MCM: Pretty on the Outside, but Maybe Not the Inside
Like it or hate it, MCM and its flashy, repetitive designs are almost impossible to miss in the world of handbags and high-end streetwear. At least in South Korea — which, according to The Guardian, joins the ranks of China and Japan in each contributing about a third of MCM’s
US Military Contaminates Central Seoul Neighborhood
Critics of the invasion of Iraq in 2003 claimed the United States was moving into a foreign territory in order to take its oil. But here’s a new one: The U.S. military occupies a swathe of foreign soil for 65 years, fills it with oil, then moves out.
Soy Sauce For Your Baby's Ear Inflammation
An online community for anti vaccination in South Korea, called “Ahn-a-ki,” is finally closing. In this infamous Naver cafe, users called “mom-doctors” individually diagnosed other online members — there were about 60,000 of them — consulting with each other the symptom of their babies. And some of their advice,
We Need to Tak about Hyeon-min
In a chapter of “A Manual for the Male Mind,” author Tak Hyeon-min provides a succinct bit of mansplaining. He recommends the old-fashioned pull-out method during intercourse as a means of birth control, his point being that since using a condom impedes the formation of “a next-level emotional rapport,” women
AlphaGo and Our Future
First there was shock. Then there was hope. Then there was fear and defeat. Last summer, one of the world’s best go players was defeated by artificial intelligence in a highly publicized series of matches at a five-star hotel in downtown Seoul. It was a humiliating loss of man
Korea Exposé: Featured on Arirang TV
In a five-minute segment during the 8 o’clock evening news program of Arirang TV, a state-funded English-language South Korean broadcaster, Korea Exposé is called one of “Korea’s media start-ups” that “breathe new life into society.”
The Petals Around the Stigma
For a 91-year-old, Kim Bok-dong looks hale and hearty. Cheeks dotted with liver spots, wispy grey hair neatly combed. Kim doesn’t stand out in the crowd. But once she starts to talk about the “comfort women” issue, her eyes beam with passion. “Comfort women” is a euphemism, referring to
Who Are the Agencies Behind North Korea Tourism?
When hundreds of foreign journalists visited Pyongyang in April to cover North Korea’s latest military parade, Otto Warmbier had already been in a coma for about a year. And nobody knew. Earlier this month, Warmbier’s parents received the first update about their son’s condition since Jan. 2016,
Moonppa: A Troubled Start for the Moon Jae-in Presidency
It could just be that the rising temperatures summoned a high-pressure system and clean air, but even nature seemed to acknowledge the momentousness of the occasion. On May 9 South Koreans elected Moon Jae-in as president. And just as suddenly, the noxious spring smog that normally blankets the Korean Peninsula
KÉ Interview: Building an App to Engage Young People in Politics
Many young South Koreans have taken to calling their country “Hell Joseon” because they see no hope in it. The job market is getting exceedingly competitive, and corporate culture, not to mention social relations in general, is rigidly hierarchical. But South Korea is also becoming known for its thriving start-up
Reporter's Notebook: Summer in Tapgol Park
As my colleague Jieun and I stepped into Tapgol Park in downtown Seoul, all eyes immediately turned to us: two young women in a space where elderly people come to spend their free time. Many approached with a smile, looking intrigued by our presence, but wary of the bulky camera
Money Is Key: Weddings for the Willingly Unmarried
While myriad reasons are causing young South Koreans to shun putting rings on their partners’ fingers, money is often the definitive factor. An average wedding costs 270 million won (24,000 U.S. dollars); not only that, finding affordable housing in major cities is close to impossible for newlyweds. As