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Tourism

Unbiased History & Stories on Korea for Global Audience

Sponsored by Open Korea Foundation

  • Shinsegae Duty Free opens premium store at Incheon Airport

    Sep 11, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    Shinsegae Duty Free opens premium store at Incheon Airport

    South Korea’s Shinsegae Duty Free launched a premium store at Incheon International Airport, aiming to counter the decline in downtown…

    Korean Airport, Tourism, travel
  • Naver Map sees 30% increase in foreign user base

    Sep 2, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    Naver Map sees 30% increase in foreign user base

    The foreign users of Naver Map, the map service of South Korea’s online platform giant Naver Corp., have a 30%…

    Japan, Kakao, Naver, Survey, Tourism, travel
  • 1.4 mn foreign tourists visits S.Korea in July

    Aug 29, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    1.4 mn foreign tourists visits S.Korea in July

    The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) said on Thursday that the number of foreign tourists visiting South Korea in July was…

    Japan, KT, Tourism
  • Korea to host new regular K-content festival in June

    Aug 29, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    Korea to host new regular K-content festival in June

    K-pop girl group Ive concert on Aug. 11, 2024, at the KSPO Dome where South Korea is considering hosting Beyond…

    K-pop, Lawmakers, purpose, Seoul, Tourism
  • Korea’s top landscaping firm Dawon to expand in SE Asia

    Aug 16, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    Korea’s top landscaping firm Dawon to expand in SE Asia

    Master plan for a luxury resort in the Philippines to be established by Dawon (Courtesy of Dawon) South Korea’s Dawon…

    Korean Technology, POSCO, Samsung, Seoul, Tourism
  • LG Uplus to support smart city transformation in Hwasun

    Aug 14, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    LG Uplus to support smart city transformation in Hwasun

    South Korea’s LG Uplus Corp. announced on Wednesday that it will support the smart city transformation of Hwasun-gun in South…

    Korean Comapny, LG, LG Uplus, Survey, Tourism
  • Hyundai eyes Japan’s commercial EV market with e-bus deal with Iwasaki

    Jul 23, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    Hyundai eyes Japan’s commercial EV market with e-bus deal with Iwasaki

    Cho Won-sang (right), head of Hyundai Mobility Japan, and Iwasaki Group CEO Yoshitaro Iwasaki sign an LOI on the Elec…

    Hyundai, Japan, Kia, Korean Comapny, Tokyo, Tourism, Warning
  • K-content powerhouse’s YouTube channels disrupted by hacks

    Jul 22, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    K-content powerhouse’s YouTube channels disrupted by hacks

    Lovely Runner scene streamed on tvN’s YouTube channel (Captured from official tvN YouTube) YouTube channels of the South Korean entertainment…

    K-pop, Korean Comapny, Seoul, Tourism
  • CU to accept Japan’s Ponta Points for payments

    Jul 15, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    CU to accept Japan’s Ponta Points for payments

    South Korea’s BGF Retail, the operator of the leading domestic convenience store chain CU, announced on Sunday that it signed…

    Japan, Shopping, Tourism
  • KTO holds Visit Korea Alliance exhibition for foreigners

    Jul 8, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    KTO holds Visit Korea Alliance exhibition for foreigners

    The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) announced on Monday that it will hold a VK Alliance Products and Services Special Exhibition…

    K-pop, Korean Comapny, KT, Tourism, travel
  • S.Korea sees foreign visitors 95% of pre-pandemic

    Jun 28, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    S.Korea sees foreign visitors 95% of pre-pandemic

    The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) announced on Friday that the number of foreign tourists visiting South Korea in May was…

    Japan, KT, Tourism
  • Spaceflight venture Innospace eyes July Kosdaq IPO

    Jun 18, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    Spaceflight venture Innospace eyes July Kosdaq IPO

    Innospace employees inspecting a launch vehicle South Korean spaceflight startup Innospace, which fired the country’s first private launch vehicle last…

    Korean Comapny, Tourism
  • Jeju casinos, hotels bask in return of Chinese tourists; luxury shops fall

    Jun 18, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    Jeju casinos, hotels bask in return of Chinese tourists; luxury shops fall

    Jeju Island (Getty Images) Following the pandemic, hotels and casinos are enjoying a renewed tourist boom with Chinese tourists returning…

    Chinese Tourists, Jeju, Korean Airport, Lotte, Silla, Tourism, travel
  • Shinhan Card, Canada’s Alberta to co-work for tourism

    Jun 12, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    Shinhan Card, Canada’s Alberta to co-work for tourism

    South Korea’s Shinhan Card Co. announced on Wednesday that it signed a strategic business agreement with the provincial government of…

    Alberta, LG, Shinhan Card, Shopping, Tourism, travel
  • Kookmin to revive Indonesian banking arm with digitalization

    Jun 12, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    Kookmin to revive Indonesian banking arm with digitalization

    Kookmin Bank builts a community library in Indonesia in December 2023 (Courtesy of Kookmin Bank) KB Bukopin, the Indonesian banking…

    Global Expansion, Korean Comapny, Tourism
  • Dongdaemun fashion malls’ vacancy rates hit as high as 86%

    May 31, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    Dongdaemun fashion malls’ vacancy rates hit as high as 86%

    About nine out of 10 stores within the Maxtyle shopping mall remain empty The rates for empty stores in South…

    Seoul, Shopping, Tourism, travel
  • Yanolja gains momentum with cloud, overseas trip businesses

    May 24, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    Yanolja gains momentum with cloud, overseas trip businesses

    Yanolja ad (Courtesy of Yanolja)  SoftBank-backed Yanolja Co. cheered stellar earnings in the first quarter after its new businesses –…

    driver, history, Seoul, Shopping, Tourism, travel
  • Ottogi, KTO partner to attract foreign tourists

    May 14, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    Ottogi, KTO partner to attract foreign tourists

    The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) announced on Monday that it signed a memorandum of understanding with domestic food company Ottogi…

    Busan, Japan, KT, Tokyo, Tourism, travel
  • Chinese group tours to Korea poised for strong revival

    May 9, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    Chinese group tours to Korea poised for strong revival

    Chinese group tourists shopping at Lotte Duty Free shop in Myeong-dong, Seoul on May 7, 2024 (Courtesy of Lotte Duty…

    Chinese Tourists, Hyundai, Japan, Jeju, Korean Comapny, Koreans, Lotte, Seoul, Shopping, Tourism, travel
  • Aman, Rosewood, Banyan, IHG rush to open luxury hotels in Seoul

    May 5, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    Aman, Rosewood, Banyan, IHG rush to open luxury hotels in Seoul

    Four Seasons Hotel in central Seoul Globally renowned hospitality companies, including Aman, Rosewood and IHG Group, are rushing to South…

    Busan, Chinese Tourists, Japan, Korean Comapny, Korean Military, Lotte, Military, myeongdong, Samsung, Seoul, Tokyo, Tourism, travel
  • Lotte Tour’s Jeju Island casino triples revenue

    May 3, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    Lotte Tour’s Jeju Island casino triples revenue

    Jeju Dream Tower Casino, located on South Korea’s top tourist island of Jeju and run by Lotte Tour Development Co.,…

    Chinese Tourists, Japan, Jeju, Lotte, Tourism
  • Korean retailers, hotels enjoy tourist boom in May holidays

    Apr 30, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    Korean retailers, hotels enjoy tourist boom in May holidays

    Foreigners at Myeong-dong, international tourists’ top destination in Seoul, on April 30, 2024 (By Bum-June Kim) South Korean retailers and…

    Chinese Tourists, fail, Hyundai, Japan, Jeju, Korean Airport, Lotte, Seoul, Shopping, Tokyo, Tourism, travel
  • S.Korea sees record-high foreign visitors after pandemic

    Apr 30, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    S.Korea sees record-high foreign visitors after pandemic

    South Korea saw a record-high number of foreign tourists post-COVID-19 in the first quarter of 2024.  The South Korean Ministry…

    Chinese Tourists, Japan, Jeju, Seoul, Tourism, travel
  • Korea’s booming medical tourism: Skincare, plastic surgery in demand

    Apr 29, 2024
    in Feeds, News
    Korea’s booming medical tourism: Skincare, plastic surgery in demand

    Korea aims to attract more foreign patients through expanded medical service exports The number of foreign patients visiting South Korea…

    Japan, Korean Technology, Koreans, Medical, purpose, Seoul, Tourism, travel
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Latest Korean News

  • Trump says progress made toward establishing US Army base in PolandSeptember 17, 2026
    WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said on Thursday that progress… Read more: Trump says progress made toward establishing US Army base in Poland
  • Universities need to do more to support international studentsSeptember 17, 2026
    Internationalization is no longer an option for Korean universities but… Read more: Universities need to do more to support international students
  • King Charles warns AI leaders of ‘existential dangers’September 17, 2026
    CUMNOCK, Scotland — Britain’s King Charles warned AI leaders on… Read more: King Charles warns AI leaders of ‘existential dangers’
  • Seoul’s Jongno 3-ga rises to world’s coolest neighborhoodSeptember 17, 2026
    Seoul’s Jongno 3-ga has gone from cool to coolest, taking… Read more: Seoul’s Jongno 3-ga rises to world’s coolest neighborhood
  • Cross-platform partnership saves broadcasters, streaming servicesSeptember 17, 2026
    The relationship between streaming platforms and broadcast networks is changing.… Read more: Cross-platform partnership saves broadcasters, streaming services

Latest Community Feeds

  • Say something nice about a group/act whose fandom is currently engaged in fanwars with your own fandomSeptember 18, 2026
  • Randomly came across ‘can’t be blue’ and their music is my new obsessionSeptember 18, 2026
  • There is a non-zero chance we have entered the age of purposeful, company-directed rage-baiting by idols for attentionSeptember 18, 2026
  • Which 5th gen groups do you think will manage to survive past 4/5 years? (details below, it’s based on a study I saw)September 18, 2026
  • What will current top 4th and 5th gen groups will look like 10+ years into their careers?September 18, 2026
  • Question about Blackpink and Kpop_uncensored subSeptember 18, 2026
  • 노브랜드 제로콜라 카페인프리September 18, 2026
  • Had some amazing sukiyaki in Korea! It was similar to shabu-shabu, but the beef was SO freaking good 😭September 18, 2026
  • Fridge vs counter kimchi: peak counts came out 7.86 vs 7.85 log CFU, 15 days vs 3September 18, 2026
  • My ult group (Enhypen) keeps coming to my country whenever my health is at its worstSeptember 18, 2026
  • Why don’t survival shows let viewers know the concept ahead of time?September 18, 2026
  • How would you rank BTS “English trilogy” vs. new English trio?September 18, 2026
  • Idols que se van de sus empresas y/o gruposSeptember 17, 2026
  • The reason for minors debuting in groups at a bigger scale might be the the current landscape of k-pop concepts and marketingSeptember 17, 2026
  • I am and Indian and I wanted to hear from South Korean people’s what they think about India and Indian’sSeptember 17, 2026
  • North Korean defector recounts trafficking, sexual abuse in China in U.S. congressional hearingSeptember 17, 2026
  • For South Korean citizens, do you usually refer to the North as 조선 instead of 북한?September 17, 2026
  • Do fans set K-pop groups to higher standards when it comes to international success outside of Asia?September 17, 2026
  • I wanna start listening to kpop,but a bunch of top songs are in korean.How do i start listening to those type of songs? I’ve just started to listen to those songs as I’m a boy and since most of my guy friends,hate kpop,I used to hate it also. But now i have started listening to top kpopSeptember 17, 2026
  • “Abe Shinzo’s Real Killer Was Korean?”… Absurd Plot Discovered in Japanese Film SourceSeptember 17, 2026

All Articles

  • Art (3)
  • Feeds (25,803)
    • Community (19,236)
    • Entertainment (988)
    • News (5,207)
  • 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

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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