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Korean Identities Beyond Borders

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BTS

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

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  • Dragging 90 cards into tiers on a phone is misery, so I built a K-pop bias ranker that’s just tap-who-you-like

    May 29, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Ranking biases on TierMaker always falls apart for me on mobile. Dragging a wall of portrait cards into tiers with…

    BTS, K-pop
  • My thoughts on Kim Soohyun’s scandal compiled

    May 28, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    The response to Kim Soo-hyun’s controversy is very interesting to me Please feel happy to correct me if i’m wrong…

    BTS, Controversy, Question, Scandal, Social Media
  • What are some BTS songs that sound super dark and mystical?

    May 28, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    If I have to explain the vibe, something similar to Ariana Grande’s Safety Net or Madison Beer’s Effortlessly.. I feel…

    BTS
  • My top 3 Best vs Worst releases of 2026 so far+why

    May 27, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    BEST- Motto by ITZY- I’m in LOVE with this album. I love how the members got their own songs, and…

    BTS, LG, Question
  • Reading about Cortis members’ casting story, do you find it shocking that companies cast trainees at such a young age?

    May 27, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    So I was reading about Cortis’s members Keonho and Seonghyeon (two members arguably most popular in Korea and China) casting…

    BTS, family, Lotte, Lotte World, Parents, Seoul
  • ✨️FORBES KOREA TOP 10 BIGGEST K-POP EARNERS OF 2025-26✨️ This recent article is going viral on Korean Internet bc of how crazy the amounts are so I converted it to USD so we can be shocked over here too 😆 hope somebody else finds it interesting!

    May 27, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    1) 🥇 BTS – $222M 2) 🥈 BLACKPINK – $100M 3) 🥉 G-DRAGON – $61.6M 4) JIN – $34.6M 5)…

    BTS, K-pop
  • Why can people never accept that most of Newjeans privilege came from their success

    May 26, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    one of the words that is mostly linked to newjeans is career is “privilege” because compared to most group they…

    BTS
  • Physical album designs and lightsticks should actually look good considering how expensive K-pop merch is

    May 26, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’m not rlly a fan of Blackpink, Baemon, TXT, Ateez, Monsta X, and BTS’s physical album designs this year except…

    BTS, K-pop
  • I think kpop has changed my brain and my personality.

    May 26, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I know this sounds strange. I’m 46F (married 13 years, childfree by choice if that matters). I used to listen…

    BTS, Military
  • I have mixed feelings after watching BTS preforms on American music awards.

    May 26, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    While watching their performance, I felt something was missing. For example, they seemed a bit too enthusiastic. I don’t know…

    BTS
  • Best selling K-Pop albums in 2026 so far (US pure)

    May 26, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    #1 ARIRANG —BTS (530K+) #2 GOLDEN HOUR : PART.4 —ATEEZ #3 THE SIN : VANISH — ENHYPEN #4 KPop Demon…

    BTS, K-pop
  • STILL HERE, STILL US: WANNA ONE RECLAIM THE MOMENT

    May 26, 2026
    in Feeds
    STILL HERE, STILL US: WANNA ONE RECLAIM THE MOMENT

    The Cover Ten individual covers. One unified story. For the June 2026 digital edition, ELLE Korea does something that feels…

    BTS, Global Expansion, Japan, K-pop, LG, Military, Photography, purpose, Seoul, Social Media
  • Melon billion clubs(most streamed artists on melon)

    May 25, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Melon has diamond(over 10b streams), gold(over 5b), silver(over 2b) and bronze(over 1b) clubs Bronze club(over 1b streams) consists of 85…

    BTS
  • Why I believe Cortis will become the leader of 5th gen boygroup

    May 25, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    The Anatomy of a Generational Ruler: Why CORTIS is Destined to Follow Big Bang, BTS, and Stray Kids If you…

    BTS, history, K-pop, K-pop industry, Suga
  • Why do you think Cortis gain popularity easier than TXT as a BigHit group? (ignore this post if you don’t care about popularity)

    May 25, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    *I’m a fan of both groups so this is not to put down Txt, who is very successful on their…

    BTS
  • List of my favourite kpop songs from 1st-3rd gen kpop group that I like (ranked)

    May 25, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I will list out more than one songs if I know and Stan the group. 1st gen ( I only…

    apology, BTS
  • Kpop Entertainment Company by 2025 Revenue

    May 25, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Take this as a Kpop industry cheatsheet. Disclaimer : Businessing money is complicated, some terms are simplified. Unable to triple-check…

    BTS, Kakao
  • BTS fandom’s spending power projected to lift Korea’s GDP by 0.35 percentage points by 2040

    May 24, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    BTS fandom’s spending power projected to lift Korea’s GDP by 0.35 percentage points by 2040

    submitted by /u/self-fix2 [link] [comments]

    BTS
  • Hybe’s upcoming groups planned to debut in the next 5 years

    May 24, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    So based on official announcements, casting calls from labels, and insider information from X, here’s all we know about upcoming…

    BTS, Japan
  • thoughts of cortis being claimed as “the next bts”?

    May 24, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    So I’ve seen a lot of discourse (?) going on regarding hybe/big hit wanting to make cortis the “next BTS”…

    BTS, Question
  • Top 3 Boy Groups From Each Generation (My Opinion)

    May 24, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    A lot of kpop stans like to discuss this, here’s my list based on my observation. First gen 1. Hot…

    BTS
  • Thinking about not going to the BTS concert in Paris

    May 24, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    As I said on the title, I am thinking about not going to the BTS concert in Paris. When I…

    BTS
  • FIXED ON GREATNESS: MINGI x MCM IS THE COLLAB K-POP FASHION NEEDED

    May 24, 2026
    in Feeds
    FIXED ON GREATNESS: MINGI x MCM IS THE COLLAB K-POP FASHION NEEDED

    “He doesn’t just wear fashion. He rewires it — frame by frame, drop by drop, like every look is a…

    BTS, Celebrity, Japan, K-pop, Lotte, Photography, purpose, Seoul
  • GIRL GROUPS || BOY GROUPS || and COMBINED songs with the MOST UNIQUE LISTENERS on MelOn history

    May 24, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Girl Group songs with most Unique Listeners in MelOn history: TWICE – CHEER UP 7,005,568 BLACKPINK – As If It’s…

    BTS, history
  • how has babymonster surpassed bts in youtube

    May 23, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’m looking at the recent YouTube stats and I’m honestly trying to understand how the algorithm or streaming dynamics work…

    BTS, LG
  • Is this last concert of BTS?? Will they announce a new one in near future

    May 23, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    The current ARIRANG tour that is going on, is it bts ‘s last concert tour or will they do more…

    BTS
  • I didn’t expect Seventeen to pull me back into K-Pop

    May 23, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’ve been a part of the K-Pop community for six years now and I don’t think I’m alone — nor…

    BTS, Discussion, K-pop, K-pop Fans, KT, LG
  • BTS fans angered as Busan room rates jump up to tenfold before concerts

    May 23, 2026
    in News
    BTS fans angered as Busan room rates jump up to tenfold before concerts

    BTS fans are criticizing alleged price gouging by Busan accommodations ahead of the group’s concerts in the southern port city,…

    BTS, Busan, travel
  • It’s hypocritical for fans of problematic groups to single out BTS for being problematic

    May 22, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I recently saw a post abt someone who strictly listens to stray kids asking for BTS recommendations and there were…

    BTS
  • Why does HYBE seem to be taking the lead over Live Nation in BTS’s touring setup?

    May 22, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Has anyone else noticed that HYBE seems to be the main promoter/organizer for BTS’s ARIRANG tour, with Live Nation more…

    BTS, K-pop
  • A different perspective on the “blue dot” fever

    May 22, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Just read a snippet from double hits daily. com about the “blue dot” fever. Blue dot is the dot of…

    BTS
  • What do you think about the popularity ranking of each BTS members?

    May 21, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    How would you rank all 7 of them based on their individual popularity? My list would be like: Taehyung –…

    BTS, Suga
  • ​[True Crime] The Ordinary 1980s Korean Housewife Who Poisoned Her Own Father and Sister Over Gambling Debts (South Korea’s Last Executed Female Serial Killer)

    May 21, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    ​[True Crime] The Ordinary 1980s Korean Housewife Who Poisoned Her Own Father and Sister Over Gambling Debts (South Korea’s Last Executed Female Serial Killer)

    TL;DR ​In the late 1980s, a 40-something housewife struggling with cabaret gambling debts poisoned five people, including her creditors and…

    BTS, Crime, family, history, Korean History, Korean House, Seoul
  • BTS & BP hate subs are hypocritical losers

    May 21, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Mind you, I hate both groups (BTS & BP). I sometimes lurk on these subs when I’m bored and want…

    BTS
  • Why have K-pop solo careers become less successful in recent years?

    May 20, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    My friend and i were talking about this on disc: “ngl it’s sooo hard to be a soloist. even bts…

    BTS, K-pop, Stress
  • Trying to discuss BTS rapline without downplaying Black American hip hop

    May 19, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I saw a thread comparing BTS rapline to Western rappers and I felt like some people in the comments were…

    BTS, K-pop, K-pop Fans, study, Suga
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Latest Korean News

  • Lee, first lady cast ballots in early voting near Cheong Wa Dae for June 3 electionsMay 29, 2026
    President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hea Kyung… Read more: Lee, first lady cast ballots in early voting near Cheong Wa Dae for June 3 elections
  • “I am living happily”: Former idol finds new life as flight attendant after group disbandsMay 29, 2026
    It is a question that has crossed the minds of… Read more: “I am living happily”: Former idol finds new life as flight attendant after group disbands
  • Cadillac bets on sales growth in Korea with new Incheon showroomMay 29, 2026
    Cadillac and GMC are accelerating their push into Korea’s luxury… Read more: Cadillac bets on sales growth in Korea with new Incheon showroom
  • Russian drone launched against Ukraine crashes in Romania, injuring 2May 29, 2026
    BUCHAREST, Romania — A Russian drone that was part of… Read more: Russian drone launched against Ukraine crashes in Romania, injuring 2
  • Samsung Electronics’ minority union to continue challenging wage deal at courtMay 29, 2026
    A minority labor union at Samsung Electronics representing consumer electronics… Read more: Samsung Electronics’ minority union to continue challenging wage deal at court

Latest Community Feeds

  • The skill gap between the members in AND2BLE is worrying.May 29, 2026
  • 5th gen boy group success (since it’s been 4 years since the start of 5th started)May 29, 2026
  • A traditional Korean birthday feast for the husband! 🎉 (Featuring his favorite: Suyuk)May 29, 2026
  • Controversial Korea football body chief to step down after World CupMay 29, 2026
  • Katseye performance and fashion this era!😸May 29, 2026
  • Celebrating Korean ceramics with Chinese-made souvenirs? Yeoju festival faces backlashMay 29, 2026
  • Cold noodles🥶May 29, 2026
  • These creamy gochujangMay 29, 2026
  • I’m so in love with Krystal Jung’s new musicMay 29, 2026
  • 3AM gukbap and soju at 상암순댜국, Mangwon, SeoulMay 29, 2026
  • ‘I’m digging my own grave’: The AI push in workplaces is causing blues and burnoutMay 29, 2026
  • Are we really looking at 15+ “tropical nights” this summer? Just saw this 2026 forecast and I’m already sweating.May 29, 2026
  • IOI Reunion Gave Me a New Appreciation for SomiMay 29, 2026
  • KFA chief Chung Mong-gyu to step down after 2026 World Cup – The Korea TimesMay 29, 2026
  • When You Have LeftoversMay 29, 2026
  • Do you ever know way too much about groups you don’t even stan?May 29, 2026
  • Samsung Electronics ships first 7th-gen HBM samples, combined market cap tops ₩2,000 trillion (~$1.4T+)May 29, 2026
  • Do you consider AKMU kpop and if so, what are your reasons?May 29, 2026
  • I just love the color combination ☺️May 29, 2026
  • When is the next Music Core MC going to be selected?May 29, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (21,325)
    • Community (15,450)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (4,664)
  • 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