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Korean Identities Beyond Borders

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BTS

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • MINGYU REIGNS: How SEVENTEEN’s Kim Min-gyu Became K-Pop’s Most “To follow one’s heart’s desires” Fashion Icon

    May 18, 2026
    in Feeds
    MINGYU REIGNS: How SEVENTEEN’s Kim Min-gyu Became K-Pop’s Most “To follow one’s heart’s desires” Fashion Icon

    The Face That Redefined K-Pop’s Global Fashion Moment When Mingyu stepped onto the digital cover of W Korea’s May 2026 issue alongside Marithé…

    BTS, Gen Z, Japan, K-pop, KT, Photography, purpose, Tokyo
  • There’s a really strong K-pop idol wave in Melon Top 10 right now

    May 18, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    This is one of the most diverse and stacked the Melon Top 10 has looked in a long time when…

    BTS, K-pop
  • YouTube music South Korea(biggest SK music platform) weekly chart(May 8-14)

    May 17, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Weekly top songs Illit – it’s me (+1) Cortis – redred (+3) Akmu – paradise of rumors (-2) Hearts2hearts –…

    BTS
  • Ranking award winning Songs of the Year Daesang from major award shows

    May 16, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    This is my personal ranking of my top 10 favorite Soty from MAMA, MMA and GDA. 10. Cheers Up by…

    BTS
  • Chinese hacker suspect extradited to South Korea over $32m theft targeting BTS’ Jungkook and others

    May 16, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Chinese hacker suspect extradited to South Korea over $32m theft targeting BTS’ Jungkook and others

    submitted by /u/Latter_Ad3752 [link] [comments]

    BTS
  • I just realized Arirang grew a lot on me

    May 15, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Honestly when Arirang released I was little confused about the album and it’s marketing. I found it difficult to connect…

    BTS, Korean Food
  • Tracking the “minimalist chorus” trend in kpop?

    May 15, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Lately there seems to have been a number of songs where the chorus or whatever plays that role is reduced…

    BTS
  • kpop is becoming less about the music and more about rankings

    May 15, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    i feel like since bts HUGE AND WELL DESERVED SUCCESS might i say that people are so obsessed with their…

    BTS, Question
  • Built a K-pop bias ranker that swaps the TierMaker drag-and-drop for head-to-head matchups. Way faster on mobile.

    May 14, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Made tier lists for years on TierMaker and a couple of clones. They all have the same problem on a…

    BTS, K-pop, LG
  • Madonna, BTS, and Shakira for World Cup Final Halftime Performance

    May 14, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Madonna, BTS, and Shakira for World Cup Final Halftime Performance

    submitted by /u/HolyDragon9913 [link] [comments]

    BTS
  • Why are k-pop vinyls so rare? Do you think this will ever change?

    May 13, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Hi, American fan here. I have gotten really into collecting vinyls ever since getting a record player last year. Most…

    BTS, Japan, K-pop
  • BTS’ Arirang surpassed Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl”

    May 13, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    BTS’ “ARIRANG” surpasses Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl” to become the ONLY album in history to chart all…

    BTS, history
  • “REDRED” by CORTIS has reached #1 on MelOn TOP100.

    May 13, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    This is huge. CORTIS (REDRED) joins BTS (SWIM) as the only boygroups to reach #1 on MelOn TOP100 in 2026.…

    BTS
  • What’s a quote from a kpop idol that genuinely stayed with you for years?

    May 13, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Either lyrics or I mean actual things idols said in interviews/lives/concerts that randomly come back to you at 2 am…

    BTS, fail, Suga
  • Kpop in your spotify all time top songs?

    May 13, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    So spotify just came out with rediscovering your listening history, which also including them showing your all-time top songs, and…

    BTS, history, K-pop
  • Why is everyone so okay with hating on the BTS members looks?

    May 12, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I honestly find it really weird no matter how much you dislike a group or its members that you pick…

    BTS
  • THE LINE BREAKERS — CORTIS, W Korea June 2026

    May 11, 2026
    in Feeds
    THE LINE BREAKERS — CORTIS, W Korea June 2026

    CORTIS don’t follow the script. They wrote one that didn’t exist yet — and the world is still catching up.…

    apology, BTS, history, Japan, K-pop, K-pop industry, Kia, KT, purpose, Question, Stress, Teenager
  • Opinion On Bigbang Songs (As a Former Hater)

    May 11, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I know a lot of people hate bigbang bcz of their scandal and I used to be the same. Recently,…

    BTS, Scandal
  • The most popular songs among Koreans according to noraebang rankings

    May 10, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    https://www.tjmedia.com/chart/top100 K-pop is classified in the “Dance” genre. In the high ranks, there’s a mix of songs from 1st to…

    BTS, K-pop, Koreans, Military, Seoul
  • TIME IS HIS: Jungkook Commands the Cover in Harper’s BAZAAR Korea x Hublot

    May 9, 2026
    in Feeds
    TIME IS HIS: Jungkook Commands the Cover in Harper’s BAZAAR Korea x Hublot

    정국. Jungkook. Just the Name Is the Story There is a moment — quiet, almost imperceptible — that separates a…

    BTS, Busan, Celebrity, Fame, family, germany, history, Japan, K-pop, Military, Old Korea, Photography, purpose, Question, Seoul, Teenager, Tokyo
  • Contradicting arguments against k-pop by j-pop fans

    May 9, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    First of all, I have no issue if someone likes J-pop, C-pop, any type of pop more than K-pop. Personally…

    BTS, Japan, K-pop, Koreans
  • The rise of conspiracy theories and religious paranoia in kpop fandoms needs to be discussed.

    May 8, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    As a christian myself, I genuinely need to ask: what is happening with the rise of “satanic panic” in kpop…

    BTS, history, Peace
  • if bts actually disbanded in 2018, what individual paths do you think they would take?

    May 8, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    [repost] please don’t be sensitive and take this post to heart. i’m just curious as to what other armys think.…

    BTS
  • People lost the plot when it comes to hybe groups

    May 8, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    It’s like those groups have no right to defend themselves, today a very vile YouTuber won a civil lawsuit against…

    BTS, Military
  • Japanese songs who randomly remind me of KPop-songs

    May 7, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I had this thought right now when a song shuffled on my playlist and it made me think of some…

    BTS, Japan
  • Did you guys see the BTS Mexico crowd? Omg

    May 7, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I am awestruck by the videos that I came across from the BTS Mexico presidential visit I think. I do…

    BTS
  • Aespa ticket sales are also way less than last year

    May 6, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Obviously it’s still early but it was much harder to get tickets last year than for this tour. I think…

    BTS, fail
  • DNA by BTS feels like their final say. .

    May 6, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Yes, chronologically it came way back in 2018 . But the song almost feels like, work done. Nothing more to…

    BTS
  • What year or generation was K-pop’s golden era?

    May 6, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Just a chill question: What year or generation do you think was K-pop’s real peak? For me, it’s 2016-2019. Curious…

    BTS, K-pop, KT, Question
  • G-Dragon Gifts Luxury Apartments to Longtime Staff, after earning an estimated 65 billion KRW ($48 million USD) in 2025 alone

    May 5, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I came across this article today (I posted the title since I could not link it but it is by…

    BTS
  • What do my hits and misses of these Kpop groups tell about my music taste, what groups have I missed.

    May 5, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Ratings 6 and above are hits, while 5 and below are Misses 1.Blackpink- Blackpink was a huge hit for me…

    BTS
  • Why does Spotify inviting influencers instead of top streamers?

    May 5, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    PH armys, what’s your thoughts about it? Context: SpotifyPH gave preferential treatment to influencers and gave them exclusive Swimside access.…

    BTS
  • Kpop is not about music anymore, it’s about popularity and artificially inflating numbers

    May 5, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Most groups nowadays sing 90% English and only a few Korean words like at this point just make an eng…

    BTS
  • Caring for the Idols we love, RM specifically

    May 4, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’m quite new to K-pop, being an aging American Midwest Gen-X’er. I find it THRILLING in so many respects, especially…

    Advice, BTS, Japan, K-pop, Stress
  • Shinsegae chief disgraced by scrapped OpenAI partnership, delayed merger of affiliates

    May 4, 2026
    in News
    Shinsegae chief disgraced by scrapped OpenAI partnership, delayed merger of affiliates

    Doubts are growing about Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin’s ability to lead the retail giant, as the group has suffered…

    BTS
  • Advice on my parasocial relationship with BTS

    May 4, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I have posted it on other subs as well, but posting it here also in the hope of reaching more…

    Advice, BTS, Parents, Question
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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

  • How to use Perilla oil ?May 29, 2026
  • White hair on perilla leave stem?May 29, 2026
  • can’t deny how amazing Korean food is, especially this JapchaeMay 29, 2026
  • Dak hanmariMay 29, 2026
  • Does anyone else suffer from getting the same idol on albums/mystery collectables?May 29, 2026
  • niche ramyun appreciation post ❤️May 29, 2026
  • Is there an environment for converting gas cars to electric in South Korea? If I’d buy something like this and ask for a BEV conversion, where would I go and what would I pay?May 29, 2026
  • Onion ssamMay 29, 2026
  • Have any of you fallen in love with a group that had already disbanded when you learned about them?May 29, 2026
  • Itzy lack of promotion. What is Div2 doing!!?!?May 29, 2026
  • Am I the Only One Uncomfortable With “Cute” Male Idol Behavior?May 29, 2026
  • 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

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (21,336)
    • Community (15,461)
    • 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