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

KT

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • Mold on fishcake (possible ciguatera)?

    May 15, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Mold on fishcake (possible ciguatera)?

    Does anyone know if you can get ciguatera from fishcakes for eomuktang? I got sick after getting this as takeout…

    KT
  • TXT wasting their talent and losing their uniqueness?

    May 15, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    TXT can pull off literally any concept like SRR vs Frost but they’re not rookies anymore, and their lore is…

    KT
  • When did so many groups start singing live on music shows?

    May 15, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I watched Music Bank in full for the first time in a long time (mainly for Billlie), and I was…

    KT
  • BIBI in Full Bloom: Rewriting Pop on Her Own Terms

    May 15, 2026
    in Feeds
    BIBI in Full Bloom: Rewriting Pop on Her Own Terms

    The Cover That Feels Like a Turning Point There’s a specific kind of stillness in BIBI’s Cosmopolitan Korea x Rieti…

    Curiosity, Gen Z, history, Japan, K-pop, KT, Seoul, Social Media, study, Tokyo, Warning
  • Delight Project sellers?

    May 13, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Does anyone know any websites besides Olive Young that sell authentic Delight Project snacks in Europe? EU preferably but anything…

    KT
  • the state of kpop regarding music quality

    May 13, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    this isn’t going to be a post about the “westernization” of kpop because i think that it’s a tired, overdone…

    KT, LG
  • Kazuha of LE SSERAFIM: Motion as Manifesto

    May 12, 2026
    in Feeds
    Kazuha of LE SSERAFIM: Motion as Manifesto

    “She moves like punctuation — every gesture makes the sentence matter.” Opening moment She appears in the frame like a…

    Japan, K-pop, KT, Photography, purpose, Seoul, travel
  • Why is Cortis blowing up so much and so quickly?

    May 12, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Redred is doing amazing on Spotify, Melon, Apple Music, and is super viral on TikTok. Even the Jonas Brothers posted…

    KT
  • Would OT4 Fifty Fifty been able to capitalize on Cupid’s hype if they stayed in the agency?

    May 11, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Let’s have this hypothetical scenario. There is no legal issues between two parties and they continued promoting Cupid like usual.…

    KT
  • THE LINE BREAKERS — CORTIS, W Korea June 2026

    May 11, 2026
    in Feeds
    THE LINE BREAKERS — CORTIS, W Korea June 2026

    CORTIS don’t follow the script. They wrote one that didn’t exist yet — and the world is still catching up.…

    apology, BTS, history, Japan, K-pop, K-pop industry, Kia, KT, purpose, Question, Stress, Teenager
  • A keychain is not a confession. Stop the brain rot.

    May 9, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    ​I just saw a TikTok “speculating” about Ni-ki’s personal life based on a literal lighter keychain, and I’ve never been…

    KT, Scandal
  • Weekly Social Media Thread

    May 9, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Did you see something on TikTok or Insta that made you go, “Hmmm?” Do you want to discuss some issue…

    KT, Social Media
  • Lesserafim and Katseye need better producers 😭😭

    May 9, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I mean their songs are not good at this point.. they are just trying to make a song that would…

    KT
  • NINGNING:The Girl Who Became the Future

    May 9, 2026
    in Feeds
    NINGNING:The Girl Who Became the Future

    From Harbin to the Met Gala — how aespa’s luminous main vocal became the face of Gucci, the jewel of…

    Celebrity, history, Japan, K-pop, KT, LG, Metaverse, Photography, purpose, Teenager
  • Favourite 5th gen male idols in certain roles

    May 8, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    i was curious what everyone else thinks of this, who do you think are the best rappers,dancers and vocalists of…

    KT
  • THE SHAPE OF MARK TUAN: GOT7’S FOREVER MAN

    May 7, 2026
    in Feeds
    THE SHAPE OF MARK TUAN: GOT7’S FOREVER MAN

    From a lunchtime audition in California to stadium lights across three continents — Mark Tuan has always known exactly what…

    family, history, Japan, K-pop, Kakao, KT, Photography, purpose, Seoul
  • What year or generation was K-pop’s golden era?

    May 6, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Just a chill question: What year or generation do you think was K-pop’s real peak? For me, it’s 2016-2019. Curious…

    BTS, K-pop, KT, Question
  • IOK is ruining Ablume’s(former Fifty Fifty’s members) momentum and it’s so sad

    May 5, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    No new MV No EP No album No promo No new socmed posts No festival booking No events No fanmeetings…

    KT, Social Media
  • ‘Pookie’ hitmakers return as 4: Fifty Fifty confirms comeback without Hana amid recovery

    May 5, 2026
    in News
    ‘Pookie’ hitmakers return as 4: Fifty Fifty confirms comeback without Hana amid recovery

    K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty will return this summer — but not as a full lineup. One member will sit…

    Discussion, K-pop, KT
  • Sakura’s growth as a performer is honestly so inspiring to watch.

    May 4, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I was rewatching some old Iz*One and HKT48 fancams of Sakura, and then compared them to her recent LE SSERAFIM…

    KT
  • Weekly Social Media Thread

    May 2, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Did you see something on TikTok or Insta that made you go, “Hmmm?” Do you want to discuss some issue…

    KT, Social Media
  • Editors “Now & Next” – 2 May 2026

    May 2, 2026
    in Feeds

    From the editors desk. This month, kpoppie feels a little louder than usual.Our traffic’s up, our X threads are spilling…

    BTS, Curiosity, K-pop, KT
  • Is UNCHILD’s name really as bad as people are saying?

    May 1, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’m going to be honest and say that I really don’t follow anything online about kpop. I have my groups…

    KT
  • SHINee Key Story Project – Now Open (Share a Moment That Meant Something)

    May 1, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    A few weeks ago I mentioned the idea of building a small story project where fans could share one specific…

    KT
  • Union wants foreign language teachers to know their rights

    May 1, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Union wants foreign language teachers to know their rights

    She broke her foot, and still had to go to work. While her students were busy taking a test, she…

    Busan, Crime, daegu, Daejeon, Discrimination, fail, Japan, Jeju, Koreans, KT, Minimum Wage, Seoul, Stress, study
  • Concert video editing and storage for newbies?

    Apr 30, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Hey all, I need some advice. I have a million 3 minute long videos where its 5 seconds of something…

    Advice, KT, Samsung
  • NMIXX is THAT group, because who’s doing it like them?

    Apr 30, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I love me a kpop group that experiments and goes against the grain in their own unique way AND its…

    KT
  • NARIN UNLATCHED: MEOVV’s Final Piece, Now Leading the Pack

    Apr 28, 2026
    in Feeds
    NARIN UNLATCHED: MEOVV’s Final Piece, Now Leading the Pack

    MEOVV’s Final Piece Steps Into Allure Korea x Golden Goose’s April 2026 Digital Cover — And Nothing Will Be the…

    Gen Z, Japan, K-pop, KT, Photography, purpose, Seoul, Stress
  • KiiiKiii x PANDORA: Every Key Unlocks a New Universe

    Apr 28, 2026
    in Feeds
    KiiiKiii x PANDORA: Every Key Unlocks a New Universe

    In a single year, KiiiKiii went from uncut gems to the undisputed jewels of fourth-gen K-pop — and their Marie…

    Gen Z, Japan, K-pop, Kakao, KT, Photography, purpose, Seoul, Social Media
  • Is K-pop Still Artist-Driven or Now Strategy-Driven?

    Apr 27, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    listen, years ago i actually liked HYBE’s music direction a lot more than i do now. it felt like there…

    K-pop, KT
  • Built a free site that tracks trending Korean food in the US + compares prices across H-Mart, Amazon, and Weee!

    Apr 27, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’ve been into Korean food for a while, and kept running into the same problem — something goes viral on…

    Korean Food, KT
  • Imagine for a moment that all 12 members of IZ*ONE decide to get back together for a one night anniversary concert. They agree to perform all of IZ*ONE’s best songs and also one song for each member from their Post-IZ*ONE work to perform as a full 12 member group. What would be your ideal setlist?

    Apr 27, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    For some reason their companies have both agreed to do this and have turned to you, yes you random redditor,…

    KT
  • SOULS RESTORED: Billlie’s Chapter Two Changes Everything

    Apr 26, 2026
    in Feeds
    SOULS RESTORED: Billlie’s Chapter Two Changes Everything

    Kpoppie Magazine | Digital Cover Story | April 2026 By Kpoppie Magazine Editorial Team | Velocity Entertainment Inc Japan /…

    Gen Z, Japan, K-pop, K-pop industry, KT, LG, Mystery, Photography, Stress
  • What kind of tteok is this and how best to store it?

    Apr 26, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    What kind of tteok is this and how best to store it?

    From Ktown Galleria, Los Angeles: The rice cake portion is slightly savory/salty and the inside is red bean filling, and…

    KT
  • Top 101 Most Streamed Artists on Youtube Music in South Korea in 2025

    Apr 25, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Anyways, this has been making the rounds on k-twitter and I thought it would be both interesting and instructive to…

    BTS, KT, LG
  • Weekly Social Media Thread

    Apr 25, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Did you see something on TikTok or Insta that made you go, “Hmmm?” Do you want to discuss some issue…

    KT, Social Media
←Previous Page Next Page→

Advice automotive Bibimbap BTS Busan Celebrity Cheese 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 Ukraine Warning

Latest Korean News

  • Finance minister resumes G20 trip after brief cancellation amid Cabinet reshuffleAugust 30, 2026
    Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol, who was included in President Lee… Read more: Finance minister resumes G20 trip after brief cancellation amid Cabinet reshuffle
  • SME biz sentiment up for 2nd month for Sept. but still below parAugust 30, 2026
    Korean smaller companies’ business outlook rose for the second consecutive… Read more: SME biz sentiment up for 2nd month for Sept. but still below par
  • Ticket scalping surges ahead of Seoul fireworks festival amid legal loopholeAugust 30, 2026
    Ticket scalping is once again rampant ahead of the Seoul… Read more: Ticket scalping surges ahead of Seoul fireworks festival amid legal loophole
  • President’s falling approval ratingAugust 30, 2026
    President Lee Jae Myung, whose approval ratings remained in the… Read more: President’s falling approval rating
  • Why foreign tourists are trading palaces for peaks in KoreaAugust 30, 2026
    Overseas visitors to Korea are increasingly choosing mountain peaks over… Read more: Why foreign tourists are trading palaces for peaks in Korea

Latest Community Feeds

  • Favorite song from every year you’ve been into kpop?August 31, 2026
  • Unification Church leader sentenced to 2-yr prison term in bribery caseAugust 31, 2026
  • Your thoughts on Gabriela by Katseye? Like it or hate it?August 31, 2026
  • What are some of your favorite fall songs?August 31, 2026
  • Hanwha Aerospace signs deal to export K9 howitzers to SpainAugust 31, 2026
  • Inside Seoul’s rapidly growing urban running sceneAugust 31, 2026
  • Feeling a bit conflicted after spending so much money on K-pop the past year as an adultAugust 31, 2026
  • Kevin Moon was not talking about Lesserafim and I don’t get why people say he was.August 31, 2026
  • TOP 10 SONGS on this week’s YOUTUBE MUSIC KOREA✨️ I find it so interesting to see how different the domestic vs western kpop spaces’ popular songs are and this week paints such a perfect picture, like I.O.I or Rescene are such Korean GP specific hits for exampleAugust 31, 2026
  • My friend moved to Australia at 9 and I’ve never once thought of him as a gyopo in 5+ years of knowing himAugust 31, 2026
  • What happened to the lore that some 4th gen groups had? Did we got an end?August 30, 2026
  • Which Kpop idol do you think is the most powerful vocalist?August 30, 2026
  • South Korea continues rising up and onward in terms of Military Technology.August 30, 2026
  • Stray Kids have become the first foreign male artist to hold a solo concert at Japan’s National Stadium!August 30, 2026
  • Has there or will there ever be another Chuu or JooE type idol?August 30, 2026
  • Ok but why is Katseye’s Hootie Frutti actually a bangerAugust 30, 2026
  • What does it take for a girl group to be called “the biggest girl group in the world” by global media outlets?August 30, 2026
  • Do you like TUIDE’s music/concept? Or do you think it’s “boring”?August 30, 2026
  • as a blink of 6 years, my biggest concern with blackpink has always been their lack of communication and i think it’s starting to limit their artistryAugust 30, 2026
  • It’s so amazing Enhypen won their first ever Grand Slam in music showsAugust 30, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (25,280)
    • Community (18,809)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (5,131)
  • 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