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Advice

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • D-4 to D-2 Visa Change

    Feb 2, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Hey everyone, I’m currently in South Korea, and my visa expires on May 30. The problem is, I’ll only receive…

    Advice
  • Volunteer in Cheonan

    Feb 1, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Hello, I come from Abudhabi, UAE & just arrived in Cheonan yesterday for medical treatment and will be here for…

    Advice, Medical
  • First kpop concert, I bought everything, what should I expect

    Jan 31, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Just like it sounds. I got all the signings, VIP, and photo ops. What do some of you veterans have…

    Advice
  • Questions regarding Korean language for my child

    Jan 29, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Hey guys, I’ll make a long story short, married a korean woman, we’re living outside of korea, and will be…

    Advice, family, Korean Language, Question
  • Korean American thinking about performing conscription at the age of 31.

    Jan 27, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    As the title says I’m a 31 year old Korean American dual citizen male thinking about performing his conscription of…

    Advice, Korean American, Military, Old Korea
  • Sleeping with a fan on in a closed room

    Jan 22, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Growing up, I was always told to never sleep with a fan on indoors/in a room because you will die.…

    Advice, Mystery
  • Can anyone recommend a good and reliable car shop (able to work on Mercedes)?

    Jan 22, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    After so many bs experiences with independent workshops in Korea, including one which recently tried to scam me for almost…

    Advice
  • Need advice about bank account

    Jan 21, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Hi guys, so back in 2013 I made a student bank account in Kookmin Bank. Since leaving in 2014 I…

    Advice
  • Extra stinky kimchi?

    Jan 20, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    I’ve eaten a lot of kimchi, both store bought and homemade, but I’ve never smelled one like this. I bought…

    Advice, Kimchi, Politics
  • 설날

    Jan 18, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Hello everyone! I’m from the united states, and I have a friend who moved here almost 10 years ago from…

    Advice, family
  • Advice for Apple Cheong Syrup?

    Jan 15, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Hi Everyone Apologies if this seems like a stupid question So recently I’ve been trying to make apple Cheong syrup…I…

    Advice, Question, Suga
  • Are we getting scammed? 5.5M KRW monthly budget for a 50m² apartment in Gangnam

    Jan 10, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Dear community, My husband and I are moving to Seoul upcoming March, and we’re currently searching for an apartment in…

    Advice, Korean House, Seoul
  • Korea seeks to ease fintech ownership, crypto regulations

    Jan 9, 2025
    in Feeds, News
    Korea seeks to ease fintech ownership, crypto regulations

    (Courtesy of Getty Images) South Korea’s top financial regulator has proposed to loosen restrictions on financial holding companies’ ownership of…

    Advice
  • Tips for jajangmyeon

    Jan 7, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    im hoping someone on here would have any advice on fixing my jajangmyeon. Recently i made jajangmyeon for the first…

    Advice, Oyster, Suga
  • F-4 Visa, US military service, and living in Korea as a barely-Korean-American?

    Jan 7, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Hey guys. I’ll try to keep this brief. I’m an American guy (18 years old) and grandson of my Korean…

    Advice, family, history, Military, Question
  • Foreigner friendly gift delivery service in Seoul?

    Jan 1, 2025
    in Community

    Happy New Year Everyone! I am sorry, but could you please give some advice: My girlfriend is in Korea rn…

    Advice, Seoul
  • what do korean universities want?

    Dec 31, 2024
    in Community

    This is going to be a lowkey rant and an advice-seeking post. (posted in Living_in_Korea as well) I graduated with…

    Advice, daegu, Seoul
  • Looking for advice to find out my 엄마 & 아 빠’s history, but it’s a bit complicated…

    Dec 22, 2024
    in Community

    My mother (조금주, born 이금주) passed away in 2023 and while she was in palliative care, she started telling me…

    Advice, family, history, North Korea
  • Considering Marrying a Korean Girl and Immigrating to Korea: Seeking Insights and Advice

    Dec 21, 2024
    in Community

    I’m an Algerian who has recently grown to admire Korean culture, from its traditions and values to modern aspects like…

    Advice, K-drama, LG
  • How to fix bland kimchi? (Or is it possible to fix?)

    Dec 20, 2024
    in Community
    How to fix bland kimchi? (Or is it possible to fix?)

    I made kimchi 2 days ago and it is way too bland and white. It’s my 5th time or something…

    Advice, Kimchi
  • How to tell if kimchee has gone bad.

    Dec 11, 2024
    in Community

    Basically just the title. I bought some kimchee at costco a year ago,and it got lost in the back of…

    Advice
  • I’m anxious to think that someday my bias will have a girlfriend

    Dec 11, 2024
    in Community

    I have my bias from a 5th generation group and all members are 20 years old, so I think that…

    Advice, Teenager
  • Need help!

    Dec 10, 2024
    in Community

    Hello, So I’ve been trying to contact Jin Air to add some information to my reservation. I’m currently in Thailand…

    Advice, travel
  • Purchased this from my local Asian Supermarket out of interest, now I don’t actually know what to do with it

    Dec 4, 2024
    in Community

    Over the weekend I popped along to my local Asian Supermarket to pick up some things and while wondering the…

    Advice, Curiosity
  • Prescription advice

    Nov 29, 2024
    in Community

    Hello! My daughter is currently studying abroad in Seoul. She has run out of her anti-anxiety prescription and I’m wondering…

    Advice, Seoul, study
  • BlackRock names Lee Yoon Pyo as head of S.Korea business

    Nov 27, 2024
    in News
    BlackRock names Lee Yoon Pyo as head of S.Korea business

    BlackRock, the world’s best-known asset manager, announced on Tuesday that it has appointed Lee Yoon Pyo as managing director and…

    Advice
  • How do you deal with the ‘grieve’ of not going to the concert you always wanted to attend?

    Nov 26, 2024
    in Community

    Hi there, need advice on how to cope with not being able to go to the concert of my first…

    Advice
  • Circumcision as a foreigner in Korea?

    Nov 25, 2024
    in Community

    Is it recommended to get it done in Korea as a foreigner and if yes, where can you get it…

    Advice
  • SFH, where foreign firms build networks in Korea

    Nov 13, 2024
    in News
    SFH, where foreign firms build networks in Korea

    It can be daunting to do business in a new city in a distant country. But foreign companies seeking to…

    Advice, cold war, Perspectives, Seoul
  • Looking for opinions from Koreans on a story element.

    Nov 12, 2024
    in Community

    I am writing a story for a Sci fi game set in the distant future, the plan was to have…

    Advice, Japan, Koreans
  • will this be an easy re-entrance?

    Nov 2, 2024
    in Community

    im sorry if i added the wrong flair. i’m currently planning a large trip abroad. i’ve been saving for this…

    Advice, Japan, Question, travel
  • What are best artbook stores, local artists merch?

    Oct 29, 2024
    in Community

    Im searching for bookstores focused on visual medium like graphic novels, albums, books about art or design. Also what are…

    Advice, Jeju, Seoul
  • Korea Wedding Photo Scam? – Please help 😢

    Oct 29, 2024
    in Community

    This is my first time posting so apologies if I don’t get the format right or if I’m missing anything.…

    Advice, Photography, request
  • I followed everyone’s advice for my kimchi jjigae

    Oct 23, 2024
    in Community
    I followed everyone’s advice for my kimchi jjigae

    Last week I posted my first ever attempt at making kimchi jjigae. A lot of people were kind enough to…

    Advice, Jjigae, Kimchi
  • Japchae and kimchijeon

    Oct 20, 2024
    in Community

    So I’ve been planning on learning how to make kimchijeon and japchae recently. I’ve watched a few videos on both,…

    Advice, Kimchi
  • Frozen Tteokbokki – advice

    Oct 16, 2024
    in Community

    I bought tteokbokki in July, it was sealed and unopened. I frozen and then last month I got it out…

    Advice
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Latest Korean News

  • Remains of 7 Jeju massacre victims missing for 77 years identifiedFebruary 5, 2026
    Seven sets of remains from the Jeju April 3 Uprising… Read more: Remains of 7 Jeju massacre victims missing for 77 years identified
  • KRX outlines strategies to improve Korea’s capital marketFebruary 5, 2026
    The head of Korea’s main bourse operator outlined Thursday a… Read more: KRX outlines strategies to improve Korea’s capital market
  • Industry ministry to invest over 460 bil. won in cutting-edge auto technologyFebruary 5, 2026
    The industry ministry said Thursday it plans to provide up… Read more: Industry ministry to invest over 460 bil. won in cutting-edge auto technology
  • Building a middle power world orderFebruary 5, 2026
    FLORENCE – “Rupture” is a strong word, defined as “an… Read more: Building a middle power world order
  • US undersecretary of Air Force visits Osan Air Base last weekFebruary 5, 2026
    Matthew Lohmeier, U.S. undersecretary of the Air Force, visited Osan… Read more: US undersecretary of Air Force visits Osan Air Base last week

Latest Community Feeds

  • What I ate for meals in Korea Part 10 🇰🇷February 6, 2026
  • ‘Decisions on N. Korean POWs rest with Ukraine— not Seoul, not media,’ says UN investigatorFebruary 6, 2026
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  • Soup Made With Korea’s Version of NattōFebruary 6, 2026
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  • Idols who had HUGE before/after vocal improvement?February 6, 2026
  • Me!Finally got it from my local Costco!February 5, 2026
  • Remains of 7 Jeju massacre victims missing for 77 years identifiedFebruary 5, 2026
  • kimchi tuna fried rice 😋February 5, 2026
  • I made galbitang for the first time cause i’ve been really wanting it but my local Hmart is 1.5 hour from me so i finally decide to try and make my own.I lived in korea for a decade and love the food and the culture😌Dont be fool though cause it looks better than it taste but i still enjoyed it😅February 5, 2026
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  • what do you think are the most creative kpop concepts?February 5, 2026
  • North Korea Publicly Executes Citizens Caught Watching ‘Squid Game’February 5, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (17,585)
    • Community (12,456)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (4,099)
  • 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