South Korea
1952000
My Search for Religion
I live in a tower of glass and concrete, surrounded by lush trees. My friends and family are men and women accustomed to wearing finery, driving oversized sedans and dining at choice restaurants. But deep down, hollowness is wrenching. South Korea is an economic miracle, I often hear. So many
The Mystery of South Korea's Elderly Protesters
Elderly men protest a special investigation into Samsung in 2008. (Credit: Yonhap News/via Media Today) South Korea has no shortage of political scandals, but this one is big and seems worth mentioning what with the dearth of reporting in the international media. Some readers may know that a
Combating Bad Parking, With One Sticker at a Time
On the sidewalk and blocking the pedestrian crossing. One example of rampant illegal parking in South Korea (Source: koreanparking.tumblr.com) There is no other way to say it: South Korea’s car culture is chaotic. Drivers frequently blast through red lights, make abrupt lane changes without signaling, speed
One Nation Divided under the Chaebol
Recently I came across an intriguing post on the Global Voices website: In 2014, a piece of legislation was introduced in the National Assembly for the purpose of punishing South Korean consumers who shop on foreign websites. Those unacquainted with shopping in South Korea may be puzzled to learn that
A Young Liberal at the Barbershop
When I say barbershop I am not mistaken. I’m talking about one of those old-fashioned barbershops exclusively for men where an old barber sticks to what he knows: the 50’s clean-cut look, and nothing else. I’m talking about the barbershops that are now going extinct in Seoul;
The "Comfort Women Deal" between South Korea and Japan: Six Alternative Views
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![[Full Text] UN Special Rapporteur's Conclusion on Rights in South Korea](https://storage.googleapis.com/cdn.media.bluedot.so/bluedot.koreaexpose/wordpress/2016/01/United_nations_flag.png)
[Full Text] UN Special Rapporteur's Conclusion on Rights in South Korea
Statement by United Nations Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association at the conclusion of his visit to the Republic of Korea SEOUL (29 January 2016) – I would like to thank the Government of the Republic of Korea for inviting me to
Children of Misfortune: Child Abuse in South Korea
Over dinner one evening, a South Korean journalist friend posed what seemed like a riddle: “Let’s say there is a high school reunion. One classmate is a Samsung executive with a high-school graduate for a son. Another is a security guard whose son attends Seoul National University. Who do
Job Search
I am now trapped in a tight, borrowed business suit. My hair is tamed into a tidy ponytail. I ditched red lipstick in order to look modest. Such a stereotypical job interviewee. Anyone could tell what I am up to. Today’s destination is a satellite city in Gyeonggi-do. The
Gay Jongno: Hidden in Plain Sight
The central district of Jongno is synonymous with high-rise office buildings, language academies, the bustle of Insadong, street barbecues, and end-of-week drinks. But a closer look will reveal another world unfamiliar to even veteran Jongno-goers, tourists, and residents alike: gay Jongno. Many are unaware that the streets of Jongno
Preponderance of Workers
When I’m in South Korea what always surprises me is the number of employees in department store food corners, usually women middle-aged or older. They welcome customers, let them taste dumplings, tofu and so on. It almost seems there is one person for each shelf of goods. I don’
Gaejeossi Must Die
Ajeossi (n.) a form of address for a male relative from one’s parents’ generation, excluding brothers of one’s father a form of address for an unmarried younger brother of one’s father a form of address for an adult male stranger the title of a 2010