[LLG] A story of loving and letting go, repeated 19 times and counting

In 2011, Cho was 12 years old when the first baby arrived. He recalled sensing the presence of a new family member in the house when he came home from school one day -- the air smelled different, with the scents of milk and of an infant. Entering the house, he stumbled over baby products. Then, there, in the center of the living room lying on a blanket neatly spread out, was a small baby. “The baby was so tiny and I constantly checked to see if he was breathing,” said Cho Ddol-bok,

Jan. 31, 2024

[Korea Quiz] Dangerous for suicides

Find the answer at the bottom. With 25.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2022, South Korea has the highest suicide rate among the mostly developed members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. To curb deaths by suicides, the country has employed a series of measures, which include the designation of certain items as “suicide hazardous materials.” These items are subject to tougher monitoring and management. The list, first created in 2020, initially included

Jan. 31, 2024

Dining out is going digital: Not everyone is happy

The days of flagging down busy servers are almost becoming rare here. At many Korean restaurants, diners are now being asked to order -- and often pay up front -- via a digital device installed at each table, or at standalone kiosks. Digitalization’s reach is not only limited to ordering systems, as at some venues, reserving and waiting for a table have been moved online. And there is a small but growing number of server robots being deployed. Using digital devices to order and pay purpo

Jan. 31, 2024

[AtoZ into Korean mind] Why Koreans feel compelled to stay busy -- or at least look like it

“You must have been very busy lately.” So starts many a conversation as a polite kind of South Korean icebreaker, often after having not met someone for quite a while. Responding to it by correcting its speaker with one's actual level of busyness is generally not advised. In practice, the ideal response would be, “You must be far busier than me,” redirecting the statement back to the speaker to compliment them on their relative societal importance, thereby boosting

Jan. 28, 2024

Reality check: How diverse is Korea really? LGBTQ+ and politics (4)

South Korea defaults to heterosexuality as the predominant sexual identity publicly represented by political leaders. Among national politicians and elected parliamentarians, there have not been any public disclosures of a politician's sexual orientation throughout Korea’s entire legislative history. This lack of openly acknowledged LGBTQ+ representation in the country's top political leadership underscores the degree of exclusion and discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in

Jan. 25, 2024

[Korea Quiz] Korea's spicy affair with noodles

Find the answer at the bottom. The roots of Korean ramyeon trace back to 1963 when Samyang Ramen, the first Korean ramyeon, made its debut. Featuring wheat noodles in a mild, chicken broth, the early product was not very popular, as noodles in general were not a popular meal option for Koreans at that time, due to the widespread preference for rice. But a shortage in rice production in the 1960s prompted the South Korean government to encourage wheat flour consumption, which gave a major boost

Jan. 25, 2024

Loved like idols, canceled like demons

The news that actor Lee Sun-kyun was being investigated for allegations of illegal drug use broke out on Oct. 19. Within days, Korean telecom giant SK Telecom pulled an advertisement featuring Lee and his wife. He was replaced by another actor in the drama series, "No Way Out," which was about to start shooting. The release of two of his films, which were in post-production at that time, became uncertain. In short, Lee was "canceled" less than a week after the allegations w

Jan. 24, 2024

Reality check: How diverse is Korea really? Disabilities and politics (3)

As of 2022, individuals with disabilities make up 5.2 percent of South Korea's population. Using basic arithmetic, this percentage corresponds to approximately 15 seats in the country’s 300-member unicameral parliament. In reality, just four seats are currently occupied by individuals with disabilities, constituting only 1.3 percent. The first person with a disability to win a parliamentary seat as a constituency representative was Lee Chul-yong. In 1988, on the ticket of the libera

Jan. 24, 2024

[Pressure points] Grilling meat on apartment balcony: right or public nuisance?

It might seem an ordinary domestic scene -- a picture of someone grilling pork belly on the enclosed balcony of their apartment -- but it touched off a storm of debate. The person who uploaded the photo said a neighbor living above them had taken exception to the smell and smoke coming from the barbecuing downstairs. Expressing bewilderment about how grilling in one’s own home could be deemed inappropriate, the anonymous poster posed the question: “Was this really a public nuisan

Jan. 23, 2024

Reality check: How diverse is Korea really? Age and politics (2)

Across cultures and political systems, a common trait is that those in decision-making roles, particularly in politics and state governance, are often older than the average voter. This observation holds true in the context of South Korea’s unicameral parliament and central government, where the decision-making process is predominantly controlled by people in their 50s and 60s. Before delving into age representations in the parliament and government, here's a quick overview of Korea&#

Jan. 23, 2024

Reality check: How diverse is Korea really? Women in politics (1)

Half of Korea's population are women, yet in the realm of politics, women are a minority group. In the current 21st session of parliament, the representation of female lawmakers stands at 57 out of the total 300 members -- only 19.1 percent. This percentage places South Korea significantly below average in terms of gender diversity in politics compared to other nations. The average among the 38 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development member nations is 33.8 percent, while the

Jan. 21, 2024

[LLG] She was his homeroom teacher, now they share a life together

In a country where love often bends to fit societal expectations, the captivating tale of Kook Hye-min and Park Min-hyeok has emerged, defying conventional social norms. With clickbaity titles like “The story of marrying your high school homeroom teacher at age 21," the couple’s Instagram account has amassed over 30,000 followers in a mere four months. As their unconventional love story has unfolded, reactions from the public have varied. Some see it as unacceptable according to

Jan. 17, 2024

Apps extend shelf life of New Year resolutions

Are your New Year's resolutions still on track? If so, you have at least passed the initial three-day hurdle of maintaining a new habit or commitment, which the Korean saying “jaksim samil” warns about. While the phrase underscores the tendency for ambitious plans to falter within three days, there are also a range of tips and apps out there to help people adhere to their goals. For Park Ji-yeon, a 36-year-old office worker in Seoul, mastering English was a recurring New Year

Jan. 16, 2024

[Life in Korea] Dice and Comics Cafe: A home away from home for role-playing and board game enthusiasts

A 5-meter-tall, bloodthirsty, gelatinous cube is slowly edging nearer and attempting to engulf you whole -- what do you do? Such a strange scenario might be familiar to those engaging in tabletop role-playing games, or TRPGs. As the name suggests, TRPGs are usually played around a table in a small group. In contrast to other board games, role-playing games can be played with a set of peculiar dice or figurines similar to those one might encounter on a movie set for "The Lord of the Rings

Jan. 13, 2024

[Korea Quiz] Korean box office smash hits

Find the answer at the bottom. A movie that sells over 10 million tickets in South Korea is considered a box office smash hit. In contrast to the global cinema benchmark of 1 billion dollars in worldwide box office sales, the Korean standard for a film's commercial success focuses on the number of tickets sold here -- specifically the figure of 10 million. This threshold holds importance for Korea's filmmakers as it signifies that approximately 20 percent of the country's po

Jan. 10, 2024

[AtoZ into Korean mind] 'Aegyo': The psyche behind childlike adults

“Cuteness or charm, esp. of a sort considered characteristic of Korean popular culture. Also: behavior regarded as cute, charming or adorable. Cf. kawaii n.” – Oxford English Dictionary Ever encountered someone deliberately using or prolonging their “ng” or “o” sounds to sound cute? Like saying, “hajang,” instead of “haja” (let’s do it). This intentional mispronunciation, akin to baby talk, functions as one form of "

Jan. 9, 2024

[Pressure points] Babies crying on flights. Should we blame parents?

Air travel has become a common affair for many -- not just for grown-ups, but also for tiny tots. Yet, as more families travel with young children, the number of those who feel irritated by the presence of little ones on flights seems to have risen in recent years. In August 2022, a 46-year-old man on an Air Busan flight, enraged by a crying baby, hurled insults and threats at the child's parents. When the flight landed, he was arrested on charges of violating aviation security laws. Crying

Jan. 9, 2024

[Korea Quiz] 2024 is the year of which animal?

Find the answer at the bottom. Which animal do you see featured on many calendars for the new year? In a number of East and Southeast Asian countries, including South Korea, each year is symbolized by one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, known as "tti" in Korean -- the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig -- together forming a 12-year cycle. Every person is designated a zodiac animal based on their birth year, ensuring that those

Jan. 3, 2024

[LLG] It's complicated: Our love-hate relationship with Seoul

It is the pulsating heart of everything – from business and fashion trends to education and culture. Seoul's dynamic energy is infectious, drawing people from all corners of the country and beyond. Yet, the city is also a place where life is often consumed like a commodity, where the pace of life operates in overdrive. We asked nine people whose lives have intersected with the city what Seoul meant to them. A family’s ticket to wealth Kim Hee-yong’s move to Seoul 1 1/2

Jan. 2, 2024

In nation of heavy drinkers, a thriving business of hangover cures

"I really shouldn't have drunk so much last night” is a common reflection worldwide the morning after a night of indulgence. In Korea, this sentiment often includes an additional regret: “I should have at least taken one of those hangover cures." As one of the world’s heaviest drinking nations -- particularly of liquor -- this Northeast Asian country has a thriving market for hangover remedies, available in all imaginable forms, flavors and price points. A typica

Dec. 31, 2023