S. Korea’s 'inaction' on overseas child abduction cases involving non-custodial Korean parents stirs controversy

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related. Find the answer at the bottom of the page. “Gapjil” refers to an entity in a position of power abusing that power to bully, take advantage of, or basically make life miserable in an unjustifiable way for a person of inferior position. This could range from a high-ranking official unfairly...

Several safety hazards evident in popular nightlife district

Although it's a concept that cannot be easily explained, ‘jeong’ is a crucial aspect of Korean culture. A helpful way to picture jeong is to think of someone or something with whom/which you've been through good times and bad, that you never let go of despite the flaws. Your relationship supersedes your feelings or emotions and it can be for a person, animal, place, or possession. Jeong is not s...

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on language, culture, history or anything K-related. -- Ed. Find the answer at the bottom of the page. For many South Koreans, the 2002 World Cup was unforgettable. It was the first and only tournament Korea hosted, along with co-host Japan, and it was where the country produced many firsts in its World Cup history -- the first win, the first a...

Children in Korea think of themselves with their parents, immediate family members, and grandparents as a single unit. Children are raised to have the utmost respect for their parents and grandparents throughout their lives, so when it comes to making important life decisions, the opinion of their parents and grandparents is taken seriously. While some cultures might value independence more and ...

In October 2018, she came to Korea for a conference in Seoul. She was among 10 foreign police officers of Korean ethnicity. There she met Suh Joon of the Korea National Police Agency’s foreign affairs bureau, which doubles as the International Criminal Police Organization’s National Central Bureau in Seoul. Suh offered help. He looked through old newspapers and searched the internet to find the ...

A railway connecting south and north of Korean Peninsula a century ago, Gyeongui Line Forest Park is now green trail in heart of metropolis

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related. -- Ed. Find the answer at the bottom of the page. Along with Korean movies and music, K-food is making its own waves globally. At the vanguard is Korean’s beloved pickle -- kimchi. South Korea’s exports of kimchi products rose to an all-time high in 2021, recording $159 million in total v...

Many Korean office workers remove their shoes when in the office and wear slip-on sandals while working. They do this to be more comfortable. For foreigners visiting a Korean office, this may appear strange as sandals don't go with formal attire. Min Byoung-chul is an endowed chair professor at Chung-Ang University who is widely known as a multicultural educator and for his practical English tea...

Haribo, Coca-Cola, Haagen-Dazs play host to art exhibitions in Seoul

With the FIFA World Cup just around the corner, stocks related to chicken are performing strongly on the Korean stock market in anticipation of a surge in demand. As of 2 p.m. Friday, Kyochon F&B shares were trading at around 12,600 won apiece on the main Kospi bourse, up 2 percent from the previous close. That is nearly 27 percent higher from a month ago. The operator of Kyochon, one of the mo...

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related. -- Ed. Which of the following best explains the meaning of "kong garu” (soybean powder) in the dialogue below? Find the answer at the bottom of the page. Soybean powder is a special ingredient that goes with several Korean delicacies; sprinkling it over injeolmi or gyeongdan rice cakes ca...

Most people never use their middle finger when pointing; it is used only as an obscene gesture. Some Koreans unknowingly use their middle finger to point at a menu, press buttons on the elevator, scroll on their smartphone, or adjust their glasses. All of this is done unwittingly because they don't know what it means and is not intended to insult anyone at all. Min Byoung-chul is an endowed chai...

From Japanese theme park to ryokan-style hotels, anime-themed cafes, businesses tap into recovery in interest in Japan