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100-day rule for newborns
For many Korean parents, bringing a newborn home from the hospital plays out like a covert mission. From the moment the baby leaves the hospital, every move is meticulously planned. Swaddled tightly in layers of blankets, the infant is swiftly ushered through the underground parking lot and into the car. There's no detour, only a direct drive home. Upon arriving the parking lot of their home, the parents rewrap the baby, shielding the child from sunlight and wind before making a quick dash indoo
July 22, 2025 -
True Crime (1) Killer behind the lens
Have you ever imagined what it would be to get a glimpse of someone’s final moments, before life slips away? It’s a disturbing thought, but death makes headlines. In 1982, a South Korean photographer was consumed by the desire to witness and capture death. He believed death could be art; provocative, forbidden art that would make his name known worldwide. In this first installment of True Crime, we revisit the case of South Korean photographer Lee Dong-shik, who was, in the end, nothing more tha
July 18, 2025 -
Can Korea's 'text-hip' reading craze outlive the hashtag?
When Gim Ji-min arrived at the Seoul International Book Fair 2025 in June, she thought the buzz on social media was exaggerated. “I honestly assumed people were just hyping it up on Instagram,” said the 26-year-old sociology Ph.D. student. “But the moment I stepped inside, I knew this was different. Every trendy book-themed tote bag, keychain, and bookmark had already sold out.” She wasn’t alone in her surprise. Over five days, more than 150,000 people packed Seoul’s Coex convention center. Tick
July 17, 2025 -
Restrained romance of 'KPop Demon Hunters' ignites fan imagination
Netflix’s record-breaking hit "KPop Demon Hunters" is making major waves worldwide and has online communities buzzing with fan-made content. Many such fans longing for a deeper romance between main characters Rumi and Jinu have been creating and sharing photoshopped images of the two kissing, holding hands, or going on dates. Co-directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, "KPop Demon Hunters" is an animated movie centered on the fictional K-pop girl group Huntrix. Its members, Rumi, Mira, and Z
July 16, 2025 -
Hidden cultural moments in KPop Demon Hunters
“Do Koreans really put a napkin under their spoon and chopsticks?” said Natalia Lima, a 28-year-old Brazilian woman who has watched Netflix’s hit animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" more than twice. In the scene that caught her attention, main characters Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, members of the fictional K-pop group Huntrix, are eating gukbap (Korean soup with rice) at a restaurant where Mira places her spoon and chopsticks on a folded napkin. "In Brazil, utensils are usually placed directly on the t
July 15, 2025 -
Baby’s first haircut can go a little extreme in S. Korea
A baby’s first hair naturally falls out over time, but some parents in South Korea choose to shave it early. Why? The practice stems from a long-held belief, though less common today, that shaving encourages hair to grow back thicker and fuller. As in many cultures, lush, full hair is highly valued in Korea, often regarded as a symbol of health and youth. The shaved hair is often kept as a memento, stored in decorative keepsake boxes or framed for display. Some even have it crafted into a brush,
July 15, 2025 -
Day care starts at birth
Behind a glass wall, rows of tiny newborns sleep soundly in bassinets, swaddled in soft blankets and waiting for their first journey home. A nurse gently lifts one and carries it toward the viewing window. On the other side, the new mom and dad stand frozen in awe as they catch their first glimpse of their precious child. It’s a scene straight out of a Korean drama — and one that plays out in real life every day in South Korea. Here, it is common for newborns to be separated from their mothers s
July 7, 2025 -
K-parenting 101: Don’t forget the socks
Leaving the house with a newborn feels like prepping for battle. From bottles, diapers and pacifiers to extra clothes, everything has to be packed like you’re never coming back. And once the door opens, it’s game on. For South Korean parents, among the countless things to pack, there's one item that must never be forgotten: socks. If you dare to take your baby out without socks, be ready for stares and a flurry of nagging from Korean grandmothers on the street, at the supermarket, or wherever th
July 1, 2025 -
KakaoTalk is finally testing typing indicators. For many Koreans, it just feels wrong
For 15 years, South Korea’s iconic messaging app KakaoTalk thrived without a feature so basic that most of us never noticed it was missing until now. Since its launch in 2010, KakaoTalk has uniquely dominated South Korean communication, standing apart from global giants like Apple and Meta. Rather than WhatsApp and iMessage, Koreans have always relied heavily on homegrown platforms, particularly KakaoTalk. Yet, strangely enough, KakaoTalk never had a simple feature that was included in almost ev
June 26, 2025 -
Who's really making a living from fame in Korea?
In South Korea, being famous has never been more accessible, and at the same time, financially unstable. With the explosion of streaming, YouTube, and social media, public visibility is easier to achieve than ever before. But as the platforms have multiplied, so have misconceptions about what it actually means to be a “full-time” celebrity, influencer or digital creator. While the term “celebrity” once referred to established TV personalities and chart-topping singers, it now applies just as eas
June 22, 2025 -
How Dongtan turned into an online punching bag
While a fitted knit or cotton dress may be seen as everyday wear in most places, in South Korea, it has come to symbolize one particular neighborhood: Dongtan. Nicknamed the “Dongtan look,” this casual yet sensual style is frequently linked to women in their 30s and 40s living in the fast-growing suburban area south of Seoul known for its corporate hubs and high proportion of young married couples. What began as an internet joke has recently sparked social controversy, as some online marketplace
June 19, 2025