KÉ Interview: Growing up Gay and Korean
As Seoul prepares for its pride parade this Saturday, meet one young man who grew up and still struggles with being gay in South Korea.
Identity
CJ CGV’s “Be a Foreigner”: Funny April Fool’s Event or Cultural Appropriation?
CJ CGV is offering discounts to moviegoers on April Fool's. Dress like a foreigner, or speak in a foreign language. Is this delightful and funny, or a pandora's box of cultural appropriation?
Unlikely Debate: Olympics ‘Garlic Girls’ and Japanese Porn
The South Korean women's curling team are the biggest stars of the moment. But the "Garlic Girls" probably don't know that during the Olympics, they were part of a debate involving a phrase commonly known in Korea through Japanese porn.
The Kevin Spacey Twist in South Korea’s #MeToo Campaign?
An acclaimed film director was accused of sexual harrassment, by a colleague who used the hashtag #MeToo. The accused apologized and came out publicly as a lesbian, raising eyebrows at the Kevin Spacey-esque move.
P(r)aying for Bigotry at Handong University
Handong University announced its official opposition to homosexuality last May: “Homosexuality is a regressive cultural trend that denies Biblical truth” and, “We believe true homosexual rights lie in conversion therapy.” It goes to lengths to abide by this belief.
Stop Attributing Everything to Confucianism
Phrases like "such and such happened because of ingrained Confucian values" show up time and again in Western reporting about Asian countries, not least South Korea. But is it true, or is it just lazy journalism?
Good Luck Making It As Korean in America
It is old (and not fake!) news that U.S. economy has historically benefited from skilled foreign workers. How are the barriers getting harder to mount, especially for Koreans in America?
Battle Over South Korea’s Constitutional Reform Focuses on LGBT Rights
Both human rights groups and conservative Christians are bracing themselves for the biggest legal fight to come: a constitutional reform that might ban discrimination against sexual minorities and allow same-sex marriage.
Kopino Children: Half Korean, Half Filipino, Fatherless
The Philippines is a popular destination for South Koreans. Many men, though, are accused of abandoning their half-Filipino children, dubbed Kopino.
The Old Man’s Harbor
Jongno is the old man's harbor in Seoul. Why do so many come here? What are they looking for? Read our exposé of one of Korea's most historic neighborhoods.
The Latest in S. Korean Feminism: Zucchinis
Also known as a courgette, this summer squash is the unlikely instigator of a heated online debate surrounding actor Yoo Ah-in, and his claim to feminism.
Ilbe vs. Womad: Alleged Child Abuse Reignites S. Korea’s Gender War
A South Korean woman was arrested in Australia for producing "child abuse content." Ilbe users are pointing to a Womad supporter.