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…
The break is totally over. 아리랑 고개를 드디어 넘어간다! From city skies to cinemas to amusement rides, BTS is once again taking over. They’ve launched Netflix titles, a sold-out world tour, even an instant noodle brand—it’s hard to keep up. But in late March came the big moment that cut through all the noise: the…
A karaoke room in Manhattan, a suitcase full of gel sticks, and the surprisingly serious science behind Korea’s thirty-year war on the hangover Late to the Soju Pre Game Ritual My friends Sue and Sonny had just landed in NY from a trip to Seoul, their suitcases loaded with the usual haul: sheet masks, gochugaru,…
There is a quality to cherry blossom season in Korea that resists being photographed. You can capture a single tree against a palace wall, or the pink tunnel of Gyeonghwa Station in Jinhae, but no image quite holds the feeling of standing under a canopy of petals in a warm afternoon wind, watching them drift…
It’s a great week to be Korean. Last year, two Korean directors’ works became the most-watched series and most-watched movie on Netflix. Last Sunday, March 15, following two Golden Globes and a Grammy, “KPop Demon Hunters” swept all of its two Oscar nominations. “They’re goin’ up, up, up—this is their moment. ✨,” the Oscars wrote.…
(Feature image: WALASSE TING, Red Horse) A Year at Full Gallop Every twelve years, the Horse trots back into the Korean (or Chinese) zodiac, mane flying, nostrils flared, radiating that particular blend of vitality and don’t-fence-me-in swagger. The Horse is the zodiac’s kinetic extrovert: restless, charismatic, allergic to confinement. It prefers motion to meditation, pursuit…
Single’s Inferno Season 5 (2026) has emerged as the most‑watched and successful chapter in the franchise’s history. According to Netflix’s global viewing metrics, Season 5 climbed to #2 on the Netflix Global Top 10 Non‑English TV list, achieving 4.6 million views and 23.6 million hours viewed in a single week — a record performance unmatched by earlier seasons. It…
In January 2026, the Oxford English Dictionary added eight Korean words that English speakers have been using often enough to leave a clear record in print and media. The Oxford English Dictionary adds entries only after sustained use in English texts. What these eight terms share is evidence. They show up in newspapers, scripts, menus,…