As if a part of a cruel joke, as the fireplaces grow warmer and the festive season came nearer, Korea seemed to be swept into a series of cold and unfortunate news. One of the happenings that perhaps most shook the nation was the death of a popular KPOP singer, Jonghyun of a popular boy…
Category: Korea and Koreans
Numerous Issues Still Remain in Preparation for PyeongChang Olympics
The 2018 Winter Olympics are already upon us – and with it, a whole host of problems that may threaten to derail this year’s Games. For South Korea – the announced host country of this year’s Games – 2018 will be its second time hosting the Olympics, the first being the 1988 Summer Olympics in…
A Strong Drinking Culture’s Detrimental Effects
South Koreans rank Number 13 in alcohol consumption and Number 1 in hard liquor consumption according to the World Health Organization. In fact, many South Koreans consider drinking as embedded deeply into their culture. Alcohol is sold cheap in South Korea, making it available for many people. For example, a 360-milliliter bottle of soju, which…
Korea’s College Scholastic Ability Test is Over
On November 23, about 600,000 students in South Korea took the Suneung, a standardized college entrance exam accepted by colleges. This exam, also known as the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), is conducted every November. During their three years of high school, students prepare for this single-setting, nine-hour-long exam. This test is considered the most…
A Day of Hangeul
Hangeul Day is a public holiday in South Korea that is celebrated annually on October 9. It marks the date of when the Korean alphabet, hangeul, is believed to have been proclaimed to the public. The creator of hangeul, King Sejong, is a popular figure in Korean history. He was the fourth monarch of the…
Who’s that Hot Asian Guy?
The 2017 MTV Europe Music Awards took place in London on November 12. Many famous celebrities attended, such as Rita Ora as the host, Shawn Mendes, and Eminem. But specifically one idol stood out among the many faces. Referred to as “that hot Asian guy next to Liam Payne”, was Jackson Wang from K-pop boy…
Korean Beauty Standards
“She’s not pretty for a Korean because she’s not Asian enough.” As a Korean girl living in the United States, being judged by someone based on your culture is unavoidable. However, this issue is not only the case for Koreans, but also for Asians across the globe representing their culture. Wherever people go, there are…
Victim-Centered Approach to the ‘comfort women’ Issue: Adding Sincerity to the Apologies
Unfortunately, one of the very few remaining comfort women has passed away. The 93-year-old died without a sincere apology from Japan. The issue surrounding comfort women is one of the most problematic yet important topics in Northeast Asia. As many victims of forced military sex slavery have passed away, the urgency of settling the matter…
Editor’s Column: BTS Sweeps Over America
In 2013, a seven membered K-pop boy group debuted under a very small company, BigHit. Although they were not popular or successful until the past few years, BTS worked hard to relay important messages in their music about the youth and society. Years of hard work and dedication has led them to globalize all around…
Korea Daily’s Successful Hectic College Fair
On September 30th, 2017, Korea Daily hosted the 12th annual college fair at the Birmingham Community Charter High School. Every year, the fair includes plenty of educational information, keynote speakers, and college booths. But this year, they added in a STEM lunch table discussion event which a number of students were able to sit with…