Can South Korea Learn Anything from North Korea?
In the painting’s foreground, a group of farmers with listless facial expressions stand knee-deep in a rice paddy, just behind a grimy pile of detritus, which includes war weapons and symbols of western decadence — Coca Cola, cigarettes, and Korean text for the words “my money.” Behind them, a
Steven Borowiec: On Paris Baguette in KBS World
Politics editor Steven Borowiec was interviewed by KBS World about his article on the Paris Baguette controversy in South Korea. Paris Baguette, Korean, not French, is one of South Korea’s most prominent chain bakeries. Listen to his Dec. 18 segment, which starts around 9:00, aired
Sexist Books for Children
These books are for children, as young as three. How do they portray women and men in the workplace? Pretty conservatively. We visited Kyobo Bookstore in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, the biggest bookstore in the country. The portrayals of women in its top-selling “learning books” for children were disappointing,
KÉ Intern: How Do We Live Without Kalia Barkai?
Interns are one of the most essential members of Korea Exposé. They take on a variety of tasks, bring in fresh perspectives, and challenge the routine of editors and writers, who must necessarily cultivate the art of working with new people. Kalia Barkai, who interned with us from October to
Steven Borowiec: On North Korea Threat for Channel News Asia
What’s new? Perhaps nothing. Our politics editor Steven Borowiec wrote on the cyclical nature of the North Korean nuclear threat for Channel News Asia in Singapore.
A Delicate Balance: Moon Seeking a New Path in Beijing
The most sensational news to come out of President Moon Jae-in’s state visit to China this week is a reported incident of two South Korean photo journalists getting beat up by Chinese security guards while Moon was attending a trade event in Beijing Thursday morning. Grainy footage of suited
Se-Woong Koo: On Al Jazeera to discuss Moon Jae-in's China Visit
Our publisher Se-Woong Koo was on Al Jazeera’s half-hour show Inside Story on Dec. 14 to discuss South Korean president Moon Jae-in’s visit to China and why it matters for geopolitics.
North Korean Soldier's Choco Pie (NOT Lifetime Supply)
Last month, Oh Chung-sung, a 24-year-old North Korean soldier, made an audacious sprint across the intensely guarded border that separates North and South Korea. He was dragged to safety by South Korean soldiers after fleeing a hail of gunfire. He sustained five gunshot wounds, and after undergoing surgeries, he woke
"Black Protests" Call End to Outdated Abortion Law
These “black protesters” want to put an end to South Korea’s outdated abortion law, which activists argue places most of the burden on women, who must not only bear the brunt of the pregnancy, but also face the social stigma and shame surrounding abortion. Abortion
Ben Jackson: "Korean Companies Destroying Indonesia Rainforest" translated into Korean
Our environment editor Ben Jackson wrote a feature earlier this year called “Meet the S. Korean Companies Destroying Indonesia’s Virgin Rainforest.” APIL, a human rights law firm in South Korea, has translated the piece into Korean. APIL also helped in the course of the writing by
How Do North Korean Defectors View South Korea?
It’s easy to say that South Korea must be a paradise for the North Koreans who flee the brutal communist regime and make their new home in South Korea. But for many such defectors, the process of relocating to the capitalist country can also be a painful experience. It
South Korea's Trolling Game
Prologue I’m glad that a**hole died. I heard that actress b**** is sleeping with that CEO. You’re a fake, and everyone sees through you. Imagine watching a trolling competition on television. The players are professors, teenagers, unemployed trolls, your regular Joe in the office trolls