Open Korea

Open Korea

Korean Identities Beyond Borders

  • News
  • History
  • People
  • Community
  • Entertainment
  • Resources
    • ☎️ Helpline in Korea
    • 🔗 Useful sites on Korea
    • 🎬 Best Korean Films
    • 📺 Best Korean Shows
    • 🎤 Best Korean Pop
    • 👥 Join the Cause
    • 💲Donor Dashboard

Discussion

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • Cortis fandom space is getting uncomfortable lately — anyone else noticing?

    Jan 16, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I want to bring this up calmly and respectfully, because I think it’s important . Lately, a lot of discussions…

    Discussion
  • Special prosecution formally seeks death penalty for Yoon Seok Yeol (former pres.)

    Jan 13, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Special prosecution formally seeks death penalty for Yoon Seok Yeol (former pres.)

    There was considerable debate and discussion over whether the special prosecution investigating former president Yoon Seok Yeol’s misdeeds (ex: 2024…

    Discussion, martial law
  • Everyone talks about the 5th gen IT girl… but who’s the 5th gen IT boy?

    Jan 13, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    There’s been a lot of discussion recently about who the 5th gen IT girl is, and it got me wondering…

    Discussion
  • BoA closes a historic chapter with SM Entertainment after 25 years

    Jan 13, 2026
    in News
    BoA closes a historic chapter with SM Entertainment after 25 years

    BoA has ended her exclusive contract with SM Entertainment, the agency that has been by her side since her debut.…

    Discussion, Japan, K-pop, Korean Art, Peace
  • BoA has parted ways with SM Entertainment after 25 years.

    Jan 12, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    SM has officially released a statement regarding BoA’s departure from the company after almost 3 decades. BoA, who debuted in…

    Discussion, history, K-pop
  • [CES 2026] LG Display eyes humanoid robots, reinforces tech edge after turnaround

    Jan 12, 2026
    in News
    [CES 2026] LG Display eyes humanoid robots, reinforces tech edge after turnaround

    LAS VEGAS — As humanoid robots emerged as one of the most visible trends at CES 2026, LG Display CEO…

    automotive, Discussion, LG
  • What are the public images of your favorite idols?

    Jan 11, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Everyone knows how Company create images for idols? While some people call it fake and manufactured I believe it’s actually…

    Discussion
  • [CES 2026] Samsung Biologics seeks AI-powered manufacturing solutions

    Jan 11, 2026
    in News
    [CES 2026] Samsung Biologics seeks AI-powered manufacturing solutions

    LAS VEGAS — Samsung Biologics CEO John Rim attended CES 2026 last week to explore strategies for artificial intelligence (AI)-driven…

    Discussion, Nvidia, Samsung
  • Never thought Cube was wrong for the situation with Dawn and Hyuna

    Jan 9, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    So I couldn’t say it at the time because there was an overwhelming sentiment that Cube was evil for kicking…

    Discussion
  • what’s going to happen on minju’s pink cabinet now that she’s stepping down?

    Jan 7, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Minju stepping down as an MC for Music Bank was announced today and her final broadcast is still under discussion,…

    Discussion
  • AMD Unveils AI Rack ‘Helios’ for First Time at CES 2026, Challenging NVIDIA

    Jan 6, 2026
    in News
    AMD Unveils AI Rack ‘Helios’ for First Time at CES 2026, Challenging NVIDIA

    Lisa Su, CEO of AMD, holds an AMD Ryzen AI Halo Developer Platform during an AMD keynote address at CES…

    automotive, Discussion, Genesis, Nvidia, Putin
  • ONE OR EIGHT’s first mini album “GATHER” from the rising Japanese boy group [One Or Eight Members Profile]

    Jan 6, 2026
    in Entertainment, Feeds
    ONE OR EIGHT’s first mini album “GATHER” from the rising Japanese boy group [One Or Eight Members Profile]

    Photo Credits: Atlantic Music Group – AVEX Entertainment – Group and concept ONE OR EIGHT (also stylized as 1OR8) is…

    BTS, Discussion, Japan, K-pop
  • kpop stans and hybe derangement syndrome

    Jan 4, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    recently i came across an article on twitter posted by a gossip site, pannchoa. if you’re not familiar, they post…

    BTS, Celebrity, Discussion, Fame, Question
  • Which Rookie Idol could be the next IT Girl/Boy

    Jan 4, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I saw some discussion around “the next IT girl” and it just happend to see an Rookie specific Idol Brand…

    Discussion
  • how would kpop change if social media ban takes affect world wide?

    Dec 31, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    with Australia recently passed their law to ban anyone under the age of 16 from social media, it got me…

    Discussion, Social Media
  • k-pop fans don’t know about good music and it’s hard to communicate with people who do not listen to music outside of K-pop and care enough about it to talk about it within K-pop

    Dec 31, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    i’m not a hard-core K-pop like I used to be, but I still ingest and listen to SM’s music mostly…

    Discussion, K-pop, K-pop Fans
  • BTS to Return in Spring 2026 with New Album, Biggest Tour Ever, and a Global Fashion Comeback

    Dec 27, 2025
    in Entertainment, Feeds
    BTS to Return in Spring 2026 with New Album, Biggest Tour Ever, and a Global Fashion Comeback

    Photo Credits: BigHit Entertainment HYBE Entertainment After a nearly three-year hiatus due to mandatory military service, BTS—the world’s most influential…

    BTS, Discussion, Fame, Japan, K-pop, Military, Seoul, Social Media, Suga, travel
  • “Joohoney’s INSANITY: MONSTA X’s Tiger Roars with New Mini Album”

    Dec 26, 2025
    in Entertainment, Feeds
    “Joohoney’s INSANITY: MONSTA X’s Tiger Roars with New Mini Album”

    Photo Credits: Starship Entertainment Joohoney of MONSTA X is set to electrify K-pop fans worldwide with his second mini album,…

    BTS, Discussion, Japan, K-pop, K-pop Fans, Seoul
  • BOK says will take data-driven approach to rate cuts, closely watch inflation, FX

    Dec 26, 2025
    in Community, Feeds
    BOK says will take data-driven approach to rate cuts, closely watch inflation, FX

    SEOUL, Dec. 25 (Yonhap) — The central bank said Thursday it will decide whether and when to implement further interest…

    Discussion, Seoul
  • Keytruda Insurance Coverage Expands to 13 Cancer Types

    Dec 23, 2025
    in News
    Keytruda Insurance Coverage Expands to 13 Cancer Types

    Keytruda, a global blockbuster immunotherapy, recorded sales of 11 trillion won in the second quarter alone this year (Captured from MSD…

    Discussion, family, Medical
  • Internal Coupang records show efforts to make Kim Bom-suk legally untouchable

    Dec 20, 2025
    in Community, Feeds
    Internal Coupang records show efforts to make Kim Bom-suk legally untouchable

    In 2021, when Coupang began trading on the New York Stock Exchange, its founder, Kim Bom-suk, stepped down from all…

    Controversy, Coupang, Discussion, driver, Question, request, Stress
  • KIC Analyzes 2024 US Treasury Market at NY Forum

    Dec 19, 2025
    in News
    KIC Analyzes 2024 US Treasury Market at NY Forum

    Participants of the 25th New York Korean Finance Forum held by Korea Investment Corporation’s New York office at The Korea…

    Discussion
  • KIC Analyzes 2024 US Treasury Market at NY Forum

    Dec 19, 2025
    in News
    KIC Analyzes 2024 US Treasury Market at NY Forum

    Participants of the 25th New York Korean Finance Forum held by Korea Investment Corporation’s New York office at The Korea…

    Discussion
  • Bigbang’s longevity is insane, with how they’ve maintained relevancy, even after so many years of inactivity.

    Dec 16, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Love them, hate them, or just neutral towards them, there no denying that Bigbang is such an impactful group within…

    Discussion, K-pop, squid game
  • Let’s have a discussion about the parasocial marketing strategy in K-pop and what it does to people.

    Dec 13, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    so, let’s have a discussion about K-pop’s parasocial marketing strategy. what is your opinion on this? I personally LOVE the…

    Deepfake, Discussion, K-pop
  • How do some k-pop idols diss their companies/entertainments without getting sued?

    Dec 13, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Many idols would create statements that may criticize or shade their company on live or on variety shows. I am…

    Discussion, K-pop
  • EXO & SM vs CBX: I really don’t understand why people are confused

    Dec 9, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Sorry for the long post ahead – I am coming at this as someone who recently grew interested in EXO…

    Discrimination, Discussion, Kakao, Military, Protest, request, Tourism
  • What makes a girl group truly ‘global’? Curious about people’s criteria.

    Dec 7, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    I see a lot of debates about which girl group is the most global or influential, and everyone uses different…

    Discussion, Social Media
  • How good you think a song is is not how much you like it.

    Dec 3, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Why is this such a hard concept for people to understand? The two are not the same. I could play…

    Discussion, K-pop
  • How much do you think Reddit being a mainly English speaking platform affects our perceptions of a group’s global popularity?

    Dec 2, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    The idea for this post came from a discussion I had in a different subreddit. Nonetheless, I do think it‘s…

    Discussion, K-pop
  • How much of the discourse, comments, discussions we see in the K-pop are actually reflective of reality?

    Nov 30, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    I think we all have wondered at one point just how much of the traffic we see online is by…

    Discussion, K-pop, Question, Social Media
  • The sound of the 5th Generation has been amazing

    Nov 28, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    There’s ILLIT of course, my favorite overall. It’s all just so girly, I can’t not be put in a better…

    Discussion, Japan
  • If you had to make and present a PowerPoint related to kpop, what would your topic be?

    Nov 26, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    I’ve seen videos of friends getting together for a PowerPoint night where everyone creates a presentation about their interests and…

    Discussion
  • Is it appropriate for MAMA to proceed after the recent tragedy?

    Nov 26, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Just some hours ago, there was a major fire in Hong Kong where 4 high-rise apartments were completely set ablaze.…

    Discussion
  • Photo of the Tooth Mouse

    Nov 22, 2025
    in Community, Feeds
    Photo of the Tooth Mouse

    In one of the discussions, a mom asked for a picture of the Tooth Fairy with a picture of the…

    Discussion, family
  • South Korea, UAE to jointly pursue nuclear energy exports; Seoul to join Stargate UAE project

    Nov 19, 2025
    in Feeds, News
    South Korea, UAE to jointly pursue nuclear energy exports; Seoul to join Stargate UAE project

    South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (left) holds a summit meeting with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of…

    Discussion, Medical, Nvidia, Seoul, Tourism
←Previous Page Next Page→

Advice automotive Bibimbap BTS Busan Celebrity Cheese Controversy Coupang Crime Curiosity Discussion Donald Trump driver Ewha fail Fame family germany Global Expansion history Hyundai Japan Jeju Jjigae Joseon Justice K-pop K-pop Fans K-pop industry Kakao Kia Kimchi Korean Comapny Korean Food Korean Military Koreans Korean Semiconductor Korean Technology KT Lawmakers LG LG Electronics LG Energy LG Energy Solution Lotte martial law Medical Military Naver North Korea Nvidia Parents Peace Photography Politics Pork POSCO Protest purpose Putin Question request Samsung Samsung Electronics Scandal Seoul Sex Shopping SK Hynix Social Media Stress study Suga Survey Tokyo Tourism travel Ukraine Warning

Latest Korean News

  • China eyes cross-border corruption law. Will it blunt ‘long arm’ of the West?March 10, 2026
    China will enact a law to combat cross-border corruption this… Read more: China eyes cross-border corruption law. Will it blunt ‘long arm’ of the West?
  • Chungnam National University sets sights on AI-powered campus transformationMarch 10, 2026
    As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes how universities teach and learn,… Read more: Chungnam National University sets sights on AI-powered campus transformation
  • S. Korea providing supplies to its stranded vessel in Strait of Hormuz: officialMarch 10, 2026
    South Korea is in the process of providing supplies to… Read more: S. Korea providing supplies to its stranded vessel in Strait of Hormuz: official
  • Mercedes-Benz Korea fined $7.64 mil. over misleading EV battery informationMarch 10, 2026
    Mercedes-Benz Korea was slapped with a 12.23 billion won ($7.64… Read more: Mercedes-Benz Korea fined $7.64 mil. over misleading EV battery information
  • Turkish Gen. Yazıcı, a Korean War heroMarch 10, 2026
    Whenever I pass through Yeouido, the subtly exotic Ankara Park… Read more: Turkish Gen. Yazıcı, a Korean War hero

Latest Community Feeds

  • Want to improve your Korean? Support centers across the country offer free language classes.March 10, 2026
  • Kpop Idols Work Hours/”Weekends”/HolidaysMarch 10, 2026
  • Inside Korea’s migrant population: 10 key takeaways from latest surveyMarch 10, 2026
  • Are We Entering K-Pop’s Producer Era? A Map of 18 Producers Shaping the Next ParadigmMarch 10, 2026
  • Um… why did HEESEUNG just leave ENHYPEN ?March 10, 2026
  • I feel like Kpop MVs are all blending into oneMarch 10, 2026
  • Some appreciation for queer idols today because apparently “there are no queer people in korea and xlov don’t count”March 10, 2026
  • Can someone help me with the calorie count on this? I’m so confusedMarch 10, 2026
  • What is this banchan?March 10, 2026
  • All Korean galbi seems so tasty… Which kind of galbi do you like best?March 10, 2026
  • [1-Minute Philosophy] PCism is also discriminatory.March 10, 2026
  • New Korean restaurant – white flower giftMarch 9, 2026
  • I’m pretty confident Blackpink are still the biggest girl group.March 9, 2026
  • Academic research study about weverse and fan-idol relationships!March 9, 2026
  • Best Kimchi Delivery in US?March 9, 2026
  • N Korea cancels Pyongyang Marathon for ‘some reasons’March 9, 2026
  • Western critics and journalists continuing to platform untrustworthy “experts” to talk about KpopMarch 9, 2026
  • I hope the small businesses affected by the BTS Gwanghwamun event are supported in some wayMarch 9, 2026
  • It’s not what you think about “jisoo kdrama boyfriend on demand”March 9, 2026
  • extremely lukewarm takes, Im talking physiological temp takesMarch 9, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (18,482)
    • Community (13,122)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (4,264)
  • 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

Sponsors & Partners

  • Eastern Art – Center for Non-Western Art Studies
  • Great African Railway – Connecting Young Africans in Metaverse
  • Renewable AI – Carbon Neutral Regulation in AI Training
  • ContentsWIRE – Stream quality writings and visuals for your business

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