Open Korea

Open Korea

Korean Identities Beyond Borders

  • News
  • History
  • People
  • Community
  • Entertainment
  • Resources
    • ☎️ Helpline in Korea
    • 🔗 Useful sites on Korea
    • 🎬 Best Korean Films
    • 📺 Best Korean Shows
    • 🎤 Best Korean Pop
    • 👥 Join the Cause
    • 💲Donor Dashboard

history

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • 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
  • 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
  • You Didn’t Pay Rent. You Lent Me Money. | Korea’s jeonse system

    Jun 24, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    You Didn’t Pay Rent. You Lent Me Money. | Korea’s jeonse system

    There is a specific moment when jeonse 전세 (jeon-se) stops being strange. It usually happens when someone says: “I didn’t…

    history, Question, Seoul, study
  • International fans are so obsessed with koreans and their skin tone it’s actually weird and annoying.

    Jun 24, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Everytime there’s a tan skin idol, i-fans will immediately baby them and act as if all koreans hate their skin…

    history, Koreans, purpose
  • Why has ethnic tensions between Koreans and other ethnic groups gotten worse lately

    Jun 23, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    First it was with the SEAbling hate campaign towards all Koreans for no reason, slandering Korean food, culture and appearances.…

    history, Japan, Korean Food, Koreans
  • Besides Jessica’s departure, has Girls’ Generation ever had any major controversies?

    Jun 23, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’ve been going through Girls’ Generation’s discography for the first time and really enjoying it. The only major thing I…

    history, Scandal
  • History : Kim Sowol (1902–1934) | A Poet Who Made Sorrow Into Song

    Jun 23, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    History : Kim Sowol (1902–1934) | A Poet Who Made Sorrow Into Song

    Kim Sowol (1902–1934) — a poet who made sorrow into song. He gave voice to the Korean han through the…

    history
  • OpenAI lands Samsung as major ChatGPT Enterprise customer

    Jun 22, 2026
    in News
    OpenAI lands Samsung as major ChatGPT Enterprise customer

    OpenAI is set to supply its chatbot ChatGPT Enterprise and its artificial intelligence (AI) coding agent Codex to Samsung Electronics…

    history, Samsung, Samsung Electronics
  • History : King Sejong the Great (1397–1450, r. 1418–1450) | Hunmin Jeongeum Haerye (1446) Born Yi Do (이도)

    Jun 22, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    History : King Sejong the Great (1397–1450, r. 1418–1450) | Hunmin Jeongeum Haerye (1446) Born Yi Do (이도)

    Hunmin Jeongeum Haerye (訓民正音解例) A Complete Paraphrased English Translation for International Readers I. Preface The spoken language of our country…

    history
  • EVAN: The First Scene, In W Korea’s July 2026 pictorial

    Jun 21, 2026
    in Feeds
    EVAN: The First Scene, In W Korea’s July 2026 pictorial

    EVAN arrives like a signal flare: not louder than the culture, but sharper, more intimate, and impossible to ignore. In…

    Gen Z, history, Japan, K-pop, Question, study
  • History : Yoon Dong-ju (1917–1945) | A Poet Who Looked Up at the Sky

    Jun 21, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    History : Yoon Dong-ju (1917–1945) | A Poet Who Looked Up at the Sky

    윤동주 Yoon Dong-ju (1917–1945) was a Korean poet who looked up at the sky and felt ashamed. He loved stars,…

    history
  • Was there ever a time in Korean History where the people were divided into tribes or ethnolinguistic groups?

    Jun 21, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Annyeong! I am asking this question as a Filipino, and I know many Koreans know that the Philippines consists of…

    Ancient Korea, history, Korean History, Koreans, Question
  • MONDAY, June 22, 2026

    Jun 21, 2026
    in News

    1633-Galileo Galilei recants his “heretical” position that the Earth orbiting the Sun is at odds with the Bible and church…

    germany, history, Military, World War
  • History : Yoon Dong-ju (1917–1945) | A Poet Who Looked Up at the Sky

    Jun 21, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    History : Yoon Dong-ju (1917–1945) | A Poet Who Looked Up at the Sky

    윤동주 Yoon Dong-ju (1917–1945) was a Korean poet who looked up at the sky and felt ashamed. He loved stars,…

    history
  • My Top 3 Underrated Boy Group Title Songs For The 1st Half of 2026 That I Hope People Will Check Out

    Jun 20, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    As someone who checks out songs from both popular and less popular groups, I wanna write an appreciation about my…

    history, Kia, KT, travel
  • The Stars Have Always Been Theirs – ENHYPEN front Harper’s BAZAAR Korea

    Jun 19, 2026
    in Feeds
    The Stars Have Always Been Theirs – ENHYPEN front Harper’s BAZAAR Korea

    Picture the moment not as a photograph but as a frequency. Six young men on a cover that hasn’t existed…

    history, Japan, K-pop, purpose, Question, Social Media
  • History : Lee Jung-seop | The Unfortunate Genius Painter

    Jun 19, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    History : Lee Jung-seop | The Unfortunate Genius Painter

    submitted by /u/Plenty_Platform_8448 [link] [comments]

    history
  • Germany’s unification from a Korean viewpoint?

    Jun 19, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    The unification of West & East Germany is one of the most positive moments in Germany’s (& probably the world’s)…

    germany, history, Question
  • I have a question: Did the Red Turban Army, the predecessor of the Ming Dynasty, commit massacres and rapes in the Korean region?

    Jun 18, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’ve been studying Eastern history lately. I’ve come across information that during the late Mongol period in China and Korea,…

    Goryeo, history, Koreans, Pyongyang, Question, Sex, study
  • Public approval of Korea’s corporate giants hits record high

    Jun 17, 2026
    in News
    Public approval of Korea’s corporate giants hits record high

    Public favorability toward domestic businesses has climbed to its highest level since tracking began in 2003, according to an annual…

    history, KCC, Survey
  • Grammy Awards to add Asian pop category

    Jun 17, 2026
    in News
    Grammy Awards to add Asian pop category

    The Grammy Awards announced Tuesday (U.S. local time) the creation of a new category for Asian pop music, following previous…

    BTS, history, K-pop
  • NCT 127: Ten Years On the Same Longitude, Still Chasing Paradise

    Jun 17, 2026
    in Feeds
    NCT 127: Ten Years On the Same Longitude, Still Chasing Paradise

    A decade after debuting on Seoul’s own coordinates, NCT 127 traded concrete for coastline — and DAZED Korea’s July 2026…

    history, Japan, K-pop, Military, Photography, Seoul, Teenager
  • What was science like before King Sejong?

    Jun 15, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I am currently writing a fictional story from the Joseon era and i have yet to choose a proper time…

    history, Joseon, KT
Next Page→

Advice automotive Bibimbap BTS Busan Celebrity Cheese coffee Controversy Coupang Crime Curiosity Discussion Donald Trump driver Ewha fail Fame family Gen Z germany Global Expansion history Hyundai Japan Jeju Jjigae Joseon Justice K-pop K-pop Fans K-pop industry Kakao Kia Kimchi Korean Comapny Korean Food Koreans Korean Semiconductor Korean Technology KT LG LG Electronics LG Energy LG Energy Solution Lotte martial law Medical Military Naver North Korea Nvidia Parents Peace Photography Politics Pork POSCO Protest purpose Putin Question request Samsung Samsung Electronics Scandal Seoul Sex Shopping SK Hynix Social Media Soju Stress study Suga Survey Tokyo Tourism travel Warning

Latest Korean News

  • Korea moves to protect rare Cretaceous fossilsJune 29, 2026
    Deep inside a block of Late Cretaceous rock excavated from… Read more: Korea moves to protect rare Cretaceous fossils
  • [PHOTOS] Europe swelters: Record heat wave ignites public efforts to cool downJune 29, 2026
    An aerial view shows people cooling themselves in a pool… Read more: [PHOTOS] Europe swelters: Record heat wave ignites public efforts to cool down
  • Community vs. ‘Epstein class’June 29, 2026
    Over the course of a week, I speak with many… Read more: Community vs. ‘Epstein class’
  • Samsung, SK hynix unveil $519 bil. investment for semiconductor complex in southwestern regionJune 29, 2026
    Samsung Electronics and SK hynix will invest 800 trillion won… Read more: Samsung, SK hynix unveil $519 bil. investment for semiconductor complex in southwestern region
  • Naver Pay adds facial recognition service for faster airport departuresJune 29, 2026
    Travelers departing from Incheon International Airport can now clear key… Read more: Naver Pay adds facial recognition service for faster airport departures

Latest Community Feeds

  • Hong Myung-bo Press ConferenceJune 29, 2026
  • During a game between the two top baseball high schools in Korea, BaeJae HS students from Seoul reportedly began chanting ‘Go to Starbucks’ at the Gwangju Jeil players, referencing the recent 5.18 controversy. The school has since issued an apology.June 29, 2026
  • South Korean football… Remember that even great football teams can fail (Germany, Italy, England, Portugal, Brazil etc.). It was South Korea’s turn?June 29, 2026
  • 6th grader Practical Arts textbook, but I think I found a thingJune 29, 2026
  • Mapping the members of aespa as NBA playersJune 29, 2026
  • STAYC 2 LOVE filmed on the same tennis court as ILLIT TICK TACK?June 29, 2026
  • Good food after some swimming in the seaJune 29, 2026
  • Today’s lunchJune 29, 2026
  • After watching a ton of Korean football streamers, here is my summary of Hong’s disastrous tactics.June 29, 2026
  • South Korea unveils $1tn chip and AI investment planJune 29, 2026
  • Mapping aespa’s four members as NBA playersJune 29, 2026
  • which group do u think has more token stans than actual fans?June 29, 2026
  • More Korean men than ever are full-time homemakersJune 29, 2026
  • Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’ gets modern interpretation on Seoul stageJune 29, 2026
  • Debate over Samsung, SK Hynix’s second chip cluster in Korea heats up: Is it feasible?June 29, 2026
  • Why Do So Many People Not Like Lemon Tang?June 29, 2026
  • Which Kpop song do you think was badly mixed?June 29, 2026
  • Did any idol call out akgaes or talked about how disrespectful they can get?June 29, 2026
  • iconic by mistake vs bjork’s army of me MVJune 29, 2026
  • What do we think of the Mark Lee situation?June 29, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (22,849)
    • Community (16,781)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (4,820)
  • 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

Sponsors & Partners

  • Eastern Art – Center for Non-Western Art Studies
  • Great African Railway – Connecting Young Africans in Metaverse
  • Renewable AI – Carbon Neutral Regulation in AI Training
  • ContentsWIRE – Stream quality writings and visuals for your business

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