Diary Excerpt: Serendipity in Sokcho
Life in Seoul, at least for the initial period of my stay here, had me entrapped in a humdrum of harsh winters and solitude arising […]
Essays
Reconciliation Efforts and National interest: A Conversation On Perceptions of Proper Motivation and Results
Behind every action is a driving intention and goal for results. No action or event simply appears but is a conscious physical translation of our […]
The Olympics’ Toxic Relationship: Examining S. Korea’s Issue With Food From Fukushima
The Olympics as a Political Platform If you had billions of eyes on you from around the world for a moment in time, what would […]
Behind Closed Doors: The Paradox of Korea’s Hidden and Public Crimes
On March 31st, 2021 a young man was tied up naked inside a bathroom located in Yeonnam-dong, one of Seoul’s trendiest neighborhoods. 2 months and […]
The Peninsula’s No.1 Korean Wishes to Tell You, “Don’t be Lonely”
“Don’t be lonely, don’t be lonely My friend Don’t be hurt, don’t be hurt My friend” (Lyrics from No.1KoreaN’s song, Don’t Be Lonely) “I’m […]
Mountains of Unified Culture: Baekdu-Daegan As The Spine of Korea
The Baekdu-Daegan As The Spine That Binds The Korean Peninsula The idea of the Korean Peninsula as a nation bound together by the spine of […]
Korean Literature: The Black Sheep of Hallyu
In 2020 the novel At Dusk was long-listed for the National Translation Award. Written by Hwang Sok-yong and translated by Sora Kim-Russell, At Dusk joins Korean […]
Rediscovering Ikigai: Japan’s Reevaluation of Individual Purpose
What is it that makes life worth living? What is it that drives you to keep moving forward and fuels your happiness? For many, finding […]
“We Can Do it” Korea’s Street Artists Send Message of Solidarity Amidst Pandemic Woes
Though South Korea prides itself on avoiding full lockdown, many artistic venues have been forced to reduce activities in response to COVID-19. Theatres, galleries, and […]
Taking it Slow as Fast as Possible: The Irony of Korea’s “Slow” Consumption
A country home on a summer’s day. Birds are chirping, and a dog twists his ears toward the sound. A flowering tree branch sways in […]