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history

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • 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
  • ARCHITECTS OF THE NEW ERA: BTS AND THE ULTIMATE VISUAL REINVENTION

    Nov 8, 2026
    in Feeds
    ARCHITECTS OF THE NEW ERA: BTS AND THE ULTIMATE VISUAL REINVENTION

    The Spark in the Studio: The Immediate Moment The studio lights flicker to full intensity, cutting through a low-hanging haze…

    BTS, Genesis, history, Japan
  • CJ Group Vice Chairwoman Miky Lee Receives

    Nov 8, 2026
    in News
    CJ Group Vice Chairwoman Miky Lee Receives

    CJ Group Vice Chairwoman Miky Lee received the Centennial Medal of Lifetime Achievement at the 2026 Asian Hall of Fame…

    Fame, history, Japan, K-pop, Korean Food
  • 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
  • [OC]Mollaemul (몰래물): The forgotten spring and lost village hidden right outside Jeju Airport’s runways

    Nov 6, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    [OC]Mollaemul (몰래물): The forgotten spring and lost village hidden right outside Jeju Airport’s runways

    Most travelers arriving at Jeju Airport rush straight to their cars, but just minutes west along the coastal road (Seohaean-ro)…

    history, Jeju, LG, travel
  • Who are the best freestyle dancers among K-pop girl group members of all time?

    Nov 6, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    It’s pretty standard for girl groups to take choreography created by professional choreographers and adapt it to fit their own…

    history, K-pop
  • 4th/5th Gen boy group attendance at concert venues in South Korea

    Nov 6, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Incheon Munhak Stadium PLAVE – 42.6k (2 shows – 2026) Goyang Stadium ENHYPEN – 16.6k (2 shows – 2024)* Incheon…

    Busan, history, Peace
  • We did a jajangmyeon showdown at the two famous spots in Incheon Chinatown — the original lost 4-0

    Nov 5, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Incheon Chinatown is where jajangmyeon was invented, so when our group got there we did the obvious thing: a head-to-head…

    history, Seoul
  • 1938 Italian Fascist Delegation to Korea: Dinner with Yi Un, Dinner with Korean Collaborator Bankers, Kisaeng Performances, Japanese-Style Cropped Heads, Soviet Flag Incident

    Nov 5, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    1938 Italian Fascist Delegation to Korea: Dinner with Yi Un, Dinner with Korean Collaborator Bankers, Kisaeng Performances, Japanese-Style Cropped Heads, Soviet Flag Incident

    This is the third part of the news coverage about a 22-member Italian Fascist delegation which visited Korea in 1938…

    Busan, history, Japan, Koreans, LG, Military, myeongdong, Photography, Politics, Prostitution, Seoul, Sex, study, Suga, Tokyo, travel
  • Crazy was an insane comeback for LSF after the 2024 hate train

    Nov 4, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    In honor of Twitter looking somewhat normal again, it just made me remember old k-pop stan twt pre-Elon. So many…

    Ewha, history, K-pop, KT, LG
  • A short history of Korean potato chips, from Nongshim’s first chip in 1980 to the Honey Butter Chip panic of 2014

    Nov 3, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I got curious about how Korea’s chip aisle ended up the way it is, and it turns out it’s mostly…

    history, Japan, Lotte, Question, Social Media
  • I can’t stand the it-boy/girl discussions in kpop spaces

    Nov 2, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Actually, there are two topics that I just hate when they’re brought up – “it boy/girl” and “paving the way”.…

    BTS, Discussion, history, purpose
  • HELP – need new last name (Korean preferably)

    Nov 1, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Reposting here because I got great advice from a reply. I’m sorry if the flair is wrong. I am not…

    Advice, history, Japan, Joseon, korean names, Koreans
  • TWICE Momo set to dominate Vogue Japan x Miu Miu December 2026 Issue

    Oct 31, 2026
    in Feeds
    TWICE Momo set to dominate Vogue Japan x Miu Miu December 2026 Issue

    The Anatomy of Impact: How TWICE’s Momo Reconstructed the Global Pop Aesthetic The shutter snaps in a stark Tokyo studio,…

    Demographics, Fame, history, Japan, K-pop, KT, LG, Tokyo
  • I’m honestly so heartbroken that ATEEZ missed the major MMA nominations after the year they’ve had

    Oct 30, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’m literally crying…I know awards aren’t everything, but I really thought this would be ATEEZ’s year, especially after everything they…

    history, Question
  • Good history resources for diaspora Korean that knows language but not context?

    Oct 30, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I may be making a weird request since I’m not really sure about the exact nature of topics that are…

    history, Japan, Korean History, Parents, request
  • Ginkgo trees in Korea: autumn leaves, ancient history, and their distinctive smell

    Oct 29, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Does autumn have to be red? When people picture an autumn trip to Korea, they often start with mountains turning…

    history, Seoul, travel
  • KATSEYE being the first HYBE girl group to headline a concert at KSPO Dome is shocking…

    Oct 29, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    KATSEYE recently announced their Asian and Oceania leg of their first world tour, which including 1 Seoul date at KSPO…

    Controversy, history, Seoul
  • K-pop fans obsession with defining what makes Asian artists authentically Asian

    Oct 29, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, particularly since ARIRANG came out and I saw some of the…

    BTS, Historical Figure, history, Japan, K-pop, K-pop Fans, Korean Art, Military, Question
  • The 17th annual Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards announced the recipients of the honors for this year

    Oct 29, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    This award is obviously not only for kpop acts but for musicians of other genres, actors, directors, comedians, authors etc…

    BTS, history, K-pop, Tourism
  • Are K-pop companies accidentally making their own groups less relevant by hyping up rookies so much?

    Oct 27, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Idk if anyone else has noticed this but I feel like the way people engage with new groups has changed…

    history, K-pop
  • ILLIT and Le Sserafim both shut down the haters.

    Oct 26, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Break Even sold 383,000 units in its first day, it outsold the first week sales of several ILLIT albums in…

    history, Japan, K-pop, Question, Seoul
  • MEOVV killed it on KBS Music Bank. Check out their stage for Go Hard.

    Oct 25, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’m a non-fan, but I felt the need to share this KBS Music Bank performance of Go Hard. The members…

    history
  • BLACKSWAN deserves so much better and needs more recognition

    Oct 25, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’m a bit picky with groups that I decide to stan because K-Pop is an industry that prioritizes numbers over…

    history, K-pop
  • Icon of This Era: Song Yuqi’s Vogue Revolution

    Oct 25, 2026
    in Feeds

    The shutter clicks, but the real sound in the room is ambient tension. There is no background track playing, yet…

    history, Japan, K-pop, Photography
  • Which kpop group/artist would you want to see be added to the MAMA 2026 performing line up

    Oct 25, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Around a few days ago on October 21 CJ ENM released an article talking about MAMA 2026. They basically talked…

    history
  • Granddaughter of Korean independence fighter brings Korean history to US schools

    Oct 24, 2026
    in News

    At the first Korea Book Festival in Vancouver, Canada, which runs through Oct. 31, a very meaningful book was exhibited:…

    family, history, Japan, Korean History
  • NCT WISH gets a pass for bad encores, especially their latest encore, misogyny is right there

    Oct 23, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    They don’t get criticized enough for their bad encores and their weak vocals, they can’t even sing live. Honestly, I…

    Discussion, history, K-pop, LG, Question
  • Thoughts on Ateez’ new song ‘Drip’ choreography

    Oct 23, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    First of all I loved the MV and the song in general, but I couldn’t help but notice a part…

    germany, history
  • The Silver Anatomy: Kim Doyeon’s Blue Hour with Tiffany & Co.

    Oct 22, 2026
    in Feeds

    The lens does not ask permission. It captures the exact microsecond a shadow shifts from obsidian to liquid chrome, catching…

    history, Japan, K-pop, KT, Seoul
  • One Year Ago Today, I Fell Down This Rabbit Hole…

    Oct 21, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Thank you to the YouTube algorithm for recommending “Easy • Crazy • Hot” by Beatpella House x Le Sserafim one…

    BTS, history, LG
  • Websites go dark worldwide as AI exposes critical security flaws

    Oct 21, 2026
    in News

    WASHINGTON — Government agencies and companies around the world shut down websites Wednesday after two critical flaws came to light…

    history
  • If you had to explain K-pop girl groups to a total beginner, would this be the “Top 10 Most Historic Girl Groups” list?

    Oct 20, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    ​Main List: ​Girls’ Generation (SNSD): The undisputed GOAT. Period. ​TWICE: The undisputed “Nation’s Girl Group” of Asia, and the group…

    history, Japan, K-pop
  • 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
  • A Moment to Remember: How GOT7’s BamBam Redefined the Laws of Global Stardom

    Oct 15, 2026
    in Feeds

    In a quiet studio rendered entirely in deep cerulean blue, BamBam zips the raised collar of a wet-look, monogram-embossed crimson…

    history, K-pop, KT, LG, Seoul, Social Media, travel
  • My thoughts on the AOA and T-ara bullying controversy (Hwayoung & Mina)

    Oct 13, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Tbh It’s ashamed and I feel like the public, the group and me is mad at both of these people…

    Controversy, history
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Latest Korean News

  • US lawmakers urge new Epstein investigations in damning reportNovember 10, 2026
    WASHINGTON — U.S. lawmakers called Tuesday for further criminal investigations… Read more: US lawmakers urge new Epstein investigations in damning report
  • Wall St falls as hot inflation data fuels rate-hike jittersNovember 10, 2026
    Wall Street’s main indexes retreated on Tuesday, pausing a two-day… Read more: Wall St falls as hot inflation data fuels rate-hike jitters
  • Iran rejects France’s ‘baseless accusations’ on cyberattackNovember 10, 2026
    TEHRAN — Iran on Tuesday said French accusations that it… Read more: Iran rejects France’s ‘baseless accusations’ on cyberattack
  • Alleged spy plot targeting CEO Jensen Huang raises questions about Nvidia’s futureNovember 10, 2026
    SAN FRANCISCO — Investigations into whether Nvidia’s CEO was the… Read more: Alleged spy plot targeting CEO Jensen Huang raises questions about Nvidia’s future
  • What we know — and what we don’t — as Nvidia investigates alleged spy plot involving CEONovember 10, 2026
    Stunning allegations of a spy plot have prompted investigations of… Read more: What we know — and what we don’t — as Nvidia investigates alleged spy plot involving CEO

Latest Community Feeds

  • Stuck in the Joseon Dynasty? Tesla owners flood land minister’s posts with complaints about FSD ban.November 10, 2026
  • Gogi-guksu”November 10, 2026
  • Did you know Korea had THIS many Pepero flavors? �November 10, 2026
  • I saw the take, you say the temperature.November 10, 2026
  • Tried for the first time.November 10, 2026
  • Korean Soul Food: Samgyeopsal 🥓🇰🇷November 10, 2026
  • EXO-CBX fans need to have a taste of their own medicine for their stupidityNovember 10, 2026
  • South Korea Launches Second KSS-III Batch-II SubmarineNovember 10, 2026
  • K-pop industry group pushes back on NYT report over artist contractsNovember 10, 2026
  • KpopThoughts Weekly Thread – (November 10)November 10, 2026
  • charcoal-grilled chicken (숯불 닭갈비) with tender neck meat is the real deal! 🍗🔥November 10, 2026
  • Which ramyeon packs the most heat? It’s not Shin Ramyun or BuldakNovember 10, 2026
  • Stone BBQNovember 10, 2026
  • DPK, liberal lawmakers propose bill allowing overseas Koreans to vote electronicallyNovember 10, 2026
  • North Korea Got Internet Radio!November 10, 2026
  • Todays korean home dinnerNovember 10, 2026
  • What’s your go to banchan?November 10, 2026
  • Recipes from leftover rice from Ssal-jocheong 쌀조청November 10, 2026
  • First meal after officially getting married. Mother-in-laws fine home cooked food again.November 10, 2026
  • Close-knit traditional music world faces reckoning over sexual abuse, silenceNovember 10, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (27,565)
    • Community (20,650)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (5,474)
  • 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