South Korea - The Korea Times

Holiday in North Korea 'Nobody' can escape K-pop, not even North Korea

Chinese performers dance to "Nobody" by Wonder Girls in Shenyang, China, in 2010. Courtesy of Jon DunbarBy Jon DunbarOne of the appeals of visiting North Korea is the chance to escape a lot of the trappings of modern society. We leave behind a world of advertising, of colorless high-rise complexes, of hypercompetitive consumer capitalism. We say goodbye to our phones and sign off on social media; at least that was the case on my first visit in 2010. And we are not subjected to K-pop ― or so I had hoped.As residents of Korea, K-pop is foisted on us against our will all over the place: in public, on mass media and all over the internet, reminding us that women should be simultaneously demure and sexy, beauty is everything and keep consuming. It is not pleasant for people who are immune to boy bands and girl groups dancing in unison. South Korea has been actively exporting idol groups in an effort to spread its soft power diplomacy. In those days, the big girl groups were Wonder Girls and Girls' Generation, and even people who hated K-pop could recognize their songs due to overexposure.

May 12, 2020By Jon Dunbar

Foreigners to face heavier fines for violating quarantine rules

1Visitors wearing face masks walk at a park in Seoul, Monday, May 4, 2020. APBy Jung Min-hoForeigners in Korea will face heavier fines for violating coronavirus quarantine rules.The Ministry of Justice said Monday that it will revise enforcement regulations to raise fines to 3 million won ($2,500) from 500,000 won this month for first-time violators of mandatory 14-day quarantine. Second- and third-time violators will face fines of 5 million and 10 million won, respectively.“It is critical for everyone coming from overseas to follow the self-isolation rules to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” the ministry said in a statement.The rules apply also for Koreans, who could face up to one year in prison or a maximum fine of 10 million won.In serious cases, foreigners could be deported immediately. In April, 18 were forced to leave Korea for breaking the rules, according to the ministry.On Monday, Korea reported 35 more COVID-19 cases, the biggest single-day spike since April 9, bringing the country's total infections to 10,909.

May 11, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Foreigners to face heavier fines for violating quarantine rules

RAS Korea Social Distancing? RAS Korea is 'Zooming' along!

People log in on Zoom for a Royal Asiatic Society Korea lecture on the book "Samsung Rising" by Geoffrey Cain, top center, whose trip to Korea was canceled due to COVID-19. / Courtesy of RAS KoreaBy Steven L. ShieldsCOVID-19 hit Korea right between the eyes! The nation was shaken to its very foundations. People were getting sick right and left; the government was hustling to respond. Hospitals went into overdrive. The new school year was delayed; concerts and large gatherings were canceled. Churches and temples were asked to close. Everyone was scrambling to buy masks that were in short supply at the beginning. Small shops and restaurants saw a considerable downturn in customers.The Royal Asiatic Society Korea followed the government-issued warnings. The office was closed, and the staff began working from home. Walking tours and club meetings were postponed. The lectures scheduled in March were canceled. We were heartbroken to miss out on some excellent presentations. RAS Korea was doubly saddened not to be able to launch its much-anticipated Pyeongtaek lecture series, offering the n

May 7, 2020

[RAS Korea] Social Distancing? RAS Korea is 'Zooming' along!

Short story anthology analyzes faces of Seoul, 'City of Han'

City of Han cover / Courtesy of Sollee BaeBy Hallie BradleyExpats come, expats go, and some even come again. Seoul will no doubt leave a lasting impression on everyone who visits, and what better way to remember than with a book of short stories written by foreign residents, past and present? Under the title “A City of Han,” editor Sollee Bae has brought together six short stories in just over 100 pages to showcase some of those impressions. From modern to traditional, memories of the past and thoughts to the future, the stories express various desires and perspectives. Bae is a writer herself and runs a creative writing critique group called Fiction Writers in Seoul which meets every other Saturday. In October 2018 she put out a call for submissions across various websites, and by the end of January 2019 she had over 100 submissions. She went through them carefully and was able to meet six inspiring and dedicated writers ― Eliot Olesen, Ron Bandun, Ted Snyder, David Smith, Matthew Grolemund, and Gord Sellar who have provided the stories for “A City of Han.” &

May 7, 2020

Short story anthology analyzes faces of Seoul, 'City of Han'

Short story anthology explores magical realism in Seoul's alleys

The cover of "Guisin-dong and Other Seoul Villages" by Stephane Mot By Jon DunbarIf you find yourself in Guisin-dong, a nomadic, shape-shifting neighborhood of Seoul, you may never escape. That's one of the revelations in “Guisin-dong and other Seoul Villages,” a recently released ebook by Stephane Mot, a Seoulite originally from France.“We all live in Guisin-dong,” Mot told The Korea Times. “If Guisin-dong doesn't exist, it's somehow a microcosm of life, and of Seoul's diverse villages, a social satire and a tribute to this shapeshifter of a city. Too many people roam Seoul without feeling anything for her.”He presents 12 short stories, or “dragedies,” which is his word for his short stories based on a portmanteau of the French candies dragees which come in small bundles, and tragedy.“Dragees are candies you offer in small bundles to celebrate, and somehow exorcise festive events ― generally a wedding or a birth... they can be treacherous for the teeth,” he said. “

May 6, 2020By Jon Dunbar

Kazakh brothers seeking better life in Korea killed in fire

Family members of the Icheon warehouse fire victims cry at the joint memorial hall installed in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. Sunday. YonhapBy Kim Se-jeongTwo Kazakh workers killed in the warehouse fire in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province were brothers who moved to Korea with their families in pursuit of a better life.The two were ethnic Koreans from former Soviet states. “One was a father of three children,” said Kim Young-sook who leads a group dedicated to helping ethnic Koreans from the former Soviet Union in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. “I met the guy with three children in February. He dropped by because he needed help visiting a medical clinic.” According to Kim, they were living in Ansan and traveled across the country for work. “Their relatives in Kazakhstan want to fly to Korea for their funerals, but can't because of financial difficulties. They are not in a good situation and need help. We're trying to help them with whatever we can.” Almost 18,000 ethnic Koreans from former Soviet states are currently living in Ansan. The brothers were among 38 who

May 5, 2020By Kim Se-jeong

Kazakh brothers seeking better life in Korea killed in fire

Bucheon offers stimulus money to foreigners, including undocumented ones

GettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoThe Bucheon city government is offering stimulus money to foreigners, including undocumented ones, to help them cope with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.The ordinance passed by the city council on April 29 states marriage immigrants, permanent residents and all the other foreign residents recognized by the mayor as those in need of aid are eligible to receive 50,000 won ($41) each just like Korean residents.In early drafts, foreigners, except F-5 and F-6 visa holders, were excluded from the benefit. But councilor Jung Jae-hyun said undocumented foreigners should also be included. Among 33 other council members, 26 consented.“It is right to support all members of our community, including foreigners, as they financially struggle during the pandemic,” councilor Kim Dong-hee said in a statement.Beneficiaries of the city's policy can apply separately for stimulus money from the Gyeonggi provincial government.

May 4, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Bucheon offers stimulus money to foreigners, including undocumented ones

Joseon Images Yankee Encounters with Korean Enlightenment

A bridge leading into Seogwang Temple, circa 1920s / Robert Neff CollectionBy Robert NeffIn late 1884, George C. Foulk, an American navy ensign, traveled extensively around the Korean Peninsula and documented ― in great detail ― all that he encountered. Amongst his notes are some interesting tidbits:“Crossing from Tuksom, near Seoul, is a Buddhist temple at which the W.C. is so high (or deep) that when people use it, that which they've 'gotten through with' reaches the bottom only a year afterwards.”He went on to visit the legendary Haein Temple and commented favorably upon the thousands of wooden printing blocks but seemed rather unimpressed with the rest of the temple which he described as shabby. His (and his Korean servant's) disappointment also extended to the toilet ― it was only about eight meters deep and was built over a ledge in a valley. In late October 1888, Charles Chaille-Long, the secretary of the American legation in Seoul, wrote about his visit to Seogwang Temple (located near Wonsan).Seogwang Temple circa 1920s / Robert Neff CollectionHe was greeted at t

Apr 28, 2020By Robert Neff

4 indispensable services for social distancers

A child sits with a selection of food from a Slowbox delivery. Photo courtesy of Hallie BradleyBy Hallie BradleyThough the daily new cases of COVID-19 in Korea are decreasing, the government continues to warn citizens against going outside unnecessarily. But what is or isn't necessary depends on several factors, and languages understood and spoken is one of them. One of the biggest difficulties foreigners in Korea have faced as they try not to go outside is using websites and apps that are only available in Korean. Phillip Ochola Mak'Anyengo is the CEO of Wonderful, formerly Ask Ajumma, a bilingual personal assistant service that assists foreigners in Korea with everything from booking travel to getting concert tickets and chicken delivered for dinner. Though the company can do all of that, he said, “Lately, we have more clients asking for help with grocery purchases, courier services and food delivery. Many Korean websites and apps are still hard for foreigners to navigate.” Zach Marble, COO and founder of Shuttle, a food delivery service, agrees. “We've seen an up

Apr 28, 2020By Jon Dunbar

Korea to grant visa for heroic Kazakh man who saved people from blaze

By Jung Min-hoAli, the undocumented hero from Kazakhstan / YonhapThe government will grant a G-1 visa for the heroic Kazakh man who risked his life to rescue people from a burning building in Gangwon Province last month.According to the Ministry of Justice Thursday, the Korea Immigration Service is completing the paperwork to give the visa for the man, 28, identified only by his given name Ali, whose bravery saved 10 people from a burning apartment at a town in Yangyang County on March 23.He was scheduled to be deported after his illegal status came to light.The visa will allow him to continue to receive treatment at a hospital in Seoul.Ali suffered burns to his back, neck and hands while trying to rescue his neighbors. Unfortunately, a woman on the second floor died after inhaling too much toxic smoke.The immigration office also said it would consider granting Ali permanent residency. On the Cheong Wa Dae website, a petition calling for the government to offer the permanent right to stay here has gathered more than 22,000 signatures.In a similar case, the government awarded permanen

Apr 24, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Korea to grant visa for heroic Kazakh man who saved people from blaze

Undocumented hero: Koreans urge gov't not to deport Kazakh man who saved people from burning building

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