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

Parents

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • [Exclusive] Being Taken Prisoner is Treason in North, I Want to go the South” Interview with North Korean Soldiers Captured in Battlefield

    Feb 19, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    This media outlet has recently met the two North Korean soldiers dispatched to Russia and taken prisoner live by the…

    family, Korean Military, KT, Military, North Korea, Parents, Pyongyang, Question, study, Ukraine
  • Questions about military service

    Feb 18, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    I was born in Korea, but I moved to the States when I was one. The time is coming where…

    family, Military, Parents, Question
  • I FINISHED BASIC TRAINING!!

    Feb 15, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Hello 전우들, I just finished basic training. It was a long 7 weeks (including 설날) but I was able to…

    Korean American, Korean Language, Military, Parents
  • Korean laws

    Feb 10, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    is there anyway to get out of a contract in seoul (im like in dire need to break out of…

    Parents, Seoul
  • S.Korea’s bagel sensation London Bagel attracts multiple foreign investors

    Feb 9, 2025
    in Feeds, News
    S.Korea’s bagel sensation London Bagel attracts multiple foreign investors

    London Bagel Museum bgels and sandwiches  London Bagel Museum, which has ignited a bagel fad in South Korea, has drawn…

    coffee, Global Expansion, Japan, Jeju, Korean Food, Parents, Seoul
  • What is the most nugu k-pop group you know?

    Feb 8, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    I’m talking performing on the streets to promote, follow you back on ig, the only people listening to their songs…

    K-pop, Parents
  • How would I approach finding a friend from 20+ years ago?

    Feb 8, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Little backstory, I spent a lot of my early years in Korea before moving back to the US. I made…

    Parents, Seoul
  • Renouncing Korean Citizenship

    Feb 6, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    I am an American Born citizen with dual citizenship to Korea because my grandparents reported my birth to the Korean…

    Advice, family, Military, Parents, request
  • Who is the most vulnerable idol or former idol you know of?

    Feb 2, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    If you have heard about them, I used to be a fan of a boy group called ZE: A, and…

    family, Military, Parents
  • Lim Jangsu (림장수, 林長守) was a Korean Kamikaze pilot who died in a suicide attack on US navy vessels in the Philippines on Dec. 7, 1944; he was from Yeomju-eup near Sinuiju

    Jan 31, 2025
    in Community, Feeds
    Lim Jangsu (림장수, 林長守) was a Korean Kamikaze pilot who died in a suicide attack on US navy vessels in the Philippines on Dec. 7, 1944; he was from Yeomju-eup near Sinuiju

    These two Imperial propaganda news articles from January 1945 cover an ethnic Korean kamikaze pilot, Lim Jangsu (林長守). Lim Jangsu…

    family, history, Japan, Military, North Korea, Parents, Question, travel
  • Refresh my perspective – life in Korea

    Jan 30, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Greetings, Firstly, I’d like to apologise that this post may be lacking in focus since it relates to a few…

    Curiosity, fail, K-drama, K-pop, Koreans, LG, Parents, Perspectives, Question, Samsung, Samyang, Seoul, study, Teenager, travel
  • Why are Koreans obsessed with English names? I think that I’ve found an answer

    Jan 27, 2025
    in Community, Feeds
    Why are Koreans obsessed with English names? I think that I’ve found an answer

    I’ve found an interesting reason behind Koreans’ obsession with making English names, and I would like to share what I’ve…

    family, korean names, Koreans, Parents, Question, study
  • Question about dual citizenship

    Jan 25, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Hey everyone! I’ve tried looking this up and haven’t found anything similar to my situation, so I thought I’d ask…

    Parents, Question
  • Preference: English or Konglish

    Jan 25, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    In Korea, if you (native Korean) were chatting with someone who speaks both English and Konglish (like someone raised in…

    Koreans, Parents, Question
  • Korean dual citizenship when you’ve passed the age you need to claim it by (I’m 23F)

    Jan 21, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    Out of curiosity, would there be any way to get Korean dual citizenship still? My parents were both Korean citizens…

    Curiosity, Parents
  • When all of Korea was forced to bow to Yasukuni Shrine to worship Imperial Japan’s war dead as gods: a chilling moment at 9:15 AM on October 23, 1944

    Jan 21, 2025
    in Community, Feeds
    When all of Korea was forced to bow to Yasukuni Shrine to worship Imperial Japan’s war dead as gods: a chilling moment at 9:15 AM on October 23, 1944

    On October 23, 1944, during one of the darkest chapters of Imperial Japanese colonial rule over Korea, the entire peninsula…

    family, Japan, Koreans, Military, Parents, Peace, Seoul, Shopping, Tokyo
  • Am I a Koreaboo after all?

    Jan 11, 2025
    in Community, Feeds

    I’m posting in this subreddit to hear about actual Koreans’ opinion and not random people who know absolutely nothing of…

    family, history, Japan, Koreans, North Korea, Parents
  • Active-duty soldiers’ parents say, “We don’t want our sons to bear the stigma of being accomplices to a coup”… Criticism of the use of the Security Service

    Jan 9, 2025
    in Community, Feeds
    Active-duty soldiers’ parents say, “We don’t want our sons to bear the stigma of being accomplices to a coup”… Criticism of the use of the Security Service

    submitted by /u/ShadowWhisperer_007 [link] [comments]

    Parents
  • How to show gratitude to Koreans

    Jan 3, 2025
    in Community

    My American grandparents lived in Korea for about 25 years. He died recently, and the people from the local Korean…

    family, Koreans, Parents
  • Children study a lot of hours?

    Dec 31, 2024
    in Community

    I read a lot about children studying many hours is school and at home. What would you say is an…

    Parents, study
  • Giving parents money during New Years/Seollal?

    Dec 31, 2024
    in Community

    This may be more of a “Korean American” question. My wife and I are both Korean American and got married…

    family, Parents, Question
  • Do you use 반말 or 존댓말 with your parents?

    Dec 29, 2024
    in Community

    For context, 존댓말 is like polite form of speaking. the koreans will know. So both of my brothers use 존댓말…

    Koreans, Parents
  • Why do Korean people think making tons of money = being a genius?

    Dec 28, 2024
    in Community

    So this is kind of annoying: there are tons of Korean people in my company in their 40s and 50s,…

    Koreans, Parents, Question
  • Korean Organizes crime and corruption?

    Dec 23, 2024
    in Community

    I’m a 미국 but my parents are pretty old school Koreans who moved to the the US when I was…

    Crime, Koreans, Parents
  • A Summary of Government’s Upcoming Improvements to Low Birthrate Countermeasures in 2025

    Dec 22, 2024
    in Community

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayrc2dw0PU8 Video summary: Starting in 2025, South Korea will significantly enhance its support system for pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare. Key…

    birthrate, Parents, Stress
  • Number of Births rose 24% in Mapo-gu, 8.3% in Incheon YOY. Summary of Key Policies the Central Government Can Learn From and Benchmark

    Dec 17, 2024
    in Community

    Incheon’s Birth Promotion Policies: “i Plus 100 Million Dream” Policy Extends financial support for children up to 18 years (not…

    family, Parents, Stress
  • am I the only one who thinks this way? I don’t understand how people live here.

    Dec 16, 2024
    in Community

    for context im korean but grew up outside of korea for almost my entire life. my post is more of…

    Parents, Subway, Working in Korea
  • Korean names questions,,,,

    Dec 16, 2024
    in Community

    Yesterday I found out the names of my korean great-grandparents: 백 준목 and 신 복네요. I was very surprised to…

    korean names, Parents, Question
  • Want to learn Korean

    Dec 16, 2024
    in Community

    Power the title! My partner is of Korean background and when she takes me to meet her extended family, I’d…

    family, Parents
  • How Do I Find Birth Information?

    Dec 15, 2024
    in Community

    Hello everyone, I have zero clue what I’m doing and could use some guidance. I was adopted from South Korea…

    Koreans, Parents
  • a thought about some idols lives as children

    Dec 3, 2024
    in Community

    I really don’t know how to title this but I’ve been watching documentaries about idols before they debuted (such as…

    Parents
  • Fancy restaurants in Seoul

    Nov 30, 2024
    in Community

    Hi everyone! My fiancé and I are getting married in Seoul in a few weeks. We just want to go…

    Parents, Seoul
  • How jennie and Lisa’s father keep their identity hidden?

    Nov 28, 2024
    in Community

    They are one of the top celeb now and they get lots of lots of attention especially in their personal…

    Parents
  • Wealthy parents ditch Korean passports to get kids into international school

    Nov 26, 2024
    in Community
    Wealthy parents ditch Korean passports to get kids into international school

    submitted by /u/coinfwip4 [link] [comments]

    Parents
  • TW- SA Gaeun of Limelight/Madein was SA by her CEO and there are chances that the other members might have gone through something like this.

    Nov 22, 2024
    in Community

    “Forced Tongue Kissing, Groping…’ Rookie Girl Group Member Accuses Agency CEO of Sexual Harassment” [Herald Economy’s Kim Bo-young Reporting] A…

    Naver, Parents, request, Sex, Sexual Harassment, travel
  • dual-citizen flight ticket question

    Nov 21, 2024
    in Community

    Hello, I am a Korean American planning a Japan/Korea trip (US->Japan->Korea->US), and I have a quick question about the ticket…

    Japan, Parents, Question
←Previous Page Next Page→

Advice automotive Bibimbap BTS Busan Celebrity Cheese Controversy Coupang Crime Curiosity Discussion Donald Trump driver Ewha fail Fame family 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 Korean Military Koreans Korean Semiconductor Korean Technology KT Lawmakers 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 Stress study Suga Survey Tokyo Tourism travel Ukraine Warning

Latest Korean News

  • Soongsil University partners with Azerbaijan university for academic cooperationFebruary 12, 2026
    Soongsil University said it signed a memorandum of understanding with… Read more: Soongsil University partners with Azerbaijan university for academic cooperation
  • Europe cannot avoid an AI reckoningFebruary 12, 2026
    BRATISLAVA – When it comes to artificial intelligence (AI), Europe’s… Read more: Europe cannot avoid an AI reckoning
  • KOMSCO PR chief co-authors book to challenge misconceptions about public enterprisesFebruary 12, 2026
    Woo Jin-goo, top public relations official at the Korea Minting… Read more: KOMSCO PR chief co-authors book to challenge misconceptions about public enterprises
  • Ex-drone commander removed from office over martial law involvementFebruary 12, 2026
    The former chief of the Drone Operations Command has been… Read more: Ex-drone commander removed from office over martial law involvement
  • Foreign investors shift to net selling of Korean stocks in January: BOKFebruary 12, 2026
    Foreign investors turned into net sellers of Korean equities in… Read more: Foreign investors shift to net selling of Korean stocks in January: BOK

Latest Community Feeds

  • Can’t find use by date.February 12, 2026
  • Korean Tuna PancakeFebruary 12, 2026
  • What do you think about idols dating their fans?February 12, 2026
  • A simple lunch 😋February 12, 2026
  • HYBE Q4 2025 Earnings and their Future PlansFebruary 12, 2026
  • Two men killed by drug-laced drinks···Suspect in serial unexplained death cases at a Gangbuk-gu motel detainedFebruary 12, 2026
  • What is a remix of a song you love JUST as much as the original and is underrated?February 12, 2026
  • Can Asians stop fighting on social media for like 2 seconds?February 12, 2026
  • I find IVE far more engaging and interesting with more intense concepts?February 12, 2026
  • It’s way too expensive.February 12, 2026
  • Former interior minister sentenced to 7 years over role in martial law decreeFebruary 12, 2026
  • Gov’t to tighten real estate purchase rules for foreigners to curb speculative dealsFebruary 12, 2026
  • One thing I love about K-pop is how the concepts evolve over time. From fresh and bright concepts to edgy and dark concepts, K-pop has gone through so many phases.February 12, 2026
  • How did JYPE create a vocally strong group like NMIXX?February 12, 2026
  • Is South Korea finally tuning in for Ateez?February 12, 2026
  • What Are The Chances of ZB5 Having Success?February 12, 2026
  • Can we have a megathread to discuss the recent court ruling involving HYBE and Minheejin?February 12, 2026
  • About 180 military personnel identified as involved in Yoon’s martial law bidFebruary 12, 2026
  • Suga’s Agust D song has vocals at the start and I can’t find what he saysFebruary 12, 2026
  • How a SK Hynix became Nvidia’s vital AI allyFebruary 12, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (17,778)
    • Community (12,604)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (4,134)
  • 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