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bernard Rowan

Recently, I wrote about the high incidence of divorce in Korea as a social problem. Today, I'm writing about a contributing reason to divorce, the gender gap and unequal economic prospects for women here. This continuing lag, more of a critical drag, in equalizing opportunities and results for women is the No.1 barrier to further advancement.

2019-05-24 18:00

Korean refreshments

I've devoted several columns to different types of Korean drinks, including alcoholic drinks and types of tea. I'd like to write this time about nonalcoholic drinks, including juices and types of pop. This isn't a health foods column. I'm writing for foreigners to appreciate how to get a quick, refreshing drink. I enjoy the unusual kinds of drinks in Korea.

2019-05-06 17:23

Divorce in Korea today

According to the Statistics Korea website, the divorce rate here was 4.4 per 1,000 people in 2017. Divorces have declined from early 21st century highs. Yet over 100,000 occur each year. More occur among older Koreans. “Twilight divorces” are increasing; couples with 20 to 30 years of marriage are now calling it quits. They think of later life too. More Koreans apply for divided pensioner benefits, and divorced spouses can claim part of their ex's pension.

2019-04-23 17:50

Korean terms of respect

Present-day Korea remains a Confucian society in several respects. Respect for elders matters. So do the family and family ties. Less-discussed but equally central are networks of seniors and juniors organized around professions and education.

2019-04-12 17:58

Banchan - Korean eating paradise

I'm writing about Korean side dishes or banchan. These wonderful and varied fruits of land and sea make a beautiful accompaniment to any meal. They also may serve as a meal, with delicious Korean sticky rice, enriched with beans. Banchan represents healthy eating in a time of obsession with meat. They remind us of simplicity, balance, and good taste. Let's learn a bit about the eating paradise of Korean side dishes - a taste of Korean side dishes, as it were.

2019-03-26 17:29

Korean regard for English

I am a student of Korea. Thanks to my friendship with a fellow graduate student from South Korea, I began a journey to Korea in 1998 that has meant everything for my lifelong learning, professional development and personal fulfillment.

2019-03-13 17:34

Marriage and the times

Advancing human society isn't a story of monotony or constancy about marriage and the family. As societies advance, at least many of them, family size decreases, marriage occurs later or not, and there are fewer children. This reflects what's going on in South Korea today, and in other places, including the United States. How does marriage in Korea change with the times?

2019-03-08 18:16

Korean soups and stews

It's winter in much of the Northern Hemisphere, and despite the growing effects of global climate change, it's cold. In Chicago, we experienced a polar vortex with some of the coldest temperatures on record last week. I also traveled through parts of South Dakota and Iowa that had even colder temperatures and blizzard conditions. Amid all this, I found myself wanting to take some wonderful Korean bowls of soup, and I did so. Let's discuss delicious Korean soups and stews.

2019-02-15 17:23

'Binyeo' or hairpin

I've understood women's clothing and accessories for their beauty, variety, style and utility. My grandmother and great-aunts, mother, sisters, wife and daughter all are reasons for doing so. Korean clothes and accessories also interest me as a student of Korean culture, customs, and society. Among many parts of this vast topic, I'm writing this column about “binyeo” or hairpins. They're a less noticed but intriguing subject to think about.

2019-01-29 17:46

Shujia and Korean Wave

The Korean wave is a lot older than we think. Recently, I've enjoyed several Chinese historical dramas, including the “Story of Yanxi Palace.” With Ruyi's “Royal Love in the Palace,” both discuss the storied and long-lived Emperor Qianlong. He presided over an expansion of Manchu influence during the Qing dynasty. He also had many wives, consorts and concubines. Among them was Shujia or Jia.

2019-01-14 17:36

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