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

North Korea

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • EU adds 3 individuals, 4 entities to N. Korea sanctions list

    Oct 12, 2026
    in News

    The European Union (EU) on Monday added three individuals and four entities to its sanctions list targeting North Korea over…

    North Korea
  • Lee calls for breaking off from ‘vicious cycle of hostility’ for peace

    Oct 4, 2026
    in News

    President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday called for breaking off from “a vicious cycle of hostility and confrontation to create…

    North Korea, Peace
  • South Korea’s participation in the 2026 Aichi–Nagoya Asian Games has been marred by a persistent series of operational errors. These are some of the notable incidents.

    Sep 29, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    At the athletes village welcome event, performers dressed as Japan’s three great unifiers, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu,…

    Controversy, driver, fail, Japan, North Korea
  • South Korea demands apology from Ukraine over disclosure of North Korean POW transfer

    Sep 28, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    South Korea’s presidential office demanded an official explanation and apology from Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of disclosing the transfer of two…

    apology, Donald Trump, family, Koreans, North Korea, Pyongyang, request, Seoul, Ukraine
  • Number of S. Koreans with family in N. Korea down to less than 33,000

    Sep 27, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) — The number of South Koreans with family members in North Korea following their separation during…

    family, Korean War, Koreans, North Korea, Seoul
  • The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games

    Sep 19, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    A string of controversies targeted the South Korean delegation at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games ahead of Saturday’s opening ceremony:…

    apology, Historical Figure, Imjin War, North Korea, Protest, Tourism
  • North Korean defector recounts trafficking, sexual abuse in China in U.S. congressional hearing

    Sep 17, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    submitted by /u/BigCandidate5471 [link] [comments]

    North Korea, Sex
  • For South Korean citizens, do you usually refer to the North as 조선 instead of 북한?

    Sep 17, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I mean, I know that in standard SK language, they call North Korea ‘북한’ (bukhan) instead of its actual name…

    Joseon, North Korea
  • 100,000 North Koreans on Student Visas earns $800 million annually for regime

    Sep 16, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    … Among them, Chinese-based workers numbered 20,000 to 70,000, the highest, primarily working in labor-intensive industries such as simple processing…

    Koreans, North Korea
  • China, Russia stress strategic ties with North Korea in anniversary messages to Kim Jong Un

    Sep 10, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    submitted by /u/Extension-Finance179 [link] [comments]

    North Korea, Stress
  • North Korea eyes 2nd straight title at FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup

    Sep 9, 2026
    in News

    North Korea’s women’s football team continued to showcase its dominance at the youth level, cruising to a 2-0 victory over…

    North Korea, travel
  • China’s Huawei Technologies faces racketeering trial in New York

    Sep 8, 2026
    in News

    NEW YORK — Huawei Technologies, a leading Chinese tech company, faces a criminal racketeering trial in New York over charges…

    Blacklist, Crime, Lotte, North Korea, Protest
  • North Korea cracks down on teens’ K-pop-inspired finger heart gesture

    Sep 8, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

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

    K-pop, North Korea
  • South Korean man sentenced to 5 years in prison for spying for NK

    Sep 5, 2026
    in News

    A South Korean man has been sentenced to five years in prison for spying for North Korea, officials said Saturday.…

    Military, North Korea, Pyongyang
  • Seoul Reviews Possible Deployment to Strait of Hormuz

    Sep 4, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Cheong Wa Dae said on the 4th that the government is reviewing various options related to military readiness on the…

    Ewha, Military, North Korea, Seoul
  • FM Cho vows continued diplomatic efforts to revive NK-US dialogue

    Sep 3, 2026
    in News
    FM Cho vows continued diplomatic efforts to revive NK-US dialogue

    Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Thursday that South Korea will continue efforts to revive dialogue between North Korea and the…

    Donald Trump, North Korea, Peace, Pyongyang, Rest in Peace, Seoul
  • S. Korea says no changes to trilateral military drills with US, Japan after NK criticism

    Sep 1, 2026
    in News
    S. Korea says no changes to trilateral military drills with US, Japan after NK criticism

    South Korea’s military reaffirmed Tuesday the upcoming combined exercise with the United States and Japan will go ahead as scheduled,…

    Japan, Jeju, Military, North Korea, Peace, Pyongyang, Warning
  • Trump could discuss ‘tacit’ NK nuke acceptance with Kim in possible summit: ex-official

    Aug 29, 2026
    in News
    Trump could discuss ‘tacit’ NK nuke acceptance with Kim in possible summit: ex-official

    WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump could put on the table the “tacit” acceptance of North Korea’s nuclear program, a…

    Donald Trump, Military, North Korea, Peace
  • Do South Koreans identify with the term “Joseon”?

    Aug 29, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I’m curious whether South Koreans today still feel any sense of identification with the term “Joseon” (朝鲜). Of course, I…

    identification, Joseon, Koreans, North Korea
  • 65% of S. Koreans support nuclear armament: poll

    Aug 28, 2026
    in News
    65% of S. Koreans support nuclear armament: poll

    Nearly two-thirds of South Koreans support the idea of their country having its own nuclear weapons, a poll showed Friday.…

    Koreans, North Korea, Survey
  • North Korean voters leaving a polling station in Pyongyang after casting their ballots in the Supreme People’s Assembly elections. State media reported a 99.78% turnout with 100% approval for the ruling coalition, securing all 687 seats and re-electing Kim Il Sung as President. (1990)

    Aug 27, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    North Korean voters leaving a polling station in Pyongyang after casting their ballots in the Supreme People’s Assembly elections. State media reported a 99.78% turnout with 100% approval for the ruling coalition, securing all 687 seats and re-electing Kim Il Sung as President. (1990)

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

    North Korea, Pyongyang
  • Parasitic infections surge in Russia···health authorities “blame North Korean worker inflow”

    Aug 26, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    submitted by /u/Fine-Cucumber8589 [link] [comments]

    North Korea
  • U.S. Marines Cancel Drill With South Korea, Citing Iran War Demands

    Aug 24, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    U.S. Marines Cancel Drill With South Korea, Citing Iran War Demands

    The United States has canceled a joint amphibious landing exercise with South Korean forces that was set for next month,…

    BTS, Korean Military, Military, North Korea
  • N. Korea, Belarus near visa-waiver agreement for ordinary citizens: report

    Aug 24, 2026
    in News
    N. Korea, Belarus near visa-waiver agreement for ordinary citizens: report

    North Korea and Belarus are close to signing a visa-waiver agreement for ordinary citizens, Belarus’ state media has reported. The…

    North Korea, Pyongyang, travel
  • N. Korea denounces Japan’s record defense budget as ‘war preparation’

    Aug 22, 2026
    in News
    N. Korea denounces Japan’s record defense budget as ‘war preparation’

    North Korea on Saturday condemned Japan’s plan to set a record-high defense budget for next year, calling it a move…

    Japan, Military, North Korea, request
  • nuke against nuke

    Aug 21, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    nuke for nuke has been hot topic in korean politic with trump pulling back on joint military operation and trump…

    Military, North Korea
  • North Korea: Will Trump-Kim talks happen anytime soon?

    Aug 21, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    North Korea: Will Trump-Kim talks happen anytime soon?

    submitted by /u/2027danielle [link] [comments]

    North Korea
  • NK fires unidentified projectile toward East Sea: S. Korean military

    Aug 20, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    NK fires unidentified projectile toward East Sea: S. Korean military

    North Korea fired an unidentified projectile toward the East Sea on Thursday, South Korea’s military said. The Joint Chiefs of…

    Donald Trump, Korean Military, Military, North Korea, Pyongyang
  • U.S.-South Korea joint military drills are being cut short after Trump order, Seoul says

    Aug 19, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    U.S.-South Korea joint military drills are being cut short after Trump order, Seoul says

    Joint military exercises underway between the United States and South Korea are being cut short, both countries said, after President…

    Donald Trump, Lawmakers, Military, North Korea, request, Seoul, Social Media
  • Trump Seeks Summit With Kim Jong-un at November APEC

    Aug 19, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Trump Seeks Summit With Kim Jong-un at November APEC

    The Wall Street Journal, WSJ, reported on the 18th that U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing to meet North Korean…

    Donald Trump, North Korea
  • Trump says North Korea’s Kim has responded to his overtures

    Aug 18, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Trump says North Korea’s Kim has responded to his overtures

    Video of Victor Cha, Andrew Yeo, and Sydney Seiler here. submitted by /u/Ok-Huckleberry5836 [link] [comments]

    North Korea
  • People Power Party Blames Lee Jae Myung Administration for Trump’s Exercise Cut

    Aug 17, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    People Power Party Blames Lee Jae Myung Administration for Trump’s Exercise Cut

    There’s a lot of noise surrounding Trump’s latest political maneuver, but here’s a perspective I believe that is not being…

    Koreans, North Korea
  • Why South Korea Won’t Send Weapons To Ukraine

    Aug 17, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    Note: This is a long response, but it explains everything about why South Korea won’t send weapons or troops to…

    apology, Crime, Democracy, fail, financial crisis, germany, Japan, Korean Military, Korean War, Koreans, Military, North Korea, Protest, request, Scandal, Ukraine
  • What is this island like area in North Korea? What goes on?

    Aug 16, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    What is this island like area in North Korea? What goes on?

    I found an island area in North Korea called On Dong. I see buildings. This is northeast of Daeyaeonpeyongdo island…

    North Korea
  • Chinese People Celebrate Korea’s Liberation Day/광복절(光復節)

    Aug 15, 2026
    in Community, Feeds
    Chinese People Celebrate Korea’s Liberation Day/광복절(光復節)

    I am Chinese. Every year, August 15, Korea’s Liberation Day, is also the day on which China achieved victory in…

    Democracy, Japan, Koreans, North Korea, Peace, World War
  • Why Kim and Trump should meet

    Aug 14, 2026
    in News
    Why Kim and Trump should meet

    Since U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, speculation has repeatedly surfaced about a future meeting with North…

    Donald Trump, North Korea, Pyongyang, Ukraine
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

  • US Army receives 1st Hanwha-made mobile howitzer system: reportOctober 12, 2026
    The U.S. Army has received its first South Korean-made mobile… Read more: US Army receives 1st Hanwha-made mobile howitzer system: report
  • EU adds 3 individuals, 4 entities to N. Korea sanctions listOctober 12, 2026
    The European Union (EU) on Monday added three individuals and… Read more: EU adds 3 individuals, 4 entities to N. Korea sanctions list
  • [Closing Market] KOSPI Tumbles to 6,300 Range amid Foreigners’ Selling BombOctober 12, 2026
    On the afternoon of Oct. 12, the won-dollar exchange rate,… Read more: [Closing Market] KOSPI Tumbles to 6,300 Range amid Foreigners’ Selling Bomb
  • 한진, 3분기 매출 8898억 원 역대 최대실적October 12, 2026
    한진이 올해 3분기 9000억 원에 육박하는 매출을 올리며 역대 분기… Read more: 한진, 3분기 매출 8898억 원 역대 최대실적
  • [마감 시황] ‘외인 2조 폭탄 매도’ 코스피, 3%대 급락하며 6300선 주저앉아… 삼성전자·SK하이닉스 동반 추락October 12, 2026
    10월 12일 오후 서울 중구 하나은행 본점 딜링룸 전광판에 원/달러… Read more: [마감 시황] ‘외인 2조 폭탄 매도’ 코스피, 3%대 급락하며 6300선 주저앉아… 삼성전자·SK하이닉스 동반 추락

Latest Community Feeds

  • MAMA Awards is incredibly boy group favored (even more so now)October 12, 2026
  • I think Yena absolutely deserves best choreography this yearOctober 12, 2026
  • So LSM/A20ent just debuted groups known as A20 Lite and A20 Soul and it is everything I wanted from SM groups.October 12, 2026
  • Mnet Asian Music Award 2026 Digital Criteria ChangeOctober 12, 2026
  • YG to do something about BABYMONSTER’s rap lyricsOctober 12, 2026
  • Is there a kpop group whos songs you love but dont stan or even DISLIKE them?October 12, 2026
  • ATEEZ getting 5 MAMA nominations, including 2 Daesangs, feels like such a full-circle momentOctober 12, 2026
  • It’s quite interesting that Mimi ended up being the “variety show” member of the group from Oh My Girl.October 12, 2026
  • First Blackpink Deadline boxscores are officially reported (Hong Kong)October 12, 2026
  • LSM’s new Groups (Lite and Soul) debuts thoughtsOctober 12, 2026
  • My paycheck finally arrived. So I ordered jokbal and makguksu.October 12, 2026
  • Korean Pokemon snacks 🇰🇷October 12, 2026
  • aespa using prerecorded live AR in US tourOctober 12, 2026
  • Seafood knife-cut noodle soup (haemul kalguksu) with king dumplings [OC]October 12, 2026
  • Uiwang wang-song lakeOctober 12, 2026
  • KOTRA Helps 48 South Korean Companies Recover $52.44 Million in U.S. Tariff RefundsOctober 12, 2026
  • Woman unplugs freezer to charge phone, leaving shop owner with melted ice creamOctober 12, 2026
  • Korean container ship completes first round trip via Arctic RouteOctober 12, 2026
  • Google, Korea Near Deal on Exporting High-Precision MapsOctober 12, 2026
  • What’s your Thoughts on Go Hard by Meovv?October 12, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (26,504)
    • Community (19,780)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (5,326)
  • 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