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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 -
Why these Gen Z women are ditching heels for good, or have never worn them
High heels — once a staple in many women’s wardrobes — have long been loved for how they add height, elongate the legs, and elevate an outfit. But today, it’s quite hard to spot anyone wearing them on the street. For many women in Generation Z, heels feel almost foreign, as they have never owned a single pair or seen their peers wearing them either. To find out why high heels have lost their place in Gen Z women’s wardrobes lately, we spoke with four women in their twenties about why heels no lo
June 17, 2025 -
Working in Korea as a foreigner: Must-know laws and tips
Traveling to a foreign country can be taxing, from adjusting to a different language and culture to navigating unfamiliar social norms. But getting a job there and working under completely different laws, regulations and workplace customs can be even more daunting. Under Korean labor law, foreign nationals with legitimate employment contracts are, in principle, entitled to the same rights as Korean workers. However, the reality can vary significantly, depending on your field and the bosses you w
June 10, 2025 -
Digital gifting was convenient — until it started to feel like new social obligation
Twenty-three-year-old Kim begins her day the way many young Koreans do — by checking her phone. As she scrolls through unread messages on the messenger app KakaoTalk, a small gift icon appears next to an old classmate’s profile. It’s his birthday. Kim hesitates. They haven’t spoken in over a year, but she remembers he sent her a delivery food coupon last fall. After a moment of deliberation, she returns the gesture with a Starbucks "gifticon" of equal value. That tiny icon, built into Korea’s mo
June 10, 2025 -
Petting zoos in day cares, education or animal exploitation?
When Kang, a 32-year-old resident of Uijeongbu in Gyeonggi Province, was out for a walk with her puppy, she noticed it suddenly sniffing intensely and staring at the yard of a day care center inside her apartment complex. What she found was a miniature zoo, where animals like baby goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, turtles, and parrots were kept in plastic cages — something she would normally expect during a zoo trip, not a walk around her apartment. "I was curious and kind of excited when I first saw
June 8, 2025 -
How much is enough to raise a child in South Korea?
South Korea’s dwindling birth rate has become something of a global curiosity and a national crisis, making frequent headlines. Yet behind the statistics lies a quieter, more personal calculus — one that plays out in the homes of young adults weighing whether to have a child. More often than not, the key factor is cost. So how much do young parents — or would-be parents — believe it takes to raise a child in South Korea today? And what feels realistic, or essential? To find out, we spoke with si
June 5, 2025