With the rising international popularity of the Kpop group BTS, known for their spectacular choreography and upbeat songs, fans were thrilled at the news that the group was coming to the United States for their BTS Live Trilogy Episode III: The Wings Tour. Tickets were sold out in the first couple of minutes, ultimately requiring…
Category: Korea and Koreans
Air Pollution in South Korea Soars to New Heights
Over the past few years, it has become more and more difficult to see clear, blue skies in South Korea. Cities are shrouded in hazardous gray dust, making it difficult to even see buildings that are not far away. The sales of products such as air purifiers, face masks, and even glasses are soaring exponentially…
Memories Resurface with the Recovery of the MV Sewol
South Korea has finally begun to work on the recovery of the MV Sewol. Three years ago, on April 16, 2014, the MV Sewol capsized and 304 of 476 passengers and crew members died. Most were students from Danwon High School. Although in the past it was said that the Sewol ferry could not be…
Who is Going to be South Korea’s New President?
South Korea’s first female president, Park Geun-hye, was impeached. She was the first impeached president in the South Korea when the Korean Constitutional Court voted unanimously to remove her from office. Snap elections for a new president will be held within 60 days. The ruling sparked protests from hundreds of Park’s supporters, two of whom…
KPOP: A Global Phenomenon
Ever since the Hallyu Wave in the late 1990s, Korean culture has been spreading through across the world. K-pop has been at the front of the wave – just look at the numerous world tours, fan meetings, Billboard rankings, and immense international support that the music is enjoying today. Just in 2016, more than 15…
South Korea in “Bbopgi Bang” Fever
Recently in South Korea, especially in downtown areas, the number of “Bbopki Bangs” and their popularity are rapidly increasing. “Bbopki Bang” is a popular type of gaming center where patrons can play a large variety of claw machine games. The typical cost for one attempt usually ranges from one to two thousand won. (an equivalent…
Samsung Heir’s Arrest
Lee Jae-yong, the acting chief of Samsung and its apparent heir, was arrested Friday on bribery and embezzlement charges in Seoul, South Korea, over his alleged role in a corruption scandal that led parliament to impeach President Park Geun-hye. The Seoul Central District Court also rejected a request to issue an arrest warrant for Samsung…
South Korea Impeaches Their First Female President
Last month, Park Geun-Hye, the 11th president of South Korea, was impeached by the national parliament with an overwhelming majority of 234 votes out of 300. About four to five months remain until the country’s constitutional court decides whether to accept or reject the impeachment motion. Park’s impeachment was based on a political scandal that…
Serious Teen Smartphone Addiction in South Korea
Recently in South Korea, as the number of teenagers who own smartphones is increasing, the seriousness of the teen smartphone addiction is increasing as well. If you approach a middle or high school, it is not difficult for you to see students looking at their smartphones and texting their friends while walking. The time it…
Seollal
Korean New Year is the first day of the Korean lunar calendar. It is one of the most significant traditional Korean holidays. The celebration lasts three days: before the New Year, New Year’s day, and the day after the New Year. More than just a holiday to mark the beginning of a new year, Seollal…