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Sun, December 3, 2023 | 10:40

The smell of Korean nostalgia

The smell of Korean nostalgia

In Korean, the word “hyang-su” can mean either perfume or nostalgia. It's a beautiful coincidence. The fact that the word can refer to either smell or memory is easy to understand for certain odors are capable of triggering very strong and profound memories of the past. In Marcel Proust's 1913 novel “In Search of Lost Time,” it was the smell of cake in tea that sent the Frenc...

2023-09-09 12:17

The Korean pendulum of disparity

The Korean pendulum of disparity

Korea constantly moves from one extreme to the other: from desperate poverty to the shattering affluence of Samsung chaebols, from isolation and xenophobia to a cosmopolitan cultural powerhouse, from collectivism and “jeong” to hyper individualism, and from being almost unheard of to the source of fascination and fetishization on TikTok.

2023-09-02 19:56

The beautiful schizophrenia of K-pop

The beautiful schizophrenia of K-pop

“You see”, the dean said to the attentively listening foreign officials, “Korean students are just not as creative as their Western counterparts.

2023-08-26 13:06

Do you choose Pyongyang or Tokyo?

Do you choose Pyongyang or Tokyo?

My friend opened up her phone as we waited for our food. “Arrgh!” she screamed not three seconds after looking at it. She had just seen a photo of President Yoon Seok Yeol and that alone was enough to drive her to anger and frustration. It didn't necessarily matter what he had done, what he had said, or what policies the article might be about: simply seeing a photo of him tu...

2023-08-19 14:03

Korea in ten words: (2) Shame

Korea in ten words: (2) Shame

There is no power or cultural trait possessed by one culture or race that is not possessed in some measure by all. The difference is one of degree. Language, culture and expression, then all affect how these cultural traits manifest and are communicated not only to other people but also across generations.

2023-08-12 12:09

Safety and anxiety in Korea

Safety and anxiety in Korea

For many years, in my lectures and media appearances, I have championed the safety of Korea.

2023-08-05 11:39

Korea in ten words: (1) Hyo

Korea in ten words: (1) Hyo

The emotional scene unfolded on the screen, and the students couldn't help but be drawn in by the raw intensity. Tears welled up in their eyes, and sniffs echoed softly across the room. These were punctuated by occasional shrieks.

2023-07-22 13:14

The beauty of flawed Korean morality

The beauty of flawed Korean morality

A simplistic and misguided view of Korean popular culture will present it as vacuous, bland, and only embracing a superficial look at deeper moral and psychological issues.

2023-07-15 12:57

Korean Gen Z: maybe you're the oldie?

Korean Gen Z: maybe you're the oldie?

Have you ever spotted your co-worker working with their earbuds on in the office and thought it impolite? Or ever thought your youngest coworker was rude because they weren't quick enough to help serve food and drinks at a company dinner? Such incidents have become something of an issue recently in Korean society, exacerbated by their appearance on the popular Saturday Night ...

2023-07-08 18:43

Why K-pop is like pro-wrestling

Why K-pop is like pro-wrestling

In the world of entertainment, there are distinct mediums. Each one tells its audience stories in different ways.

2023-07-01 13:30

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Top 10 Stories

1	5 Korea tourism clips top 225 mil. views

2	Tension mounts between Yoon administration, opposition party

3	Nexon workers in conflict with umbrella union over stance on feminism

4	Is ruling party's reform drive at end of road?

5	Daegu mayor criticizes officials for spreading false hope about Expo bid

6	Rights activists criticize wage discrimination against migrant boat crews

7	DL, SPC chiefs apologize for worker deaths under poor labor conditions

8	Crackdown on illegal short selling takes priority over MSCI listing: FSC vice chair

9	Hyundai chief pledges to support globalization of archery

10	2023 Korea-EU CSO Network Human Rights Conference to emphasize diversity, practice inclusivity

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