Even if you are not an expert on Korean history or culture, I am almost positive that you have heard of K-Pop, Korea’s popular music. I am sure you have at least caught a glimpse of the flashy costumes and hair dyed in every shade of the rainbow, have watched the sharp and precise dance…
Background of Twenty-Five Twenty-One Twenty-Five Twenty-One is an ongoing drama that features actors Nam Ju Hyuk and Kim Tae Ri. This drama follows the life of Kim Tae Ri’s Character Na Hui Do and Nam Joo Hyuk’s character Baek Yi-Jin. Na Hui Do is a fencing prodigy who was going through a slump, and…
Bunsik (분식, 粉食) A variety of Bunsik(s) I am aware this may sound incredibly stereotypical, as an American, but I miss fast food. Or rather, I miss the meaning that fast food held in my life. Fast food restaurants are not known for their high quality cuisine, excellent customer service, and consistently satisfying dining…
If you are a fan of the hit drama “Squid Game,” I am sure that you already have some knowledge about Korean traditional games. Of course, the games seen on screen were much more…dramatic, for lack of a better word, but they still gave us a look into the games that constitute many Koreans’ childhoods.…
The name BTS (방탄소년단) has, over the last few years, essentially become a household name not just in Korea, but in countries all over the world. As Hallyu (한류), or the Korean Wave, continues to gain momentum, Korean culture and history has begun to spread to all corners of the world not just within the…
Pachinko Official Poster (Image: Apple TV+) As the newest Apple TV+ drama Pachinko streams with high reception, the attention toward the Korean history of the Japanese colonial period also increases. With this trend, VANK, the Korean cyber diplomatic organization, conducts a global campaign that aims to introduce the accurate Korean history and culture to the audiences of Pachinko.…
When you think of the Republic of Korea, it is almost guaranteed that Seoul will be one of the places that first comes to mind. With a population of around 9.7 million people (almost a fifth of the entire country’s population) occupying just about 234 square miles(606 square kilometers), Seoul is packed to the brim…
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…
Korean traditional baby’s first birthday. Baby wearing hanbok and gold ring. Do you happen to know how old you are in “Korean age”? Just in reading that one sentence, I imagine there are plenty of questions running through your head. For starters, “What’s Korean age?” and “Does everyone not calculate age the same way?” Korean…
The Heartless, published by Minumsa Co., Ltd There are many Korean historical novels and novel writers throughout Korean history. There are those who have created pieces of literature that allow us to have a view of the historical period while also still being important topics that affect us today. Na Hye-sok was a poet and…