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SCMP
Asia

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Thu, March 23, 2023 | 10:03

Extraordinary Attorney Woo is about more than mental health

Extraordinary Attorney Woo is about more than mental health

There's no denying the quality, charm, and success of Extraordinary Attorney Woo. Not just here in Korea, but all around the world people eagerly await the release of the latest episodes

2022-08-06 10:55

President without support?

President without support?

Much has been said of the incredibly low approval ratings President Yoon Seok-yul is experiencing in the early stages of his tenure. With its leaders only able to serve one five-year term, South Korea is used to the lame duck phenomenon. However, they've rarely seen public support drop this far this quickly.

2022-07-30 11:56

K-Equality

Because people all over the world wear similar clothes, vibe on the same YouTube videos, and speak similar hashtags, it's all too easy to think of them wanting the same things. We try to equalize values globally as much as possible.

2022-07-23 11:50

Who likes BTS?

There's no getting away from BTS' popularity. The Korean idol group topped charts, broke countless records, and spoke at the United Nations. In doing so, they went through various metamorphoses: from hyper-masculine black-inspired hip-hop, to schizophrenic genre-bending K-pop, and finally the soft masculinity of western pop that propelled them to their greatest heights.

2022-07-16 11:47

Even in death, Twitter demands immediacy

Even in death, Twitter demands immediacy

Yesterday, my students at Hanyang University debated the merits of Frantz Fanon's 1961 text, “The Wretched of the Earth.” The book remains a cornerstone of revolutionary thought and demand for action, bringing with it the claim that, “There comes a time when silence becomes dishonesty.”

2022-07-09 12:04

Korean studies and K-vibe

Korean studies and K-vibe

During the country's wettest season, a time that has seen expressways closed and rivers flooded, I make my way every morning to Hanyang University. One of the country's biggest and most prestigious universities, it is currently hosting a summer program for international students from all over the word. As part of this, I teach courses on Korea with a focus on culture, society...

2022-07-02 10:50

Forget K-pop, real Korean activism is underground

Forget K-pop, real Korean activism is underground

Some people access Korea through its literature, others through its movies, its beauty products, its webtoons, or its history. The pathways into the country and its culture are endless. And once in, for many people, a vice-like grip keeps you enthralled. South Korea is addictive. A drug that you can't quit. It can change your life.

2022-06-25 10:24

My Liberation Notes: A remarkable depiction of an unremarkable life

My Liberation Notes: A remarkable depiction of an unremarkable life

I wasn't necessarily expecting to like ”My Liberation Notes.” Most of the domestic Korean media had been talking about “Our Blues” and the controversial issues of teenage pregnancy, actors with disabilities and Lee Byung-hun's capacity for swearing and violence. Meanwhile, western media seems solely focused on the hyperreal and violent content of things such as “Squid Game” a...

2022-06-18 10:44

Capitalist discontent and the kimchi premium

Capitalist discontent and the kimchi premium

The Korean economic system is creaking. The middle-class that, in part, gave birth to this nation's proud democracy is shrinking. The collective ethos that drove the country from poverty to the world stage has been replaced by a hyper-individualism, promoted by social media, manifest in a slew of neologisms, and evident in a focus on self-interest.

2022-06-11 12:05

Progressive in Korea?

Progressive in Korea?

Last week, Dong Sun-hwa explored the idea of the pop group BTS serving as a “model of diversity and inclusion.” And Ms. Dong, citing cultural studies professor Dr. Lee Gyu-tag, is correct. The South Korean idols have undoubtedly positively influenced the lives of millions of people around the world.

2022-06-04 12:50

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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	Main opposition leader indicted, faces calls to resign

4	Consumers choose to travel abroad over purchasing luxury goods

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

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