk…. I woke them up late at night and asked them if they were happy.
Steven Borowiec: On Protest Rights in South Korea for Index on Censorship
In the latest episode of Index on Censorship magazine podcast, our politics editor Steven Borowiec spoke on South Korea’s strong culture of protest, and on whether the current president Moon Jae-in, who came into power on the back of massive protests against his predecessor, will protect the right