South Korea - The Korea Times

HBC's Hair of the Dog to close as lease hits 10 years

It's been almost 10 years, and one of the iconic bars of central Seoul's multicultural Haebangchon (HBC) neighborhood is about to close. Hair of the Dog's (HOTD) owner, who is known as MJ to her foreign customers, explained that the law had protected her business for the first 10 years, but now that those legal protections were ending, the landlord wanted her out.

Feb 16, 2025By Jon Dunbar

HBC's Hair of the Dog to close as lease hits 10 years

BWAHAHAHAHA 2 'She Farted, So She Was Abandoned'

By G.S. Hand I’ve been exploring the roots of Korean humor through the book “Kkalkkal Useum” (or “Laughing Bwahaha”), a collection of short comedic texts originally published in 1916. Namgung Seol is credited as the editor, but no author is listed, which is common for Korean literature of this era and earlier. It’s often unclear where the texts originally came from or who the original author was. According to researcher Kim Jun-hyeong, the publisher adapted the content from the earlier 1913 collection “Angcheon Daeso” ("looking up into the sky and laughing uproariously") by removing the more serious and politically oriented sections to focus on humor. Another important change is that while the earlier work used Chinese-derived hanja characters, “Kkalkkal Useum” was written entirely in Hangeul (vernacular Korean). This was a commercial decision to appeal to a broader reading public since writing in Chinese characters was only accessible to the more highly educated. “Kkalkkal Usuem” seems to have sold quite a lot of copies in its time, but only a handful exist tod

Feb 15, 2025

[BWAHAHAHAHA 2] 'She Farted, So She Was Abandoned'

Korea to extend visas for Filipino caregivers

The government has decided to extend visas for Filipino caregivers who wish to continue to work here after the pilot program to introduce foreign nannies for Seoul parents ends later this month, according to officials on Friday.

Feb 14, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Korea to extend visas for Filipino caregivers

84% of users satisfied with Filipino caregiving services

The majority of Koreans who have been using services provided by Filipino caregivers said they were satisfied with their work performance, according to a survey.

Feb 14, 2025By Jung Min-ho

84% of users satisfied with Filipino caregiving services

First-ever nationwide union for foreign English teachers in Korea fights to end job restrictions

Foreign English teachers in Korea formed a nationwide labor union for the first time last year, advocating for the rights of around 13,000 instructors at language institutes and public schools. One of the main goals of the union is to eliminate laws that make it illegal for non-Korean workers holding certain types of employment visas to change jobs without their employers' permission.

Feb 13, 2025By Park Ung

First-ever nationwide union for foreign English teachers in Korea fights to end job restrictions

130,000 foreign workers to be allowed in Korea on E-9 visas next year

Live music returns to Haebangchon

A new live music venue is set to open its doors this weekend with a stacked lineup featuring some of Korea's most outstanding indie musicians.

Feb 11, 2025By Jon Dunbar

Suzanne Crowder Han, long-term foreign resident of Korea, dies at 71

Suzanne Crowder Han, a long-term foreign resident of Korea, died Monday morning surrounded by family after a short illness. She was 71 years old.

Feb 11, 2025By Jon Dunbar

Suzanne Crowder Han, long-term foreign resident of Korea, dies at 71

Ways to enjoy Valentine's Day in Korea

Valentine’s Day in Korea is not just another romantic holiday; it is a unique and culturally rich tradition that has evolved into a special day with its own distinct customs.

Feb 11, 2025By Chantal Terblanche

Who remembers Bobby's Burger?

This week's featured restaurant is a throwback to the olden days of Seoul. It was 15 years ago, when if you wanted a burger, there weren't many options better than Lotteria or Kraze — not even in a lively, cosmopolitan place like the nightlife area in front of Hongik University, or Hongdae.

Feb 10, 2025By Jon Dunbar

Bill to require hospitals to register births of babies born to non-Korean nationals

Lawmakers have proposed a bill requiring medical institutions to register the births of non-Korean babies in the government system, in a bipartisan bid to reduce the number of undocumented children and better protect their rights.

Feb 10, 2025By Jung Min-ho

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