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Curiosity

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • Blackpink’s Lisa Makes Stunning Acting Debut in “The White Lotus” Season 3

    Dec 17, 2024
    in Entertainment
    Blackpink’s Lisa Makes Stunning Acting Debut in “The White Lotus” Season 3

    K-pop fans, get ready for an exciting new chapter in Lisa’s career! The Blackpink superstar is set to make her…

    Curiosity, K-pop, K-pop Fans
  • MYERA’s Debut: A Journey of Empowerment Begins with ‘Lie ライ Lie / Be Naked’

    Dec 16, 2024
    in Entertainment
    MYERA’s Debut: A Journey of Empowerment Begins with ‘Lie ライ Lie / Be Naked’

    Excitement is building in the K-pop and J-pop communities as the new girl group MYERA prepares for their highly anticipated debut. Comprising…

    Curiosity, Discussion, Japan, K-pop, KT, LG, Social Media
  • A deep dive into T.O.P and the insanity of the kpop industry.

    Dec 9, 2024
    in Community

    Before starting, just a fair warning that this post will skim over subjects like EDs, suicide, and other mental health…

    Controversy, Crime, Curiosity, Fame, family, Punishment, Scandal, Warning
  • 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
  • K-Pop Sensation RoA Set to Release Fourth Digital Single “WRAP UP”

    Nov 13, 2024
    in Entertainment
    K-Pop Sensation RoA Set to Release Fourth Digital Single “WRAP UP”

    Exciting news for K-pop enthusiasts! Rising star RoA is gearing up to drop her highly anticipated fourth digital single album,…

    Curiosity, Japan, K-pop, K-pop Fans, K-pop industry, Social Media
  • Unveiling IZNA: K-Pop’s Next Sensation Launches with ‘N/a’

    Nov 8, 2024
    in Entertainment
    Unveiling IZNA: K-Pop’s Next Sensation Launches with ‘N/a’

    Exciting news for K-pop enthusiasts! Rookie girl group IZNA is gearing up for their highly anticipated debut with their first…

    Curiosity, family, K-pop, K-pop Fans, K-pop industry, Social Media
  • What happened to eite?: Rising K-pop Stars Bid Farewell as New Chapter Begins

    Nov 2, 2024
    in Entertainment
    What happened to eite?: Rising K-pop Stars Bid Farewell as New Chapter Begins

    In the ever-evolving world of K-pop, a new girl group called eite (에이트) made waves with their debut on November…

    Curiosity, Discussion, Japan, K-pop, K-pop industry
  • LE SSERAFIM Set to Bewitch Fans with Haunting “CRAZY” Japanese Single

    Nov 1, 2024
    in Entertainment
    LE SSERAFIM Set to Bewitch Fans with Haunting “CRAZY” Japanese Single

    K-pop sensation LE SSERAFIM is gearing up to captivate fans once again with their upcoming Japanese single “CRAZY,” set to…

    Curiosity, Japan, K-pop, K-pop industry
  • MiRi’s Heartfelt Debut: ‘You Were My First Love’ Captivates K-Pop Fans

    Oct 20, 2024
    in Entertainment
    MiRi’s Heartfelt Debut: ‘You Were My First Love’ Captivates K-Pop Fans

    Excitement is building in the K-pop world as a new star prepares to make her mark. MiRi, the latest addition…

    Curiosity, Japan, K-pop, K-pop Fans, K-pop industry, Korean Art, LG, Perspectives, Social Media
  • From Seoul to San Francisco: FIFTY FIFTY’s Love Sprinkle Tour Hits the USA!

    Oct 16, 2024
    in Entertainment
    From Seoul to San Francisco: FIFTY FIFTY’s Love Sprinkle Tour Hits the USA!

    K-pop sensation FIFTY FIFTY is gearing up to make their American debut with their upcoming “Love Sprinkle Tour” across the…

    Curiosity, Houston, K-pop, Seoul, Social Media
  • What are these blue things?

    Oct 13, 2024
    in Community, Feeds
    What are these blue things?

    submitted by /u/david_cobain777 [link] [comments]

    Curiosity, Mystery
  • What on earth?! What is the purpose?

    Oct 13, 2024
    in Community, Feeds
    What on earth?! What is the purpose?

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

    Curiosity, Mystery, purpose
  • Lee Hwang

    Aug 7, 2024
    in History, People
    Lee Hwang

    Introduction to Lee Hwang Lee Hwang (퇴溪 李滉), regarded as one of Korea’s foremost Confucian scholars of the 16th century,…

    Affinity, Curiosity, daegu, Discussion, family, Historical Figure, history, Joseon, Korean History, Question, study
  • Won Hyo

    Oct 14, 2018
    in History, People
    Won Hyo

    Introduction to Won Hyo Won Hyo, a prominent figure in Korean history, is celebrated for his profound impact on the…

    Baekje, Curiosity, Discussion, family, Goguryeo, Historical Figure, history, Korean Art, Korean History, Koreans, Parents, Peace, Perspectives, purpose, Question, Silla, Stress, study, Three Kingdom, travel, Unification of Korea, Won Hyo
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Latest Korean News

  • Southern Mexico hit by 7.3 quake, triggering tsunami alertJuly 18, 2026
    TAPACHULA, México — A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck southern Mexico and… Read more: Southern Mexico hit by 7.3 quake, triggering tsunami alert
  • Lee calls for increasing agricultural subsidies to protect food security, ensure farmers’ livelihoodsJuly 18, 2026
    President Lee Jae Myung has called for increasing agricultural subsidies… Read more: Lee calls for increasing agricultural subsidies to protect food security, ensure farmers’ livelihoods
  • Trump blames Canada for wildfire smoke, says he will add cost to tariffsJuly 18, 2026
    OTTAWA — President Donald Trump on Friday blamed Canada for… Read more: Trump blames Canada for wildfire smoke, says he will add cost to tariffs
  • Why every celebrity moment becomes a scandal in KoreaJuly 18, 2026
    A single photo. A five-second gesture. A plate of food.… Read more: Why every celebrity moment becomes a scandal in Korea
  • US and Iran escalate strikes across Mideast; bridges and water plant hitJuly 18, 2026
    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The United States and Iran… Read more: US and Iran escalate strikes across Mideast; bridges and water plant hit

Latest Community Feeds

  • Faced with inadequate US healthcare, Black women fly to South Korea: ‘It could save your life’July 18, 2026
  • Weekly Social Media ThreadJuly 18, 2026
  • Human Skin Is the Newest Ingredient in the K-Beauty BoomJuly 18, 2026
  • KOSPI is absolutely cooked. I am financially ruined lmao.July 18, 2026
  • Korean BBQ in Aurora, COJuly 18, 2026
  • Two of the K-pop songs that changed how some North Koreans saw the worldJuly 18, 2026
  • “Even prison will not save you”: unmarried young Korean women feared sexual enslavement in Imperial Japan’s wartime labor conscription, but officials said evaders would be imprisoned and then conscripted anyway (September 1944)July 18, 2026
  • What’s the worst makeup job you’ve ever seen on a kpop idol?July 18, 2026
  • Funny ancient korean paintingsJuly 18, 2026
  • “This is for”- Twice , what’s your favorite???July 18, 2026
  • Heart of the cards or Assigned Bias at PullJuly 18, 2026
  • Japanese Firms Show Signs of Moving Away from Nvidia GPUs; South Korean NPUs Emerge as AlternativeJuly 18, 2026
  • South Korea to ban new listings of single-stock leveraged ETFsJuly 18, 2026
  • Do you like K-ballads? Do you know a singer named Kim Dong-ryul?July 18, 2026
  • Bulguksa Temple blanketed in autumn colorsJuly 18, 2026
  • Will GIRLSET ever be famous and explode like Katseye?July 18, 2026
  • Do you think the Korean public will ease up on their ardor for Rescene and when will that happen?July 17, 2026
  • going to South Korea as a Dark Brown Indian Woman: What Can I Realistically Expect?July 17, 2026
  • Anyone have any idea when this 90’s protest in Korea took place?July 17, 2026
  • A lifeline to immigrant-background young people left behind by Korea’s systemJuly 17, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (23,556)
    • Community (17,367)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (4,915)
  • 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

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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