The United States is currently governed by Donald Trump, a mercurial, nationalist buffoon whose tariff binges are rattling the world economy. He has been slapping...
Why the Old Korean National Anthem Borrowed the Melody of a Scottish Folk Tune?
Two days ago, Korea celebrated the 80th anniversary of Independence Day. As many of you know, Korea was occupied by Japan from 1909 to 1945....
Cheongsando: A Green Island
After watching the 1990s film Seopyeonje, a sorrowful tale of an obsessive pansori (traditional Korean musical storytelling) master who seeks to reach a deeper realm of...
Hangul: The Korean Alphabet
The Korean alphabet (Hangul) has always felt to me, ever since I first learned it as a kindergarten student, less like a code to crack...
More of My Favorite Korean Movies
Last month, I recommended some of my favorite Korean films. Here are more titles that have stayed with me: movies that moved me, made me...
My President and a Stray Cat (and the “First Dog” Bobby)
As you know, I adore Korea’s new president, Lee Jae-myung. It’s been almost two months since he took office, and everything he’s done so far...
My Favorite Korean Movies
I was talking about Korean films with someone on our forum and ended up recommending ten of my favorites. I thought I’d share the list...
Korean Bands II: Broccoli, You Too?
The next band I’d like to introduce is an indie group with perhaps the quirkiest name in Korea: 브로콜리 너마저, which roughly translates to Broccoli,...
Best Places to Hike in Korea I: Inwangsan Jarak-gil
Recently, a member of this forum asked me to introduce some good Korean bands, which inspired me to start posting about my favorites and share...
The Most Beautiful Sight in All the World
In 1986, a Korean folk duo 시인과 촌장 (City Dweller & Village Chief) released a song, 풍경 (scenery), consisting of just two lines: 세상 풍경 중에서...
Korean Bands I: ADOY
While sharing my thoughts on the Korean alternative rock band The Rose a few weeks back, I mentioned that Korea is producing some fantastic bands....
Lee Jae-myung and Lula da Silva
As I’ve written before, Lee Jae-myung’s election as president earlier this month left me absolutely giddy, like I was floating on cloud nine. And that...
The Rose
Last week, I was pleasantly surprised to see the Korean alternative rock band The Rose appear on The Kelly Clarkson Show. This quartet, though Korean,...
Maybe Happy Ending
Korea has done it again. The small Korean musical “Maybe Happy Ending” has won Best Musical at the 78th Tony Awards. Just as BTS became,...
On Cloud Nine, Sleepy Village, and Tastefully Yours
Ever since Lee Jae-myung clinched the presidency just a few days ago, I’ve been walking on air. Each morning, I wake with a smile, the...
Lee Jae-myung
My ARMY and Koreaphile friends, Lee Jae-myung (이재명) from the liberal Democratic Party won the presidential election here in Korea! It is a win for...
Jeon (전)
Jeon (전) is a beloved Korean dish that could best be described as a savory pancake. But it is so much more than that simple...
Our Unwritten Seoul
My friends, if you’re craving a truly compelling TV drama, I highly recommend Our Unwritten Seoul, which just premiered on Netflix this past weekend. I...
Yongma Falls in Seoul
I know many of you, including some members of this very site, are coming to Korea this summer for BTS’s reunion. So I’d love to...
Can the Dead Rescue the Living?
On April 4th, Yoon Suk Yeol, the ultra-conservative, misogynistic buffoon who terrorized us on the night of December 3 by declaring martial law and sending...