KoreaTimes - Blogs

The Korea Times

Entertainment & Arts

SCMP
Asia

The Korea Times

Entertainment & Arts

SCMP
Asia

The Korea Times

Opinion

Blogs

Thu, March 23, 2023 | 11:43

Fear of the Korean black swan

Fear of the Korean black swan

Korean news in 2023 will be dominated by an improbable event, I just don't know what that event will be. It might be good, it might be bad. It might be an unprecedented cultural success. It might be a catastrophic national failure. It could be war.

2022-12-31 10:27

Lee Jung-jae's 'The Hunt' reveals Korean realities

Lee Jung-jae's 'The Hunt' reveals Korean realities

This is movie about Korea. Thus, it is about division. About violence. And death. About how visions of solidarity and collective action are dashed at every turn, often to the soundtrack of broken bones, bullets, and blood. We expect violence from Korean movies and The Hunt has lots of it. There must be at least 200 on-screen deaths during the movie. These are supplemented by ...

2022-12-24 13:43

Goblin mode or God life?

Goblin mode or God life?

It remains frightfully easy to paint a highly inaccurate picture of vast swathes of the Korean population. Generalizations are certainly not new but they are emboldened and fueled by the medium of social media. Pushing people into ever more exaggerated presentations of populations for digital dopamine spikes.

2022-12-17 14:16

K-Pop: Artists or Entertainers?

K-Pop: Artists or Entertainers?

K-pop is here. Music outlets such as Rolling Stone and NME now feature groups regularly and heavily. There is a financial imperative in this, of course. The same way in which awards shows will make a habit of having certain groups perform, and often late on in the ceremony, to ensure high viewing figures from the many devoted fans, news outlets have also realized the money th...

2022-12-10 13:31

K-football: team of heroes

K-football: team of heroes

It was nearly 2 a.m. in Seoul when Son Heung-min decided that rather than continuing to try carrying the weight of the nation on his shoulders, he would instead pass the ball. Though incredibly dedicated and tireless in his running, he had cut somewhat of a frustrating figure from a footballing perspective. He seemed determined to always take one more touch, to take on every ...

2022-12-03 11:24

Finding kindness in Korea

Finding kindness in Korea

We live in a society where all acts of kindness are treated with suspicion. Seen as a shallow marketing ploy for the person's own benefit or social status rather than providing any genuine help to others.

2022-11-26 12:40

Killing the Buddha

Killing the Buddha

The young woman raised her head. She looked at me through her glasses, taking a pause before speaking clearly and in a deeper tone than usual. “One day, you'll be where you're meant to be. Doing what you're meant to be doing. And with who you're meant to be.”

2022-11-20 14:33

What is modern Korean suicide?

What is modern Korean suicide?

“I've kind of become desensitized to the issue of suicide because I've seen so much of it around me. And the universities and institutions are always trying to cover it up when it happens. Pretending it was nothing to do with them.”

2022-11-12 12:25

Love and tragedy

Love and tragedy

I have stood shoulder to shoulder in the World Cup Stadium and joined the deafening cheers of tens of thousands. I have bounced in a chicken restaurant covered in beer, whopping in celebration with those around me as the national team scored yet another victory. I have beamed with joy on television and radio when asked to comment on the latest Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, or chart-to...

2022-11-05 11:52

Korean Feminism: Biology Matters

Korean Feminism: Biology Matters

The 'F' word can be rather explosive in Korea. Uttering it in polite society causes stares, visible discomfort, and often the immediate changing of a topic. The topic is divisive. It doesn't have to be that way, of course. But, for many people, it is.

2022-10-29 13:12

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Top 10 Stories

1	Korean firms balk at donating to fund compensating victims of Japan's forced labor

2	Sexual assaults by Korean diplomats continue despite zero-tolerance policy

3	Consumers choose to travel abroad over purchasing luxury goods

4	Main opposition leader indicted, faces calls to resign

5	World water day

6	Outback Steakhouse sees sales soar as it opens stores in large shopping malls

7	Samsung, SK avoid worst-case scenario as US 'guardrails' are less stringent than feared

8	Korean pension fund hit by overseas banking crisis

9	INTERVIEWRetired FSC chief finds inspiration exploring Koreans' ancestral roots

10	Campaign launched to promote equal treatment for multicultural families

DARKROOM