Five months after becoming a box office phenomenon in South Korea, The King’s Warden is finally available to stream in the United States on VIKI, and it is well worth the wait. Credited with bringing audiences back to movie theaters in record numbers, the film became Korea’s highest-grossing film of all time. It also won…
While my husband and I were eating a delicious bowl of naengmyun in Porto, Portugal yesterday, the Korean soccer player Hwang In-beom was finishing his meal at the table next to us at a lovely little restaurant called Wooa. He had just arrived in the city after signing a three-year contract with FC Porto, and…
Erling Haaland is the highest-paid footballer in the Premier League, earning a reported £27.3 million a year ($36.5 million) at Manchester City, more than six million higher than the next name on the list. This summer he became the breakout viral star of the 2026 World Cup, spawning AI parody clips, waves of meme edits,…
The current USD-to-Korean won exchange rate is better than ever. As of now, 1 U.S. dollar equals ₩1,474, and it reached a high of ₩1,558 per USD in the summer of 2026. Over the past 10 years, the exchange rate has been as low as ₩1,054 per USD so you are now saving 25%-30% on top of Korea’s already low prices. As stylish and sophisticated as any destination, and with…
“If adults are afraid of children, the world is doomed.” The line belongs to Na Hwa-jin, a former special-forces captain turned education inspector played by Kim Mu-yeol in Netflix’s Teach You a Lesson. By the second episode, it has become a mantra that echoes throughout the series. Korea’s real-life education system in recent years has…
On June 15, Hooni Kim stood on the stage of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and accepted the James Beard Award for Best Chef: New York State. The recognition was, by most accounts, long overdue. In 2012, his restaurant Danji became the first Korean restaurant anywhere in the world to receive a Michelin star. At…
The 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards celebrated another incredible year for Korean entertainment, honoring the most unforgettable K-dramas, films, performances, and creators of 2026. From emotional healing dramas and gripping thrillers to breakout rookie stars and cinematic masterpieces, this year’s winners showcased why Korean entertainment continues to captivate audiences worldwide. One of the biggest success stories…
My mother closes her eyes at the moment of the camera shutter. She has done it all her life without meaning to, and the result is a running joke in our family, that she does what she wants, not what she is told. My mother is a beauty. At a time when the average Korean…
The 2026 Gold House Gold100 recognizes the most influential Asian Pacific leaders shaping global culture today—and among them, Korean and Korean-descendant figures stand out for their breadth of impact and cross-industry influence. From award-winning television and global music production to esports, technology, and fine dining, this year’s honorees reflect how Korean creativity and leadership continue…
Getting eyeglasses in South Korea is one of those rare experiences where convenience, speed, and affordability all come together in a way that feels almost effortless. Instead of the drawn-out process many people are used to—multiple appointments, long waits for lenses, and repeated follow-ups—everything is typically handled in a single visit, from eye exam to…