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Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • The A-Idol Survival Program: 1 year later

    Aug 13, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I just watched A-Idol so you never have to. I’m a fan of all the groups that were on the…

    Curiosity, fail, Japan, purpose, Question
  • Why is South Korean actress Ha-young getting so much backlash from Koreans right now?

    Aug 12, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Before getting into this, you need to understand a little bit of South Korean history so you can understand why…

    apology, Controversy, Crime, Daejeon, fail, family, history, Japan, Korean History, Korean Language, Koreans, Medical, Military, Parents, Question, Social Media, Tokyo
  • Korea’s housing loan rules become patchwork of regulations, side effects, exceptions

    Aug 11, 2026
    in News
    Korea’s housing loan rules become patchwork of regulations, side effects, exceptions

    The government’s drive to curb home prices and household debt through a series of tighter lending rules is creating growing…

    fail, Seoul
  • WakeOne Has Amazing Groups(ZB1, ALD1 and Izna) but Keeps Wasting Their Potential

    Aug 10, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I honestly don’t understand what WakeOne is doing. They have such good groups like ZB1, ALD1, and IZNA. These groups…

    fail, KT
  • Gyeonggi Province calls for ‘jeonse’ fraud aid to cover foreign victims

    Aug 10, 2026
    in News
    Gyeonggi Province calls for ‘jeonse’ fraud aid to cover foreign victims

    As a wave of scams exploiting Korea’s unique “jeonse” rental system has left tens of thousands of tenants at risk,…

    fail
  • In just three hours, Japanese colonial authorities rounded up 466 Seoul residents for black-market trading, sentenced them on the spot, and sent them by streetcar to Seodaemun Prison (July 1945)

    Aug 10, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    In just three hours, Japanese colonial authorities rounded up 466 Seoul residents for black-market trading, sentenced them on the spot, and sent them by streetcar to Seodaemun Prison (July 1945)

    This article illustrates an example of the brutal “summary trials” carried out in connection with mass police sweeps against black-market…

    fail, family, Japan, LG, Military, Punishment, purpose, Question, Seoul, Warning
  • Horse racing authority hit for hosting races under extreme heat

    Aug 9, 2026
    in News
    Horse racing authority hit for hosting races under extreme heat

    The country’s horse racing authority has caught flak for continuing race operations despite ongoing extreme heat across the country, raising…

    Busan, fail, Jeju, Question, Seoul
  • State audit agency apologizes for sitting commissioner’s indictment

    Aug 7, 2026
    in News
    State audit agency apologizes for sitting commissioner’s indictment

    The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) apologized Friday after one of its commissioners was indicted on charges connected to…

    apology, fail, Seoul
  • Seoul blocks 6 toxic kids’ swim products from direct import sites

    Aug 5, 2026
    in News
    Seoul blocks 6 toxic kids’ swim products from direct import sites

    As summer heat drives families across Korea to pools and beaches, municipal safety regulators in the capital have issued a…

    fail, request, Seoul, Warning
  • US drone mix-up caused by communication error at working level: official

    Aug 3, 2026
    in News
    US drone mix-up caused by communication error at working level: official

    Last week’s mix-up between South Korean and U.S. militaries over a U.S. drone flight occurred due to a communication error…

    fail, Korean Military, Military, Seoul
  • PPP calls on defense minister to step down over mix-up of US military drone as enemy threat

    Jul 31, 2026
    in News
    PPP calls on defense minister to step down over mix-up of US military drone as enemy threat

    The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) called on the defense minister to step down Friday, urging him to take…

    fail, Military, North Korea
  • Why 5050 is not blowing up domestically unlike their peers?

    Jul 30, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Why did you think 5050 not blowing up in Korea unlike girl groups from small companies recently. Disclaimer: I am…

    BTS, fail, travel
  • Yuehua should be held accountable for their cruelty towards Ji Yunseo

    Jul 27, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Ji Yunseo has been kicked out of his group, fired, and is likely being held captive by a non-compete contract,…

    Crime, fail, family, history, Japan, Justice, KT, Military, purpose, Question
  • dkz were failed as a group by their company

    Jul 26, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    not sure how familiar everyone is with dkz i became a fan towards their disbandment and didnt hear anything beforehand…

    fail, KT
  • Hyundai Motor workers to extend strikes for higher wages

    Jul 24, 2026
    in News
    Hyundai Motor workers to extend strikes for higher wages

    Hyundai Motor’s union said Friday its workers will extend partial strikes next week in a bid to secure higher wages,…

    fail, Hyundai
  • Seoul says cooperation with NATO aimed at global peace, seeks stable relations with Russia (Yonhap)

    Jul 22, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Seoul says cooperation with NATO aimed at global peace, seeks stable relations with Russia (Yonhap) July 21, 2026 https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260721007351315 ROK’s…

    Crime, fail, Peace, Seoul, Ukraine
  • Alice Syndrome: The Deep End of Debut

    Jul 19, 2026
    in Feeds
    Alice Syndrome: The Deep End of Debut

    Every debut era arrives with a promise. Most groups spend their first weeks chasing brightness — the widest smile, the…

    Curiosity, fail, Japan, K-pop, K-pop industry, Mystery, Photography, travel
  • “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)

    Jul 18, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    “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)

    By early 1944, months before Japan formally promulgated the Women’s Labor Volunteer Corps Ordinance in August 1944, reports from colonial…

    BTS, Discussion, Ewha, fail, family, Japan, LG, Military, Punishment, purpose, Question, Sex, travel
  • Why K-pop Companies Are More Controlling Than Traditional Record Labels

    Jul 13, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Many people misunderstand this issue because they judge K-pop based on the traditional relationship between record labels and artists. However,…

    Controversy, fail, K-pop, K-pop industry
  • Seoul warns pop-up stores flouting consumer, privacy laws

    Jul 8, 2026
    in News
    Seoul warns pop-up stores flouting consumer, privacy laws

    Many of Korea’s highly popular pop-up stores — the transient retail spaces driving many modern street fashion and online trends…

    driver, fail, Seoul, study, Survey
  • Agoda fined $1.7 mil. for hidden fees, obscure refund policies

    Jul 7, 2026
    in News
    Agoda fined $1.7 mil. for hidden fees, obscure refund policies

    Korea’s media and communications regulator said Monday that it fined Agoda, a global travel booking platform, 2.42 billion won ($1.7…

    fail, travel
  • Prosecutors raid Gwangju police station over leak of murder case details

    Jul 7, 2026
    in News
    Prosecutors raid Gwangju police station over leak of murder case details

    The prosecution on Tuesday raided a police station in the southwestern city of Gwangju as part of its investigation into…

    fail, Question, Sex, stabbing
  • Experience of seeing a Kpop concert in Japan (TXT MOA CON)

    Jul 5, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Had a Japan trip planned and TXT’s MOA CON Kobe shows worked out timing wise and I really wanted to…

    Ewha, fail, Japan, Lotte, Question
  • Who to blame for Korea’s World Cup failure

    Jul 4, 2026
    in News
    Who to blame for Korea’s World Cup failure

    After Korea’s early exit from the football World Cup, I find myself among the ranks of those disappointed by the…

    fail
  • Appreciating Hong Myung-bo – as a Player

    Jul 3, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Do people here recall South Korea vs. Spain in the 1994 World Cup? It is arguably South Korea’s finest showing…

    fail, history, Son Heung-min
  • In 1944, Imperial Japan formally conscripted almost all unmarried Korean women ages 12-40 into a forced labor system that had already been used for years to traffic laborers into sex slavery according to testimonies of former comfort women

    Jul 2, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    On August 23, 1944, Imperial Japan promulgated the Women’s Labor Volunteer Corps Ordinance. This ordinance gave the state a formal…

    fail, family, germany, Japan, Koreans, LG, Military, Punishment, Question, Sex, Tokyo
  • Will Homeplus liquidation decision be postponed again?

    Jul 1, 2026
    in News
    Will Homeplus liquidation decision be postponed again?

    Homeplus has submitted an amended rehabilitation plan just three days before a court deadline, but its failure to secure a…

    fail, Seoul
  • The Real Reason Hong Myung-bo Is Being Criticized: A Korean Fan’s Perspective

    Jul 1, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    The Real Reason Hong Myung-bo Is Being Criticized: A Korean Fan’s Perspective

    Recently, many YouTube and Instagram Reels videos have been criticizing South Korea’s national team coach, Hong Myung-bo. However, many people…

    fail, history, LG
  • Post WC failure media

    Jun 29, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Now that the players have returned, I’m curious to see what sort of wave this outcome will bring to the…

    fail
  • THE ROOT OF EVERYTHING – GOT7’s JAY B steps into 2026 stripped bare

    Jun 29, 2026
    in Feeds
    THE ROOT OF EVERYTHING – GOT7’s JAY B steps into 2026 stripped bare

    GOT7’s Lim Jae-beom steps into 2026 stripped bare, artistically reborn, and more magnetic than ever — as Numéro Netherlands’ June…

    apology, fail, Japan, K-pop, Photography, purpose, Seoul, Tokyo
  • South Korean football… Remember that even great football teams can fail (Germany, Italy, England, Portugal, Brazil etc.). It was South Korea’s turn?

    Jun 29, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    The internet seems to be rife with videos saying that the SK mens team is terrible, a fraud. They certainly…

    fail, germany, Japan, Koreans
  • Community vs. ‘Epstein class’

    Jun 29, 2026
    in News
    Community vs. ‘Epstein class’

    Over the course of a week, I speak with many people from different walks of life. Our discussions about social…

    Discussion, fail
  • Debate over Samsung, SK Hynix’s second chip cluster in Korea heats up: Is it feasible?

    Jun 29, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Debate over Samsung, SK Hynix’s second chip cluster in Korea heats up: Is it feasible?

    Debate over Samsung, SK Hynix’s second chip cluster in Korea heats up: Is it feasible? The Honam region in southwestern…

    fail, Jeju, Question, Samsung, Samsung Electronics, Seoul, SK Hynix, Stress
  • Saturday morning noodles

    Jun 27, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Saturday morning noodles

    After the laundromat, the logical thing seemed to be: get myself some Yulmu Bibimguksu and a half litre of beer.…

    fail
  • Thoughts on music show awards and voting?

    Jun 27, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    So Iconic By Mistake recently won a show award on M Countdown. I did a lot of campaigning along with…

    fail, history, Question
  • Korea needed 3 of 9 games to go their way to qualify for round of 32. 0 of the 4 of those games that have been played so far have gone Korea’s way.

    Jun 27, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Nine games following Korea’s loss to South Africa would have/would affect Korea’s odds of qualifying for the knockout stage. To…

    fail, germany, Japan, LG
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Latest Korean News

  • Vance says US, S. Korea still need to ‘work out’ details of Alaska gas projectOctober 5, 2026
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Monday the… Read more: Vance says US, S. Korea still need to ‘work out’ details of Alaska gas project
  • Starbucks sued over ‘sugar-free’ claims for protein beveragesOctober 5, 2026
    Starbucks has been sued by consumers who said the coffee… Read more: Starbucks sued over ‘sugar-free’ claims for protein beverages
  • ‘Reckless’ AI firms can’t control models, says whistleblowerOctober 5, 2026
    NEW YORK — Leading artificial intelligence companies do not know… Read more: ‘Reckless’ AI firms can’t control models, says whistleblower
  • Iran president says talks with US ‘meaningless’: state mediaOctober 5, 2026
    TEHRAN — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday that negotiations… Read more: Iran president says talks with US ‘meaningless’: state media
  • Cornell building sprayed with graffiti blasting school’s response to gang rape complaintOctober 5, 2026
    ITHACA, New York — Cornell’s main administration building was splashed… Read more: Cornell building sprayed with graffiti blasting school’s response to gang rape complaint

Latest Community Feeds

  • I think Heart of Woman (aka H.O.W) deserve more attentionOctober 6, 2026
  • What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Big 4 and “Small 3”?October 6, 2026
  • One kpop group you think whose vocals really blend well together/have the best vocal harmony?October 6, 2026
  • Why is Rosé’s new song New Trick is not blowing up.October 6, 2026
  • KpopThoughts Weekly Thread – (October 06)October 6, 2026
  • Are K-pop acts facing possible competition from acts based in Southeast Asia?October 6, 2026
  • Idols who are considered good singer but their vocal tones aren’t appealing to youOctober 6, 2026
  • I think Riize has subpar vocals and is mainly a performance groupOctober 6, 2026
  • Which K-pop group do you think deserves WAY more recognition? 👀October 6, 2026
  • I am starting to lose interest more and more in the community and musicOctober 6, 2026
  • Why I think KiiiKiii is having trouble attracting stansOctober 6, 2026
  • BABYMONSTER Chiquita looked so mature but she’s still a MINOR?October 6, 2026
  • Concert thoughts after seeing LE SSERAFIM tear the roof off of Capital One Arena in DC tonightOctober 6, 2026
  • Nlite hosting farewell concert this fridayOctober 6, 2026
  • Do you think there is any advantage of debuting a Filipina in a K-pop group?October 6, 2026
  • Which K-pop group do you think is currently in their prime? 👀October 6, 2026
  • Does anyone else miss Winter’s pre-surgery voice?October 6, 2026
  • why do kpop groups make it global but not other subgenres in korean music like k-bands/k-hiphop/etc?October 6, 2026
  • How to get into newer groups even tho they are a lot younger than u?October 5, 2026
  • Sundubu jjigae with a healthy serving of kimchi!October 5, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (26,308)
    • Community (19,633)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (5,291)
  • 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