On a cold January morning in 1890, twenty‑five‑year‑old Seo Jae‑pil stood in a Washington, D.C., courtroom and took the oath that made him the first Korean to become a citizen of the United States. In exile from his homeland, where the government had killed most of his family members, the young man had already lived…
Above: Korean refugees wait to board the SS Meredith Victory. On a frigid December day in 1950, as communist forces pushed toward the North Korean port of Hungnam, tens of thousands of Korean civilians gathered in desperation while American forces prepared to evacuate. With UN soldiers, weapons, and military equipment to load, they had no…
In 2025, global soccer superstar Son Heung-min stunned fans by joining LA’s MLS team for a record-breaking transfer fee and a previously obscure K-pop songwriter launched Golden into Billboard immortality; the South Korean government presented President Trump with a gold crown and its highest civilian honor; and I, armed with patience, curiosity, and a deep…
“The Dream Life of Mr. Kim” has a much better title in the Korean language version, namely: The Story of Manager Kim, Who Owns His Home in Seoul and Works for a Large Company. This wordy title is funny because it is actually a checklist of what is commonly considered success in modern Korean life,…
Korean dining in NYC is glorious these days. From late-night comfort food to beautifully polished tasting menus, the range of restaurants feels both expansive and delightfully varied. This year brought another surge of energy across the spectrum. While the top end continues to push boundaries, it’s encouraging to find real momentum among more accessible spots. …
If you’re not watching Just Makeup, you might be overlooking one of Korea’s most engaging new reality competitions, even for viewers who aren’t interested in makeup. “We used makeup as the theme, but we designed the show as a pure survival competition,” said producers Park Seong-hwan and Shim Woo-jin in an interview. Much like how…
This is not a drill: Olive Young stores are coming to the US! This week, Korea’s No. 1 Health & Beauty Store Olive Young announced plans to expand into the North American market with the opening of its very first store in Pasadena (CA) by May 2026. And shortly thereafter, more California stores, including locations…
In an age of spectacle, You and Everything Else (Korean title Eun-jung and Sang-yeon) arrives at a whisper. This Netflix original series is not built on grand plot twists or melodramatic saviors, but on the slow accrual of ordinary moments: glances, regrets, envy, affection. After what has felt like a long stretch of badly written,…
On a ridge between Seoul’s two major royal palaces lies a cluster of tiled roofs and winding alleys, full of Korean traditional homes called hanok. Tourists know it as Bukchon Hanok Village, a postcard of old Korea framed against the city’s glass and steel towers. But this picturesque neighborhood hides an amazing story of determination,…
Seoul has my heart for many reasons, but especially for its incredible list of cafes. Seoul is often on the forefront of cafe culture, constantly setting the trends you’ll see circulating on Instagram and TikTok. No matter your taste, I guarantee there’s always a place for you. Walking through Seoul, you quickly realize that cafés…