Culture
Between Tradition and Modern Trends The Booming New Year Fortune-Telling Season New Year is prime time for shamans in Korea—appointments book up months in advance as people seek guidance for the year ahead. When someone tried booking with “Jamsil Bosal,” a famous Seoul shaman, in early December, they found weekday slots opening only in June … Read more
How Korean Honorifics Tell the Real Story in K-dramas Ever noticed how a simple change in how characters address each other can shift an entire relationship dynamic? That’s the magic of Korean honorifics working behind the scenes. Korean language prioritizes social context and relationships over individual identity, making titles and honorifics the silent narrators of … Read more
Why Koreans Don’t Say “Bless You” After Sneezing Cultural Differences in Simple Gestures “Nisa Sermchaiwong”, an American student in Seoul, felt increasingly awkward as she whispered “bless you” for the fifth time to her sneezing classmate. The silent lab made each blessing feel more out of place, until her Korean senior finally laughed at the … Read more
South Korea’s Military Faces Growing Diversity Challenge The Rising Tide of Multicultural Soldiers South Korea’s armed forces are witnessing a remarkable demographic shift. What started with just 51 soldiers from mixed ethnic backgrounds in 2010 has exploded to approximately 5,000 in 2025, and projections suggest this number will nearly double to 9,700 by 2031. 한국 … Read more
Cultural Traditions Meet Global Expectations The Art of Subtle Romance in K-Dramas Korean dramas have mastered romance through suggestion rather than explicit depiction. Unlike Western series that show physical intimacy directly onscreen, K-dramas treat these moments as emotional milestones. A kiss followed by fading lights, or a morning-after scene with characters sharing a blanket – … Read more