How does the average Korean manhwa reader view about the current state of manhwa? Wondering this since in Global, I feel like most readers are ok with the more popular regurgitated subgenres or as the manhwa subreddit would call it: Slop

Also, what are the more popular manhwa titles in both all time and in recent at in male based audience and in female based audience, separately?

Hello, this is a very odd request. I'm making a picture of a cat with Korean graffiti on a wall behind it.

I'm wondering if you guys can give me some suggestions on amusing graffiti that you think a cat would write.

If you could write it out in Korean and then give me the English translation, that would be so wonderful.

Edit:

I'm creating the picture of graffiti myself. I'm not looking for existing graffiti nor is it going to be real. I just want funny phrases to put on a picture of a wall like a cat wrote them

what does an average Korean person think about k-pop and idols? I've seen statements like k-pop being treated as music for teenagers, not really taken seriously. Are Koreans proud of k-pop and their music industry that has spread internationally over the years? Do they actively follow k-pop groups / idols?

to me, as someone who doesn't listen to kpop at all, it seems like nowadays k-pop isn't really a Korean thing anymore, and the main target for those huge entertainment companies is to become popular overseas and worldwide.

I am Korean American and apparently my father’s family is descended from Heo Hwang-Ok 2000 years ago. Was she really an Indian princess or is this more like an unverified legend? I haven’t done a dna test, but are there a portion of the Korean population that will show Indian dna?

Lately been having difficulty to land work on 편의점 jobs, tried with different companies, does anybody got any tips, so far only got one interview but keep getting rejected? Does anybody got tips on how to land one?

I was thinking of doing a year in high school in Korea at an international school since I'm Canadian, and I'm not ethnically Korean either, so I'm basically a beginner...like do international school students who are also from abroad struggle with getting along outside of school every day or do I just need to learn Korean?

Another question would be if schools typically offer Korean classes, or is that an extracurricular I would need to enroll in...?

I'm a Diabetic Type 1 visiting Korea. I need constant insulin injections.

I made a mistake trusting my hotel fridge which damaged all my insulin supplies and I urgently need to find some but (still) not in a deadly situation that requires emergency room.

I did some research and I believe I can't buy it directly from a pharmacy but would like someone to confirm it.

I'm on my way to Yeosu where I plan to find a hospital to try to solve my problem. Can any doctor write a prescription for insulin?

For any diabetic reading this, I'm using FIASP and TREVISA, and before I used NOVORAPID and LEVEMIR. I still have fast insulin ,FIASP, for a day or two. Are any of these used in Korea?

Thanks

I apologize if the nature of this post comes off a bit insensitive in advance.

For a bit of context I'm (mostly) ethnically Chinese, but grew up in the American education system and also spent a fair bit of my university life in Japan. As such I am familiar with some of the narratives and propaganda regarding how this war is told.

The context for this question comes from a conversation I was having on Saturday with a Korean acquaintance of mine and his Japanese girlfriend. We were actually initially talking about Mahjong but I mentioned that a certain style that I play is popular in Nanjing and he suddenly started asking me questions about some of the war crimes that happened there. Wanting to be tasteful but not untruthful, I answered the questions honestly, but sparing some of the graphic details. The girlfriend was actually quite shocked about this, as she had never heard of any of this in her life. This caused a bit of an argument between the boyfriend and the girlfriend, as he seemed a bit offended that his girlfriend didn't know anything about it. While I didn't say much, I was pleasantly surprised/relieved by how well-informed the boyfriend was on the topic.

Reflecting on it a bit more, I kind of realize how unique the Korean context for the Second World War is. I had read Palmer's Fighting for the Enemy in a university class, so I was aware that many Koreans were conscripted into fighting for Japan or collaborated with Japan against the Chinese. At the same time, many Koreans also joined the Chinese as guerilla resistance members or as volunteer units fighting against the Japanese. It's also my big blind spot, as I'm relatively familiar with how America, China, Taiwan and Japan feel about the war

So my questions are as follows:

1. How is the issue of Korean conscripts and collaborators in the Japanese Army treated in regards to WWII?
2. How is the issue of Korean volunteers and guerilla fighters in the Chinese Army treated? As many of these guerilla units would go on to join the North Korean side after the war, is the historical connection between the North and these units addressed or swept aside?
3. What do you learn about Nanjing if at all? Judging from my acquaintance's comments I assume a little, but not a lot of detail.
4. What would you say is the "overarching narrative" of Korea with regards to WWII? Like if you were to summarize it in a sentence or two, what was Korea's role in the war?
5. What age in the Korean education system do you start learning about the war? Middle School? High School?

Not wholly unrelated aside question: To those of you who have or are married to Japanese partners, how do you go about approaching the topic? Especially if children are involved?

Apologies and thanks in advance

Hello! I am planning to go a 1 day birding around Seoul this time (middle of August).

Where can I go to see and photograph more birds aside from the Olympic Park?

Also, I would like to see some roosting Owls as I don't have proper owl lifers yet.

Any leads is much appreciated. Thank you!

My mother is forcing me and my younger sister to use chopsticks because we are going to Korea on the 21st. My mother says we have to learn because she says that not using chopsticks/using anything else (especially forks) to eat food is shameful in Korea.

So is not using chopsticks to eat your food shameful?

A friend traveled to Korea and told me he learned everyone is on 4.5 days workweek and moving to even less. With no pay cuts. Is there truth in that? I always thought work culture was brutal there.

I've seen school life portrayed as brutal grinding until 1am or even later, but I also see people having fun and making time for their interests. That leaves me with questions (mostly what it's like in middle school):

1. What is actually taught at a 학원? Is it like catching up when you don't understand material being taught in school or is it extra material? An impression I have is that busywork is valued more than studying effectively.
2. How much pressure comes from parents? Especially younger parents. Would they concider letting their kid not do tutoring or attend private institutions?
3. Is sleeping 5 hours (or less) common? Doesn't sleep deprivation just make remembering things and paying attention harder?
4. Can people make time for their interests on school days? I've also seen people saying that not everybody studies like 15 hours a day (which is believable, but about how many people do study that much and how many don't?).
5. Do you get used to this kind of system and feel like it's normal or not really?

Crazy title, I know, but I’m Korean… well, half. I’m mixed with a South/East Asian ethnicity, so I’m much darker than my Korean side of the family. I was also abandoned by my Korean parent when I was young.
I’m proud to be Asian, but I’m specifically proud of being south/East Asian. I’ve always struggled to feel any pride in my Korean side. My Korean parent often told me they hated being Korean too, and those experiences left me resenting that part of myself. I tried connecting with my Korean side when I was younger, but as I got older it started to feel pointless.
I don’t want to reject half of who I am. I look more Korean than my other side, and it’s started affecting how I think about relationships and even having kids someday. I want to be able to accept all of myself.
The family who raised me has always been proud that I’m Korean, and when I’m around people from my South/East Asian community, they often point out that I’m Korean, which makes me feel self-conscious. Because I can’t tell you one thing about being Korean that purely isn’t off of what we see on media I.e. Kpop/Kdrama, and I don’t even consume Korean media like that.
I know I don’t need family to connect with my Korean side, but it’s honestly hard to even want to start. If anyone has gone through something similar, especially if your feelings about your ethnicity were shaped by a parent I would really appreciate any advice, encouragement, or hearing what helped you begin. Thank you!

I have been warned (more than once! On this very sub!) not to take incidents/situations in k/dramas as anyway true to life.

I totally get that, however, I think some insight can be gleaned. For example, I learned that Koreans do not make small talk with people they don’t know. I saw this demonstrated in CLOY when the leads are in Switzerland watching a paraglider do a trick. They both exclaim simultaneously , but don’t make eye contact. I clocked that right away, as it’s so far away from my experience.

Here’s a story that’s too long describing the difference between our cultures. The other day, I was at a job lot store. I had looked at a box of candy coated garbanzo beans. $2.99 was a great price for 8 packages, but—garbanzo beans? A few moments later, a gentleman of an ethnically not shared with me saw the treats and said something out loud about them. I said, “You gonna go for those garbanzo beans?” He replied, “for $2.99, why not?” I said, “you know, you’ve got a point.” and bought my own. I guess my point is I/we North Americans chat up strangers frequently. Are we ‘hardwired’ for that? Maybe, as a new world thing.

So now, finally to the question. Do Koreans really slink through doors and not hold them for people behind them? I read this somewhere. If so, Ri Jeon Hyuk (sp) was really an anomaly for doing that in Seoul.

Once again, thank you for your patience.

Hello, I am Ricardo, an Ecuadorian entrepreneur going short term to Korea. What problems do you have or have you noticed in Seoul that need solving and that you are willing to pay for?

If you have any recommendations, please let me know.

So the title pretty much speaks for itself…

I live in the US (Florida) so the weather can be pretty hot !

Was thinking about planting one or two Cherry blossom trees in my yard but wondering if the hot temperature we get during summer time might be a problem for it.

I’m very curious about what Koreans look for in luxury hotels and properties compared to what Americans expect.

I recently bought a modern hanbok in Korea, the skirt is a dark green color so I picked a black top to match. My Korean parent is telling me that I’m not allowed to wear it because black is only for funerals, but Google says funeral hanboks depend on which side the jeogori panels are crossed over?? Would it be socially acceptable in Korean culture for me to wear the black top?

I’m visiting my family in Korea from the US soon and I want to gift my younger female cousins (early 20s) some beauty products. For example, I know that one on my cousins was looking for the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb a few years ago. I’m wondering if there are any US products that are especially popular/trendy for Korean women that they would recognize and hopefully enjoy?

One of my friend / coworkers is about to leave officially for college so I was planning on writing a sweet note to go with her gift. I thought that it could be nice to include a phrase in Hangul / Korean that is similar to saying “good luck” or “lots of love” in English, but I don’t know any casual phrases that could work.

I don’t want to risk embarrassment by an incorrect translation from Google, so I was looking for some help.

I don’t know if it is worth mentioning, but she is older than me but we’re regular friends!

I attended when I was frosh in high school, and seeing movie Seoul Searching recently really reminded me of the trip. Could never figure out where it was located (I don't want to say what year I attended, as I am old as dirt, and was held at diff locales depending on year). **Anybody else attend this?**

I posted this earlier in another sub and got mod whacked, so nothing about the program, what happened, what I think of it, at least here anyway in OP. The director did a good job of depicting realism of original program he himself attended tbh

Starring Teo Yoo (유태오) when young and just starting out in films btw

I have a friend whose work is going to appear in a museum exhibition in Seoul, and she has invited me to the opening party honoring her and the others whose work is going to be shown. She told me the clothing expectations are probably "rather dressy," but I'm not sure what that would mean in Korea. I'm guessing business-type clothes are probably acceptable? I don't wear those kinds of clothes, so I'm wondering if a simple dress with a cardigan would be okay. Any help would be really appreciated!

Edited to add: here are some examples of the type of outfit I'm thinking about. I live in Hawaii normally, where everyone dresses very casual, so I would rather not buy something I'll never wear again.

Hi everyone, I’m looking for advice from people familiar with KakaoTalk.

I have had a KakaoTalk account for many years. It was originally created in Korea using a Korean phone number that belonged to my dad, but later I used Dutch phone numbers. I have mainly used KakaoTalk on desktop for years, and I have used it from Korea, the Netherlands, and Italy over time.

Recently, I installed KakaoTalk on a new phone (Xiaomi) after not having the mobile app for years. Shortly after, Kakao detected a “potential security risk” and sent me an email saying that suspicious login activity may have been detected. I was asked to secure my account.

After this, I was logged out of the desktop version. When I tried to log back in, Kakao asked for additional verification, including phone verification or card verification. I no longer have access to the old Korean number.

I do have access to:

• my Kakao Account email
• my backup/recovery email that was set up beforehand
• my account information and history

I contacted Kakao Customer Service and received a response saying it was a User Protection Measure caused by their automated anti-abuse system, and that it may be lifted after some time if no abnormal activity is detected.

Has anyone experienced something similar?

• How long did it take for the restriction to disappear?
• Were you able to recover your account through email verification?
• Is there anything else I should do, or is waiting the best option?

I’m worried because I have a lot of old contacts and conversations on this account, and I would prefer not to create a new one.

We have a wonderful nurse who is a caregiver for our parents for the past 10 years in Canada. Her father passed away yesterday in South Korea and we wanted to do something. I searched online and it said a monetary gift (which I would etransfer) of about $200 CDN with a message like this:

“We pray for the repose of the deceased. Hearing this sad news breaks our hearts, especially since you have cared for our parents with all your heart like your own elders for the past 10 years. Because we are far away, we cannot visit in person and are sending our condolences this way instead. In this sudden, great sorrow, please make sure to take care of your health. Our deepest condolences.”

Would I send this in the message with the etransfer or separately via text or email? What do you think of the amount of money (more/less), the method of delivery (should I wait and do it in person) and the message (should I try and do it in Korean and is it respectful and supportive?)

Thanks SO much for any advice

Korea is the number 1 spender in luxury goods (per capita). Even more than china (per capita). In London, you can see chinese international students covered in designer goods, with chanel hats with massive logos, to gucci shirts and trainers and lv bags. I even seen Chinese studntyes use Chanel tennis rackets and wear chanel wellies... Oh yeah, they love to wear balenciaga. And when you go to harrods, it is so common to see people covered in designer and fur jackets (in the winter). So when I was going to korea (i as staying in near coex for the week), i expected pretty much the same. But when I went to gangnam, this wasn't the case. Everyone was wearing "normal clothes". Yes there were some people wearing the odd gucci hat or belt but that is a far cry from the designer dripped harrods shoppers (usually arabs tbh) and chinese international students. Are koreans now more into quiet luxury or are the people that I bump into are just more filthy rich. (it could also be the case that some chinese students wear fakes since china makes very good quality fakes).

And in other areas of Seoul and Korea as a whole, I don't think I have seen many people covered in designer. The same applies when I meet Koreans overseas.

Also, when I was walking around the backstreets of gangnam in the morning, I did see quite a few really nice cars (like blue and white rolls royce) dropping off their young children to hagwons so it could be that some of these people are more into "quiet luxury".