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News

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • OpenAI lands Samsung as major ChatGPT Enterprise customer

    Jun 22, 2026
    in News
    OpenAI lands Samsung as major ChatGPT Enterprise customer

    OpenAI is set to supply its chatbot ChatGPT Enterprise and its artificial intelligence (AI) coding agent Codex to Samsung Electronics…

    history, Samsung, Samsung Electronics
  • 2025 Economic Census to elevate Korea’s industrial mapping

    Jun 21, 2026
    in News
    2025 Economic Census to elevate Korea’s industrial mapping

    Data has emerged as a national strategic asset, surpassing the traditional importance of land or resources in an era of…

  • Korea mounts final push for Canada’s $39 bil. submarine project

    Jun 21, 2026
    in News
    Korea mounts final push for Canada’s $39 bil. submarine project

    The Korean government and defense players are making last-ditch efforts to win Canada’s next-generation submarine project worth up to 60…

    germany, Seoul
  • Veteran journalist of 30 years appointed presidential communication secretary

    Jun 21, 2026
    in News
    Veteran journalist of 30 years appointed presidential communication secretary

    Seong Ghi-hong, the new presidential secretary for public relations and communication, is a veteran newswire journalist with 30 years of…

    North Korea, Politics, Pyongyang
  • MONDAY, June 22, 2026

    Jun 21, 2026
    in News

    1633-Galileo Galilei recants his “heretical” position that the Earth orbiting the Sun is at odds with the Bible and church…

    germany, history, Military, World War
  • Gov’t approves sanctions against 166 child support defaulters

    Jun 21, 2026
    in News
    Gov’t approves sanctions against 166 child support defaulters

    The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said Sunday it has approved 184 sanctions against 166 people who failed to…

    driver, fail, family, travel
  • Ex-vice Gyeonggi governor found guilty of perjury over claims of ‘drinking party’ during interrogation

    Jun 20, 2026
    in News
    Ex-vice Gyeonggi governor found guilty of perjury over claims of ‘drinking party’ during interrogation

    SUWON — A regional court on Saturday found a former vice governor of Gyeonggi Province guilty of perjury for falsely…

    North Korea, Question
  • With World Cup in Guadalajara, families of Mexico’s disappeared turn loved ones into soccer stickers

    Jun 20, 2026
    in News
    With World Cup in Guadalajara, families of Mexico’s disappeared turn loved ones into soccer stickers

    GUADALAJARA, Mexico — The images show young men wearing Mexico’s green national team jersey. A FIFA-style logo appears in the…

  • Rain to continue nationwide through evening after heavy downpours

    Jun 20, 2026
    in News
    Rain to continue nationwide through evening after heavy downpours

    Rain is expected to continue across South Korea through Saturday evening after heavy downpours drenched much of the country overnight,…

    daegu, Jeju, Seoul
  • Busan brings ‘Carmen’ to waterfront under summer stars

    Jun 20, 2026
    in News
    Busan brings ‘Carmen’ to waterfront under summer stars

    On a sweeping industrial expanse along Busan’s historic waterfront, workers will soon begin transforming a prominent landmark development site into…

    Busan
  • LTI Korea chief bets on human translators despite rapid AI development

    Jun 20, 2026
    in News
    LTI Korea chief bets on human translators despite rapid AI development

    As generative artificial intelligence (AI) transforms the global translation landscape, the head of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI…

    Lotte
  • Beat the heat with these easy-to-make summer drinks

    Jun 19, 2026
    in News
    Beat the heat with these easy-to-make summer drinks

    Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. As temperatures rise, many people find themselves saying, “I keep drinking water, but…

  • Ex-defense minister sentenced to 3 years in prison for leaking military secrets

    Jun 19, 2026
    in News
    Ex-defense minister sentenced to 3 years in prison for leaking military secrets

    A Seoul court on Friday sentenced former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to a three-year prison term for leaking military secrets…

    fail, martial law, Military, Seoul
  • Actress Han Ga-in tours hidden mountain route closed to public for 600 Years near Cheong Wa Dae

    Jun 19, 2026
    in News
    Actress Han Ga-in tours hidden mountain route closed to public for 600 Years near Cheong Wa Dae

    Actress Han Ga-in became the first civilian to visit a section of Mount Bugak that has remained off-limits to the…

    Joseon, Seoul
  • Public power generation firms’ proposed merger sparks debate

    Jun 19, 2026
    in News
    Public power generation firms’ proposed merger sparks debate

    A third-party analysis proposing that the government merge Korea’s five state-run power generation companies to streamline structural inefficiency is prompting…

    fail, study
  • Seoul pitches itself as Asia’s quantum gateway to court European tech firms

    Jun 19, 2026
    in News
    Seoul pitches itself as Asia’s quantum gateway to court European tech firms

    The Seoul Investment Promotion Agency staged a targeted investment seminar, dubbed “Seoul Forward,” at Europe’s largest tech conference this week,…

    Putin, Seoul, study
  • Nexen Tire ramps up European logistics footprint

    Jun 18, 2026
    in News
    Nexen Tire ramps up European logistics footprint

    Nexen Tire is expanding its logistics footprint in Europe, opening a larger automated warehouse at its manufacturing plant in Zatec,…

  • Baritone Matthias Goerne, pianist Sunwoo Ye-kwon bring Schubert’s songs to Seoul

    Jun 18, 2026
    in News
    Baritone Matthias Goerne, pianist Sunwoo Ye-kwon bring Schubert’s songs to Seoul

    German Baritone Matthias Goerne and pianist Sunwoo Ye-kwon will guide Seoul audiences through the stark emotional landscape of Schubert’s “Winterreise”…

    Seoul
  • Shin Ramyun leaves spicy impression at major Mexico City festival

    Jun 18, 2026
    in News
    Shin Ramyun leaves spicy impression at major Mexico City festival

    Thousands of festivalgoers in Mexico City are getting a taste of Korea’s signature spicy noodles as Nongshim ramps up its…

    LG
  • Free EV safety inspections expanded to electric buses, motorcycles

    Jun 18, 2026
    in News
    Free EV safety inspections expanded to electric buses, motorcycles

    Amid the rapid proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) and persistent public concerns over battery-related fires, the government announced Thursday a…

  • Hyundai Motor to build green hydrogen power system at Antarctic research station

    Jun 18, 2026
    in News
    Hyundai Motor to build green hydrogen power system at Antarctic research station

    Hyundai Motor Group said Thursday it will introduce a clean hydrogen energy circulation system at Korea’s Antarctic research station to…

    Hyundai
  • Shinhan launches AI-powered all-in-one finance app

    Jun 17, 2026
    in News
    Shinhan launches AI-powered all-in-one finance app

    Shinhan Financial Group introduced its new integrated financial platform, Shinhan Super SOL, on Wednesday as part of a broader strategy…

    Seoul
  • Public approval of Korea’s corporate giants hits record high

    Jun 17, 2026
    in News
    Public approval of Korea’s corporate giants hits record high

    Public favorability toward domestic businesses has climbed to its highest level since tracking began in 2003, according to an annual…

    history, KCC, Survey
  • Grammy Awards to add Asian pop category

    Jun 17, 2026
    in News
    Grammy Awards to add Asian pop category

    The Grammy Awards announced Tuesday (U.S. local time) the creation of a new category for Asian pop music, following previous…

    BTS, history, K-pop
  • Seoul’s tap water gets hip riverside makeover

    Jun 17, 2026
    in News
    Seoul’s tap water gets hip riverside makeover

    Municipal authorities have long faced a notoriously tough public relations challenge: how to convince skeptical urbanites to ditch plastic bottles…

    Seoul
  • Hyosung launches hyperscale AI data center in Seoul

    Jun 17, 2026
    in News
    Hyosung launches hyperscale AI data center in Seoul

    Hyosung Group is expanding its push into artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure with the launch of a hyperscale data center in…

    Putin, Seoul
  • 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
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Latest Korean News

  • Global rate-hike cycle in view as central banks take on inflationSeptember 18, 2026
    FRANKFURT — The prospect of a new global interest rate-tightening… Read more: Global rate-hike cycle in view as central banks take on inflation
  • Wall St mixed as benchmark Treasury yields reach 5%, oil takes a pauseSeptember 18, 2026
    NEW YORK — Wall Street was mixed on Friday as… Read more: Wall St mixed as benchmark Treasury yields reach 5%, oil takes a pause
  • Early voting begins in US midterms that could shift control of CongressSeptember 18, 2026
    HENRICO, Va. — In-person voting for this year’s midterm elections… Read more: Early voting begins in US midterms that could shift control of Congress
  • Coupang turns to Taiwan as key hub for global growthSeptember 18, 2026
    Taiwan has emerged as a key strategic hub for Coupang’s… Read more: Coupang turns to Taiwan as key hub for global growth
  • Warren Buffett steps down as Berkshire Hathaway chairmanSeptember 18, 2026
    WASHINGTON — Influential U.S. billionaire investor Warren Buffett stepped down… Read more: Warren Buffett steps down as Berkshire Hathaway chairman

Latest Community Feeds

  • WTF Are ya’ll doing with your 된장/쌈장/고추장 flip-top lids?September 19, 2026
  • Korean marinated olives 🫒September 19, 2026
  • Best made-in-house kimbap flavor at Hmart?September 19, 2026
  • Carrot kimchiSeptember 19, 2026
  • spicy marinated crabSeptember 19, 2026
  • BESTie’s Love Options is going super viral in SK right nowSeptember 19, 2026
  • Kpop mvs or songs with frutiger aero vibesSeptember 19, 2026
  • Unchild’s (High Up second group and only act besides STAYC) comeback was suddenly postponed and the group has completely disappeared ever sinceSeptember 19, 2026
  • How did KATSEYE get so big, and could their formula work for a Western boyband?September 19, 2026
  • How can Kpop be popular in the Western world like in BTS/Blackpink prime again?September 19, 2026
  • The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian GamesSeptember 19, 2026
  • Foreign cards to work on Seoul buses from 2027September 19, 2026
  • Bronze Whaler shark spotted near Busan waterfront park prompts Coast Guard responseSeptember 19, 2026
  • My experience and thoughts after going to inkigayo as a foreignerSeptember 19, 2026
  • Has anybody been following Seo In Young YouTube / her journey the past couple months?September 19, 2026
  • Is it true that Jype lowkey fell off???????????September 18, 2026
  • IT GIRLS have changed, it’s time to accept it.September 18, 2026
  • Why does your favorite group mean so much to you?September 18, 2026
  • Feeling sad about BP’s new comeback MVs as a Deaf/Hoh personSeptember 18, 2026
  • how often do you interact with non music related kpop content?September 18, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (25,834)
    • Community (19,261)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (5,212)
  • 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

Open Korea

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