South Korea

Illustration of woman floating with luxury items and a long receipt around her.

Debt and Dior: South Korea’s Advancing Debt from Luxury Purchases

Finlay O'Connell, Minerva University

Designer products in South Korea have led to a rising debt crisis, especially among young people.…

February 7, 2024

Woman giving an anatomical heart to someone while a crowd watches and records on their phones.

‘Single’s Inferno,’ Relationships and Beauty for the Audience

Mariana Vaca, Lake Forest College

Audiences react to the latest season of ‘Single’s Inferno’ and find comfort in the interpersonal drama that ensues.…

February 7, 2024

In an article about BTS and masculinity, the seven members of BTS and a member of the Korean military stand in front of the South Korean flag.

BTS: Blurring the Lines of the Gender Binary

Steffi Stoffel, Columbia College Chicago

How K-pop idols redefine what it means to be a man in Korean culture.…

August 1, 2023

a collage of different actors from cinema from South Korea

South Korea Is Keeping Original Cinematic Storytelling Alive

Alina Edwards, Wellesley College

Over the past few years, cinephiles have become increasingly distressed by how often Hollywood employs overused plots. South Korean films, in contrast, thrive when it comes to creativity. What can Hollywood learn from these movies?…

September 21, 2022

In an article about the movie 'Seoul Vibe', an illustration of 3 of the characters.

Netflix’s ‘Seoul Vibe’ Is In Fact a Big Vibe

Megan Garcia, Arizona State University

Netflix’s latest Korean action-comedy film follows a ragtag team of outlaws in 1988 Seoul.…

September 15, 2022

An image of Extraordinary Attorney Woo shows the title character standing in a court room with a book.

‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ Deserves Every Bit of Praise

Alina Edwards, Wellesley College

The new hit Korean drama, recently renewed for a second season, is every bit as remarkable as the title promises despite its flaws.…

August 27, 2022

An illustration of KAI from K-pop group, EXO

KAI’s Journey From EXO to a Full-Fledged Solo Artist

Peyton Conner, Indiana University

Kim Jong-in wasn’t always the smooth and suave soloist fans know him as today. He’s gone from being EXO’s beloved main dancer to a successful soloist following his two recent album releases.…

March 23, 2022

South Korea and Its PC Bangs Are Helping the Country Dominate Video Game Culture

Peyton Conner, Indiana University

The country's gaming scene is much different than the United States'. Internet cafés specifically designed for gaming make the popular pastime accessible for everyone.…

March 2, 2022

How K-pop Idols Are Affected by South Korea’s Mandatory Military Service

Peyton Conner, Indiana University

As if the country's music industry wasn't competitive enough, members of popular music groups must eventually face the additional challenge of serving in the military.…

January 11, 2022

in article about mukbang culture, a screenshot of Nikocado Avocado eating ramen

Mukbang Culture Offers Fun for Some, but a Warning for Others

Isabella Savides, University of Pretoria

While these eating shows can be entertaining for viewers, many mukbangers are being forced to prioritize channel views over their own health to make a living.…

December 31, 2021

‘Last Train to New York’ Is the American Remake Literally No One Asked For

Tori Barney, Columbia College Chicago

The dreaded reimagining of the classic South Korean zombie film is the perfect example of audiences refusing to appreciate non-Western culture and art in any form.…

December 6, 2021

Korean Language Studies Have Skyrocketed in the Wake of K-Pop

Peyton Conner, Indiana University

Hallyu has inspired many young scholars to learn more about Korea beyond what is shown on their screens.…

November 23, 2021

An illustration of characters in Squid Game

‘Squid Game’ Creates a Phenomenal Mix of Violence and Class Division

Peyton Conner, Indiana University

The South Korean thriller offers an intimate look into the country's debt struggles and provides a biting criticism of capitalism.…

October 7, 2021

K-Pop girl group TWICE may be getting pushed to their limit

Is K-Pop Girl Group TWICE Being Pushed to the Limit?

Jayni Nielsen, Pace University

The 'Sixteen' show winners are steadily climbing the charts, but after showing increasing signs of exhaustion, fans are getting worried.…

August 21, 2021

Four same sex couples in modern and traditional Korean clothing in front of a red heart and a rainbow background,

Queering Korea: LGBTQ+ Identities Throughout Korean History

Lauren Sung, University of Georgia

Despite current attitudes toward LGBTQ+ identities being largely dismissive and negative in the country, Korea has a long and vibrant history of queerness.…

June 16, 2021

‘Crash Landing on You’ Explores the Painful Separation of the Two Koreas

Kirtika Sharad, George Washington University

The popular Korean drama captures the daily lives of a population shrouded in secrecy and symbolizes the heartbreaking sentiment that still marks the partition of Korea.…

January 14, 2021

‘I Live Alone’ Is a Comforting Show for Those Who Might Be Flying Solo

Laura Song, Biola University

The unscripted reality show gives an unfiltered look at the lives of Korean celebrities as they live their lives as single adults.…

December 24, 2020

The Real-Life Problem With the Virtual Members of Girl Group Aespa

Sarah Esquivel, University of Texas at San Antonio

K-pop's venture into virtual reality may have severe repercussions on the safety and well-being of the performers, as well as foster unhealthy, parasocial relationships with their fanbase.…

November 25, 2020

Moon-young and Gang-tae from It's Okay to Not Be Okay

‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’ Takes Viewers on a Journey of Healing

Reem Farhat, Fordham University

The groundbreaking Korean drama reimagines media representation of mental health to build a show about struggle and growth.…

July 30, 2020

eGovernment art piece, a part of the We=Link online exhibition

The ‘We=Link’ Online Art Exhibition Comments on High-Tech Consumer Society

Nanda Illahi, Okayama University

The Chronus Art Center has created a digital art exhibition that feels remarkably prescient.…

April 23, 2020

How the Coronavirus Pandemic Could Have Been Prevented

Ian Nordin, University of Texas at San Antonio

A devastating pandemic just like COVID-19 has been predicted on multiple occasions, but the proper precautions were not put in place.…

April 3, 2020

Discussing the webtoon "Lookism," the image displays a man's face split down the middle: one half beautiful and the other what would be considered ugly in South Korea.

Webtoon ‘Lookism’ Looks Into Beauty Standards in South Korea

Angel Lin, University of California, Santa Barbara

While the world has lauded the country for K-beauty, this webtoon shows the dark side of South Korean beauty standards.…

March 23, 2020

Mother visiting deceased daughter in virtual reality

Bringing Back the Dead: Has Virtual Reality Gone Too Far?

Nanda Illahi, Okayama University

The documentary 'I Met You' reconnected people with their deceased loved ones. Is it heartwarming or hazardous?…

March 5, 2020

Bong Joon-ho’s Earlier Work ‘The Host’ Is a Must-Watch

Angel Lin, University of California, Santa Barbara

The director of 'Parasite' directed another tale of a family struggling to survive in a socially-stratified society — except this time, it was a monster movie.…

February 26, 2020

Photo of band Hyukoh in article about Korean music

The Korean Music Scene Is More Than K-Pop

Michelle Young, Simon Fraser University

The rich diversity of Korean music isn't limited to the country's most popular musical export.…

February 11, 2020

The South Korean Thriller ‘Burning’ Deals a Jealous Hand

Jenna Benchetrit, McGill University

Director Lee Chang-dong takes the familiarity of jealousy to unsettling new heights.…

November 10, 2018

The 5 Best WEBTOONS for Newcomers to the Genre

Christine Fang, University of California San Diego

Fan-fiction is shaking.…

June 25, 2018

22,000 People Marched in South Korea Over the Weekend for Women’s Rights

Rebecca Crosby, American University

Citizens gathered in Seoul, South Korea, to protest the use of spy cams in public places, which are known to specifically target women.…

June 12, 2018

Holland Is the First Openly Gay Soloist of South Korea

Jade Hookham, UC San Diego

By coming out to the public as a gay artist, Holland head-butts the restrictive social conventions of Korea regarding homosexuality to send a message of hope and acceptance.…

February 20, 2018

The 2018 Winter Olympics Are Off to a Fantastic Start for Team USA

Katie Lommen, Saint Louis University

The U.S. is dominating the Winter Olympics and even in a competitive atmosphere, countries are coming together for the sake of the games.…

February 15, 2018

The Aftermath of Korean President Park Geun-hye’s Political Scandal

Jessie Yang, The University of Hong Kong

What does the removal of Korea's first democratically elected female president mean for the country?…

March 28, 2017

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