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Korean Identities Beyond Borders

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Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

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  • Bullying scandals in K-pop: Is there a double standard?

    Nov 14, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I was listening to April’s second mini-album when I noticed Hyunjoo on the album cover. It immediately reminded me of…

    apology, Controversy, driver, fail, K-pop, K-pop industry, Scandal
  • ALL’N: Sovereign Architecture for a New Pop Era

    Nov 14, 2026
    in Feeds
    ALL’N: Sovereign Architecture for a New Pop Era

    The Velvet Room at Midnight The grandfather clock behind him isn’t ticking; it’s waiting for his cue. In the mahogany-paneled…

    BTS, fail, Japan, K-pop, KT, LG, Military, Scandal, Seoul, study, Tokyo
  • Gyeonggi education office counselor accused of sexually grooming two male high school students under the guise of sex education

    Nov 14, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    JTBC reports that a male counselor in his 30s allegedly groomed two high school boys through a KakaoTalk group chat…

    fail, Kakao, Question, Sex
  • South Korea Confirms Google Meets Map Security Conditions

    Nov 13, 2026
    in News
    South Korea Confirms Google Meets Map Security Conditions

    Google Maps. The Korean government announced on Nov. 13 that it has been confirmed that Google has fulfilled all the security…

    fail, Military, Question, request, Survey
  • What’s your biggest what if for Kpop? I think for me, it would be what if FIFTY FIFTY didn’t go through their legal trouble and switch their lineup

    Nov 10, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Considering how big they were during their peak, only two things would’ve happened, either they would’ve eventually become one the…

    fail
  • RESCENE’s ‘With’ as a main song title is an SEO fail 💀🥲

    Nov 9, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Don’t get me wrong I LOVE the song and the whole album but ISTG it is THE hardest thing to…

    fail
  • Who are some of the unluckiest idols in K-pop history?

    Nov 8, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’ve been thinking about idols whose careers seem to have been marked by one unfortunate event after another, despite having…

    fail, history, K-pop
  • ILLIT’s ‘Break Even’ feels like the culmination of a really successful transition into a more mature group and the whole thing deserves a lot of credit

    Nov 6, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I am obsessed with this EP, I’ve been listening to it non-stop since release and thinking how well their evolution…

    fail, history, Teenager
  • Ex-Diddy prosecutor to lead Cornell gang rape investigation

    Nov 4, 2026
    in News
    Ex-Diddy prosecutor to lead Cornell gang rape investigation

    NEW YORK — New York’s attorney general on Wednesday named an ex-federal prosecutor who oversaw the criminal case against Sean…

    Crime, fail, Prostitution, Sex
  • I don’t know what people expect from Blackpink anymore.

    Nov 3, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Ever since the members of Blackpink had left YG Entertainment to pursue opportunities as solo artists, there has been this…

    BTS, fail, K-pop
  • What is missing from Jennie’s solo career?

    Nov 3, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Her latest album’s bad performance just left me shocked because despite Dracula’s virality and her going on a global festival…

    fail
  • EMERGENCY welfare check help

    Nov 3, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Daughter of fiance who committed suicide just left me a suicide note. She doesn’t have anyone else im in contact…

    fail
  • The k-fearnots meltdown is a reminder that a kpop group can never keep both sides of a fandom happy

    Nov 2, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Since yesterday, k-fearnots have been openly expressing their dissatisfaction with the fimmies and the label and this whole thing has…

    fail
  • Trump failed to stop inflation. Now Republicans may pay price in midterm elections

    Oct 29, 2026
    in News

    WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump would prefer that voters not worry about inflation. But it’s hard for them to ignore.…

    Donald Trump, fail, family
  • Trump failed to stop inflation. Now Republicans may pay price in midterm elections

    Oct 29, 2026
    in News
    Trump failed to stop inflation. Now Republicans may pay price in midterm elections

    WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump would prefer that voters not worry about inflation. But it’s hard for them to ignore.…

    Donald Trump, fail, family
  • Korea fines Google, Apple combined $47.6 mil. over in-app payment practices

    Oct 28, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Korea fines Google, Apple combined $47.6 mil. over in-app payment practices

    The Korean government on Wednesday slapped Google and Apple with a combined 63.7 billion won ($47.6 million) in fines for…

    Discrimination, fail, Stress
  • Thousands march in France over schools and living costs as police use tear gas

    Oct 24, 2026
    in News

    PARIS — Tens of thousands of students and workers marched in Paris and other French cities Saturday over school funding…

    fail, Protest
  • AHOF (universe league) members honest thoughts.

    Oct 23, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    i feel like some of their members are not standing out the way JL does. JL is too good, he…

    fail
  • I should be on board with the 2nd gen throwback stuff and yet…

    Oct 23, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I guess I’ve become hardly sick of it in record time. This opinion crystallised for me not with the A2o…

    Discussion, fail, Japan, LG
  • Trump says ‘closest we’ve been’ to ending Ukraine war

    Oct 21, 2026
    in News

    WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he believed an end to Russia’s war on Ukraine could be closer…

    Donald Trump, fail, Putin, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin
  • Nasdaq climbs over 1% as SpaceX, Super Micro improve AI sentiment

    Oct 21, 2026
    in News

    The tech-heavy Nasdaq led gains on Wednesday after quarterly results from SpaceX and Super Micro Computer improved appetite for AI-linked…

    fail, Stress
  • Why Was Alter Ego and Lisa’s Solo Career Considered a flop?

    Oct 20, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    First of all, I want to make it clear that I’m speaking strictly about commercial performance, not about the musical…

    Discussion, fail, K-pop, Perspectives, Question
  • Here’s the list of things Koreans are starting to find out about A2O Lite

    Oct 18, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    In the first few days, my feed was full of shorts hyping up the group and the song. Now that…

    BTS, fail, history, Koreans, Parents, Scandal
  • I think it’s safe to say the GP and international fans are quickly losing interest in MEOVV

    Oct 18, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    It’s been six days since MEOVV’s comeback, and I think the numbers are starting to reflect a noticeable decline in…

    fail, Koreans, Social Media
  • I really like A2O LITE, but I’m worried about the controversy surrounding Aijing’s parents

    Oct 15, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I genuinely really like A2O LITE. I was really happy to see the group debut, and I’ve been rooting for…

    Controversy, fail, K-pop, K-pop Fans, Parents, study
  • Why Saudi Arabia has struggled to defend itself against Houthis’ recent attacks

    Oct 13, 2026
    in News

    Saudi Arabia has one of the world’s most expensive and sophisticated arsenals, filled with American warplanes, missile defenses and other…

    fail
  • Cornell suspends fraternity social events after alleged gang rape

    Oct 13, 2026
    in News

    NEW YORK — Cornell University has suspended fraternity social events for the academic year, its president said Tuesday, following outcry…

    fail
  • [Closing Market] KOSPI Tumbles to 6,300 Range amid Foreigners’ Selling Bomb

    Oct 12, 2026
    in News

    On the afternoon of Oct. 12, the won-dollar exchange rate, KOSPI and KOSDAQ indices are displayed on the electronic board…

    fail, Hyundai, LG, LG Energy, LG Energy Solution, Samsung, Samsung Electronics, Seoul, SK Hynix
  • Why is SM being so freaking dumb with SMTR25?

    Oct 12, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    They have been delaying their debut for two years now. Seriously, the average age range of the trainees isn’t looking…

    fail, Japan, KT, Military, Question, Teenager
  • My takes on things that are based on recent posts and incidents going on in K-pop.

    Oct 10, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Disclaimer: A lot of these takes are based on recent posts on other K-pop Reddit forums and incidents that have…

    BTS, Controversy, fail, K-pop, K-pop industry, Sex
  • From Dreamer to Trainee: The Ultimate K-Pop Audition Guide & 6-Month Prep Roadmap

    Oct 10, 2026
    in Feeds

    From the Kpoppie Editorial Team Every year, thousands of passionate music lovers around the world dream of standing under the…

    fail, family, K-pop, Korean Language
  • The long-deployed USS Lincoln is returning home to San Diego

    Oct 8, 2026
    in News

    CORONADO, Calif. — The USS Abraham Lincoln is returning home to San Diego Bay Thursday after supporting the Iran war…

    fail, Stress
  • Korean Beauty Standards and Cosmetic Procedures

    Oct 7, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’ll start by saying this might be a hot take for some. But cosmetic procedures is really ruining kpop for…

    fail
  • My disbanded group getting appreciation a year after silent disbandment!(Jeong Seunghwan, ATBO)

    Oct 6, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I haven’t used reddit in a while, but I needed to let out my happiness over my ATBO bias, Jeong…

    fail, Military, Social Media
  • Starbucks sued over ‘sugar-free’ claims for protein beverages

    Oct 5, 2026
    in News

    Starbucks has been sued by consumers who said the coffee chain falsely advertised eight protein beverages as “sugar-free” because they…

    coffee, fail, Suga
  • NY governor says Cornell rape accuser ‘failed’ by people obligated to protect her

    Oct 2, 2026
    in News

    NEW YORK — The woman who accused members of a Cornell University fraternity of gang rape was “failed” by people…

    fail, request
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Latest Korean News

  • How a picture book helped a troubled student find her wayNovember 14, 2026
    At an interview for a Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education… Read more: How a picture book helped a troubled student find her way
  • Medical school prep at age 4? Korean math tutor calls it ‘child abuse’November 14, 2026
    Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. A prominent Korean… Read more: Medical school prep at age 4? Korean math tutor calls it ‘child abuse’
  • Coach says S. Korea must improve ‘in every aspect’ following loss to Saudi ArabiaNovember 13, 2026
    AL RAYYAN, Qatar — Robert Moreno, temporary head coach of… Read more: Coach says S. Korea must improve ‘in every aspect’ following loss to Saudi Arabia
  • S. Korea fall to Saudi Arabia in football for 1st time in 21 yearsNovember 13, 2026
    AL RAYYAN, Qatar — South Korea fell to Saudi Arabia… Read more: S. Korea fall to Saudi Arabia in football for 1st time in 21 years
  • Trump may view OPCON transfer as path to US troop withdrawal: expertsNovember 13, 2026
    WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump seems to view an… Read more: Trump may view OPCON transfer as path to US troop withdrawal: experts

Latest Community Feeds

  • Korean sodium intake — Why Traditional Diets May Trigger Stroke RisksNovember 15, 2026
  • Why do some fans treat the idea of “giving them a good song (or a hit)” as taboo?November 15, 2026
  • Best food to pair with makgeolli?November 15, 2026
  • Just tried soju for the first timeNovember 15, 2026
  • Had my first authentic Dakhanmari in Dongdaemun! Even after simmering piping hot, the chicken stayed super meaty and tender. Toss some fresh garlic chives into the dipping sauce—packed with what I think is perilla flavor—and you literally can’t stop eating.November 15, 2026
  • Late autumn Sunday morning after the rain, Seoul 🍂November 15, 2026
  • Songs where the MV version is superior to the album versionNovember 14, 2026
  • As a person who is lowkey nosy, Tell me how did your fandom ended up hating on that particular ex member/s?November 14, 2026
  • Hanwha to Build Korea’s First 10,000-Pound Thrust Jet EngineNovember 14, 2026
  • Listen and make your own song with SunoNovember 14, 2026
  • Intl kpop stans should stop sleeping on RIIZENovember 14, 2026
  • Trying a korean rice drink. Hmart or Lotte for malted barley flour?November 14, 2026
  • My lunch today, definitely stuffedNovember 14, 2026
  • Does anybody struggle with mental health?November 14, 2026
  • I’m so sorry for the tourists who complain Korean foods are too sweetNovember 14, 2026
  • Anyone knows the brand of this candy?November 14, 2026
  • Anyone knows the brand of this candy?November 14, 2026
  • Do you think the Grammys will have a segment where all the Asian Pop Nominees will performNovember 14, 2026
  • [Discussion] What is the true root cause behind K-pop idols’ mental health struggles, hiatuses, and the ‘exploitation’ narrative on social media?November 14, 2026
  • Why do kpop groups tend to last longer than western groups?November 14, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (27,782)
    • Community (20,837)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (5,494)
  • 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