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history

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • B.A.P: The Forgotten Blueprint — Does a Group’s Eventual Commercial Failure Erase Its Influence?

    Aug 18, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    ​ Before B.A.P’s upcoming 15th anniversary, it is time to ask what they actually left behind Some groups define an…

    BTS, coffee, Controversy, Discussion, fail, history, Japan, K-pop, LG, Question, study
  • Actress Hayoung’s ‘four generations of doctors’ brag backfired hard — the deeper history behind why Koreans are furious”

    Aug 18, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Hi r/korea, I’ve been following the Hayoung (“하영”) family scandal closely and did my own write-up analyzing it — pulling…

    apology, Celebrity, Crime, Daejeon, family, Historical Figure, history, Japan, Korean History, Koreans, Medical, Old Korea, Punishment, Question, Scandal, Seoul, study, Survey, Tokyo
  • I dont understand the BTS / Chris Brown drama

    Aug 16, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    As a BTS fan, I honestly don’t understand why people are shocked that Chris Brown is part of this conversation.…

    BTS, history
  • Le Sserafim were amazing at Summer Sonic.

    Aug 16, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I finished watching the live stream of their Summer Sonic show in Tokyo a couple hours ago and I’m still…

    history, Tokyo
  • Outline of Korea, 1933

    Aug 16, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Outline of Korea, 1933

    A scarce official publication issued by the Government-General of Korea during the Japanese colonial period. This hardcover volume is an…

    history, Japan, Korean History, study
  • Hyeri, Unfiltered: The New Language of K-Pop Stardom

    Aug 16, 2026
    in Feeds
    Hyeri, Unfiltered: The New Language of K-Pop Stardom

    Girl’s Day Hyeri — SENSE Magazine, September 2026 Issue Covers The room changes first Before Hyeri speaks, the room has…

    Celebrity, history, Japan, K-pop, Korean Art, KT, LG, Photography, travel
  • SF9 Own the Static: Inside TENACITY’s INTEND Era

    Aug 16, 2026
    in Feeds
    SF9 Own the Static: Inside TENACITY’s INTEND Era

    The Moment Before the Engine Turns Over There’s a version of golden hour that only exists at gas stations —…

    history, Japan, K-pop, KT, LG, Photography, Stress
  • Korean whale bone knife – Have you seen something like this before? Is this a practical knife or ment for decoration?

    Aug 16, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Korean whale bone knife – Have you seen something like this before? Is this a practical knife or ment for decoration?

    ​ My wife was handed down this family heirloom. Heres the story. Her grandfather served in the Korean war with…

    family, history, Korean War
  • Happy Independence day (Appreciation post)

    Aug 15, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Happy Independence day (Appreciation post)

    https://preview.redd.it/gcphzno0xgjh1.png?width=678&format=png&auto=webp&s=0a0ee5f282b233d83cbf64424ac10471fd649805 I am from India, and only today found out we share a common Independence day. There was a lady…

    history
  • NCT 127’s BLINGY: The Future Arrives in Formation

    Aug 14, 2026
    in Feeds
    NCT 127’s BLINGY: The Future Arrives in Formation

    NCT 127’s 7th Full Album “BLINGY” and the New Architecture of K-pop The table is already in motion. Chrome rods…

    Curiosity, Global Expansion, history, Japan, K-pop, Military, Question, travel
  • Balhae Descendants of Goguryeo Lineage Continued Their Family Line in Goryeo

    Aug 14, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Balhae Descendants of Goguryeo Lineage Continued Their Family Line in Goryeo

    One aspect of Balhae history that is often overlooked is what happened to members of its royal family and their…

    family, Goguryeo, Goryeo, history, Japan, japanese invasion, Joseon, Korean History, Military
  • What are some K-Pop groups that were specifically built around a member?

    Aug 14, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    For example, SM considered many different lineups of their trainees for SHINee, but the two constants were always Jonghyun and…

    BTS, history, K-pop
  • Jun. K (2PM) – Digital Single ‘Your Lips (feat. Red Velvet Wendy)’ (Concept Photo

    Aug 13, 2026
    in Feeds
    Jun. K (2PM) – Digital Single ‘Your Lips (feat. Red Velvet Wendy)’ (Concept Photo

    Jun. K steps into frame like a secret the industry already knows but still can’t stop replaying. In the concept…

    Global Expansion, history, Japan, K-pop, LG, Seoul, travel
  • RM and J-Hope at the Chris Brown/Usher show. Can we talk about the pattern here?

    Aug 13, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I say this as someone who genuinely enjoys BTS’s music (I was just at two nights in Baltimore). I’m not…

    BTS, history, Japan, Putin, TCL, Tokyo, travel
  • bts deserve the backlash the (will) receive

    Aug 13, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’ve been an army for some time now but with what has been happening this week with BTS, I dont…

    BTS, history
  • Where Did the Refugees of Balhae Go?

    Aug 13, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Where Did the Refugees of Balhae Go?

    The Migration of Balhae Refugees (Naetu, 來投) The migration of Balhae refugees (Naetu, 來投) refers to the historical movement of…

    Baekje, family, Goguryeo, Goryeo, history, Korean History, Military, Pyongyang
  • BIGBANG’s “BiiiG”: The Shape of Pop, Styled in Motion

    Aug 12, 2026
    in Feeds
    BIGBANG’s “BiiiG”: The Shape of Pop, Styled in Motion

    BIGBANG do not simply return to the frame — they re-enter it like a signal flare. In the new “BiiiG”…

    history, Japan, K-pop, LG, Seoul
  • By 2030, Korean women are projected to become the first population in human history with an average life expectancy above 90 years, surpassing even Japan, industrialized nations, in a shift driven by improvements in cardiovascular health and near-universal healthcare

    Aug 12, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    By 2030, Korean women are projected to become the first population in human history with an average life expectancy above 90 years, surpassing even Japan, industrialized nations, in a shift driven by improvements in cardiovascular health and near-universal healthcare

    By 2030, the average woman in South Korea is projected to live past 90. Not the lucky ones. Not the…

    driver, history, Japan, KT, Seoul, study, Warning
  • How would North Americans and Europeans view actor Ha Young’s great-grandfather controversy if framed through a similar lens?

    Aug 12, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    As a Korean, I’m writing this because I’m genuinely curious about how people from North America or Europe view this…

    apology, Controversy, Curiosity, family, history, Japan, Korean History, Koreans, netizens, Punishment
  • Ateez San is facing massive backlash from football fans right now

    Aug 12, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Apparently, when San was invited to do a ceremonial kick at a football game in Korea a couple of days…

    history, K-pop
  • 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
  • Looking for historical sites related to early Korean immigrant communities (pre-1950s)

    Aug 11, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’ve been researching early Korean diaspora history—specifically historical sites, former community halls, independence movement spots, or early churches outside of…

    history, Military
  • Karina is the most beautiful women in the world. Maybe even in history.

    Aug 10, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I have never seen a more beautiful women than Karina. Like seriously, she may be the most beautiful women in…

    history
  • ALL’N’s Dream Higher: K-pop’s New Moodboard Power

    Aug 9, 2026
    in Feeds
    ALL’N’s Dream Higher: K-pop’s New Moodboard Power

    Opening frame Rain falls like a special effect, but the shot feels less staged than summoned. In the teaser images…

    Global Expansion, history, Japan, K-pop, KT, purpose, Tokyo
  • As world rediscovers ‘The Odyssey,’ disabled actors in Greece explore pain of war

    Aug 9, 2026
    in News
    As world rediscovers ‘The Odyssey,’ disabled actors in Greece explore pain of war

    EPIDAURUS, Greece — As Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” renews global fascination with Homer, a cast of disabled and non-disabled performers…

    history
  • “Han” — a recurring theme in Korean culture

    Aug 8, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    “Han” — a recurring theme in Korean culture

    “Han” (한) is one of those Korean concepts that’s surprisingly difficult to translate into English. In many cultures, stories about…

    history, Justice, Seoul, travel
  • How different do you think T-ara’s fate would had been if the bullying scandal didn’t happened

    Aug 6, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I think its pretty safe to say that T-ara are one of the biggest what ifs in Kpop. After their…

    Controversy, history, Japan, Scandal
  • Why not just debut tuide in Pledis instead of wasting money on establishing a new label?

    Aug 4, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Hybe is about to debut a new girlgroup called tuide under a new label that they just established 2 months…

    history, LG
  • I randomly checked out a Kpop group called LPG and now I can’t stop wondering why nobody talks about them

    Jul 31, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I was going down a YouTube rabbit hole looking for forgotten Kpop songs and stumbled across a group called LPG…

    Curiosity, history
  • Seoul bets on hidden neighborhoods to keep tourists exploring longer

    Jul 31, 2026
    in News
    Seoul bets on hidden neighborhoods to keep tourists exploring longer

    Seoul is betting that its backstreets, markets and neighborhood landmarks can persuade visitors to linger beyond the city’s best-known attractions…

    history, Seoul, Tourism, travel
  • I finally became a BRIIZE… but I feel like I joined at the worst time

    Jul 28, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’ve recently become a new BRIIZE and I’m still trying to catch up with everything that’s happened around the group,…

    Controversy, Fame, history
  • As BLACKPINK approaches their 10th anniversary milestone, should they officially disband, or transition into a long-term hiatus group?

    Jul 28, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    With BLACKPINK reaching their 10th anniversary milestone this August 2026, discussions around their group contract status with YG Entertainment have…

    Discussion, history
  • Seoul isn’t drifting away from Washington

    Jul 28, 2026
    in News
    Seoul isn’t drifting away from Washington

    A particular narrative has taken hold in Washington policy circles: that Korea’s current government and the ruling party represents an…

    history, Military, Protest, Seoul
  • 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
  • South Korea’s First Five Presidents Explained

    Jul 27, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    If you know anything about Korea, you’ll know that talking about politics and history can be incredibly divisive. Generally, rather…

    history, Politics
  • Soobin in Focus: TXT’s Quiet Power Meets Dolce & Gabbana

    Jul 25, 2026
    in Feeds
    Soobin in Focus: TXT’s Quiet Power Meets Dolce & Gabbana

    He doesn’t enter a frame so much as settle it. In Soobin’s latest GQ Korea x Dolce & Gabbana pictorial…

    Celebrity, Global Expansion, history, Japan, K-pop, travel
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Latest Korean News

  • S-Oil’s Shaheen project to boost Korea’s petrochemical competitivenessAugust 18, 2026
    S-Oil said Tuesday that its Shaheen project, a massive petrochemical… Read more: S-Oil’s Shaheen project to boost Korea’s petrochemical competitiveness
  • Young Koreans lose trust in Lee government’s economic policiesAugust 18, 2026
    A 33-year-old office worker in northeastern Seoul’s Dongdaemun District surnamed… Read more: Young Koreans lose trust in Lee government’s economic policies
  • Endless Iran war quagmire reflectionAugust 18, 2026
    Endless Iran war quagmire reflection
  • HiteJinro brings Korean heritage to Dodger StadiumAugust 18, 2026
    Dressed in K-pop flair, HiteJinro’s iconic toad mascot took the… Read more: HiteJinro brings Korean heritage to Dodger Stadium
  • Riding K-culture wave, Korea secures massive Indian incentive toursAugust 18, 2026
    Riding a wave of global cultural popularity, Korea is rapidly… Read more: Riding K-culture wave, Korea secures massive Indian incentive tours

Latest Community Feeds

  • NEW Twice title track ranking game! Let me know what your top 5 are!!!August 18, 2026
  • What song is soty for you? Tell me your opinion and whyAugust 18, 2026
  • KCON LA 2026 ZEROBASEONE Sexy back cover (original: Justin Timeberlake) thoughtsAugust 18, 2026
  • Selective Outrage and Hypocrisy in K-Pop FandomsAugust 18, 2026
  • “Chinese Nationals Sweep Up Cicada Larvae”… 100,000 Won Fine at Hangang ParkAugust 18, 2026
  • K-pop acts that are nominated at the 2026 Video Music Awards.August 18, 2026
  • Was CLC’s concept changes a bigger killer for their group or was it CUBES poor management ?August 18, 2026
  • Busan’s Haeundae named South Korea’s first global tourism zoneAugust 18, 2026
  • South Korea president calls for military independence in wake of Trump call to cut joint drillsAugust 18, 2026
  • ‘A Shadow Can Only Cover One Side” ATEEZ San’s take on online hateAugust 18, 2026
  • More Creative/Diverse Kpop Events beyond cupsleeves and/or photo card trading?August 18, 2026
  • Youtube changes how it counts views: no more limits, even less meaninfullAugust 18, 2026
  • Belift’s marketing plan with Enhypen and Illit?August 18, 2026
  • South Korea Lighthouse Passport.August 18, 2026
  • Yi Ji-hang’s Pyojurok (표주록/漂舟錄, Record of a Drifting Voyage)August 18, 2026
  • Every single part of this Trump story about South Korea is wrongAugust 18, 2026
  • KpopThoughts Weekly Thread – (August 18)August 18, 2026
  • How do you guys feel about black oceans as a form of protest?August 18, 2026
  • When I used to live in Korea, my friends and I would buy hotteok together all the time 🥞August 18, 2026
  • How about a Korean kimchi keyring?August 18, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (24,774)
    • Community (18,380)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (5,071)
  • 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