Homer B. Hulbert and Korean Liberation

An Advocate for 63 Years Homer B. Hulbert made a lifelong commitment to educating and advocating for Korea. While most of his reputation and prestige comes from his efforts in the education sector, his work in the advocacy and liberation of Korea cannot be ignored. As a close friend to the Korean emperor, he was…

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The Hague Secret Emissary Affair- Fighting Against Japan

“Don’t cry for me if I die. Complete your mission. Fight to regain Korea’s independent sovereignty. I am willing to die for it.”  -Emissaries Yi Sang-Seol, and Yi Wi-Jong    Japan’s Takeover of Korea Japan’s takeover of Korea wasn’t a fast overnight affair, painted with blood in a violent revolution. Instead, it was quiet, slow, years of the Japanese squeezing Korea tightly, muffling its screams as the rest of the world watched in apathy. In 1876, Japan forced open Korean ports, taking…

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Friend of Korea: Homer B. Hulbert and Korean Education

The Father of Modern Korean Education Homer B. Hulbert (1863-1949) was an American born missionary who worked as a teacher in Korea for twenty years. Through education, he discovered his love for Korea, and during his tenure, Hulbert published numerous books about the rest of the world for Koreans, as well as books that were…

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Going Beyond the Title of “K-Pop Star”: BTS at the White House

Hearing the word “K-Pop star” undoubtedly causes many entertaining and exciting images to come to mind. A group of people moving almost as one body as they execute perfect and precise dance moves, the smooth and melodic vocals blended with fast and coarse rap, all done in Korean, of course. The charismatic smiles and joking…

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Kim Man-deok, the long-time commemorated merchant of jeju

Illustration of Kim Man-deok and Jeju Island During the 18th century in Joseon, women’s role was limited. How would people that time see a businesswoman? Unlike the present day, it was unheard of for a woman to have a successful career. However, there was a prominent figure who advocated for feminism during that period. That…

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Story of Kim Hak-sun

Japanese Imperial Army troops came to force hundreds of thousands of women into sexual slavery during Japan’s militaristic period. From 1932 to 1945 these women were held in brothels and were forced into sexual slavery These girls were from the ages 14-19 years old. They were mostly located in Korea however, the Japanese Imperial army…

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Prominent women in Korean history

Throughout Korea’s history, there have been many women who have made an impact on Korean history. These women are inspiring and deserved to be recognized for what they have done during their lives. The first woman to discuss is Queen Seondeok. She became the Queen of the Silla kingdom in the Three Kingdoms period. After…

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Citizens and the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising

Forty years ago, when South Korea’s political situation began to return to dictatorship, and from May 18 to 27, 1980, citizens fought against military dictatorship in Gwangju. Resistance to Then-security commander Chun Doo-hwan’s military forces has led to the death of many people, which has become an international issue and hurt many people’s lives.  …

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Gojong and the March 1st Movement

On the morning of January 21, 1919, Gojong, the second last emperor of the Korean Empire(Daehan Jeguk), died at the age of 66. The death of the Emperor shocked Korean society and the event became a turning point in the Korean independence movement. The recorded cause of death of Gojong was by natural causes. Officials…

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MAL-MO-E and the story of the Korean Language Society

Language is more than a series of letters jumbled together; it acts as a conduit for the culture and way of life for a group of people. It reflects a sense of community and belonging, one which is unique to the people who speak the language. Philosopher and literary critic George Steiner once argued that…

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Independence movement after Korea’s liberation – Dokdo Volunteer Forces

Did you know that even after Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule, the independence movement was carried out? As far as we know, the independence movement did not end in 1945 and there are still independence movements that we can join in. This independence movement after 1945 focused on protecting Dokdo from falling under Japanese…

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The Women Writers of Joseon

Some of the greatest artifacts that help us to understand the past are the writings left behind by previous generations. Korea is no different. While each period of Korea’s history is home to influential and significant writings, the Joseon period in particular was a time when the arts and literature itself flourished. There are many…

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The Story of Shinheung Military Academy

Did you know that there was a school specifically designed to train Independence activists in the Korean Independence Movement? In order to protect the peninsula at the time, Independence activists within the country and outside of the country decided to establish a school with the goal of protecting Joseon’s Independence and the growing Korean nationalist…

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The Rise of the Korean Wave (Hallyu)

Hallyu, also known as “The Korean Wave” is a term used to describe Korean music (K-pop), dramas, food, beauty and many more. Usually Hallyu is referred to Korean music (K-pop) or Korean dramas. Korean dramas and K-pop started gaining popularity throughout Asia during the mid-1990s. In the early 2000s, Korean dramas had a surge in…

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The Start of a Movement: Freedom Organizations

Do you know about the legendary March 1st Independence Movement that happened in Korea in 1919? The March 1st Movement was the biggest independence protest in the peninsula and thousands of people were involved in spreading the spirit of Korean independence. However, the independence movement was active well before the March 1st Movement of 1919.…

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What does a Korean Independence fighter look like?

When you imagine a Korean freedom fighter, what kind of person comes to mind? The people that participated in the Korean independence movement came from various backgrounds and walks of life. Independence activists arose from all societal classes. These classes ultimately came together and strengthened Korea’s national consciousness. According to The National Independence Hall of…

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Korea, a great maritime cultural power

Korea, a great maritime cultural power What comes to mind when you see Korea on the world map? On the preexisiting world maps, Korea is a country at the eastern end of the Eurasian continent. However, if you turn the map upside down and think outside of the box, Korea is the port heading towards…

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“Parasite” wins Palme d’Or and Golden Globe Awards

“Parasite (기생충)” is the first Korean film to win the Palme d’Or at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival and the Best Foreign Film at the 77th Golden Globe Awards. “Parasite” was unanimously awarded the Palme d’Or, the most prestigious award given at the Cannes Film Festival. It is also the first Korean movie to be…

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A cottage representing Korea is building built in an area for International Cottages in San Diego, California.

Starting in 1935, small houses were made in the area now known as the “House of Public Relations – International Cottages”. These houses are treated as museums and represent different countries at the same time as providing “cultural, social, and educational programs to spread awareness of its members’ cultures, customs, traditions, and languages”. Through festivals…

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California Highway Named after Korean American War Hero

On August 3rd 2018, a portion of a highway in California was named after an internationally renown war hero, Young Oak Kim. This is the first time a portion of a USA highway is dedicated to a Korean American. The Interstate 5 highway (I-5) is a main highway and can be used to travel from…

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Stories of Beloved Heroic Figures in Korean History

When we look to the heroes of our own country we have an abundance of figures to revere. However, when we look internationally these same figures do not hold the same meaning in other nations. Similarly, when we look at other country’s heroes we may not fully understand their importance. Despite this reality, in this…

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Korean Hero Yi Sun-sin became an Inspiration for Americans.

Guess who is the most respected historical figure in Korea? In every survey about the most admirable historical figure, Koreans always select this great man: Yi Sun-sin. Undoubtedly, Yi is the most respected figure in Korea’s 5000 years of history. During the Joseon Dynasty, he fought in 23 battles against the invading forces of Japan…

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Iconic American Heroes and Korean Heroes Shared the Same Dream

The world’s dominant currency is the U.S. dollar. Who are on the US 100- and 1-dollar bills? They are two of the most respected figures in US history: Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. With their portraits on the bills, they are commemorated every day. Americans respect them with high regard because they were freedom fighters.…

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Korean independence movement took place in the United States.

You may be surprised to know that Korean freedom fighters came to the United States. They were two Korean men named Jang In-hwan and Jeon Myeong-un.   Bang, bang, bang! An American named Durham Stevens was shot to death by two Korean patriots at the port of San Francisco on March 23, 1908. He was…

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Korean National Heroes on Korean bills

Admiral Yi Sun-sin(1545-1598) Admiral Yi Sun-sin lived in the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910)(present-day Korea) during the 16th century. He is well renowned for his victories against the Japanese invasions between 1592 and 1598. Most probably, one out of every three Koreans would answer Yi Sun-sin, if they were asked who their favorite hero in Korean history…

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BTS: Korea’s Fastest Growing Entertainment Icons in America

This past Sunday night, November 20th, 2017, Korea’s hottest boyband, BTS, made another unprecedented leap in history for the Korean pop (K-Pop) industry. BTS, which roughly translates to “bulletproof boy scouts” performed their newest hit “DNA”at the 2017 American Music Awards which was hosted to a large crowd in Los Angeles, California and broadcasted to…

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The Good Doctor

The Good Doctor: America’s Take on the 2013 South Korean Hit Drama is Garnering Millions in Viewership There is one show everyone is talking about now and that is ABC’s newest medical-drama, The Good Doctor, which started its first broadcast on September 25th, 2017. The Good Doctor stars once childhood actor turned adult actor through…

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Park Sung-Hyun: South Korea’s Golfing Rookie Dominates the LPGA Tour in 2017

In recent years, Korean golfers have been making incredible strides in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tours. The LPGA tour takes place weekly and has several competitions around the world which include the US Women’s Open Golf Championship, ANA Inspiration, Women’s PGA Championship, Women’s British Open, and The Evian Championship as its five major…

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A “Rags-to-riches” Korean American Success Story

The American Dream- a term embedded in American history as long as the country itself. It’s a message of hope that anyone, regardless of background or social standing, can succeed with enough hard work. It has attracted many immigrants to the United States over the centuries in hopes they could build a better life for…

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