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Japan

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • Hearts2Hearts: The New Pulse Rewiring Global Pop Culture

    Sep 26, 2026
    in Feeds

    Hearts2Hearts: The SM Entertainment Force Rewiring Global Pop Culture The Electric Hour The afternoon air in the outer suburban woodland…

    Japan, K-pop, LG, Seoul, Tokyo
  • We all love to hate on the kpop system and talk about its losers, but we never talk about its winners

    Sep 26, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    We’ve all heard this same story before. X idol of 10+ years reveal they’ve never made any money. We hear…

    BTS, fail, family, Japan, Teenager
  • MEOVV Gawon: The New Blueprint of Global Pop & Fashion Power

    Sep 25, 2026
    in Feeds

    MEOVV Gawon Rules the Street: DAZED Korea October 2026 Pictorial Preview The Mid-Street Static and the Pulse of Gawon The…

    Japan, K-pop, KT, LG
  • [PHOTOS] S. Korea bows to fans after 5-0 loss to Japan

    Sep 25, 2026
    in News

    South Korea’s Kim Jin-uk pitches during the first match of the Super Round against Japan on Day 6 of the…

    Japan
  • LISA Rules the New Global Order: Inside Her Electric Paradigm Shift

    Sep 25, 2026
    in Feeds

    The shutter fires with the rhythm of a high-speed engine. Under the blinding California sun, Lalisa Manobal doesn’t pose so…

    Japan, K-pop
  • Babymonster Sets Record at Kyocera Dome.

    Sep 25, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I know people hate this group. Heck I even too hate their Title tracks. But, feats are achieved to be…

    Discussion, Japan
  • Digital Cover Story: KiiiKiii Haum x Rockfish Weatherwear (Vogue Korea October 2026)

    Sep 24, 2026
    in Feeds

    Electric Pulse: How KiiiKiii’s Haum Redefined Pop’s Visual DNA The Neon Distortion The hum of high-voltage LED panels vibrates through…

    Global Expansion, Japan, K-pop, KT, LG, Photography, Seoul, Social Media
  • [PHOTOS] S. Korean sprinters advance to semifinals

    Sep 24, 2026
    in News

    South Korea’s Daniel Biwesa, left, competes in the men’s 100m Round 1 on Day 5 of the 20th Asian Games…

    Japan
  • Was Southeast Asia ever a big consumer for K-pop and its industry?

    Sep 24, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Recently I had made a post about K-pop losing its footing in Southeast Asia due to the rise of local…

    Japan, K-pop, K-pop Fans
  • THE ARCHITECTURE OF EASE: HOW ALLDAY PROJECT’S ANNIE IS REDEFINING GLOBAL POP CULTURE

    Sep 23, 2026
    in Feeds

    In the quiet, stark monochrome landscape of the studio set, Annie holds a black leather Alo Yoga tote flat against…

    Japan, K-pop, KT, Seoul, Tokyo
  • Apparently SMTR25 final line up is locked in, but with a twist.

    Sep 23, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Recently, the fandom has been restless especially with no debut plans showing in the Q4 schedule of SM, so fans…

    Japan
  • I want to immigrate someday, but I’m trying to understand how much of that desire is really mine

    Sep 23, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’m a 32M Korean living in Busan, and I want to immigrate someday—probably to Canada. Living in Korea feels more…

    Busan, coffee, Japan, Koreans, travel
  • Which K-pop groups have pivoted concepts and even member positions across different countries?

    Sep 23, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Groups often do new singles in Japan vs. in Korea, and sometimes that extends to the U.S./etc. I’ve always wondered…

    Curiosity, Japan, K-pop, study
  • Vernon x The8: The Avant-Garde Architects Redefining Global Pop Culture

    Sep 22, 2026
    in Feeds

    FEATURE STORY Sparks in the Dark: The Kinetic Surge of Vernon and The8 The air inside the soundstage is heavy…

    Japan, K-pop, KT, Perspectives, Photography, Seoul
  • This year has been so successful for hearts2hearts! Do you think they will get a full album next year? What expectations do you have?

    Sep 22, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    This year has been so amazing for them! Focus despite being released last year I think it has still maintain…

    Japan, K-pop, LG
  • Quiet Velocity: How &TEAM’s EJ and Taki Are Rewriting Pop’s Visual Code

    Sep 22, 2026
    in Feeds

    The Static Before the Thunder The shutter clicks, but the silence in the Seoul studio feels louder than the music.…

    history, Japan, K-pop, Seoul
  • How the Required Level for K‑POP Girl Groups Has Changed from Past to Present

    Sep 22, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    You still see people everywhere insisting things like “2nd‑gen and early 3rd‑gen girl groups were way more skilled!” or “Of…

    Japan, Social Media
  • THE SILENT VOLTAGE: ANTON IS REDEFINING THE K-POP BLUEPRINT

    Sep 20, 2026
    in Feeds

    The shutter clicks, but the atmosphere in the studio doesn’t break—it holding its breath. Beneath the stark, directional strobe lights…

    Celebrity, Gen Z, Japan, K-pop, LG, Mystery, Photography, Seoul
  • Reflections on the parallels between BoA the LIVE 2026 and 2006

    Sep 20, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Yesterday, BoA wrapped up her tour for BoA the LIVE 2026. It’s the 20th anniversary of the BoA the LIVE…

    fail, Japan, Teenager
  • [PHOTOS] South Korean men’s basketball team beats Japan at Asian Games final

    Sep 20, 2026
    in News

    The men’s basketball final game between South Korea and Japan takes place during the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at the…

    Japan
  • S. Korea beats Japan for men’s basketball gold

    Sep 20, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    submitted by /u/rdh2dmd [link] [comments]

    Japan
  • NMIXX announces their comeback on Oct 19th with their 6th EP “Strange Muse”

    Sep 20, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Following the two word title pattern of “Blue Valentine” NMIXX announces their 2nd comeback this year after “Heavy Serenade” We…

    Japan
  • ALPHA DRIVE ONE: Sangwon & Anxin Reframe Global Pop Culture | Super ELLE Korea

    Sep 19, 2026
    in Feeds

    ALPHA DRIVE ONE Sangwon & Anxin: The Duo Rewriting Pop’s Visual Code DIGITAL COVER STORY The Kinetic Shift The studio…

    Global Expansion, Japan, K-pop, Seoul
  • Why do kpop groups with fluent English speakers not sing/speak the English parts?

    Sep 19, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    A big example im thinking of this is Yunjin from Le Sserafim. I cringe big time with the others sing…

    Japan
  • GOT7 Jinyoung: The Architectural Modernist Defining K-Pop’s New Renaissance

    Sep 19, 2026
    in Feeds

    The Skyline Horizon The air atop the rooftop soundstage in central Seoul carries the crisp, electric bite of early autumn.…

    Global Expansion, Japan, K-pop, Photography, Seoul, study
  • Global rate-hike cycle in view as central banks take on inflation

    Sep 18, 2026
    in News

    FRANKFURT — The prospect of a new global interest rate-tightening cycle is coming into view as some of the world’s…

    Japan
  • Coupang turns to Taiwan as key hub for global growth

    Sep 18, 2026
    in News

    Taiwan has emerged as a key strategic hub for Coupang’s global growth, as the company brings fast delivery to more…

    Coupang, Japan
  • Architectural Quiet: How Jung Chaeyeon Is Rewriting Global Pop Luxury

    Sep 17, 2026
    in Feeds

    The Quiet After the Storm The studio light hits the warm plaster wall in a single, precise slash of amber.…

    Demographics, Japan, K-pop, Korean Art, LG, Seoul
  • “Abe Shinzo’s Real Killer Was Korean?”… Absurd Plot Discovered in Japanese Film Source

    Sep 17, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Well, Many Koreans (regardless of North or South) have loathed Abe. And in the past, a Korean really have successfully…

    Japan, Koreans
  • The Architecture of Aftershocks: How TXT’s Yeonjun Is Rewriting Global Pop [Updated]

    Sep 16, 2026
    in Feeds

    YEONJUN: The Blueprint of Global Pop’s New High-Fashion Era The Pulse Before the Drop The shutter clicks with the rapid-fire…

    Japan, K-pop, Seoul, Social Media, Stress
  • Luminous Refraction: ZB1 Sung Hanbin Reframes Global Stardom in ELLE Korea x Swarovski

    Sep 15, 2026
    in Feeds

    The Sound of Prism Light Breaking The studio line is dead quiet right up until the exact micro-second the shutter…

    Japan, K-pop, KT, Photography, Seoul
  • Revisiting the discussion with all K‑pop girl group fans: Who do you think is the “greatest center in K‑pop girl group history”? My pick is Jennie from BLACKPINK — the King LeBron of girl groups.

    Sep 15, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    This is genuinely difficult. It’s true that Jennie performs almost every position at a high level, and as an ambassador…

    Discussion, history, Japan, LG
  • Bessent defends ‘modest’ cost of US-Japan joint yen intervention

    Sep 15, 2026
    in News

    U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday defended his agency’s participation with Japan in a joint currency intervention to prop…

    Japan, Tokyo
  • ONE OR EIGHT: The Architecture of Global Pop’s Next Paradigm

    Sep 15, 2026
    in Feeds

    ONE OR EIGHT ‘EN-GÏNE’: The Avex Powerhouse Redefining Global Pop Culture The Voltage in the Control Room The air in…

    Japan, KT, Seoul, Tokyo
  • High-Voltage Velocity: CRAVITY Jungmo Redefines Global Pop’s Electric Era

    Sep 13, 2026
    in Feeds

    BLAZE Magazine | September 2026 Issue Digital Cover & Pictorial Preview Digital Cover Story The studio air in Gangnam tastes…

    Japan, K-pop, KT, Seoul
  • Hyunjin Rewrites American Heritage in GUESS Fall 2026 Campaign

    Sep 13, 2026
    in Feeds

    The Horizon Is Burning The sky over the California desert is bleeding a bruised, electric teal into gold, but nobody…

    history, Japan, K-pop, KT, Seoul, Stress, Tokyo
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Latest Korean News

  • Wall Street rallies toward an all-time highOctober 6, 2026
    NEW YORK — The U.S. stock market is closing in… Read more: Wall Street rallies toward an all-time high
  • The world has nearly burned through its oil stockpile buffer, executives sayOctober 6, 2026
    LONDON — The amount of oil in storage that is… Read more: The world has nearly burned through its oil stockpile buffer, executives say
  • Cornell brings in ex-Justice official to review school’s handling of sex assault claimsOctober 6, 2026
    ITHACA, N.Y. — A former high-ranking Department of Justice official… Read more: Cornell brings in ex-Justice official to review school’s handling of sex assault claims
  • Californians blast Trump remark that Iran could ‘take out’ Los Angeles, San DiegoOctober 6, 2026
    LOS ANGELES — President Donald Trump suggested to a crowd… Read more: Californians blast Trump remark that Iran could ‘take out’ Los Angeles, San Diego
  • French riot police fire tear gas as more than 250,000 rally nationwide for school fundingOctober 6, 2026
    PARIS — Police fired tear gas to control crowds in… Read more: French riot police fire tear gas as more than 250,000 rally nationwide for school funding

Latest Community Feeds

  • I’m banned from Kpoopheads and didn’t even know that was possible LOLLLOctober 7, 2026
  • What are examples of positive representation/inspiration of American/Black music in Korean music?October 7, 2026
  • Selfishly as a concert goer, western kpop concerts are pretty good and I don’t want kpop to become too big in the westOctober 7, 2026
  • Who would win the Asian Pop Grammy if it were a K-pop group?October 7, 2026
  • Korea plans easier visa rules for Korean-speaking students, new gap-year trackOctober 7, 2026
  • Nuri rocket lifts off on fifth mission with 15 satellites aboardOctober 7, 2026
  • What is ONE album that hit differently to you?October 7, 2026
  • The pitch correction in Lee Mujin’s show is insane, why even call it live lol?October 7, 2026
  • I have questions regarding Grammy as how many people will be voting for that Asian category out of total voting body? And does Voting Members matter?October 7, 2026
  • So ITZY really did finish their world tour without a single stop in North or South AmericaOctober 7, 2026
  • Tour Stages of recent groups in comparisonOctober 7, 2026
  • Genuine question, how many different ways did HyunA screw up her career?October 7, 2026
  • Do you think rescene will be a fad or continue their popularity?October 7, 2026
  • Go see Monsta X on this NA tour if you canOctober 7, 2026
  • 동해안October 7, 2026
  • More than half of Koreans support keeping death penalty on books, survey findsOctober 7, 2026
  • South Korea Plans $3.5bn Frontier AI Programme to Challenge Global LeadersOctober 7, 2026
  • Ukraine Accuses South Korea of Aiding Russia With Petroleum ShipmentsOctober 7, 2026
  • What are your updated K-pop predictions for 2027?October 7, 2026
  • please help me find this mystery mv before i lose my mindOctober 7, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (26,345)
    • Community (19,663)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (5,296)
  • 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