Sex Workers Speak Out About S. Korea's Shadowy Underbelly
“Welcome to the land of morning calm. Alternative noraebangs are a shadowy decadent underbelly of South Korean society where soju and an hour of sex with a prostitute go hand in hand; both commodities can be bought cheaply and enjoyed frequently.” – July 26, 2016 by Korea Exposé In
Islands to Visit in South Korea This Summer
Go to South Korea, and everyone will know these two islands: Jejudo in the southern end of the peninsula, which attracts over 15 million international and local tourists annually; and Dokdo, which is more a cluster of undistinguished rocks in the sea, famed for being at the center of the
Ben Jackson: On South Korean Megachurches in Quartz Daily Brief
Editor Ben Jackson’s feature on succession problems at South Korean megachurches was mentioned in Quartz’s Daily Brief over the weekend as one of “five things elsewhere that made us smarter.”
"Adulkid": The Accelerating Evolution of Homo Consumens
The adage that “children will be children” may not hold true in South Korea. Adding to the pressures faced by kids to excel in academics and god knows what else, a new social trend revolves around the concept of “adulkid,” aimed at making children look and behave like adults. At
Marijuana Taboo in the “Drug-Free” Nation
T.O.P, a member of a K-pop boy group Big Bang, has been lighting up local headlines for… well, lighting up. He is being charged by South Korean prosecutors for smoking marijuana. Many people want him punished for this “indecent” behavior — according to South Korean law, he could
KÉ Interview: Singing Against Homophobia
In the middle of Unnie Choir’s last number, Enan Ahn started to cry. She was one of the fifteen women singing “Into the New World,” a 2007 single by K-pop group Girls’ Generation. The lyrics were admittedly corny — “there’s no use in waiting for a miracle, it’
What If Snow White Was Fat?
Snow White steps into the room and takes her robe off after a long day. Two dwarfs, accidentally entering the room through a magic teleporting mirror, hurriedly hide under a sofa, leering at her as she undresses herself. She goes on to take off her red heels, in an oddly
Trending in South Korea: YOLO and One-day Classes
South Korea can be an innovative trendsetter when it comes to fashion, technology and pop culture. But when it came to YOLO, the country was a relatively late adopter of the catchphrase “you only live once.” It’s about five years late, and the YOLO trend comes with a twist.
Salvaged. But Not Saved
Can there ever be complete closure for those who lose their loved ones? Perhaps “closure” is a rationale we force upon ourselves and others, so we can make the motion of closing one chapter and moving onto the next. But in reality, the next chapter is never
Neungra Bapsang: North Koreans in the South Gain Self-Sufficiency through Food
North Korean defector Lee Ae-ran introduces South Koreans to the food of the North. With her restaurant Neungra Bapsang, she also helps other female defectors make a living. Dressed simply with short hair, Lee exudes confidence. The 53-year-old has a Ph.D. in nutritional science and food management from prestigious
Moon Jae-in’s Nuclear Pledges Put to the Test
Making sweeping changes to South Korea’s national energy mix was never going to be easy. Before May’s presidential election, Moon Jae-in and his Minjoo Party promised strong measures to kickstart the move away from nuclear and coal energy. But now that they find themselves in power, will
"Happy Balloons": South Korea's Legal High
After a bit of trepidation, the young man sucks in air from a yellow balloon, as his friend eggs him on. He draws in the last gasp from the balloon and starts to shamble. Dropping the deflated balloon to the ground, he then puts his hands on his temples while