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

netizens

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • Are we against sasaengs and obsessed fansite? why are so many people defending them?

    Jun 9, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    I’m honestly confused by how some K-pop fans or some regular netizens, respond to sasaeng or greedy fansite behavior. There’s…

    K-pop, K-pop Fans, netizens
  • Ningning Shines on ELLE China June 2025 Cover as aespa Gears Up for Anticipated June Comeback

    May 16, 2025
    in Entertainment, Feeds
    Ningning Shines on ELLE China June 2025 Cover as aespa Gears Up for Anticipated June Comeback

    Photo Credits: SM Entertainment. Elle China Ningning, the powerhouse vocalist and youngest member of aespa, is captivating fans once again…

    K-pop, netizens, Social Media, Tokyo
  • idols who are more popular than their official visual member?

    May 11, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    I’m just happy for Haewon’s success. Girl is thriving with commercial deals and variety show appearances left and right, thanks…

    netizens
  • P1Harmony Unveils Striking ‘DUH!’ U Version Concept Photos Ahead of 8th Mini Album Comeback

    Apr 28, 2025
    in Entertainment, Feeds
    P1Harmony Unveils Striking ‘DUH!’ U Version Concept Photos Ahead of 8th Mini Album Comeback

    Photo Credits:  FNC Entertainment With anticipation building for their upcoming comeback, P1Harmony has unveiled a fresh set of concept photos…

    Curiosity, Japan, K-pop, netizens, Tourism
  • Lee Dong-wook, a good man

    Apr 7, 2025
    in Community, Feeds
    Lee Dong-wook, a good man

    I wasn’t sure which sub to post in, so I hope here is suitable 🙂 My questions are: To what…

    Democracy, Koreans, netizens, Question
  • It’s not fun being in a kpop community anymore (opinion).

    Mar 28, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    I’m typing this after scrolling through multiple comments of kpop stans just being mean, zero motives, just plain mean. While…

    netizens
  • K-DIDDY: Kim Soo-hyun Scandal UPDATES

    Mar 27, 2025
    in Community, Feeds
    K-DIDDY: Kim Soo-hyun Scandal UPDATES

    Just a few hours ago the legal representative of Kim Sae-ron’s family held a press conference and released photos of…

    apology, family, Kakao, netizens, Scandal, Stress
  • Petition Disney to ban Kim Soo Hyun from casting in Knock Off

    Mar 17, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    K-netizens are sending mails to Disney to protest Kim Soo Hyun’s casting in “Knock Off”. KSH will be liable for…

    netizens, Protest
  • Netizens appalled by MBN’s new K-Pop audition program ‘Under 15’, calling it ‘child abuse’

    Mar 13, 2025
    in Community, Feeds
    Netizens appalled by MBN’s new K-Pop audition program ‘Under 15’, calling it ‘child abuse’

    submitted by /u/reddit1200 [link] [comments]

    K-pop, netizens
  • Lisa’s Alter Ego Sales Dip: Is This True or Just Misleading?

    Mar 4, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    BLACKPINK’s Lisa Faces A Drastic Dip In Album Sales, Sparking Defensive Reactions From Netizens, “Lisa Has Her Online Web Store…”…

    netizens
  • K-Pop’s Newest Sensation: Hearts2Hearts Featured in DAZED Korea

    Mar 4, 2025
    in Entertainment, Feeds
    K-Pop’s Newest Sensation: Hearts2Hearts Featured in DAZED Korea

    As the K-pop scene continues to evolve, SM Entertainment’s newest girl group, Hearts2Hearts, is already making waves with their captivating…

    K-pop, netizens, Seoul, Shopping
  • Cha Eun Woo Captivates Fans with Elegant Pictorial in ELLE Korea’s February Issue

    Jan 31, 2025
    in Entertainment, Feeds
    Cha Eun Woo Captivates Fans with Elegant Pictorial in ELLE Korea’s February Issue

    Cha Eun Woo, the charismatic member of the popular K-pop group ASTRO, has once again stolen the spotlight with his…

    Japan, K-pop, Mystery, netizens
  • BLACKPINK’s Rosé Stuns Fans with “Toxic Till The End” Release

    Dec 6, 2024
    in Entertainment
    BLACKPINK’s Rosé Stuns Fans with “Toxic Till The End” Release

    K-pop sensation Rosé, a member of the globally acclaimed girl group BLACKPINK, has set the music world ablaze with the…

    K-pop, K-pop Fans, netizens, Samsung
  • Time Turner is a mess and people keep giving money to people who can’t sing

    Nov 16, 2024
    in Community

    I’m really sorry if I’m going to piss people off but Time Turner is really just a fucking scam The…

    K-pop, netizens
  • Misinformation on HYBE’s internal documents, both sides are getting it kinda wrong.

    Oct 24, 2024
    in Community

    I wanted to give some clarity on the internal documents that were revealed. Because you have people either triviliazing but…

    netizens
  • Netizens harass the news reporter who reported about them insulting the car crash victims

    Oct 13, 2024
    in Community, Feeds
    Netizens harass the news reporter who reported about them insulting the car crash victims

    submitted by /u/starfighter1298 [link] [comments]

    netizens
  • Chinese netizens on Bilibili are shocked by the salary of Korean delivery man

    Oct 12, 2024
    in Community, Feeds
    Chinese netizens on Bilibili are shocked by the salary of Korean delivery man

    the thing is, there’s a Chinese influencer doing interview in Korea about how much regular Korean earns and how much…

    Korea Jobs, Koreans, netizens, study

Advice automotive Bibimbap BTS Busan Cheese Controversy Coupang Crime Discussion Donald Trump driver Ewha fail Fame family Genesis germany Global Expansion history Hyundai Japan Jeju Jjigae Justice K-pop K-pop Fans K-pop industry Kakao Kia Kimchi Korea Development Korean Comapny Korean Food Korean History Korean Military Koreans Korean Semiconductor Korean Technology Korea Zinc KT LG LG Electronics LG Energy LG Energy Solution Lotte martial law Medical Military Naver North Korea Nvidia Parents Peace 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

  • LG Electronics acquires Norway’s OSO in bold HVAC expansionJune 30, 2025
    (Courtesy of LG Electronics)  LG Electronics Inc., South Korea’s leading… Read more: LG Electronics acquires Norway’s OSO in bold HVAC expansion
  • Hanwha becomes 1st Korean insurer to foray into foreign banking marketJune 30, 2025
    Hanwha Life’s headquarters building in Yeouido, Seoul Hanwha Life Insurance… Read more: Hanwha becomes 1st Korean insurer to foray into foreign banking market
  • NPS, Scape acquire Aussie senior living operator Aveo from BrookfieldJune 30, 2025
    The residents of Aveo’s Derwent Waters Retirement Living, on the… Read more: NPS, Scape acquire Aussie senior living operator Aveo from Brookfield
  • HYBE to bring K-pop idol playbook to India, tapping local talentJune 30, 2025
    HYBE founder and Chairman Bang Si-hyuk featured in the April… Read more: HYBE to bring K-pop idol playbook to India, tapping local talent
  • POSCO sets sights on lithium production in USJune 30, 2025
    POSCO Holdings’ Chairman Chang In-hwa speaks at the 2025 general… Read more: POSCO sets sights on lithium production in US

Latest Community Feeds

  • “Why doesn’t ABC have as much recognition as XYZ if they are clearly better”June 30, 2025
  • South Korea overtakes US in cosmetics exports, trailing only FranceJune 30, 2025
  • which groups have a lot of fandom overlap together?June 30, 2025
  • Hankki Tongsal in USA?June 30, 2025
  • 2nd gen or 3rd gen groups that would probably be successful if they were a 5th gen groupJune 30, 2025
  • Me and my girlfriend made samgyeopsal with denjangjiggea at home.June 30, 2025
  • Tried Korean 누룽지오리백숙, soooo good😋June 30, 2025
  • If you invade their privacy, you’re not a gan, you’re the problem.June 30, 2025
  • $3 spaghetti and $2.5 chicken sandwich from South KoreaJune 30, 2025
  • homemade bibim guksu!June 30, 2025
  • Some idols aren’t just hardworking. They’re clearly being overworked, and we really need to stop romanticizing it.June 30, 2025
  • 2 injured in stabbing attack in Seoul’s Sillimdong; suspect jumps to deathJune 30, 2025
  • Garosu-gil a ghost town as small businesses wither with fewer passersbyJune 30, 2025
  • A small but meaningful posthumous tribute to one of K-pop’s tragic stories: Kim Sung-JaeJune 30, 2025
  • Is it just me feel Deja Vu with this song?June 30, 2025
  • 주머니쥐June 30, 2025
  • Special counsel to pursue legal action after Yoon declines part of questioningJune 30, 2025
  • I had these dumplings in my freezer and finally fried them up. I could only eat 3. So I added to my kimchi fried rice with lots of diced sweet peppers.June 30, 2025
  • Crypto-crazy investors make South Korea the best-performing market in AsiaJune 30, 2025
  • I feel really bad for Soyeon, from a creative’s viewpointJune 29, 2025

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (9,841)
    • Community (6,247)
    • Entertainment (600)
    • News (2,992)
  • 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