r/korea Apr 05 '25

Welcome to r/korea!

41 Upvotes

This subreddit is dedicated to discussions about Korea, covering topics such as news, culture, history, politics, and societal issues. Whether you're here to learn, share insights, or stay updated on significant developments in Korea, you're in the right place.

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r/korea 10h ago

문화 | Culture Civlization 7 just droped Yi Sunsin as a leader

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335 Upvotes

First time for Korea to have a leader that wasn't a king. Yi Sunsin was in previous games but he was always a great admiral unit(so no face only name) and now as a straight up leader, what do you think? I kind of admit...I am fanboying the shit out of it, take that king Seonjo.


r/korea 5h ago

문화 | Culture Michelin-starred restaurant owner in South Korea faces jail over ant dessert | South Korea

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90 Upvotes

r/korea 12h ago

범죄 | Crime Personal data of all South Korean diplomats believed leaked in 'unprecedented' cyberattack

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119 Upvotes

r/korea 12h ago

범죄 | Crime Seoul mayor sentenced to 10 mln-won fine for accepting illegal political funds

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55 Upvotes

r/korea 1d ago

문화 | Culture Vogue hanbok photoshoots #2

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851 Upvotes

r/korea 14h ago

문화 | Culture Anyone here into collecting Korean coins?

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26 Upvotes

Here's what I've gathered as a beginner. I also have a few North Korean gold coins. Anyway, South Korean coins are really beautifully designed.I love them.


r/korea 1d ago

생활 | Daily Life Map of Korea where McDonalds location are located throughout Korea.

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316 Upvotes

Red are none
Green are available locations

Numbers are how many locations each city/county are

I did it of pure curiosity and boredom. Numbers might be inaccurate


r/korea 1d ago

역사 | History Protesters fleeing after riot police hurled tear gas to break up a march in central Seoul during the nationwide June Democratic Struggle, as demonstrators attempted to march toward Myeongdong Cathedral to support students staging a pro-democracy sit-in. (1987)

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184 Upvotes

r/korea 1d ago

참사 | Catastrophe Woman faces arrest warrant hearing over blockade of Seoul vote counting center

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26 Upvotes

r/korea 23h ago

문화 | Culture Mother of Trot Queen Jang Yoon-jung Arrested for Fraud After Going into Hiding

5 Upvotes

According to police on July 21, 2026, the Seoul Songpa Police Station recently arrested and handed over Jang Yoon-jung’s mother, identified by her surname Yuk, to prosecutors under charges of fraud.

Singer Jang Yoon-jung's Mother Arrested for Fraud & Sent to Prosecution


r/korea 1d ago

경제 | Economy “American When It Wants Protection, Korean When It Wants Immunity”: Coupang Accused of Picking Its Nationality for Convenience | 미국 기업 건들지 말라더니 이젠 "우린 한국 기업"‥유리한 대로 국적 고르나

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115 Upvotes

For months, the White House and members of Congress have accused the South Korean government of discriminating against the American company Coupang, echoing arguments that followed the company’s extensive lobbying campaign in Washington.

Now, however, Coupang has taken the opposite position in a U.S. courtroom.

In an effort to have a class-action lawsuit dismissed, Coupang Inc. has argued that its operating business is actually a Korean company, claiming its services are almost entirely in Korean, deliveries are limited to South Korea, and the alleged misconduct occurred there—not in the United States.

The contrast has drawn sharp criticism.

While American politicians have been pressuring South Korea on the basis that Coupang is an American company deserving U.S. protection, Coupang itself is telling a U.S. judge that it is effectively a Korean company and therefore should not have to face litigation in an American court.

Critics argue that the company is trying to enjoy the benefits of both identities: American when seeking political backing from Washington, Korean when trying to avoid legal accountability in the United States.

The contradiction is made even more striking by the fact that Coupang has continued spending heavily on lobbying in Washington. During the second quarter alone, the company paid $135,000 to lobby the Department of Commerce, the White House, and the Senate, while also paying another $250,000 to a lobbying firm with close ties to former President Donald Trump.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit say Coupang’s argument doesn’t hold up. They point out that Coupang Inc. has publicly identified Coupang Korea as its principal subsidiary and even dispatched a U.S.-based executive to lead the Korean business on an interim basis following the company’s personal data leak.

To the plaintiffs, that makes Coupang’s courtroom claim that the Korean operation is a separate Korean company look less like a consistent legal principle and more like a convenient argument designed to avoid facing a U.S. lawsuit.


r/korea 1d ago

경제 | Economy Korean Won Surges Most Among Major Currencies, Forecast Below 1,400

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74 Upvotes

r/korea 1d ago

경제 | Economy Kospi posts world’s worst performance amid AI slowdown fears, leveraged selling

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27 Upvotes

r/korea 1d ago

문화 | Culture Trying to make kimchi jjigae for the first time, any tips?

11 Upvotes

Want to try making kimchi jjigae at home but not sure I'm doing it right. Using older, more fermented kimchi since I read that's better for stew than fresh kimchi, is that actually true?

Also curious what people usually add besides the basics (pork, tofu, kimchi), and whether the kimchi's fermentation level actually changes the flavor that much, or if I'm overthinking it.

Any tips from people who make this regularly would be appreciated!


r/korea 1d ago

생활 | Daily Life "Hidden" Housing Fee Landlords Owe You When You Move Out

60 Upvotes

Hello everyone. With the moving season approaching, I wanted to drop a quick guide on a Korean housing law that many expats (and even some young Koreans) completely miss out on.

If you live in an apartment or a moderately sized officetel, check your monthly maintenance bill (관리비). You will likely see a charge called 장기수선충당금 (Long-term Maintenance Fee / Sinking Fund).

What is it? This is a fund collected for major future building repairs (painting the exterior, fixing elevators, pipe replacements).

The Legal Catch: Under the Korean Housing Act, this fee is 100% the landlord's financial responsibility, because it increases the value of their property. However, for administrative convenience, the building management bills it to the tenant living there every month.

Because of this, the law dictates that the landlord MUST refund the entire accumulated amount to the tenant at the end of the lease. If you've lived in your place for 1-2 years, this easily amounts to 500,000 KRW to over 1,000,000 KRW.

The Reality: Most landlords will never bring this up first. They rely on the fact that tenants won't know about it or that the language barrier will prevent expats from asking.

How to claim your money:

  1. Before your move-out day, visit your building's management office (관리사무소).
  2. Ask them for the "장기수선충당금 납부 확인서" (Confirmation of Sinking Fund Payment) for your specific residency period.
  3. Send this document to your landlord and kindly request they add this total to your returning housing deposit (보증금).

Need help? Arguing with landlords in Korean or getting the exact legal wording right can be incredibly stressful. I’ve seen too many people give up on their money. Because of this, I’m currently putting together a simple automated calculator that reads your fee and generates a polite but firm legal Korean text message you can just copy-paste to your landlord.

If anyone is moving soon and wants to use it, or if you just need help figuring out what to say to your landlord, drop a comment or DM me! Has anyone else here successfully claimed theirs?


r/korea 1d ago

문화 | Culture Can someone tell me if this is a translated korean proverb?

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17 Upvotes

Or maybe an abbreviation of one? If yes, could you maybe contextualize it for me?

It's on the translated books of Lee Young Dos "The Heart of the Nhaga". I haven't read the book yet, but this sounded super proverb to me so I just had to ask.

Thank you in advance! :-)


r/korea 1d ago

생활 | Daily Life Seoul's monthly transit pass users angered by service suspension

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14 Upvotes

Commuters are growing frustrated as Seoul prepares to end its flagship Climate Card service next month before its replacement, Climate Card Plus, is fully integrated with the Modu Card system, raising concerns over a bumpy transition.


r/korea 1d ago

경제 | Economy Foreign tourism surge boosts Busan businesses as city targets 5 million visitors this year

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54 Upvotes

r/korea 1d ago

경제 | Economy 15th South Korean Oil Tanker Passes Through Red Sea Following Hormuz Blockade

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32 Upvotes

r/korea 2d ago

생활 | Daily Life What you can get with 60,000 won in Jeju

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206 Upvotes

I cannot help ordering Soju


r/korea 1d ago

정치 | Politics Seoul urges U.S. to avoid unfair harm under new student visa, journalist stay limits

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6 Upvotes

r/korea 1d ago

문화 | Culture 'Students need teachers who understand': Defector becomes lifeline for children with North Korean roots in South

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31 Upvotes

r/korea 1d ago

경제 | Economy Exports rise 52% in first 20 days of July as overseas semiconductor shipments nearly triple

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20 Upvotes

r/korea 1d ago

문화 | Culture Paichai High School's suspension for allegedly mocking pro-democracy movement reduced to one month

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5 Upvotes