Confronting xenophobia, prevalent but largely unrecognized as a problem, is crucial for South Korea‘s transition to truly multicultural society, experts say Online comments dismissing xenophobia in South Korea as insignificant are surprisingly common. For example, when Chosun Ilbo, a major Korean news outlet, published an article in March about racial discrimination and xenophobia in Itaewon, many readers argued it exaggerated the problem. Reactions included: “Don’t talk nonsense, reporter. It’s

For generations, womanhood in South Korea has been inextricably linked to motherhood, a role often defined by self-sacrifice. But today, Korean women are questioning these norms, striving to reclaim their identities as individuals, not just as daughters, wives or moms, and to redefine what it means to be a woman. To capture a snapshot of this change, The Korea Herald spoke with seven women, ranging from a stay-at-home mom in her 50s who bitterly regrets the limited choices she had compared to to

Behind endless streams of social media comments, validation-addicted Koreans seek group acceptance “Do you think it’s okay to go for a test-drive of a Mercedes Benz car in track pants?” Kim, a veterinarian in her 30s living in Seoul, posed the question via a yes-or-no poll on Instagram. To her relie

Some Koreans practice self-talk, wittingly or unwittingly, for such reasons as self-affirmation, indirect communication and coping with negative emotions An older Korean person at your usual bus stop mumbles something that sounds almost like a question about the weather. To be polite, you respond, o

How and why do married couples become sexless? The Korea Herald investigates Ever since the arrival of her daughter six years ago, the precious little being has become the center of Park Eun-jeong‘s world. It also marked the beginning of a new dynamic in her marriage: a sexless, more companionate re

Quantifying everything, from school to social progress, once worked wonders for S. Korea. Now, number obsession makes Koreans unhappy. Jang Yun-jeong, 28, grew up in a world where numbers defined her worth. From academic achievements to salary and social status, her standing was calculated in terms

Korea‘s fast-paced culture is credited with many achievements, but it’s time to learn when, how to slow down In South Korea, speed is key. What needs to be done quickly? Virtually everything. As encapsulated in the running joke that “ppalli ppalli” -- where “ppalli” translates to “quickly” or “hurry

From patriarchal provider to balancer between work and family, Korean fatherhood is starting to change Oh Yoon-suk, a 43-year-old office worker in Busan, addresses his father -- but not his mom -- using honorifics. “I call my mother ‘eomma,’ but with my father, it’s always been ‘abeoji,’” he explain

Often viewed as meddling in another‘s business, the caring spirit behind ojirap shows concern, desire to help Kim Eun-hye, 36, instantly regretted mentioning she had gone on a blind date over the weekend. Immediately after her remarks, the usually dull lunchtime conversation with her senior colleagu

S. Korea‘s social norms and pressures amplify the challenge of declining After a second date, Lee Tae-hyung, 26, wanted to ask the woman out again. He sent her a KakaoTalk message saying, “Do you have time this weekend?” and the reply he received was, “I don‘t think I can make time. I have plans thi