When We Became Gangnam
They ruined once-beautiful Gangnam of my infancy, and Gangnam has ruined them in equally beautiful revenge.
Culture - page 7
Seoul: The Swing Capital of the World
Seoul is known for its mobile wired-ness, public transportation, and binge-drinking culture. It also happens to have the world’s largest swing dance scene.
A Night at the Gay Sauna: Where Desire Comes Out
At the gay sauna one can literally strip down, discarding one’s name, status, and social markers, and becoming just a naked, anonymous body.
The End of South Korea’s Rural Schools
Anpyeong Middle School, home to just seven students, is set to close next year, signaling the end of an era in South Korean public education.
Deconstructing the Dongdaemun Design Plaza
The Dongdaemun Design Plaza celebrates its first anniversary. But I cannot help but think of it as state-imposed plastic surgery on the face of Seoul.
Itaewon’s Homo Hill: A Show That Never Ends
Homo Hill in Itaewon is a hub of gay life in Seoul. Each weekend, it attracts gay men looking to escape South Korea's homophobic atmosphere.