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Controversy

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • The truth behind the ‘Daiso knee incident’ controversy “I hope this ends without further damage to customers and employees.”

    Nov 30, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    A video of a female employee at a Daiso store kneeling and apologizing to a customer went viral on social…

    apology, Controversy, Question, Social Media
  • Customer’s behavior forces Daiso worker to kneel, sparking ‘abuse of power’ controversy – The Korea Times

    Nov 28, 2025
    in Community, Feeds
    Customer’s behavior forces Daiso worker to kneel, sparking ‘abuse of power’ controversy – The Korea Times

    Right… and I can’t even get companies to pay me what they owe me… What an incredibly entitled shameless woman.…

    Controversy
  • Why doesn’t Annie from AllDay Project have a wiki ?

    Nov 17, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    So I saw alot of controversy about the group after their recent daesang win and wanted to know more about…

    Controversy
  • Foreign PEFs sweep Korea’s big-ticket buyout deals as local rivals shackled by rules, politics

    Nov 13, 2025
    in Feeds, News
    Foreign PEFs sweep Korea’s big-ticket buyout deals as local rivals shackled by rules, politics

    Global buyout firms have swept up most of South Korea’s large-scale mergers and acquisitions this year, filling the vacuum left…

    Affinity, Controversy, financial crisis, history, Lawmakers, LG, Lotte, Politics
  • Generational Rifts: The Mockery of ‘Young Forty (영포티)’

    Nov 9, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Recently, there’s been considerable discourse around generational rifts, especially pronounced among men. Here is a recent article from Joonang Ilbo…

    coffee, Controversy, fail, LG, Politics, Seoul, Social Media, Stress
  • Julie’s rapping actively hurts KISS OF LIFE

    Nov 1, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    This post is not about the controversy or if Julie is actually a good rapper or not. This is also…

    Controversy
  • K-beauty, K-food on diverging paths in M&A market

    Oct 26, 2025
    in Feeds, News
    K-beauty, K-food on diverging paths in M&A market

    Visitors explore products at a cosmetics brand booth during a Korean beauty exhibition in 2025 (Courtesy of Yonhap) K-beauty and…

    CJ Cheiljedang, Controversy, fail, Global Expansion, Joseon, Korean Food, Medical, Ourhome, Samyang
  • Seoul court acquits Kakao founder of stock manipulation charges

    Oct 21, 2025
    in Feeds, News
    Seoul court acquits Kakao founder of stock manipulation charges

    Kakao Corp. founder Kim Beom-soo (center) leaves Seoul Southern District Court after being acquitted of stock manipulation charges on Oct.…

    BTS, Controversy, fail, Kakao, Question, Seoul
  • Terrified by rumors of forced labor conscription under the Imperial Army, young Korean women rushed into marriages to escape, prompting officials to hold April 1944 press conference to deny and deflect

    Oct 20, 2025
    in Community, Feeds
    Terrified by rumors of forced labor conscription under the Imperial Army, young Korean women rushed into marriages to escape, prompting officials to hold April 1944 press conference to deny and deflect

    This is a 1944 article featuring a damage-control press conference held by Imperial Japanese authorities to publicly address growing panic…

    Controversy, Discrimination, Japan, Koreans, Military, Sex, Tokyo
  • What are your thoughst regarding Mama’s Best new artist controversy/ who do you think will win?

    Oct 19, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    It has come that time of the year where the biggest kpop award show is just around the corner, the…

    Controversy
  • W Korea Apologizes For Controversial Breast Cancer Awareness Party

    Oct 19, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    “This is W Korea. The breast cancer awareness campaign “Love Your W” is a campaign that began in 2006 and…

    Controversy, fail, purpose
  • NPS delays domestic PE investment plan amid Homeplus fallout

    Oct 14, 2025
    in Feeds, News
    NPS delays domestic PE investment plan amid Homeplus fallout

    The National Pension Service (NPS), South Korea’s largest institutional investor, may skip its domestic private equity commitment this year as…

    BTS, Controversy, fail, Seoul
  • Being an adult K-pop fan feels different…

    Oct 9, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    As a (22y/o) K-pop stan, I’m starting to realize that I don’t like K-pop like I used to. – Every…

    Controversy, K-pop
  • PPP stirs xenophobia as Seoul welcomes Chinese tourists visa-free – The Korea Times

    Sep 30, 2025
    in Community, Feeds
    PPP stirs xenophobia as Seoul welcomes Chinese tourists visa-free – The Korea Times

    Politicians claim gov’t network outage will increase illegal stays Members of the conservative People Power Party (PPP) are raising security…

    Chinese Tourists, Controversy, Crime, Daejeon, Jeju, Justice, Politics, Question, Seoul, Social Media, Survey, Tourism
  • Parliamentary committee to hold hearing on chief justice over alleged election interference – The Korea Times

    Sep 23, 2025
    in Community, Feeds
    Parliamentary committee to hold hearing on chief justice over alleged election interference – The Korea Times

    The article itself only mentions the DPK’s doubts regarding kangaroo court of president LJM’s alleged violation, but there is one…

    BTS, Controversy, Justice
  • What do you think about the whole Lee Soo Hyuk & Gdragon controversy that’s going on right now?

    Sep 7, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    They’re making headlines after headlines right now. A LOT of people are assuming that GD had a strong – negative…

    Controversy, purpose
  • How much do you really care about lyrics?

    Sep 6, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    I have to say I never really cared that much about lyrics and not just in kpop but any genre…

    Controversy
  • I used to be obsessed with kpop from the age 8-19, how do i get back into it at 21?

    Aug 31, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    My cousin was a big fan of Super Junior, TVXQ, Sister, etc, and had many kpop posters on his bedroom…

    BTS, Controversy, Scandal
  • ALLDAY PROJECT’s Vogue Korea Debut: A Bold New Chapter in K-Pop and Fashion Fusion

    Aug 14, 2025
    in Entertainment, Feeds

    Photo Credits: The Black Label. Vogue Korea The South Korean co-ed group ALLDAY PROJECT has made a striking impression on…

    Controversy, Discussion, history, K-pop
  • One year ago, fromis_9 dropped “Supersonic”, earning a career high six years into their career.

    Aug 12, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Picture this. It has been almost a year since your last comeback, and the only “signs of progress” is some…

    Controversy, Protest, travel
  • I would like to ask the local consumers here. How well the new ModaModa Shampoo formula dyes the white hair to black compared to the old formula? ModaModa removed the compound 1,2,4 trihydroxybenzene which is the key ingredient for the dyeing effect following the European ban controversy

    Aug 9, 2025
    in Community, Feeds
    I would like to ask the local consumers here. How well the new ModaModa Shampoo formula dyes the white hair to black compared to the old formula? ModaModa removed the compound 1,2,4 trihydroxybenzene which is the key ingredient for the dyeing effect following the European ban controversy

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

    Controversy
  • Violent Crime Stats: US vs. Korea

    Aug 8, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    There were many Korean articles about Sonny’s umbrella ‘controversy’ originally engineered by a Korean feminist X user. The original post…

    Controversy, Crime, Korean American, Korean Art, purpose, Sex, Social Media
  • Son Heung-min’s Untimely Controversy over No Manner

    Aug 6, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    submitted by /u/erix212 [link] [comments]

    Controversy, Son Heung-min
  • Is there a weird kpop pattern or am I just crazy?

    Jul 30, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    I don’t know why but I have noticed something really weird. Like whenever a group blows up a lot and…

    Controversy
  • Korea’s labor rights debate intensifies amid Kang Sun-woo abuse controversy

    Jul 22, 2025
    in Community, Feeds
    Korea’s labor rights debate intensifies amid Kang Sun-woo abuse controversy

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

    Controversy
  • Kakao Pay backs out of acquisition deal for Shinsegae’s SSG Pay, Smile Pay

    Jul 17, 2025
    in Feeds, News
    Kakao Pay backs out of acquisition deal for Shinsegae’s SSG Pay, Smile Pay

    Kakao Pay Corp., the mobile payment and digital wallet service unit of South Korean tech giant Kakao Corp., has pulled…

    Controversy, fail, family, Kakao, Naver
  • Ever unstan an idol you genuinely respected? Not out of drama… just quiet disconnection.

    Jun 28, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    This isn’t a rage post. No scandals, no betrayals. I’m talking about something more subtle when you slowly stop feeling…

    Controversy, K-pop, Scandal
  • KISS OF LIFE Surpasses 10 Million YouTube Views with ‘Lips Hips Kiss’ as Instagram Update Sparks Fan Excitement

    Jun 23, 2025
    in Entertainment, Feeds
    KISS OF LIFE Surpasses 10 Million YouTube Views with ‘Lips Hips Kiss’ as Instagram Update Sparks Fan Excitement

    Photo Credits: S2 Entertainment K-pop girl group KISS OF LIFE is celebrating a major milestone as their latest track, “Lips…

    Controversy, Japan, K-pop, Social Media
  • Naver Financial seeks to acquire Korean real estate data platform Asil

    Jun 20, 2025
    in Feeds, News
    Naver Financial seeks to acquire Korean real estate data platform Asil

    Naver’s logo is seen on its headquarters building in Korea Naver Financial Corp., the fintech subsidiary of South Korean tech…

    Controversy, Naver, Seoul
  • I feel like so many of you do not live in reality and very conspiracy brained

    Jun 18, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    I think people have a hard time conceptualizing kpop as a job and therefore ride on conspiracies that suit whatever…

    Controversy
  • [MEGATHREAD] NewJeans Appeal Fails

    Jun 18, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    On 17th June, the Seoul High Court rejected the members of NewJeans’ appeal against the injunction that barred them from…

    Controversy, Discussion, fail, Seoul
  • Why do the akgaes have a love/hate relationship with their favs?

    Jun 12, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    i saw tbz post thing below if their fans sick of them… why not they just unstan. like most the…

    Controversy
  • Why does it always seem to be The Boyz with Knetz?

    Jun 12, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    I genuinely don’t keep up with the group, but everytime there seems to be some sort of “controversy” or just…

    Controversy
  • Korean court seizes Gangnam apartments of Garosero Research Institute Head (김세의) in Defamation Lawsuit by Kim Sooh-yun (김수현)

    Jun 11, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Original link (Korean):https://www.chosun.com/national/national_general/2025/06/11/RZ5OBOYQH5CT7K6CU3HAG6VAWE/ South Korean court has ordered the seizure of two luxury apartments in Gangnam owned by Kim Se-ui,…

    Celebrity, Controversy, family, Question, Seoul
  • It seems like Yves got hacked by some random spotify artist “Simplylogical”, I’m pretty confused

    Jun 6, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    As of 6th June Friday, this spotify song https://open.spotify.com/track/4VvDhirh6hZ9l45y1hebLR?si=24ce77aac29b44c1 Features Yves, for some unknown reason, she clearly does not sing…

    Controversy
  • NEW GUIDELINES AND RULES FOR THE SUBREDDIT

    Jun 1, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Within the last day or so, there were some posts complaining about over moderation on the sub. We took that…

    Controversy, Discrimination, Discussion, Politics, Scandal, Sex
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Latest Korean News

  • ‘Korea means trust’: EU lawmaker sees growing role for parliamentary diplomacyJune 5, 2026
    The European Parliament and South Korea’s National Assembly should play… Read more: ‘Korea means trust’: EU lawmaker sees growing role for parliamentary diplomacy
  • Samil PwC, PwC Consulting announce leadership appointments amid AI pushJune 5, 2026
    Samil PwC, Korea’s largest accounting firm by revenue, and its… Read more: Samil PwC, PwC Consulting announce leadership appointments amid AI push
  • PM highlights need for probe, if necessary, to look into ballot shortageJune 5, 2026
    Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Friday that a parliamentary investigation… Read more: PM highlights need for probe, if necessary, to look into ballot shortage
  • BTS members’ military boot camp stories draw fan attentionJune 5, 2026
    A BTS member surprised and intrigued fans after leaving a… Read more: BTS members’ military boot camp stories draw fan attention
  • Samyang’s Buldak ramyeon tops 10 bil. units sold, $4.5 bil. in cumulative salesJune 5, 2026
    Samyang Foods Inc. said Friday that cumulative sales of its… Read more: Samyang’s Buldak ramyeon tops 10 bil. units sold, $4.5 bil. in cumulative sales

Latest Community Feeds

  • Here’s a Horrifying Kpop Girl Group ConceptJune 6, 2026
  • My favorite Korean convenience store comboJune 6, 2026
  • My favorite comfort meal!June 6, 2026
  • these just dropped at my local hmart …worth it or just paying for name ? all items (mukbang and the ones with chef Jung jisun)June 6, 2026
  • DinnerJune 5, 2026
  • Tomato basil adeJune 5, 2026
  • What are K-pop Agencies doing right now? Talk about dropping the ball.June 5, 2026
  • Significant drop in Seoul’s late-night subway passengers since pandemicJune 5, 2026
  • Cold soba noodleJune 5, 2026
  • Stunning views from the Haneul Park. I was shocked to find out it’s a repurposed landfill! Really good job with the gigantic parkJune 5, 2026
  • What are the 2 idols that nobody ships but you think that they can have potentialJune 5, 2026
  • Many Korean celebrities and idols are mentioning/praising Cortis…will they influence the industry like NJ once did?June 5, 2026
  • Is it true that in Korea children get to choose their gifts? How do you do that? I really like the idea.June 5, 2026
  • Spicy Jjimdak (Chicken & Pork Belly)June 5, 2026
  • So.. do you guys think it’s financially worth it for tripleS to tour?June 5, 2026
  • Give me a K-pop song! 🎵 If I know it, I’ll tell you my favorite lyric or part. ❓ If I don’t know it, tell me YOUR favorite lyric or part so I can check it out!June 5, 2026
  • Wife-madeJune 5, 2026
  • Give me a word and i name you a kpop song with that word.June 5, 2026
  • When women play go and smoking 1905.June 5, 2026
  • China, South Korea agree to more flights per week as tourism to Japan dwindlesJune 5, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (21,748)
    • Community (15,829)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (4,699)
  • 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