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News

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • El Nino bad season forecast

    Jun 16, 2026
    in News
    El Nino bad season forecast

    El Nino bad season forecast

  • Bank of Japan hikes interest rate to 31-year high

    Jun 16, 2026
    in News
    Bank of Japan hikes interest rate to 31-year high

    TOKYO — The Bank of Japan hiked interest rates to a 31-year high Tuesday as it battles inflation caused by…

    Japan, Peace, Tokyo
  • Kosdaq firms struggle with rising workload amid shareholder reform push

    Jun 16, 2026
    in News
    Kosdaq firms struggle with rising workload amid shareholder reform push

    Complaints are mounting among investor relations officers at listed companies as workloads surge amid the government’s push to enhance corporate…

  • KAIST unveils breakthrough that could slash AI data center cooling power

    Jun 16, 2026
    in News
    KAIST unveils breakthrough that could slash AI data center cooling power

    As artificial intelligence systems demand ever more computing power, a team of Korean researchers says it has found a way…

    KT, Putin, travel
  • 6.7 magnitude earthquake shakes part of Indonesia, causing scattered damage

    Jun 16, 2026
    in News
    6.7 magnitude earthquake shakes part of Indonesia, causing scattered damage

    PALU, Indonesia — A 6.7 magnitude earthquake shook part of central Indonesia’s Sulawesi island Tuesday, causing scattered damage and rattling…

  • Lee meets Pope Leo XIV at Vatican

    Jun 15, 2026
    in News
    Lee meets Pope Leo XIV at Vatican

    President Lee Jae Myung met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Monday and is presumed to have sought…

    LG, Peace, request
  • Netflix schedules live world tour for ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ to leverage global fandom

    Jun 15, 2026
    in News
    Netflix schedules live world tour for ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ to leverage global fandom

    Netflix announced a live world tour for its blockbuster animated musical film “KPop Demon Hunters,” a move expected to expand…

  • Korea offers bus discounts to move foreign tourists beyond Seoul

    Jun 15, 2026
    in News
    Korea offers bus discounts to move foreign tourists beyond Seoul

    For the millions of foreign tourists who visit Korea each year, the boundaries of vacations are often defined by the…

    Seoul, Subway, Tourism, travel
  • British Business Awards recognize innovation, excellence, community leadership

    Jun 15, 2026
    in News
    British Business Awards recognize innovation, excellence, community leadership

    The British Chamber of Commerce in Korea honored companies and organizations advancing bilateral trade, sustainability, workplace inclusion and public health…

    Seoul
  • Luxury hanok reshapes high-end tourism deep in mountains of Gangwon Province

    Jun 15, 2026
    in News
    Luxury hanok reshapes high-end tourism deep in mountains of Gangwon Province

    For global jet setters, Korea’s cultural footprint is typically defined by Seoul’s neon-lit corridors and K-pop spectacle. But a quiet…

    K-pop, Seoul, Tourism, travel
  • Airlines on high alert over strengthening dollar, prolonged oil price hike

    Jun 14, 2026
    in News
    Airlines on high alert over strengthening dollar, prolonged oil price hike

    Korea’s aviation industry is facing severe headwinds, as a combination of high oil prices and a weakening Korean won is…

  • Funeral for Iran’s late supreme leader to begin July 4

    Jun 14, 2026
    in News
    Funeral for Iran’s late supreme leader to begin July 4

    ISLAMABAD — Funeral ceremonies for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be in July, the country’s state-run television…

  • Investigators to question election watchdog officials soon over local election ballot shortage

    Jun 14, 2026
    in News
    Investigators to question election watchdog officials soon over local election ballot shortage

    A joint team of police investigators and prosecutors will soon question election watchdog officials over shortages of ballot papers during…

    Question, Seoul
  • The AI revolution mirrors the green transition

    Jun 14, 2026
    in News
    The AI revolution mirrors the green transition

    CHICAGO/NEW YORK — The artificial intelligence (AI) race is already generating forces that are transforming the global economy. That makes…

  • Hanwha Aerospace launches independent safety committee following fatal fire

    Jun 14, 2026
    in News
    Hanwha Aerospace launches independent safety committee following fatal fire

    Hanwha Aerospace, a defense affiliate of Hanwha Group, said Sunday it has launched an independent committee to oversee the company’s…

    Daejeon, Seoul
  • Lee says S. Korea, Italy are ‘optimal partners’ for business cooperation

    Jun 13, 2026
    in News
    Lee says S. Korea, Italy are ‘optimal partners’ for business cooperation

    ROME — President Lee Jae Myung said Friday that South Korea and Italy are optimal partners for business cooperation and…

  • Pre-vacation diet strategy: Three habits you should change first

    Jun 13, 2026
    in News
    Pre-vacation diet strategy: Three habits you should change first

    Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. As summer vacation approaches, it’s easy to become anxious about your body shape…

    Suga
  • BLACKPINK’s Lisa headlines FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in US

    Jun 13, 2026
    in News
    BLACKPINK’s Lisa headlines FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in US

    Lisa of BLACKPINK delivered a spectacular performance at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.…

    BTS, K-pop
  • HYBE apologizes for delay on 1st night of BTS world tour in Busan

    Jun 13, 2026
    in News
    HYBE apologizes for delay on 1st night of BTS world tour in Busan

    HYBE, the agency behind K-pop boy band BTS, issued a formal apology after the first night of the group’s world…

    apology, BTS, Busan, K-pop
  • K-content boom effect? Foreign arrivals to Korea jump 20 percent

    Jun 13, 2026
    in News
    K-content boom effect? 
 Foreign arrivals to Korea jump 20 percent

    The number of foreign visitors entering Korea surged by more than 20 percent in the first five months of this…

    travel
  • Seoul asks public to trade cars for bikes to cut carbon emissions, save fuel

    Jun 12, 2026
    in News
    Seoul asks public to trade cars for bikes to cut carbon emissions, save fuel

    Amid prolonged instability in the Middle East and growing volatility across global energy supply chains, municipal authorities in Seoul are…

    Seoul
  • Naver, Krafton team up to bring PUBG esports to bigger audiences

    Jun 12, 2026
    in News
    Naver, Krafton team up to bring PUBG esports to bigger audiences

    Korean internet giant Naver Corp. has entered into a strategic partnership with game developer Krafton to expand the media and…

    Naver
  • CJ CheilJedang, Samyang Foods climb in brand-value rankings as global appetite grows

    Jun 12, 2026
    in News
    CJ CheilJedang, Samyang Foods climb in brand-value rankings as global appetite grows

    Korea’s leading food manufacturers are solidifying their positions among the country’s most valuable corporate names, reflecting the food sector’s rising…

    automotive, CJ Cheiljedang, driver, Global Expansion, Samyang
  • Retrospective honors Japanese pastor who captured humanity of Seoul’s vanished shantytowns

    Jun 12, 2026
    in News
    Retrospective honors Japanese pastor who captured humanity of Seoul’s vanished shantytowns

    Long before Korea transformed into an economic juggernaut and a global cultural powerhouse, parts of its capital were defined by…

    Japan, Justice, Seoul
  • 1 in 4 Korean high school students sleep in class: report

    Jun 12, 2026
    in News
    1 in 4 Korean high school students sleep in class: report

    Korean high school students have one of the lowest long-term absenteeism rates among OECD countries, but their actual classroom participation…

    Question, Survey
  • Ex-KBO MVP Kim Do-yeong headlines Asian Games baseball roster

    Jun 11, 2026
    in News
    Ex-KBO MVP Kim Do-yeong headlines Asian Games baseball roster

    The 2024 Korean baseball league MVP Kim Do-yeong was selected to the national team for the upcoming Asian Games on…

    Japan, Kia, Military
  • Netflix hit inspires Korea tourism push aimed at turning viewers into visitors

    Jun 11, 2026
    in News
    Netflix hit inspires Korea tourism push aimed at turning viewers into visitors

    Korea is betting that the power of a Netflix hit can do more than entertain audiences — it can also…

    KT, squid game, Tourism, travel
  • Korea’s semiconductor future cannot be built on capital-centric thinking

    Jun 11, 2026
    in News
    Korea’s semiconductor future cannot be built on capital-centric thinking

    The debate over whether Korea’s leading semiconductor manufacturers should expand into the country’s southwestern region has exposed a deeper question…

    Controversy, Discussion, Question, Samsung, Samsung Electronics, Seoul, SK Hynix
  • Korea attracts $165 mil. investment from European firms, signs digital trade agreement with EU

    Jun 11, 2026
    in News
    Korea attracts $165 mil. investment from European firms, signs digital trade agreement with EU

    Korea has attracted a combined $165 million in foreign direct investment from four European companies and signed a digital trade…

    germany, LG, Putin, Seoul
  • Hyundai Motor, Kia unveil world’s 1st in-car UV sanitizer

    Jun 11, 2026
    in News
    Hyundai Motor, Kia unveil world’s 1st in-car UV sanitizer

    Hyundai Motor and affiliate Kia said Thursday they have developed what they describe as the world’s first ultraviolet (UV) sanitization…

    automotive, Hyundai, Kia
  • GM’s next big bet: Turning EVs into power plants on wheels

    Jun 10, 2026
    in News
    GM’s next big bet: Turning EVs into power plants on wheels

    General Motors is pushing the car beyond its form, unveiling a strategy that could transform electric vehicles into active participants…

    Putin
  • Second female PM

    Jun 10, 2026
    in News
    Second female PM

    Timing is often an unruly thing. Many pundits have stressed the importance of timing in life. What I mean to…

    history, Korean History, Naver, Stress
  • Journalists from 7 countries visit Sungkyunkwan University as part of Korea program

    Jun 10, 2026
    in News
    Journalists from 7 countries visit Sungkyunkwan University as part of Korea program

    A delegation of journalists from seven countries visited Sungkyunkwan University on June 4 to learn about Korea’s artificial intelligence (AI)…

  • Hyundai Motor brings FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign into Rocket League, Fortnite

    Jun 10, 2026
    in News
    Hyundai Motor brings FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign into Rocket League, Fortnite

    Hyundai Motor said Wednesday it has partnered with Epic Games to bring its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign into two…

    Hyundai
  • Korea pushes to make historic street markets more user-friendly

    Jun 10, 2026
    in News
    Korea pushes to make historic street markets more user-friendly

    Korea’s tourism authorities are turning their attention to traditional street markets, launching a standardized campaign Friday to target long-standing consumer…

    Busan, Tourism, travel
  • Ex-AOA member Jimin opens up about struggles ahead of new music release

    Jun 9, 2026
    in News
    Ex-AOA member Jimin opens up about struggles ahead of new music release

    Jimin, a former member of K-pop girl group AOA, has opened up about the emotional strain she has faced ahead…

    K-pop, Social Media
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Latest Korean News

  • El Nino bad season forecastJune 16, 2026
    El Nino bad season forecast
  • Bank of Japan hikes interest rate to 31-year highJune 16, 2026
    TOKYO — The Bank of Japan hiked interest rates to… Read more: Bank of Japan hikes interest rate to 31-year high
  • Kosdaq firms struggle with rising workload amid shareholder reform pushJune 16, 2026
    Complaints are mounting among investor relations officers at listed companies… Read more: Kosdaq firms struggle with rising workload amid shareholder reform push
  • KAIST unveils breakthrough that could slash AI data center cooling powerJune 16, 2026
    As artificial intelligence systems demand ever more computing power, a… Read more: KAIST unveils breakthrough that could slash AI data center cooling power
  • 6.7 magnitude earthquake shakes part of Indonesia, causing scattered damageJune 16, 2026
    PALU, Indonesia — A 6.7 magnitude earthquake shook part of… Read more: 6.7 magnitude earthquake shakes part of Indonesia, causing scattered damage

Latest Community Feeds

  • Who is going to vote for the Asian category at the Grammys?June 16, 2026
  • Happy STAYC comeback day today everyone!June 16, 2026
  • The new Grammys category might be a good thingJune 16, 2026
  • Some of the negativity towards Meovv’s Ddi Ro Ri is rooted in people being extremely boring (not in the way you might think)June 16, 2026
  • Jiwoo Hearts2Hearts Dating Advice To A Female FanJune 16, 2026
  • Camp Casey soldiers arrested after bar district brawl in South Korea’s capitalJune 16, 2026
  • The Grammys changes come across as containment rather than inclusionJune 16, 2026
  • Unexpected crossover – ICONIC BY MISTAKE × LALISAJune 16, 2026
  • Most streamed Kpop Groups on Spotify (by total discography streams)June 16, 2026
  • Healthy River Filled with Concrete… “To Create a Pet Swimming Pool…”June 16, 2026
  • First time trying hot pot and making BBQ at homeJune 16, 2026
  • KpopThoughts Weekly Thread – (June 16)June 16, 2026
  • Is there female K-pop idols that are very tall?June 16, 2026
  • RIIZE is like SM’s version of High School Musical but all members is Troy BoltonJune 16, 2026
  • DDI RO RI is doing way better on charts than expected.June 16, 2026
  • 노래방 perfect pitch scoring helpJune 16, 2026
  • JTBC files for corporate rehabilitation as costly World Cup, Olympics deals push JoongAng Group into crisisJune 16, 2026
  • Chinese dissident pleads with Korea to not deport himJune 16, 2026
  • Are there any idols that exclusively or enjoy playing mainly Nintendo games?June 16, 2026
  • Do you guys think that JYP slower paced start with their group is good for long term?June 16, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (22,307)
    • Community (16,321)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (4,754)
  • History (41)
  • People (16)

History of Korea

  • Exploring Ancient Korea: A Journey into Pre-HistoryOctober 12, 2017
    Introduction to Pre-Historic Korea The timeline of ancient Korea before documented history is a fascinating yet challenging area of study.… Read more: Exploring Ancient Korea: A Journey into Pre-History
  • The Rise and Fall of Go Joseon and the Emergence of the Three KingdomsOctober 19, 2017
    Introduction to Go Joseon The Go Joseon dynasty, often considered a pivotal era in Korean history, emerged around the end… Read more: The Rise and Fall of Go Joseon and the Emergence of the Three Kingdoms
  • The Rise and Fall of Korea’s Three Kingdoms: A Story of Power, Conflict, and UnificationNovember 30, 2017
    Introduction to the Three Kingdoms The Three Kingdoms period in Korea, encompassing approximately from the 1st century BCE to the… Read more: The Rise and Fall of Korea’s Three Kingdoms: A Story of Power, Conflict, and Unification
  • Choe Chi-wonFebruary 14, 2018
    Introduction to Choe Chi-won Choe Chi-won, born in 857, stands as a notable figure in Korean history, specifically during the… Read more: Choe Chi-won
  • King Gwanggaeto the GreatMay 14, 2018
    Introduction to King Gwanggaeto King Gwanggaeto the Great, a pivotal figure in Korean history, ruled from 395 to 413 CE… Read more: King Gwanggaeto the Great
  • Won HyoOctober 14, 2018
    Introduction to Won Hyo Won Hyo, a prominent figure in Korean history, is celebrated for his profound impact on the… Read more: Won Hyo
  • Jang BogoApril 14, 2019
    Introduction to Jang Bogo Jang Bogo, a prominent historical figure from the Silla Dynasty, played a pivotal role in shaping… Read more: Jang Bogo
  • GyebaekApril 14, 2019
    Introduction to Gyebaek Gyebaek is a prominent historical figure in Korean history, particularly known for his role as a general… Read more: Gyebaek
  • King MuryeongSeptember 14, 2019
    Introduction to King Muryeong King Muryeong, reigning from 501 to 523 AD, stands as one of the most influential monarchs… Read more: King Muryeong
  • The Rise and Fall of the Goryeo Dynasty: A Precursor to the Joseon EraJanuary 3, 2020
    Introduction to the Goryeo Dynasty The Goryeo Dynasty, established in 918 AD by the notable general Wang Geon, marks a… Read more: The Rise and Fall of the Goryeo Dynasty: A Precursor to the Joseon Era

Open Korea

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Korean Identities Beyond Borders

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Helplines in Korea

112  | Police

Call to report life-threatening situations and emergencies requiring law enforcement. Text service and location tracking service is also available.

119 | Fire & Ambulance

The fire department and health emergencies requiring ambulance service. There’s also an English reporting section on their website.

182 | Missing Persons & Stolen Vehicles

This line is also used for non-emergency reports and requests such as inquiring about the cost of a fine for a traffic violation, information on car licenses, and how to contact officers in charge of specific cases.

1339 | Korea Center for Disease Control (KCDC) Foreigner Helpline

Particularly useful during the 2015 MERS scare, the KCDC provides foreigners with information about first-aid and diseases in English, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Mongolian.

1366 | Seoul Women’s Help Hotline

Not necessarily English-friendly and not outside of Seoul, this 24-hour service immediate response line for women involved in domestic abuse, sexual violence or prostitution should still be kept handy.

1330 | Korea Tourism Organization’s Travel Helpline

Tourism and translation services. The service is available 24/7 and provides information on tourist sites, transportation, restaurants, and more.

120 | Seoul Municipal Government Info

The Seoul “Dasan” helpline provides information on restaurants (Korean and international cuisines), transportation (bus, subway, taxi, etc.), Korean language schools, interpretation services, legal consulting, lost items, volunteer services, daily living in Seoul, and tourism. Available languages are Chinese, English, Japanese, Mongolian and Vietnamese from 9 am to 10 pm.

1345 | Immigration

Foreign resident can to ask just about any immigration-related question. Keep in mind that they tend to be on the negative side, as it’s the safer way for them to answer. Tip: Get their name and information so that if you visit the immigration office and get a different story you can tell them that you were told otherwise…

1331 | National Human Rights Commission of Korea

Call here to get information on human rights laws and social justice in Korea, as well as get assistance with filing a complaint and even receive counseling.

110 | National Government Call Center

This phone number is available for the public to call and inquire about anything from government policy to civil complaints. Available in 20 different languages.

Useful Official Links on Korea

Korean Arts

  • Archive of Gugak 국악아카이브
  • Artsnet 미술포탈 아츠넷
  • Digital Archive of Performing Arts 공연예술 디지털 아카이브
  • Intangible Heritage Digital Archive 무형유산 디지털 아카이브
  • Korea Digital Archives for the Arts 한국예술디지털아카이브
  • National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea 국립현대미술관
  • ​National Museum of Korea 국립중앙박물관
  • Seoul Photo Archives 서울사진아카이브

Korean Cinema

  • HANCINEMA The Korean Movie & Drama Database
  • Intangible Heritage Digital Archive 무형유산 디지털 아카이브
  • KMDb 한국영화데이터베이스
  • Korea Digital Archives for the Arts 한국예술디지털아카이브
  • Korean Annual Box Office Results 영화진흥위원회 박스오피스
  • Korean Film Archive 한국영상자료원
  • Korean Film Archive YouTube Channel
  • Korean Film Biz Zone
  • Korean Film Council 한국영화진흥위원회
  • KTV National Record Film 한국정책방송원 e영상역사관
  • North Korean film 북한영화 (통일부 북한자료센타)

Language & Literature

  • The Academy of Korean Studies 한국학 중앙 연구원
  • DLKL (한국 문학 디지털 도서관) by 한국문학번역원Digital Library of Korean Literature
  • The Korea Comparative Literature Association 한국비교문학회
  • The Korean Association of Language Sciences 한국언어과학회
  • Korean Literature Archive
  • Korean Literature Author Data Service
  • Korean Literature E-books in Multiple Languages
  • The Learned Society of Modern Korean Literature 한국현대문학회
  • The Modern Linguistic Society of Korea 한국현대언어학회
  • The Society of Korean Oral Literature 한국 구비 문학회
  • 국어 능력 인증 시험 (한국언어문화연구원)
  • 근대 문학 종합 목록 (국립 중앙 도서관)A comprehensive database for Korean modern literature. The site provides a search for authors and titles.
  • 한국 고전 종합 DB
  • 한글 학회 (Korean Language Society)

Statistical Sources

Government sources

  • Statistics Korea (KOSTAT 통계청)
  • Korean Statistical Information Sources (KOSIS 국가통계포털)
  • Open DATA Portal (공공 데이터 포털)

Themed statistics

  • Korean Social Science Data Archive (KOSSDA) 한국사회과학자료원
  • North Korean Statistics 북한통계 (KOISS)
  • 경제통계시스템 (Economic Statistics System)
  • 국가교육통계정보센터 (Korea National Center for Education Statistics & Information)
  • 노동통계 (Labour Statistics)
  • Media Statistics (Korea Press Foundation)
  • Trade Statistics (수출입통계, 관세청 Korea Customs Service)

History related sources

  • 한국역사정보통합시스템 (국사편찬워원회)
  • 한국사 데이터베이스
  • Kyujanggak Institute (규장각 한국학 연구원)Seoul National University Kyujanggak Institute for Korean studies
  • 한국학 디지털 아카이브
  • The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty 조선 왕조 실록
  • The Daily Records of Royal Secretariat of Joseon Dynasty 승정원 일기
  • 朝鮮王朝実録 (東京大学東洋文化研究所)
  • Korean Image Archive (한국 이미지 자료원)2,400 historic, original photographs of Korea (primarily focus on images captured pre-1970, and 35mm color slides) are available for research, presentation, lectures and other forms of scholarly works.
  • Sajin Taehan Min’guk (사진 대한민국)a collection of photographic records that vividly capture the people’s daily lives and social changes.
  • Academy of Korean Studies [한국학 디지털 아카이브]

Bibliographies and Indexes

  • 한국학술지인용색인 Korea Citation Index
  • KORCIS: 한국 고문헌 종합 목록 (국립중앙도서관)Korean Old and Rare Collection Information System
  • 近代朝鮮関係書籍データベース (東京大学東洋文化研究所)
  • 한국 잡지 박물관 DB