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

Seoul

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • Beyond Logic: How XLOV Rewrote the DNA of Global Pop Culture

    Oct 5, 2026
    in Feeds

    Digital Cover Story The air inside the set smells of scorched lacquered wood, sharp leather, and cold studio ozone. Four…

    Global Expansion, Japan, K-pop, KT, LG, Photography, Seoul
  • MEOVV ‘GO HARD’: The Black Label’s Vanguard Weaponize High Fashion & Hardcore Pop

    Oct 5, 2026
    in Feeds

    The neon arcade hums with low-frequency static, casting electric blue and violet shadows across chrome surfaces and coin slots. Five…

    Global Expansion, Japan, K-pop, KT, Seoul, Stress, Tokyo
  • Shockwaves & High Voltage: Inside X:IN’s Global ‘Chain Reaction’ Era

    Oct 4, 2026
    in Feeds

    The Static Before the Catalyst The studio air in Seoul smells like heated vinyl, leather polish, and ozone. Outside, it…

    BTS, Japan, K-pop, KT, Photography, Seoul, Stress, Tokyo
  • Was I being overly friendly? (Or is sharing food a boundary for Westerners?)

    Oct 4, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I was at Seongsu Station with a friend visiting from Switzerland. He couldn’t resist the smell of Deli Manjoo, so…

    Seoul
  • BIBI’s Reign: How K-Pop’s Ultimate Iconoclast Is Rewriting Global Culture

    Oct 3, 2026
    in Feeds

    BIBI: The Unfiltered Vanguard Redefining K-Pop & Global High Fashion Digital Cover Story: The Unfiltered Vanguard The strobe doesn’t just…

    BTS, Japan, K-pop, KT, LG, Seoul
  • Han Soo-jin’s Vivaldi perspective rooted in seaside souvenirs of Isle of Man

    Oct 3, 2026
    in News

    The Isle of Man, a British Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland, holds special musical…

    Busan, Parents, Seoul
  • Cha Seung-won, Ra Mi-ran to play husband and wife in action comedy

    Oct 3, 2026
    in News

    A family that gathers at a hospital to visit a sick relative becomes caught up in a terrorist attack. Three…

    family, Seoul
  • Quiet Precision, Absolute Power: ITZY’s Chaeryeong Redefines the Modern Muse

    Oct 3, 2026
    in Feeds

    The Lens Freezes, the Pulse Doesn’t The shutter clicks, but the frame barely contains the atmosphere. In a stark, minimalist…

    BTS, Global Expansion, Japan, K-pop, KT, Photography, Seoul, Stress
  • Korea play Venezuela to goalless draw in 3rd match under Moreno

    Oct 2, 2026
    in News

    Korea played Venezuela to a goalless draw Friday in their third match under their interim boss Robert Moreno. Korea managed…

    Seoul
  • Seoul says written proof of NK POW secrecy deal exists

    Oct 2, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    “It is clear that the two countries agreed to keep the transfer secret,” the official told reporters. “The Ukrainian side…

    apology, Seoul, Ukraine
  • Seoul warns ‘further action’ if Ukraine does not apologise over prisoner-of-war row

    Oct 2, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    submitted by /u/Tough_Pause6041 [link] [comments]

    Seoul, Ukraine
  • SK Chairman Sells Shares to Fund Divorce Property Split

    Oct 2, 2026
    in News

    On June 26, SK Chairman Chey and Roh Soh-yeong, director of Art Center Nabi, are appearing at the second hearing…

    Seoul
  • Cornell and Burning Sun: What’s behind the comparisons?

    Oct 1, 2026
    in News

    SEATTLE — The sexual assault allegations involving seven current and former Cornell University students are drawing comparisons to Korea’s Burning…

    Korean American, Prostitution, Question, Scandal, Seoul, Sex, sexual assault, TCL
  • Seoul Extreme Sports

    Oct 1, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    There’s a slackline event in Seoul for extreme sports.” “Just trying a simple challenge, but what is this?! 🚲 submitted…

    Seoul
  • Happy Birthday to Me!!!

    Oct 1, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    My favorite Korean BBQ spot in Seoul 🥩🤍 They even gave me a complimentary seaweed soup for my birthday!! submitted…

    Seoul
  • TWICE Jihyo: The Unstoppable Pulse of Global Pop & High Fashion

    Sep 30, 2026
    in Feeds

    The Absolute Center of the Stage The shutter clicks with the speed of an automatic weapon, but Jihyo doesn’t flinch.…

    Discussion, Global Expansion, history, Japan, K-pop, Seoul
  • US users turn to Korean netizens in hunt for Cornell defendant Winston Lee

    Sep 30, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    SEATTLE — The sprawling online hunt for information about Winston Lee, a Korean student who is among seven defendants in…

    family, Korean American, Military, netizens, Seoul, Sex, sexual assault, Social Media
  • Kim Doyeon: The Unstoppable Pulse of High Fashion and Modern Pop

    Sep 29, 2026
    in Feeds

    The Gravity of the Frame The shutter clicks, but the room doesn’t reset. It breathes around her. Under the sharp…

    Japan, K-pop, KT, Photography, Seoul, Tokyo
  • Korea fall to Uruguay for 1st loss under Moreno

    Sep 28, 2026
    in News

    Korea took a 4-1 beating against Uruguay in their men’s football friendly match in Seoul on Monday, the team’s first…

    Seoul, Son Heung-min
  • Newly elected officials report average assets of 1.35 billion won

    Sep 28, 2026
    in News

    Officials newly elected in June’s local elections reported average assets of 1.35 billion won ($996,500), according to Government Ethics Committee…

    Seoul
  • Saw this crazy building in Seoul… I can’t stop laughing😂

    Sep 28, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I was walking around Seoul and saw this huge honeycomb building. I looked up and this guy on the sign…

    Peace, Seoul
  • 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
  • ARCHITECTS OF THE NEW ECLIPSE: HOW HEART OF WOMAN IS REWRITING GLOBAL POP

    Sep 27, 2026
    in Feeds

    The New Aesthetic Empire Rewriting K-Pop’s Global Blueprint The Neon Static Before the Drop The studio air in Seoul tastes…

    Global Expansion, Japan, K-pop, KT, LG, Photography, Seoul, Stress
  • 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
  • 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
  • i asked every guy i met in sk who their ideal type is

    Sep 26, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    so for the last 3 weeks i’ve been to south korea for holiday with my best friend :333 we decided…

    Busan, Jeju, Korean Guy, Old Korea, Seoul
  • travel advice from paradise city culture park – safest route

    Sep 26, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    hey guys, i’m travelling international for a concert in korea which i am so excited for! just wondering the best…

    Advice, Seoul, travel
  • 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
  • A review of all the Kpop concerts that I went to from May to September

    Sep 24, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    ​ I go to school in Seoul and love going to Kpop concerts! I made a different post about the…

    Protest, Seoul
  • 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
  • Lee, Trump discussed shipbuilding in brief New York meeting: White House

    Sep 23, 2026
    in News

    WASHINGTON — A White House official said Wednesday South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed…

    Donald Trump, Peace, purpose, Question, Seoul
  • 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
  • Korea decides on 1st US investment project, draws up plans for 2 others

    Sep 22, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    The project is widely believed to be the Encinal natural gas-fired combined-cycle power plant in Texas, on which Seoul and…

    Seoul
  • 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
  • Help finding an obscure commemorative cassette from the 1988 Seoul Paralympics

    Sep 21, 2026
    in Community, Feeds

    I hope someone here can point me in the right direction for finding an extremely obscure Korean cassette tape from…

    Korean Language, Seoul
  • 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
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

  • 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

  • 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
  • My disbanded group getting appreciation a year after silent disbandment!(Jeong Seunghwan, ATBO)October 6, 2026
  • Do you think LISA has surpassed Jungkook’s worldwide popularity?October 6, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (26,343)
    • Community (19,661)
    • 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

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