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Japan

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • POW: The Flavor of Imagination in K-pop’s New Era

    Jul 8, 2026
    in Feeds
    POW: The Flavor of Imagination in K-pop’s New Era

    The room hums before the music even starts. A low light flickers across metallic textures, fabric catching like liquid chrome…

    Curiosity, Global Expansion, Japan, K-pop, LG, Photography, study
  • UNCHILD’s Yeeun Is the Blueprint for K-Pop’s Next Rulebook

    Jul 7, 2026
    in Feeds
    UNCHILD’s Yeeun Is the Blueprint for K-Pop’s Next Rulebook

    Six months into her career, the UNCHILD center is already rewriting what a K-pop face is supposed to look like…

    Japan, K-pop, LG, Photography, study
  • Any gay men have any experience dating/hooking up in Korea? Also, what’s the scene like in 2026?

    Jul 7, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    As someone who doesn’t live in Korea, I’ve been very curious about what it’s like dating in Korea as a…

    Japan, Social Media
  • 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
  • Should denial of Japanese war crimes be illegal in Korea?

    Jul 7, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Just like some european countries criminalize holocaust denial, Should denial of Japanese war crimes be criminalized in Korea submitted by…

    Crime, Japan
  • KARD’s Last Deal: Inside NOWHERE, the Album That Closes a Decade

    Jul 6, 2026
    in Feeds
    KARD’s Last Deal: Inside NOWHERE, the Album That Closes a Decade

    Nine years after reshuffling K-pop’s rulebook as one of its only co-ed acts, KARD are folding their hand — and…

    identification, Japan, K-pop, LG, Photography, purpose, Question, Scandal
  • Canada’s submarine decision and EU pivot is a mistake.

    Jul 6, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    This submarine contract is not simply a defense procurement. It was a deliberate and meticulous structural shift to ensure future…

    Discussion, germany, Hyundai, Japan, Kia
  • Winter in Motion, Styled for the Future | ELLE Korea x New Balance

    Jul 6, 2026
    in Feeds
    Winter in Motion, Styled for the Future | ELLE Korea x New Balance

    Winter Rules the Frame Winter doesn’t just wear a look; she turns it into atmosphere. In the K-pop era where…

    Celebrity, Gen Z, Japan, K-pop, study, travel
  • CORTIS’s James & Martin Wear Saint Laurent Like an Argument

    Jul 5, 2026
    in Feeds
    CORTIS’s James & Martin Wear Saint Laurent Like an Argument

    GQ Korea’s August 2026 digital cover doesn’t dress up two rookies. It hands the mic to two young creatives who’ve…

    BTS, Japan, K-pop, purpose, Teenager
  • idntt’s itsnotover Is the Sound of an Identity Finishing Itself

    Jul 5, 2026
    in Feeds
    idntt’s itsnotover Is the Sound of an Identity Finishing Itself

    Chrome Heart Ver. — Horizon closes a three-year experiment in real time, and the final unit isn’t arriving to wrap…

    Japan, K-pop, purpose
  • What are your family heirlooms?

    Jul 5, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I was reading some reddit posts, mainly from westerners about their oldest family heirlooms, with people talking about artefacts from…

    family, Gen Z, Japan, Joseon, Korean War, Koreans, Parents
  • Experience of seeing a Kpop concert in Japan (TXT MOA CON)

    Jul 5, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Had a Japan trip planned and TXT’s MOA CON Kobe shows worked out timing wise and I really wanted to…

    Ewha, fail, Japan, Lotte, Question
  • 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
  • Kpop companies should take the names of old disbanded nugu groups

    Jul 3, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    i think its very clear that right now we are in a dire state when it comes to kpop group…

    Japan, Peace
  • Hardest albums to get, and rarest album you own

    Jul 3, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I started collecting albums again now that I’ve graduated uni and have a full time job 💸. So I’ve started…

    Japan
  • The8 Is DAZED China’s Collective Future: SEVENTEEN’s Style Architect Arrives

    Jul 2, 2026
    in Feeds
    The8 Is DAZED China’s Collective Future: SEVENTEEN’s Style Architect Arrives

    The lighting rig hangs low, a bruised strip of white cutting through black, and beneath it Minghao Xu holds still…

    Japan, K-pop, Photography, purpose, Stress
  • In 1944, Imperial Japan formally conscripted almost all unmarried Korean women ages 12-40 into a forced labor system that had already been used for years to traffic laborers into sex slavery according to testimonies of former comfort women

    Jul 2, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    On August 23, 1944, Imperial Japan promulgated the Women’s Labor Volunteer Corps Ordinance. This ordinance gave the state a formal…

    fail, family, germany, Japan, Koreans, LG, Military, Punishment, Question, Sex, Tokyo
  • HEY Do you FANCHANT? And your opinion on it.

    Jul 2, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    So the fanchant is the official pre-planned chant that fans say at specific moments in a song. In Japan, some…

    Japan
  • 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
  • Sullyoon’s Quiet Fire for Harper’s BAZAAR Korea x Onitsuka Tiger

    Jul 2, 2026
    in Feeds
    Sullyoon’s Quiet Fire for Harper’s BAZAAR Korea x Onitsuka Tiger

    She doesn’t perform elegance. She simply exists inside it — and the camera has no choice but to catch up.…

    Japan, K-pop, LG, Photography
  • I Left K-Pop Spaces for 4 Months and I Honestly Needed It

    Jul 1, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Hello Reddit! Well, I’m finally back on this app, lol. I deleted it when ARIRANG dropped so I could just…

    BTS, Discussion, family, Japan, K-pop, purpose, Teenager
  • i-dle Comes Full Circle: Inside ‘We Made’ and Their Golden-Hour Reinvention

    Jul 1, 2026
    in Feeds
    i-dle Comes Full Circle: Inside ‘We Made’ and Their Golden-Hour Reinvention

    Nine years after “I made,” i-dle closes the loop with “We made” — a summer-drenched, Latin-pop-kissed statement that proves self-authorship…

    Japan, K-pop, LG, Photography, purpose, Seoul
  • KATSEYE: The Six-Eyed Vision Rewriting Global Pop

    Jun 30, 2026
    in Feeds
    KATSEYE: The Six-Eyed Vision Rewriting Global Pop

    Six Cities, One Heartbeat There’s a moment, somewhere between a polka-dot pout and a Coachella mainstage scream, when you stop…

    Gen Z, Japan, K-pop, KT, LG, Lotte, purpose, Seoul
  • Buying resale in Korea – how does it work?

    Jun 30, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I have received many, many dms asking about this; so I thought I would make a post about it to…

    BTS, Japan, Question, Seoul
  • 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
  • RESCENE’s “Pretty Girl” Era Is a Soft-Power Pop Moment

    Jun 30, 2026
    in Feeds
    RESCENE’s “Pretty Girl” Era Is a Soft-Power Pop Moment

    RESCENE is turning a comeback into a moodboard. With the Pretty Girl concept photos, the five-member group leans into a…

    Curiosity, identification, Japan, K-pop, purpose, Social Media
  • Global BTS conference to explore next chapter of Korean wave

    Jun 30, 2026
    in News
    Global BTS conference to explore next chapter of Korean wave

    As K-pop juggernaut BTS enters a new era following the release of its latest album, “ARIRANG,” scholars from around the…

    BTS, Japan, K-pop, Politics
  • Is the Korean Kisaeng/Gisaeng the exact equivalent of the Japanese Geisha?

    Jun 30, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I am just wondering, are the Kisaeng and the Geisha the exact same type of occupation? I once watched a…

    Japan, Joseon
  • It’s time for another battle of iconic K-Pop songs to see who’s the best! The 2nd All-Stars Rate is here!

    Jun 30, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Hello everyone! It’s that time once again to have the battle of the titans by pitting the most acclaimed songs…

    Cheese, Japan, K-pop, Survey
  • The Curse of Hong Myung-bo

    Jun 30, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    The Curse of Hong Myung-bo

    Germany and Japan have been eliminated in the Round of 32 today. They also happen to be two teams involved…

    germany, Japan, LG
  • THE ROOT OF EVERYTHING – GOT7’s JAY B steps into 2026 stripped bare

    Jun 29, 2026
    in Feeds
    THE ROOT OF EVERYTHING – GOT7’s JAY B steps into 2026 stripped bare

    GOT7’s Lim Jae-beom steps into 2026 stripped bare, artistically reborn, and more magnetic than ever — as Numéro Netherlands’ June…

    apology, fail, Japan, K-pop, Photography, purpose, Seoul, Tokyo
  • South Korean football… Remember that even great football teams can fail (Germany, Italy, England, Portugal, Brazil etc.). It was South Korea’s turn?

    Jun 29, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    The internet seems to be rife with videos saying that the SK mens team is terrible, a fraud. They certainly…

    fail, germany, Japan, Koreans
  • After watching a ton of Korean football streamers, here is my summary of Hong’s disastrous tactics.

    Jun 29, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    1) The back three is not necessarily the problem. Japan uses it in a flexible and modern way. But Hong…

    apology, Japan, Question
  • Seoul, Tokyo tighten defense ties with Japanese minister’s visit amid Beijing-Moscow show of force

    Jun 29, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Seoul, Tokyo tighten defense ties with Japanese minister’s visit amid Beijing-Moscow show of force

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

    Japan, Seoul, Tokyo
  • On a more positive note, what are your favorite Korea/Korean sports moments and accomplishments?

    Jun 28, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Changing the subject to something more positive in the world of sports, Koreans and Korea have blessed us with some…

    Japan, Koreans
  • 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
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Latest Korean News

  • Trump sidetracks NATO with new Iran strikes while in TurkeyJuly 8, 2026
    ANKARA, Turkey — U.S. President Donald Trump surprised NATO leaders… Read more: Trump sidetracks NATO with new Iran strikes while in Turkey
  • 3 family members found dead at apartment in OsanJuly 8, 2026
    Three family members have been found dead at an apartment… Read more: 3 family members found dead at apartment in Osan
  • How Korea shaped its story on the world stageJuly 8, 2026
    Korea’s image in foreign media has undergone a transformation, according… Read more: How Korea shaped its story on the world stage
  • Seoul warns pop-up stores flouting consumer, privacy lawsJuly 8, 2026
    Many of Korea’s highly popular pop-up stores — the transient… Read more: Seoul warns pop-up stores flouting consumer, privacy laws
  • KRX issues sell-side sidecar for KOSPI on sharp fallJuly 8, 2026
    Korea’s bourse operator on Wednesday activated a sell-side sidecar for… Read more: KRX issues sell-side sidecar for KOSPI on sharp fall

Latest Community Feeds

  • Recommend videos that made you laugh out loudJuly 8, 2026
  • half way through 2026 – what are your favorite cbs so far??July 8, 2026
  • I’m obsessed with Seulgis (sorry for butchering the spelling) 28 reasons album!July 8, 2026
  • Hybe is trying to sound unique but it just screams inauthenticityJuly 8, 2026
  • what are your grievances? discovering groups years after their disbandment…July 8, 2026
  • Do you support kpop groups that are quite known but is yet to enjoy true mainstream success?July 8, 2026
  • Is i-dle’s music a quality issue or a taste issue?July 8, 2026
  • Has i-dle reached the point where disbandment makes more sense?July 8, 2026
  • Common kpop discourse topics from the past that seem ridiculous/ outdated nowJuly 8, 2026
  • Tribute to Son Heung MinJuly 8, 2026
  • What RESCENE are doing is insane – the fast rise of Pretty GirlJuly 8, 2026
  • Why is Yunho (ateez) an all rounder yet one of the least popular member?July 8, 2026
  • How do people actually get places in fanmeets/fancalls?July 8, 2026
  • [MEGATHREAD] – WINWIN leaves SM Entertainment and NCTJuly 8, 2026
  • “WANNABE” might still be ITZY’s strongest identity songJuly 8, 2026
  • Korean food at home🏠July 8, 2026
  • I’m meeting up with my friend’s family when I go to korea this time.July 8, 2026
  • Happy birthday Son Heung-min!July 8, 2026
  • Disinformation law takes effect amid free speech backlashJuly 8, 2026
  • H2H encore discourse made me think of a bigger question on the reason SM is not debuting insanely talented main vocalists anymore, is it a choice by prioritizing other talents, dancing, visuals etc or they just genuinely did not have a Taeyeon Wendy NingNing type ready to debut with H2H?July 8, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (23,185)
    • Community (17,059)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (4,865)
  • 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