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Korean Identities Beyond Borders

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Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • My Korean aunt accidentally invented my startup’s signature sauce in the ’80s.

    Jul 16, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I am 1st generation Mexican-Korean-American, I’m curious if anyone else has a family recipe with a story like this. My…

    family
  • Seoul Offers Up to 7.2 Million KRW in Housing Support for New Parents Over 2 Years (300K KRW per Month): How to Apply

    Jul 16, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Seoul Offers Up to 7.2 Million KRW in Housing Support for New Parents Over 2 Years (300K KRW per Month): How to Apply

    Seoul Metropolitan Government (Published: July 8, 2026) The deposit limit for jeonse (key-money deposit) has been significantly eased to 500…

    Childbirth Incentive, family, Parents, Seoul, Stress
  • Korean gift etiquette/culture: What gifts should I bring for my good Korean friend and her family hosting me in Busan? 🇨🇦🇰🇷

    Jul 14, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Hello there! I am going to Busan to visit and spend time with my friend. We have been good friends…

    Busan, family, Parents, Question
  • Korean cultural practices around death.

    Jul 12, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Hi friends, I need your help. I live in Australia and work for a community organisation. Recently, a man of…

    Advice, family
  • Visiting the States to see Family: Odd Question…

    Jul 11, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    As you can see in the title, I’m visiting America to see my family. While there, my family and I…

    family, KT, Question, Soju
  • Investigators raid Gwangju police over suspicious handling of murder case

    Jul 11, 2026
    in News
    Investigators raid Gwangju police over suspicious handling of murder case

    GWANGJU — Investigators raided the office of the Gwangju police chief Saturday as part of a widening probe into the…

    Controversy, family
  • Lee family accuses South Korea police of cover-up in Gwangju murder case

    Jul 9, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Lee family accuses South Korea police of cover-up in Gwangju murder case

    ​ submitted by /u/Beginning-Passion676 [link] [comments]

    family
  • I’m meeting up with my friend’s family when I go to korea this time.

    Jul 8, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’m meeting up with my friend’s family when I go to korea this time. Is there a comfortable restaurant we…

    Busan, family, Seoul
  • 3 family members found dead at apartment in Osan

    Jul 8, 2026
    in News
    3 family members found dead at apartment in Osan

    Three family members have been found dead at an apartment unit in Osan, south of Seoul, police said Wednesday. The…

    family, history, Medical, Seoul, Stress
  • My family won’t stop asking for bulgogi burger and I can’t even blame them.

    Jul 5, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    My family won’t stop asking for bulgogi burger and I can’t even blame them.

    When the grill season started here in Germany, I tried to make bulgogi burger and it was a love at…

    family, germany, Kimchi, LG, Suga
  • What are your family heirlooms?

    Jul 5, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I was reading some reddit posts, mainly from westerners about their oldest family heirlooms, with people talking about artefacts from…

    family, Gen Z, Japan, Joseon, Korean War, Koreans, Parents
  • From asking his parents not to look up his name to becoming a hot trend in SK…Choi San’s journey is so incredibly full-circle

    Jul 5, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’ve been thinking a lot about ATEEZ Choi San’s growth recently, especially with all the viral reels during Ice On…

    family, Parents, Question
  • Korean couples ditch luxury wedding halls for $19 public venues

    Jul 4, 2026
    in News
    Korean couples ditch luxury wedding halls for $19 public venues

    With his wedding just four months away, 29-year-old Kim Yun-ho nearly canceled the ceremony. Faced with venue and catering costs…

    birthrate, family, request
  • HueningKai & Huening Bahiyyih Are Redefining K-pop’s Next Chapter

    Jul 4, 2026
    in Feeds
    HueningKai & Huening Bahiyyih Are Redefining K-pop’s Next Chapter

    A New Kind of Spotlight There is something quietly revolutionary about watching siblings rewrite the rules of global pop in…

    family, history, Japan, K-pop, Perspectives, Photography
  • 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
  • I Left K-Pop Spaces for 4 Months and I Honestly Needed It

    Jul 1, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Hello Reddit! Well, I’m finally back on this app, lol. I deleted it when ARIRANG dropped so I could just…

    BTS, Discussion, family, Japan, K-pop, purpose, Teenager
  • i hope closeted queer idols have a safe supportive system in their private lives

    Jun 30, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    it’s true that different idols handle it differently. i’m sure there are some who are comfortable with not sharing their…

    family, Sex
  • Concerned sister

    Jun 30, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Please read all of this before making any judgement. I’m an older sister to somebody who is obsessed with Korea.…

    Advice, family, history, K-pop, Minimum Wage
  • Korea moves to protect rare Cretaceous fossils

    Jun 29, 2026
    in News
    Korea moves to protect rare Cretaceous fossils

    Deep inside a block of Late Cretaceous rock excavated from a coastal mudflat, the fossilized bones of Koreanosaurus boseongensis tell…

    family
  • Remember when people believed that BTS rising up would lead to end of the monopolization the big 3 had on the K-Pop Industry? Well now it’s the Big 4, what happened?

    Jun 26, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    The death of big groups from small and mid-sized companies is truly sad. I always see people complaining about the…

    BTS, Fame, family, K-pop, K-pop industry, Question
  • Two Sparks, One Light – FLARE U arrive on the cover of BEAUTY+ Magazine’s July 2026 issue

    Jun 25, 2026
    in Feeds
    Two Sparks, One Light – FLARE U arrive on the cover of BEAUTY+ Magazine’s July 2026 issue

    There is a specific kind of electricity that only happens when two people who were never supposed to find each…

    family, Japan, K-pop, LG, Photography, Seoul, Social Media
  • Today is 6.25. Here I present Ethiopia Bet(cafe)

    Jun 25, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Today is 6.25. Here I present Ethiopia Bet(cafe)

    I’ve heard this cafe from my dad, and visited here last year. It is located in Chuncheon! This cafe has…

    coffee, family, history, Korean War
  • Does anyone else believe that the Victoria Secret Pink Campaign with TWICE was supposed to be solely for Tzuyu?

    Jun 25, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    With mentions of TWICE members possibly not renewing their solo activities with the company I think of Tzuyu and Victoria…

    family, Japan
  • Lisa for Vanity Fair – The Life of a K-Pop Showgirl

    Jun 24, 2026
    in Feeds
    Lisa for Vanity Fair – The Life of a K-Pop Showgirl

    White feathers, desert heat, and a Las Vegas stage waiting. BLACKPINK’s Lisa doesn’t just take up space — she consumes…

    Curiosity, family, history, Japan, K-pop, LG, Photography, Question, Seoul, Social Media
  • Korea vs. South Africa watch party – Songpa District

    Jun 23, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Here with family for vacation. Looking for a good spot to watch the Korea game tomorrow in Songpa. Anyone have…

    family
  • Birthday Dinner Recs please!

    Jun 23, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Hello! I am going to be in Seoul for a while and while I’m there my husband’s family will be…

    family, Seoul
  • Gov’t approves sanctions against 166 child support defaulters

    Jun 21, 2026
    in News
    Gov’t approves sanctions against 166 child support defaulters

    The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said Sunday it has approved 184 sanctions against 166 people who failed to…

    driver, fail, family, travel
  • Finding biological mother in Korea

    Jun 21, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    My American family adopted my Korean born family member. It was not done through an adoption agency. The Korean family…

    family, Parents
  • I have a feeling there’s going to be a huge outrage after this week’s knowing bros episode comes out.

    Jun 20, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I just saw a clip of it and right off the bat the fromis 9 members talk about how they…

    family, Parents
  • [Q&A] Many people are curious about what life is really like in Korea beyond Seoul and K-dramas, so I thought I’d open the floor for questions.

    Jun 18, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Ask me anything about: School life in Korea Growing up in a rural village Family culture Daily life and traditions…

    family, K-drama, Question, Seoul
  • Can I get a Korean ID if I have a Korean Passport

    Jun 17, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Hello. So I was born and live in USA and got my Korean passport a few years ago (backstreet at…

    driver, family, Military, Parents, Question
  • Cheating doesn’t necessarily mean you get more money in a Korean divorce

    Jun 16, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    One thing that surprises many foreigners in Korea: In Korean divorce law, property division and compensation for wrongdoing are generally…

    family
  • HELP: My family has 2 Korean veterans

    Jun 16, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    My father’s father and my mother’s father’s father were Korean war veterans and I have documents and medals. I speak…

    family, Japan, Korean War
  • what would be the roles of the sm groups in a family tree?

    Jun 15, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    just a random thought that came into my head thinking of how i perceived hearts2hearts as girls generations daughters, but…

    family, Question
  • Gender equality minister backs anti-discrimination law, diverse family recognition

    Jun 12, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Gender equality minister backs anti-discrimination law, diverse family recognition

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

    Discrimination, family
  • Trying to remember a meal

    Jun 11, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Hello everyone! In 2021 I visited Busan and I happened upon a seafood restaurant I can’t stop thinking about. The…

    Busan, family
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Latest Korean News

  • [PHOTO] KT-Palantir hackathonJuly 16, 2026
    KT employees participate in a hackathon with Palantir at KT… Read more: [PHOTO] KT-Palantir hackathon
  • POSCO, antitrust watchdog broaden partnership for shared growthJuly 16, 2026
    POSCO Group has partnered with the Fair Trade Commission (FTC)… Read more: POSCO, antitrust watchdog broaden partnership for shared growth
  • Presumed body of man swept away in torrent foundJuly 16, 2026
    The presumed body of a man swept away in a… Read more: Presumed body of man swept away in torrent found
  • Musical ‘Frozen’ to fuse K-pop vocals, multi-casting and Disney magicJuly 16, 2026
    The musical “Frozen” will arrive in Korea next month as… Read more: Musical ‘Frozen’ to fuse K-pop vocals, multi-casting and Disney magic
  • KOSPI tumbles back below 7,000 in ‘Black Thursday’ routJuly 16, 2026
    The KOSPI tumbled back below 7,000, Thursday, just one session… Read more: KOSPI tumbles back below 7,000 in ‘Black Thursday’ rout

Latest Community Feeds

  • Become a BND Stan (ONEDOOR) — short guide, answering questions!!July 17, 2026
  • What are some songs where you prefer the remix over the original?July 17, 2026
  • After Gyeongbokgung and Samcheong-dong, most tourists skip this — Jeongdok Public Library, 5 min awayJuly 17, 2026
  • Daegu style yukgaejangJuly 17, 2026
  • Korea starts building $2.5 bil. offshore wind farm funded entirely by local capitalJuly 17, 2026
  • Korea’s molten salt nuclear-powered container ship design wins US approvalJuly 17, 2026
  • Heavenly quick lunch todayJuly 17, 2026
  • If “Gangnam Style” came out today, would it still become a global phenomenon?July 16, 2026
  • Simple but mighty kbbq at homeJuly 16, 2026
  • What does it mean to be a “fan” of a k-pop group?July 16, 2026
  • Current generation male idol that have male yearning voice?July 16, 2026
  • This is something I don’t understand feel free to chip inJuly 16, 2026
  • Soap?July 16, 2026
  • US seeks share of Korean chipmakers’ ‘excess profits’: sourceJuly 16, 2026
  • Western fans aren’t “owed” representation in K-pop, and that’s a good thing.July 16, 2026
  • My breakfast this morningJuly 16, 2026
  • K-SnackJuly 16, 2026
  • My Korean aunt accidentally invented my startup’s signature sauce in the ’80s.July 16, 2026
  • Does any other kpop groups ever done it like what Enhypen is doing with their lore?July 16, 2026
  • What do non-fans think of Yeonjun’s solo career so far?July 16, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (23,508)
    • Community (17,331)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (4,905)
  • 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