Gen Z students want answers about grades, and they're not afraid to ask

A new wave of assertiveness is sweeping through South Korean universities, challenging long-held traditions of professorial authority. Today’s students are becoming increasingly vocal about their academic rights, especially concerning their grades. "When I first started teaching here, students would barely come in after major exams to ask for clarification," said a Korean professor who wished to be identified simply as Don. He has been teaching international relations at a privat

Dec. 20, 2024

Gen Z spending habits: What do they prioritize?

"I recently bought several wood models" Ryu Hye-won, 24, female For Ryu, a graduate student, a childhood love for building wood models has grown into a cherished hobby. "The cute, colorful designs of these models draw me the most. But beyond their look, what keeps me coming back is the sense of achievement I feel when I complete a model," she said. Unlike the often unresolved nature of academic work, wood models provide her with a sense of closure and accomplishment. She sh

Dec. 20, 2024

[Pressure Points] Privacy of child stars: Some sense hypocrisy in parents' calls for respect

Child stars have long been a staple of the entertainment world, and their stage has expanded to social media. These new young personalities, often managed by their parents, amass huge followings, raising questions about the consequences of early fame and its ethical boundaries. A recent controversy surrounding Taeha, a 3-year-old YouTuber famous for his linguistic talents, has reignited these discussions. Taeha’s channel boasts over 801,000 subscribers as of Monday, and he has appeared

Dec. 17, 2024

[LLG] Lights, camera, annyeong: How comedian brought Korean dialogue to Nollywood

Kemi Ikuseedun, better known as "Kemz Mama," is a Nigerian actor, comedian and content creator who turned her love for Korean drama into a groundbreaking project. Her debut film, "My Sunshine," is a high school-based romance that blends the emotional charm of a classic K-drama with the vibrant culture of Nigeria. Released on YouTube in October, the movie has racked up over 1 million views so far, gaining attention from both Korean and Nigerian audiences. Although "My S

Dec. 16, 2024

Satire on the streets: Koreans turn crisis into festival of resistance

South Korea is in the midst of a political firestorm, but you might not know it from the colorful, absurd and downright hilarious flags waving in the streets. On Saturday, the National Assembly voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, following 12 days of mounting outrage over his shocking Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. The move -- intended only for dire emergencies like war or rebellion -- was widely condemned as authoritarian, sparking mass protests across the country. But these protests

Dec. 15, 2024

Jeju’s fire festival was canceled over climate risk. Now locals want to revive it

Since the late 90s, Korea’s southern island of Jeju has celebrated the arrival of spring by setting fire to vast fields of silver grass on the slopes of one of its famous volcanic cones. The annual event long attracted tourists and locals alike. However, the Jeju Fire Festival has been on hold for three consecutive years over safety and environmental concerns. Its resumption next March is now the subject of heated debate, with locals and environmental activists at odds. The debate center

Dec. 11, 2024

[LLG] Korea's rising star of climate activism: a former top-tier corporate lawyer

When Kim Joo-jin joined a small environmental club at Seoul National University, he had no idea it would reshape his life. From pursuing a career in law to founding an environmental non-profit organization, every step he took was fueled by the passion he discovered in his early 20s. He is now the founder of Solutions for Our Climate, an independent policy research and advocacy organization that advises and pressures policymakers and financiers to phase out fossil fuels, end coal financing, a

Dec. 11, 2024

[Weekender] Anxious, avoidant or somewhere in between? Koreans tap into attachment theory to hack love

Is the Myers-Briggs personality test still the go-to for dating compatibility? If you ask young Koreans, some say, "Not anymore." The trend is shifting, and they’ve found a better playbook. The playbook, in the language of attachment theory, reads: Avoidant types often ghost, anxious types tend to cling. Secure types strike a balance. As a fresh approach to understanding emotional patterns in relationships, the theory has gained popularity in contemporary dating, especially in

Dec. 7, 2024

[AtoZ into Korean mind] ‘Tell me I fit in'

“Do you think it’s okay to go for a test-drive of a Mercedes Benz car in track pants?” Kim, a veterinarian in her 30s living in Seoul, posed the question via a yes-or-no poll on Instagram. To her relief, over 90 percent of respondents said, “Yes.” “I didn’t want to give the impression that I can’t afford the car, which could make the dealer treat me unkindly. So I asked whether there is a dress code for these events,” Kim said. Instagram and

Dec. 2, 2024

Can government be cool? South Korea's local officials think so

Who says government institutions are boring? In South Korea, the typically not-so-interesting image of state-run organizations and local governments is getting a glow-up, thanks to a growing wave of meme-worthy content that they create. Take Korail, the national railway operator. In a video on its YouTube channel, a real-life KTX train driver waltzes down the aisle of the new KTX Cheongryong train. Dressed in her uniform, she delivered a quirky dance to "Shooting Stars" by Bag Raiders.

Nov. 30, 2024

[Korea Quiz] Mature tastes

Find the answer at the bottom. "Jang" is a traditional Korean fermented condiment made from soybeans, essential in many Korean dishes. It is a broad term for a variety of soybean-based sources, including "doenjang" (soybean paste), "ganjang" (soy sauce), and "gochujang" (red pepper paste). The process of making jang begins with boiling soybeans and mashing them into bricks called “meju.” After fermenting the meju and aging it in brine, the

Nov. 27, 2024

Why cynical, 'memeified' makeovers of kids' characters are so appealing

Disturbing to kids but amusing to older fans, cherished childhood characters have been reimagined online, far removed from their original innocent portrayals. Elsa from "Frozen" transforms into a drunkard, slurring to her sister Anna that she plans to drink more. Mickey Mouse turns out to be a bald human, hiding a receding hairline beneath a detachable wig with mouse ears. And, Winnie the Pooh, no longer the cute teddy bear, has become a weary drive-thru worker at McDonald's, sl

Nov. 27, 2024

[Pressure points] Mourning death on Instagram

When someone you personally know passes away, how do you mourn? For some, posting about it on social media, particularly Instagram, has become a part of the mourning process. Following the death of actor Song Jae-rim on Nov. 12, the platform was flooded with tributes. Friends and colleagues posted memories and heartfelt messages. For instance, broadcaster Hong Seok-cheon shared his sorrow on Instagram. “I am heartbroken that I will never see your wonderful smile again... I failed to care

Nov. 26, 2024

Think you know how kimchi tastes? Wait until you try these regional variations

As winter's icy grip approaches, Koreans roll up their sleeves to prepare a year’s supply of kimchi to ensure they have enough for the cold months ahead. The fermented dish varies in shape and flavor across the nation, with the distinct regional environment influencing kimchi's ingredients, seasonings and presentation. Take a tour of South Korea’s regional kimchi varieties, each adding its own zing to the traditional dish. Their distinct flavor profiles are guaranteed to

Nov. 26, 2024

Wealthy parents ditch Korean passports to get kids into international school

Vanuatu, an archipelago of 83 islands in the South Pacific, is a paradise for nature lovers. But in South Korea, this beautiful island nation is gaining attention for a different reason: citizenship shopping. Bae, 30, a housewife living in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, is thinking of acquiring Vanuatu citizenship for the sake of her 4-year-old son. “My son currently attends an English immersion kindergarten. I am hoping he can enroll in international schools (in Korea), instead of local s

Nov. 24, 2024

German shepherds and French poodles... What about Korean Jindo?

On a crisp autumn Sunday morning in Seoul’s World Cup Park, the air buzzed with excitement — and the occasional bark. Sixty Jindo dogs, Korea’s national breed, gathered for a one-of-a-kind parade. The event, “Let’s Go for a Walk, Jindo” (literal translation), aimed to shift public perceptions of these loyal yet often misunderstood companions. “It’s very difficult for Jindo dogs to live in Korea,” said Kim Eun-ho, the event’s organizer

Nov. 21, 2024

Doctor eases pain of tattoo regrets

At a gathering of people with striking facial and body tattoos, a middle-aged man wearing fake tattoo sleeves attempts to blend in. That’s Dr. Park Young-soo, filming for his popular YouTube channel at the Korea Tattoo Convention in Seoul, a major event for tattoo artists in South Korea. He’s there to learn about the latest trends and interact with people from the opposite side of his profession -- removing tattoos. Every day, he meets people who regret their tattoos and seek removal

Nov. 20, 2024

[Korea Quiz] Webtoon

Find the answer down below. Webtoons are serialized web comics designed for mobile reading. Each episode typically takes around five or so minutes to read, making them accessible for readers on the go. Originating in South Korea, webtoons differ from traditional print cartoons in that they are created exclusively for digital formats, featuring a vertical scrolling layout. Webtoons are immensely popular in Korea, with 4 in 10 adults reading an average of 55 episodes annually, according

Nov. 20, 2024

[Pressure Points] Should schools aim for phone-free learning environment?

The debate over whether to ban smartphones in the classroom continues to rage worldwide. South Korea is no exception, as it looks to address an epidemic of smartphone addiction among young students. In August, Rep. Cho Jung-hun of the People Power Party proposed a bill to limit smartphone use in schools. In October, the National Human Rights Commission reversed its long-standing position, ruling that schools confiscating students' phones is not a violation of their rights. Proponents view

Nov. 19, 2024

[AtoZ into Korean mind] Unspoken but often felt, the hurt feelings that Koreans won’t openly share

In Korea, there is a word expressing an emotion that people use with great frequency, though it doesn't translate well into English: “seounhada.” This term, used interchangeably with “seopseophada,” captures a combination of feelings: hurt, disappointment, sadness or a sense of being mistreated, ignored or even offended. It can be a combination of all or any of those feelings, but subtle and not too intense. And here's the kicker — these feelings are often

Nov. 17, 2024