Global Community
Surfing the Korean wave with tattooing
Tattooing is still illegal in Korea, but that hasn't prevented it from being part of hallyu, or the wave of Korean popular culture sweeping the world.
Aug 27, 2024
Jon Dunbar
Korea Times Copyediting Reporter
Jon Dunbar is a copy editor at The Korea Times, as well as editor of the Foreign Community page and curator of the Korea Times Archive. If you have suggestions for possible articles, or wish to contribute articles yourself, contact jdunbar@koreatimes.co.kr.
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Global Community
RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK Duriban's victory over gentrification still tastes sweet
Hired goons entered this week's Restaurant of the Week on Christmas Eve 2009 and forcefully removed all the customers and workers, then closed up the restaurant with metal shutters.
Aug 27, 2024
Global Community
Beijing band Gong Gong Gong brings 'phantom rhythm' to Korea
The Beijing-based music act Gong Gong Gong is coming to Korea this weekend for shows in Busan and Seoul. Formed in 2015 by guitarist and vocalist Tom Ng from Hong Kong and bassist Joshua Frank from Montreal, Canada, the band has made waves worldwide for its stripped-down version of rock 'n' roll.
Aug 26, 2024
Global Community
FINDING THE SCENE 5 Remembering 9 of Hongdae's formative live music venues
This is the fifth part in a series intended to raise awareness of Korea's elusive live music scene and help more people find it.
Aug 24, 2024
Global Community
Seoul hardcore punk band wants you to stop caring
When the Seoul-based hardcore punk band Care Less debuted, the name sparked a lot of speculation and confusion. Are they clumsy people, or irresponsible in some way? Why is the name sometimes written in two words? Or wait, is it always two words?
Aug 21, 2024
Global Community
Texas Flood drenches Seoul's music scene with blues
Texas Flood feels like one of those bands that's been around forever. I'm pretty sure my first time seeing them was at HBC South in June 2018 and they had already been known to me for several years by that point.
Aug 14, 2024
Global Community
RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK RawRaw becomes welcome addition to HBC's restaurant scene
It was a shock when Al Matto, probably the best pizza place of central Seoul's Haebangchon (HBC) neighborhood, closed without fanfare earlier this year. Once the Italian-style pizzeria and Deokseongjang Motel upstairs were shut down, the building underwent a thorough renovation. That's been happening in the area a lot lately, and mostly, it results in unused — but probably higher-value — real estate. Don't ask me why that's preferable; I'm not a realtor.
Aug 14, 2024
Global Community
10-day tour of inter-Korean border area to expose reclusive North from afar
It hasn't been this difficult to get a glimpse of North Korea in a long time. Between travel restrictions to the reclusive country itself and fraying relations with its neighbors China and Russia, it's nearly impossible to visit or even come close. A group of North Korea experts working together with NK News aims to provide the next best thing by leading a 10-day group tour of the south side of the inter-Korean border area from Sept. 21 to 30.
Aug 14, 2024
Global Community
HBC community to celebrate Korea's liberation during Haebang Week
A wide range of events are scheduled throughout the week in central Seoul's Haebangchon (HBC) neighborhood. The name "Haebangchon" translates to "Liberation Village,"making it a meaningful place to celebrate National Liberation Day, or "Gwangbokjeol" (Restoration of Light Day), on Aug. 15.
Aug 12, 2024