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Popularity of K-content drives boom in Korean language learning

A scene from the “K-Wave Korean” series for learning Korean / Courtesy of the King Sejong Institute FoundationBy Kwak Yeon-sooThe rising global popularity of Korean content ― K-pop, K-dramas and films ― is fueling a boom in learning the Korean language, and government agencies, as well as institutions abroad, are taking advantage of the trend to develop and expand Korean language education programs.Korean is the 14th-most widely used language in the world and is the second-fastest growing language in the world after Hindi, according to language learning app Duolingo. A study by the University Council of Modern Languages showed that between 2012 and 2018, the number of U.K. university students taking Korean language courses more than tripled. The growing interest in studying Korean can be attributed to the growing popularity of hallyu, or the Korean Wave. A report by the Korea Foundation showed that the number of global hallyu fans has increased 17 times in the last decade to 156.6 million as of last December.Another indicator of the global rise of interest in Korean is th

Mar 16, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Popularity of K-content drives boom in Korean language learning

Why have young Koreans become disillusioned with civil service jobs?

Students take a course to prepare for the civil service exam at an educational institution in Noryangjin, Seoul, in this file photo. YonhapPublic sector's conservative culture turns off young job seekersBy Dong Sun-hwaThe COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a huge blow to the job market in Korea, with numerous companies reducing job openings in order to stay afloat. According to a recent survey conducted by the Federation of Korean Industries, more than 42.1 percent of the top 500 companies in Korea said they have not mapped out recruitment plans for the first half of this year, while 7.9 percent said they have no hiring plans. The two major reasons are due to the global health crisis and a lack of what they view as suitable talent.From a common-sense standpoint, more job seekers should flock to Noryangjin in western Seoul, a region packed with civil service exam crammers, to gain jobs in the government which provide employment stability and a fair working environment. However, a growing number of young people in Korea are losing interest in getting public sector jobs, as evidenced by a stea

Mar 11, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
Why have young Koreans become disillusioned with civil service jobs?

Younger generation plays big role in new type of art investment

"Dialogue" by Lee Ufan is seen in this image provided by Seoul Auction Blue. Yonhap Four out of 10 investors who buy small shares of iconic artworks through online platforms in South Korea are from the younger generation, a local auction house said Monday.Among customers who have purchased a share of a single piece of art worth at least 10 million won ($8,100) at a time, 40 percent were in their 20s and 30s, according to Sotwo, an online art investment platform run by Seoul Auction Blue.Sotwo allows individuals to buy shares of specific artworks from 1,000 won and lets them gain proceeds when the artwork is resold.The company said their young buyers have invested in some acclaimed paintings by big-name Korean artists, including Lee Ufan, Kim Whan-ki and Park Seo-bo.For example, the portion of investors in their 20s and 30s who participated in the collective purchase of a piece by Lee Ufan reached 50 percent. The number of 30-somethings, in particular, accounted for

Mar 7, 2022
Younger generation plays big role in new type of art investment

Local religious groups stand with Ukraine

A group of demonstrators takes to the street near the Embassy of Russia in central Seoul to protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Tuesday. Yonhap By Park Han-solIn the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine last week, many of the religious bodies in Korea have come forward to unite against the aggressor and stand with the war-stricken country.The Korean Conference of Religions for Peace (KCRP) ― an umbrella organization made up of religious organizations for Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Won Buddhism, Confucianism, Chondogyo and the Association for Korean Native Religions ― released a statement on Monday, saying that no crisis can be resolved by brute, barbaric force.“We are sure that this war, although triggered as a result of a multitude of historical and political factors, can be overcome through dialogue alone,” the organization said, calling for solidarity from all those in support of lasting peace.The same day, Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung

Mar 3, 2022By Park Han-sol
Local religious groups stand with Ukraine

Cultural artifact-inspired merchandise gets makeover

Colorful miniatures of the gilt-bronze Pensive Bodhisattva statue produced during the Three Kingdoms period / Courtesy of the National Museum Foundation of Korea By Park Han-solTraditional souvenirs filling the shelves of Korean museum shops have long been stereotyped as items that lack practicality and that often fail to go well with interior decor, due to their faithful yet outdated designs. Once purchased or gifted, it isn't unusual for these products to be tucked away in a corner of a room, slowly forgotten as they gather dust.However, a recent string of makeovers of state-run museums' relic-inspired merchandise have added a feeling of freshness to the shop's vitrines.One piece of merchandise that seems to be gathering attention is a miniature of two gilt-bronze Pensive Bodhisattva statues.Designated as national treasures, the original sculptures were produced in the late sixth and early seventh centuries during the Three Kingdoms period. Back in November, the N

Feb 25, 2022By Park Han-sol
Cultural artifact-inspired merchandise gets makeover

So long YOLO, young Koreans choose 'Godsaeng'

Self-empowerment through day-to-day goals, achievements becoming new trend By Kwak Yeon-sooJung Hye-in, a 32-year-old office worker in Seoul, takes dietary supplements with warm water, does a few yoga poses and reads at least one economic report every morning before starting work. During lunchtime, she takes a TOEFL class or goes for a 30-minute walk. Before going to sleep, she writes a blog about her daily life and her interest in fashion, home decoration, music and books. “I'm naturally a planner, but I started keeping track of my habits more precisely after moving out of my parents' house in 2020. Setting a goal and diligently working toward achieving it is meaningful and fulfilling,” she said.Like Jung, an increasing number of young people in Korea are adopting simple and healthy habits ― things like keeping a tidy and organized living space, drinking 2 liters of water per day, and cutting down on screen time. They do so in order to “lead an industrious and active life” in what they see as uncertain times. Known as “Godsaeng” in Korean ― a port

Feb 24, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
So long YOLO, young Koreans choose 'Godsaeng'

AI translation key to communication in metaverse: Flitto CEO

Simon Lee, CEO of Flitto, gives a lecture during the Corea Image Communication Institution's (CICI) forum at the French ambassador's residence in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of CICIBy Dong Sun-hwaThe role of artificial intelligence (AI) in translation is becoming more important in the metaverse where people across the world can join and communicate, says Simon Lee, CEO of translation service provider, Flitto.But he disagreed with the view that AI may replace human translators.“The role of AI in translating different languages has gotten bigger as more people interact with each other on metaverse without meeting face-to-face,” Lee, whose Korean name is Lee Jung-soo, said during a lecture on Tuesday at the French ambassador's official residence in Seoul. The lecture was part of the Corea Image Communication Institution's (CICI) Korea CQ Forum, which intends to bring together opinion leaders worldwide.“But AI is unlikely to translate all different languages in a virtual world, as it cannot fully process subjective data such as people's thoughts and feelings,” he sai

Feb 23, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
AI translation key to communication in metaverse: Flitto CEO

Culture minister proposes Culture Olympics to IOC head

Culture Minister Hwang Hee speaks during a press conference at the Government Complex Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and TourismBy Kwak Yeon-sooCulture Minister Hwang Hee said Tuesday he proposed holding a “Culture Olympics” to International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach during his visit to Beijing for the Winter Olympics. Hwang said he presented Korea's proposal to the IOC head, citing three major reasons: first, it upholds the Olympic spirit of celebrating respect for cultural differences; second, the IOC can enhance its presence in the United Nations (UN) by expanding its scope of activities to the field of culture; finally, a Culture Olympics could have considerable social and economic benefits.“I believe a Culture Olympics will help solidify Korea's status as a cultural powerhouse. The IOC agreed in principle, but raised questions about the plans for operation, including how the items would be divided into competitive or noncompetitive forms, and how scoring would work. We will discuss further details with the IOC in

Feb 22, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Culture minister proposes Culture Olympics to IOC head

Seoul's street fashion changes with Korea's dynamic modern history

Photographer Shin Sang-woo's picture, taken sometime in the 1950s or 1960s, depicts two Korean women clad in Western-style, patterned dresses. Courtesy of Seoul Urban Life MuseumBy Park Han-solFashion has long been more than just an eye-catching means of self-expression.Its role as a critical mirror of societal change has perhaps been witnessed most evidently in Korea's modern history, which has been nothing short of tumultuous ― extending through 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule and national liberation, the 1950-53 Korean War, multiple authoritarian regimes and rapid economic development.The exhibition “Fashion and Seoul,” at the Seoul Urban Life Museum in northern Seoul's Nowon District, brings to the fore the fashion trends of Seoulites from 1945 to 2020, while weaving in the history of war, poverty, urbanization and industrialization.Birth of Seoul's post-war fashionFollowing Korea's liberation from Japan in 1945, the everyday attire worn by Seoul's population hovered somewhere between the traditional dress of hanbok and Western-style clothing. But poverty in the afterm

Feb 17, 2022By Park Han-sol
Seoul's street fashion changes with Korea's dynamic modern history

Diverse forms of family gain spotlight in Korean media

Policies required to back up shifts in family structureBy Park Han-solJapanese celebrity Sayuri Fujita and her son, Zen / Captured from Sayuri's InstagramIn November 2020, Sayuri Fujita, a Japanese TV personality based in Seoul, shook up the Korean entertainment scene when her decision to become a single mother by choice was made public.She gave birth to her son, Zen, who was conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Japan using donor sperm, as the treatment remains a virtually impossible option for unmarried women in Korea.“Becoming a single mother was not an easy decision, but it is also not a shameful decision. I want to thank my son for making me a proud mother,” the 42-year-old wrote on her Instagram account.Months later, her appearance on KBS' reality show, “The Return of Superman,” sharing the everyday struggles of parenting, grabbed the headlines once again for being the first time the hit show openly featured the life of a single parent since it began airing in 2013.In recent years, Sayuri has not been the only subject of popular media attenti

Feb 10, 2022By Park Han-sol
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