Modern Grace is a monthly column for Best of Korea by Yoojin Grace Wuertz Last month, I wrote about the aspects of Korean culture I’m proudly passing on to my kids. This month I’m tackling the parts of Korean culture I’m adjusting for the twenty-first century (or happily abandoning altogether). Some things just don’t work…
Jeong Chicago is an oasis of Korean fine dining in the Midwest.
Plan your pilgrimage to the best K-Drama filming spots in Seoul.
If you enjoy oppa piggy-back carrying love triangles or time-traveling romantic comedies, this isn’t the K-Drama for you. If, however, you’re in the mood for a gritty legal drama that doesn’t pull its punches, look no further. The acting is superb and the plots are very realistic. In fact, the cases seemed to be ripped…
By Hong Taek Chung and Sarah Paik What does a gifted filmmaker do with an almost unbelievable story that happens to be true? Make cinematic tour de force, of course. This year’s Baeksang Awards‘ Best Film winner, “Escape from Mogadishu” was based on actual events preceding and during the outbreak of a Somalian civil…
Jean found a box of paperbacks next to the dumpster with a note that said FREE! She looked around for competition even though she knew no one else in her apartment complex would be excited about books, free or not. From the swirly covers of long-haired women limp in the arms of big-chested men, she…
The 58th Baeksang Arts Awards recently honored the best in Korean film, television and theater. Touted as the most prestigious awards ceremony in Korea, the Baeksang Awards are the Oscars, Emmys and Tonys all rolled up into one glittery night. The 58th Baeksang Arts Awards were hosted by Shin Dong-yup, Bae Suzy, and Park Bo-gum and sparkled especially bright…
A fireside chat with Min Jin Lee, author of “Pachinko”, for the Twin Cities Asian Executive Leadership Conference. I am so honored and delighted to have recently interviewed my friend and hero, Min Jin Lee. I first met Min Jin in May of 2017, three months after her best-selling novel “Pachinko” was published. I had…
With quarantine restrictions starting to lift in South Korea, summer study-abroad programs have been gaining popularity again. Hosted by the largest universities in Korea, these summer programs offer opportunities to learn Korea’s language and culture while immersed in the heart of Seoul. Since the late 1970s, going on a pilgrimage to Seoul on a Summer…
Ajummas are commonly featured in Korean dramas as the beloved-but-annoying, loud, nagging mother or neighbor… sometimes as the point of comic relief and other times as the source of anxiety for the protagonists. But what exactly is an ajumma? Do you ever wonder if, now, at your age you’ve become an ajumma? Google translate will tell you an ajumma is…