From an 아싸 that keeps coming back
When BTS first became huge in North America, one of the easiest comparisons was obvious: “They’re basically the Korean Backstreet Boys.” On the surface, that comparison makes sense. Seven attractive young men. Carefully produced pop music. Elaborate choreography. Extremely dedicated female fans. Posters, merchandise, screaming crowds, coordinated outfits and enormous concert tours. It sounds a […]
There are few countries where a school exam can change airline schedules, delay the opening of the stock market, alter commuting hours, mobilize police motorcycles and prompt thousands of parents to spend the day praying in temples and churches. In South Korea, that day is Suneung Day. Known formally as the College Scholastic Ability Test […]
There is a particular kind of social lesson you can only learn in Korea by sitting at a table long enough. It happened one evening at a language exchange in Seoul. The event itself was typical of dozens of gatherings around the city. Koreans came to practice English. Foreigners came to practice Korean, meet people, […]
Ask someone to describe Korean food and there is a good chance the word “spicy” will appear almost immediately. Kimchi glows red with chili flakes. Tteokbokki comes covered in a fiery sauce. Spicy ramyeon has become internationally famous. Dishes such as dakbal, jjukkumi, buldak, and spicy pork can reach levels of heat that surprise even […]
One of the most important Korean words for understanding Korean social life is also one of the hardest to translate. 눈치 — noonchi, more commonly romanized as nunchi. It is often translated as “reading the room,” “social awareness,” or even “emotional intelligence.” All of these are partly correct, but none completely captures it. Noonchi is […]
The story of Koreatown North — and how a stretch of North York became one of the most Korean places in Canada Ask someone unfamiliar with Toronto where the city’s Koreatown is, and they will probably point to Bloor Street between Christie and Bathurst. Historically, they would be right. But spend enough time in Toronto’s […]
For anyone who followed Korean dance performances and K-pop fancams during the mid-2010s, LAYSHA (레이샤) was difficult to miss. They were never remotely as famous as groups such as BLACKPINK, TWICE or Red Velvet. Yet online, particularly through fancams, LAYSHA sometimes seemed much bigger than their position in the Korean music industry would suggest. Their […]
