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history

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • 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
  • Shinsegae chairman to receive history lesson over ‘Tank Day’ fiasco

    Jun 15, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Shinsegae chairman to receive history lesson over ‘Tank Day’ fiasco

    submitted by /u/Ok-Huckleberry5836 [link] [comments]

    history
  • Off-Beat & On Fire: Minnie Steps Into Her Own Era

    Jun 14, 2026
    in Feeds
    Off-Beat & On Fire: Minnie Steps Into Her Own Era

    Before tonight’s stadium sell-out, Thailand’s quietly revolutionary pop star glows at the OWNDAYS OWN “your” DAYS pop-up — and reminds…

    history, Japan, K-pop, K-pop industry, request, Seoul, Social Media
  • Can Korea continue to be a strategic partner in the U.S. supply chain?

    Jun 14, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Can Korea continue to be a strategic partner in the U.S. supply chain?

    The Korean automotive market has long been dominated by domestic brands. However, there has been a significant change recently. In…

    automotive, history
  • Wonder girls and why I think 2027 may be the best time for a reunion.

    Jun 14, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Next February marks 20 years since the original Wonder Girls lineup debuted with “Irony.” I feel like this milestone deserves…

    history, K-pop, Social Media
  • ZEROBASEONE From Zero to the Top

    Jun 13, 2026
    in Feeds
    ZEROBASEONE From Zero to the Top

    Five members. One name. An entirely new altitude. How ZEROBASEONE rewrote the rules of reinvention and made the climb look…

    Discussion, history, Japan, K-pop, K-pop industry, KT, Seoul, Social Media
  • “it’s not that deep”…when is anything ever deep in kpop?

    Jun 13, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Some idol/ grp collabs with an problematic western artist with a history of making revenge corn and SA? “Oh, that…

    Fame, history, Sex, Social Media
  • Do you think SEVENTEEN already reached their career peak in 2023-2024?

    Jun 13, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’ve been thinking about SEVENTEEN’s career lately, and I honestly can’t help but wonder if 2023–2024 will eventually be remembered…

    history, K-pop, Question
  • Why has TREASURE’s growth seemed to stall despite being from YG?

    Jun 12, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’ve been thinking about TREASURE lately, and something doesn’t add up to me. TREASURE debuted almost 6 years ago under…

    history, K-pop
  • NO FEAR ON THE FLOOR: RIIZE Are Ready to Make the World Dance

    Jun 11, 2026
    in Feeds
    NO FEAR ON THE FLOOR: RIIZE Are Ready to Make the World Dance

    The Floor Is Theirs There’s a moment — right at the cusp of a new era — when a group…

    Gen Z, history, Japan, K-pop, KT, purpose, Seoul, Tokyo
  • Even with the highly structured release schedule of kpop albums do delays ever happen

    Jun 11, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Has there ever been a time in kpop history where an album got pushed to a later date than usual…

    history
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Latest Korean News

  • Korea designates 15th-century ceramic flask, 4 rare Buddhist artworks as nat’l treasuresJune 26, 2026
    A rare 15th-century ceramic flask that was smuggled out of… Read more: Korea designates 15th-century ceramic flask, 4 rare Buddhist artworks as nat’l treasures
  • LS vice chairman highlights North America as cornerstone of global growth strategyJune 26, 2026
    LS Group Vice Chairman Myung Roe-hyun underscored North America as… Read more: LS vice chairman highlights North America as cornerstone of global growth strategy
  • Long road ahead for Korea-US nuclear sub cooperation, says ex-US officialJune 26, 2026
    SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — Korea’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines still… Read more: Long road ahead for Korea-US nuclear sub cooperation, says ex-US official
  • [PHOTO] Korea Times hosts visa information webinar for international studentsJune 26, 2026
    Lee Seong-je, top right, a career development specialist at the… Read more: [PHOTO] Korea Times hosts visa information webinar for international students
  • From robot football to AI art, Seoul gamifies tech for kidsJune 26, 2026
    As the summer heat settles over the capital, Seoul is… Read more: From robot football to AI art, Seoul gamifies tech for kids

Latest Community Feeds

  • Tried Mandu Sujebi(Korean Hand-Torn Noodle Soup with Dumplings) in Seoul for just $5. The spicy kick at the end caught me off guard!June 26, 2026
  • What is this sauce at kbbq places?June 26, 2026
  • Scenarios for South Korea to advance to the Round of 32June 26, 2026
  • North Korean soldier crosses border into South Korea in suspected defectionJune 26, 2026
  • Man in ‘drugged zombie’ video released after drug test comes back negativeJune 26, 2026
  • Am I reaching or does the woman in Ateez “Bad” MV remind anyone else of Manon?June 26, 2026
  • Samsung readies $648 billion bet, report says, as AI boom reshapes South KoreaJune 26, 2026
  • Chef Kim’s Jjajang ToppokiJune 26, 2026
  • Stirred kimchiJune 26, 2026
  • Am I doing it right?June 26, 2026
  • What surprised you most when seeing K-Pop artists in person?June 26, 2026
  • Heeseung’s Debut Has Made Me Nostalgic and Solidified How Real His Departure isJune 26, 2026
  • Big Leap looking for an album/cassette tape from 40 years ago……June 26, 2026
  • So much hate for coach HMB of the SKMNT. Lets not forget the real problem: KFAJune 26, 2026
  • Idol names you mispronounced so badly or for an embarrassingly long time?June 26, 2026
  • Hearts2Hearts’ Lemon Thang is exactly the summer bop we neededJune 25, 2026
  • Songs with theater/musical-like stages/performances?June 25, 2026
  • Johnny Somali loses appeal in South Korea court as judges uphold six month sentence with laborJune 25, 2026
  • Whats your dream collab? Even if its impossibleJune 25, 2026
  • Is 2026 the first year that 5th gen is outperforming 4th gen?June 25, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (22,694)
    • Community (16,645)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (4,804)
  • 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