South Korea - The Korea Times

RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK Craic House, Ireland's second embassy to Korea, celebrates 2nd anniversary

Craic House is celebrating its second anniversary this Saturday. A sports theme has been announced, with customers encouraged to dress in athletic gear.

Oct 30, 2024By Jon Dunbar

[RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK] Craic House, Ireland's second embassy to Korea, celebrates 2nd anniversary

Itaewon's wounds still not fully healed 2 years after tragedy

Oct. 31 hasn’t actually come yet, but Halloween weekend has already passed. It has been a morbid few days in Itaewon, where two years ago a deadly crowd disaster in a narrow, steep alley took 159 lives.

Oct 27, 2024By Jon Dunbar

Itaewon's wounds still not fully healed 2 years after tragedy

FRIENDS OF KOREA My Peace Corps service during a nation's transformation

My U.S. Peace Corps experience in Korea from 1978 to 1981 was nothing short of transformative. It opened my eyes to the resilience, kindness and unwavering spirit of the Korean people. Korea was emerging from decades of hardship and entering a period of rapid growth. Despite the challenges of modernization and the clash between old traditions and new ambitions, the country’s collective focus on progress was remarkable. As Peace Corps volunteers, we were fortunate to have a front-row seat to this transformation. We worked in rural areas — some as tuberculosis or leprosy control workers, others as English teachers — and experienced firsthand Korea's dedication to improvement while holding on to the cultural values that defined them. Each day in Korea brought new lessons and experiences. My first assignment was in Jangsu County, North Jeolla Province, where I worked as a tuberculosis support worker. The work was both challenging and fulfilling, as we were helping to combat a major public health issue. Later, I extended my service and moved to Daegu, where I led a volunteer group focu

Oct 27, 2024By Michael Guralnick

[FRIENDS OF KOREA] My Peace Corps service during a nation's transformation

Documentary lays bare major flaws in Korea's international adoption industry

This past month has seen the release of two documentaries centered around Korea, specifically focusing on international adoption and adoptees. One was from the investigative news series "Frontline" on PBS, which partnered with the Associated Press, and the other is from Korean documentary filmmaker Jo Se-young, who debuted "K-Number" at the Busan International Film Festival. What makes these two documentaries unique is that both delve deeply into adoption issues, with both adoptees’ stories and in-depth research into the root cause of the problems that have affected people on both ends of the situation. They feature interviews with adoptees, former Korean social workers, former lawmakers, Korean-based organizations, researchers, whistleblowers, historical footage, decrees and newspaper clippings that document the origins and establishment of adoption in Korea. These films emphasize that adoption is not just an adoptee issue — it affects Koreans, adoptees and even other countries with similar adoption systems and faces similar historical problems such as war, famine and economic tu

Oct 26, 2024By Antonia Giordano

Documentary lays bare major flaws in Korea's international adoption industry

EXCLUSIVE Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam under review for Korea's nanny program: source

Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam are among the countries under review for the expansion of Korea’s foreign nanny program next year, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Oct 23, 2024By Jung Min-ho

[EXCLUSIVE] Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam under review for Korea's nanny program: source

Major union, activists call for right of undocumented migrants to stay in Korea

Human rights activists and the migrant workers' division of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), a major labor union with 1.2 million members, demanded on Tuesday that the government cease its crackdown on undocumented immigrants and grant them the right to remain in the country.

Oct 22, 2024By Jung Min-ho

Major union, activists call for right of undocumented migrants to stay in Korea

Rockabilly bands from Korea, Hong Kong, Japan prepare for 'Rumble in Seoul'

Rockabilly bands from three countries will gather in Seoul this Friday and Saturday for the Asian Rockabilly Festival, also being called Rumble in Seoul.

Oct 22, 2024By Jon Dunbar

Rockabilly bands from Korea, Hong Kong, Japan prepare for 'Rumble in Seoul'

Korean folk-rock pioneer Hahn Dae-soo reflects on sorrow, loss and friendship at 76

From the evening in 1968 when he first performed his own folk songs in front of a Seoul audience up to the present, Hahn Dae-soo has been considered a key figure in the history of Korean popular music. In a career spanning 50 years, he has spent much of that time in New York City, but has periodically returned to Korea for long stretches to record and perform. Ahead of his first lengthy visit to Seoul in four years, he spoke with The Korea Times about his music, artistic expression and life’s inescapable sorrows, a topic particularly informed by the sudden passing of his wife earlier this year. As he prepared for his trip across the Pacific, he said, “Korea is my home physically and mentally. I am a kimchi rocker. My mother gave birth to me there, I had my first taste of nicotine in high school in Busan, and I had my first kiss from a beautiful lady from Dongnae Girls’ High School. Most of my fan base is in Korea. I love the camaraderie of friends, the food and the drinks and the kindness of ajummas.” As for the city that he calls home, “New York is everything: Love, hate, ar

Oct 22, 2024By Matt VanVolkenburg

Korean folk-rock pioneer Hahn Dae-soo reflects on sorrow, loss and friendship at 76

RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK Itaewon Pub wears that name

You gotta hand it to restaurateur Simon Walsh for giving his latest endeavor such an unashamedly bold name. Opened earlier this year, the name Itaewon Pub still conjures up some pretty unsettling memories associated with the neighborhood. Giving it that name, just 60 meters from the top of the October 29 Memorial Alley, sends a strong message: It's time to get this neighborhood back on track. Also, how did no one ever take that name before?

Oct 21, 2024By Jon Dunbar

[RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK] Itaewon Pub wears that name

Lecture concert to help international audiences appreciate traditional Korean music

Of all the elements of Korean culture that are attracting massive attention worldwide right now, there's one common element: translation has played a part in improving accessibility to foreign language-speaking listeners, readers and watchers.