South Korea culture
Money Is Key: Weddings for the Willingly Unmarried
While myriad reasons are causing young South Koreans to shun putting rings on their partners’ fingers, money is often the definitive factor. An average wedding costs 270 million won (24,000 U.S. dollars); not only that, finding affordable housing in major cities is close to impossible for newlyweds. As
G-Dragon's "Album" is a USB: What's the Problem?
In the fifth track of his latest album, Big Bang’s leader G-Dragon raps, “Right, wrong, I don’t understand…. I’m not the problem, I’m the solution to the problem.” The 30-year-old rapper has long traversed a fine line between the so-called problems and solutions, simultaneously defining
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’
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.
Soaring Fried Chicken Prices Ruffle South Koreans' Feathers
Bite through the crunchy outer layer and into the juicy flesh, wash it down with a gulp of cold beer, then balance the greasiness of the chicken with a sweet and sour pickled daikon radish cube. The tastiness of fried chicken, and its widespread availability, have made it a popular
KÉ Interview: Young Pioneers for New Kind of Sex Ed
When Chopin wrote his Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9, No. 2 around 1830, he may not have anticipated that it would be used as the background music for a 2017 South Korean video that used pink balloons and lubricant to illustrate proper female masturbation techniques. But it was. Welcome
Welcome to K-pop Idol School, Where Only the Beautiful Enter
“We are recruiting beautiful freshmen.” This shamelessly explicit phrase on its website says everything about Idol School, an institution that aims to nurture K-pop girl group members. In the video, girls in lolitaesque school uniforms (the skirts barely cover their thighs) vow to follow the school’s curriculum so
Cannes 2017: Introducing the Korean Filmmakers
Cannes Film Festival 2017 opened amid the usual fanfare last Wednesday. In South Korea, Cannes is showcased as a sign of incredible international prestige for the country when Korean actors and directors are invited. This year, filmmakers Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho, and Hong Sang-soo are featuring prominently in
“Icon of Debt”: S Korea's Most Sought-After Celebrity
Seven years ago, he was banned from major television channels after being convicted of running an illegal gambling business. Today, Lee Sang-min is one of the most sought-after celebrities in South Korea. He is a permanent panelist on 11 television shows. In May, he ranked first in a celebrity
Meet Tory, South Korea's Potential First-Dog-To-Be
Tory is a South Korean mixed-breed dog whose fortunes may be about to change drastically. After being rescued from an abusive owner and given refuge in an animal shelter, Tory’s next stop might just be the most prestigious home in the nation: that of newly-elected president Moon
Singing for National Glory? Meet S Korea's Noisy Concertgoers
I went to see Coldplay last Sunday. It was the band’s first ever visit to South Korea, so competition for tickets was insane. The venue, a massive stadium that holds up to 100,000 people, had sold out in just five minutes. The audience contained some serious Coldplay
TV Producer's Death Casts Light on Dark Side of K-Drama Industry
On Oct. 26, a man was found dead in a hotel near Gangnam, two days after finishing a project at work. His name was Lee Han-bit, and he worked as an assistant producer for the cable channel tvN, where he had just wrapped up production of “Drinking Solo,” a popular