Gwarosa – death by overworking South Korea’s work culture was notorious for its rigid hierarchy as there is the demand for obedience and loyalty. Many of the newer start-ups had promised a change to a more open, horizontal culture that allowed for a better work-life balance. However, there has been evidence that the old ways are prevalent in the startups as well. Marco Kwak, a former employee of a start-up,
“Hanbok” is a collective term for traditional clothing and has remained more or less the same over the past 1,600 years. The slight changes over time include the material, preferred colors, and the length of the skirt or jacket. The hanbok was original designed for the ease of movement. The fundamental structure includes the jeogori (jacket), baji (pants), and the chima (skirt). There are different types of hanbok that can
E-sports has been around since the 1960s; however, the Korean government decided to build a national broadband network in the late 90s that eventually led to the rise of online games and LAN cafes. Players were able to have access to other players across the globe, which essentially increased everyones’ skills level as well. The Korean E-sports Association was created in 2000 as an arm of the Ministry of Culture,
Hepatitis A is a viral liver disease that is usually transmitted person-to-person through the fecal-oral route or from contaminated food or water. Symptoms include fatigue, low appetite, stomach pain, nausea, and jaundice. There has been a rapid increase in the number of incidents and nearly 3/4ths of the those affected have been in their 30s/40s. This was concerning since those in that age range were typically more resilient against the
Currently, the law on public servants bans public servants and teachers from political expression, joining political parties, and joining political campaigns. The argument made by The National Human Rights Commission of Korea is that it is a violation of human rights and have proposed a revision to the law. This was prompted when legal consequences were set against teachers who participated in a joint statement that criticized the government for
South Korea – “eSports Mecca” eSports in South Korea is not just fun and video games, it’s a big professional business and South Korea is the global leader. Back in the 1990s the government built a national broadband system, giving South Korea one of the fastest internet systems in the world. During this time, PC and online gaming in general gained popularity. Internet and gaming cafes called ‘PC bangs’ sprang
Soju is one of the most popular liquor. It is consumed by the masses in Korea, China, Japan, and now even the United States. It is described as being similar to vodka but with a lower alcohol content. It is typically 20-40% alcohol content and comes in a variety of flavors from green apple to plum to grapefruit. (Author’s personal opinion but peach is the best flavor.) Soju can be
Women are protesting the restrictive beauty standards set on by Korea’s deeply patriarchal culture. South Korea is the 8th largest cosmetic market in the world and represents nearly 3% of the global market. In 2018, the market is estimated at $16.68 billion. In Korea, this is a market that includes both males and females. South Korea has been at the forefront when it comes to beauty and beauty standards: skincare
Kimchi is a fermented vegetable dish that has become a staple in almost all Korean cuisine and considered to be the national dish of Korea. The existence of kimchi has been found dated as far back as the Three Kingdoms (37BC – 7AD). During the winter months, kimchi was prepared by placing in traditional brown ceramic pots (onggi) and buried underground to start the fermentation process. There are numerous versions
Korean Holidays Four Major National HolidaysSeollal (Lunar New Year’s Day)According to the Korean Visitors Agency, Seollal, the 1st day of the Korean Lunar Calendar, is the most celebrated traditional holiday in Korea. Although January 1st, New Year’s Day is a holiday, Seollal is much more significant with people taking several days off from work to travel to their hometowns to be with their families. Dano (Spring Festival)People wish for good
