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Korean Identities Beyond Borders

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history

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • RESCENE Is Rewriting the Rules — And the K-Pop Industry Is Taking Notes

    Jul 16, 2026
    in Feeds
    RESCENE Is Rewriting the Rules — And the K-Pop Industry Is Taking Notes

    The Scent Before the Scene There’s a moment before a song even starts — a breath, a static hush —…

    history, Japan, K-pop, K-pop industry, LG, Photography, purpose, travel
  • GIRLSET’s CHAT Era Is K-Pop’s Next Sharp, Stylish Shift

    Jul 15, 2026
    in Feeds
    GIRLSET’s CHAT Era Is K-Pop’s Next Sharp, Stylish Shift

    GIRLSET: The Sound of Becoming Some groups debut. GIRLSET arrives like a chapter turning in real time. With CHAT, the…

    apology, Gen Z, history, Japan, K-pop, K-pop Fans, KT, purpose
  • Seoul opens basement museum showcasing intact Joseon-era ruins

    Jul 14, 2026
    in News
    Seoul opens basement museum showcasing intact Joseon-era ruins

    Beneath a newly completed 25-story office tower in central Seoul, visitors will soon be able to walk along the stone-paved…

    history, Joseon, Seoul
  • BABYMONSTER – HOT SAUCE is SO overhated??

    Jul 13, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    This is long because I’m heated. This has been on my mind for weeks. Since I saw a post on…

    history, LG
  • Discovering Brâncuși: From Romania to the world

    Jul 13, 2026
    in News
    Discovering Brâncuși: From Romania to the world

    My long-standing interest in art and cultural heritage recently led me to attend a special event celebrating the legacy of…

    history, Seoul
  • EXO’s title tracks always fall short. Their bsides are miles better.

    Jul 13, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’m not saying their title tracks are bad, it’s just that their bsides are just way too good. MAMA –…

    history
  • Anti Korean posts make me feel so sad and angry

    Jul 12, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I have been on twitter recently and interacted with different kinds of people on there. It makes me feel angry…

    Crime, history, Japan, netizens, Sex, World War
  • Could you recommend books/docs for someone who knows NOTHING about Korea but would love to learn about the culture and origins?

    Jul 11, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I am not a fan of K-pop or dramas but I’ve started learning about Korean beauty standards, prevalence of the…

    history, K-pop, Politics, Suga
  • Relationship between Korea and Japan

    Jul 10, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Greetings from Finland! We Finns share a rather friendly yet competitive relationship with our neighboring country, Sweden. While we enjoy…

    history, Japan, Question
  • Tribute to Son Heung Min

    Jul 8, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Tribute to Son Heung Min

    Given it’s his birthday I wanted to let you especially those in Korea know how special this person is from…

    germany, history, K-drama, K-pop, Scandal
  • 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
  • Korea’s historic envoy ship retraces naval history

    Jul 7, 2026
    in News
    Korea’s historic envoy ship retraces naval history

    A full-scale replica of Korea’s historic diplomatic vessel, the Joseon Tongsinsa, is taking to the seas this month to celebrate…

    Busan, history, Imjin War, Japan, japanese invasion, Joseon, Peace, 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
  • 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
  • Smilegate showcases ‘Chaos Zero Nightmare,’ ‘Miresi’ at Anime Expo 2026

    Jul 3, 2026
    in News
    Smilegate showcases ‘Chaos Zero Nightmare,’ ‘Miresi’ at Anime Expo 2026

    Korean video game developer and publisher Smilegate said Friday it has officially opened booths for two of its mobile games,…

    history, mobile game
  • Renjun’s solo promotion is the Echoes between his fans

    Jul 2, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I feel like NCTzens know he is being mistreated but didn’t know the severity of it. I’m not talking about…

    history
  • Museum of antiquity in Seoul opens portal to modern Europe

    Jul 2, 2026
    in News
    Museum of antiquity in Seoul opens portal to modern Europe

    The ancient kingdom of Baekje once thrived as a vibrant crossroads of East Asian cultural exchange, connecting the traditions of…

    Baekje, history, Japan, Koreans, Seoul
  • Would Korean readers be interested in a novel about the Greek soldiers who fought in the Korean War?

    Jul 1, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Hello everyone, I’m a writer from Greece and over the past 2 years I’ve been researching the history of the…

    history, Korean War, Military
  • 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
  • Gwangju Ilgo Files Official Protest Against Paejae High School for Mocking May 18 Uprising

    Jul 1, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Principal of Gwangju Jeil High School(Gwangji ilgo for short), Lee Kyu-yeon stated “Yesterday’s incident left a deep wound for the…

    history, LG, Parents, Protest
  • Neocons of Korea

    Jun 30, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Neocon Generation (New Conservative Generation) It is a political term referring to men of late millennial generation and generation Z…

    daegu, Discrimination, Ewha, Feminism, history, Japan, Koreans, Politics, Seoul, Survey
  • 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
  • Why do people initially hate redebuts? Specially the previous fandom

    Jun 28, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    So, over the years, multiple people have redebuted (wony, yujin, sakura, chaewon, hitomi, hao, ricky, among others) but in the…

    history
  • The Magic Never Stops: Jackson Wang Rewrites the Rules

    Jun 28, 2026
    in Feeds
    The Magic Never Stops: Jackson Wang Rewrites the Rules

    When the crowd stops being an audience and becomes something else entirely and the lights cut, a low frequency hum…

    apology, Celebrity, G7, history, Japan, K-pop, KT, LG, Photography, purpose, Question, travel
  • Putting aside recency bias, is this really the most disappointing WC campaign in Korea’s history?

    Jun 28, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I have followed Korean football since 2002. I have seen all the WC matches and cannot recall a more disappointing…

    history, LG
  • Eight Gods,One Stage – Stray Kids launch their fifth world tour RUN IT

    Jun 28, 2026
    in Feeds
    Eight Gods,One Stage – Stray Kids launch their fifth world tour RUN IT

    Stray Kids launch their fifth world tour RUN IT at Seoul’s KSPO Dome — and the concept photos alone are…

    history, Japan, Joseon, K-pop, LG, Photography, purpose, Seoul, travel
  • Baby Flower by tripleS aggressively climbs to #1 on Spotify Korea Daily Top 200

    Jun 27, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    On June 24, tripleS’ Baby Flower debuted at #22 on Spotify Korea’s Daily Top 200, 23 days after its release.…

    history, Social Media
  • 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
  • Over the Centuries..

    Jun 27, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Over the Centuries..

    These ancient pine trees have quietly witnessed Korean history. For Koreans, the pine tree has always held a special place…

    Goryeo, history, Korean History, Koreans
  • Do K-pop fans really think it’s standard for Koreans to have yellowish or dark skin?

    Jun 27, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Lately on Twitter, there have been heated arguments between Brazilian and Mexican Koreaboos and Koreans, Chinese, and Japanese users. They…

    Discrimination, Goguryeo, history, Japan, Joseon, K-pop, K-pop Fans, Koreans, Question, Silla
  • OMEGA X — Cosmopolitan Korea July 2026 Cover Portrait

    Jun 27, 2026
    in Feeds
    OMEGA X — Cosmopolitan Korea July 2026 Cover Portrait

    They arrived as a patchwork of pasts — eleven members, each carrying the aftertaste of other groups and survival shows…

    Gen Z, history, Japan, K-pop, KT, LG
  • Former members of groups in books about Kpop?

    Jun 26, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    So I’m currently working on a book about Kpop, and I find myself in a bit of a conundrum. Kpop…

    Ewha, history
  • What surprised you most when seeing K-Pop artists in person?

    Jun 26, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Stealing this idea slightly from the art history sub – what surprised you most when seeing different artists live or…

    history, K-pop
  • Do overseas internet users seriously think K-pop is the main pillar of South Korea’s economy?

    Jun 25, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Whenever I browse sites like Twitter, Reddit, or YouTube, I keep seeing the same claim from a surprisingly large number…

    BTS, history, Japan, K-pop, Kia, Military, squid game
  • World Cup – why the disgraceful performance.

    Jun 25, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    World Cup brings together all different kinds of fans who don’t necessarily follow football regularly or know the players individually.…

    history, Politics
  • 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
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Latest Korean News

  • NK leader meets with China’s top political adviser in PyongyangJuly 17, 2026
    North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has met with a Chinese… Read more: NK leader meets with China’s top political adviser in Pyongyang
  • Bahrain, Kuwait face Iranian fire as US airstrikes expand to target more bridgesJuly 17, 2026
    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Bahrain and Kuwait faced incoming… Read more: Bahrain, Kuwait face Iranian fire as US airstrikes expand to target more bridges
  • 14th Korean oil tanker successfully transits through Red SeaJuly 17, 2026
    A Korean oil tanker has successfully transited the Red Sea… Read more: 14th Korean oil tanker successfully transits through Red Sea
  • Agriculture ministry holds emergency meeting ahead of heavy downpoursJuly 17, 2026
    The agriculture ministry held an emergency meeting Friday to review… Read more: Agriculture ministry holds emergency meeting ahead of heavy downpours
  • ‘AI race shifts from building models to rebuilding companies’July 17, 2026
    JEJU ISLAND — Companies hoping to gain an edge in… Read more: ‘AI race shifts from building models to rebuilding companies’

Latest Community Feeds

  • going to South Korea as a Dark Brown Indian Woman: What Can I Realistically Expect?July 17, 2026
  • Anyone have any idea when this 90’s protest in Korea took place?July 17, 2026
  • A lifeline to immigrant-background young people left behind by Korea’s systemJuly 17, 2026
  • How I think Twice’s Hiatus will change Kpop Girl GroupsJuly 17, 2026
  • “8 Bowls of Ramen, 20 Orders”… Mukbang YouTuber Apologizes Following In-Flight Meal ControversyJuly 17, 2026
  • Has anyone heard of a Korean deep fried dough balls called a “Munannee”??July 17, 2026
  • Haemul tangJuly 17, 2026
  • Vogue hanbok photoshootsJuly 17, 2026
  • As the world rearms, South Korea aims to cash inJuly 17, 2026
  • Kpop birthday song recommendations!!!!!!July 17, 2026
  • Seeing people react to a live performance for the first time is pretty funnyJuly 17, 2026
  • Buldak + buldak sauce + chili peppersJuly 17, 2026
  • Jang kalguksuJuly 17, 2026
  • Craft beer and yukpo at a local Korean beer pubJuly 17, 2026
  • Where Koreans actually eatJuly 17, 2026
  • Nobel laureate Han Kang urges world to ‘overcome’ hatredJuly 17, 2026
  • How do trainees who are minors sign contracts? What do their parents/legal guardians think about it?July 17, 2026
  • The most alluring female K-pop celebrities.July 17, 2026
  • How do idols barely get any sleep and not get red eyes?July 17, 2026
  • Become a BND Stan (ONEDOOR) — short guide, answering questions!!July 17, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (23,533)
    • Community (17,350)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (4,910)
  • 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