Recent spotlight on internationally renowned tattoo artist Doy called attention to the curious cultural dissonance surrounding tattoos in South Korea. There are an estimated 20,000 tattooists in Korea, and many celebrities display tattoos on social media. But tattoos are covered or pixelated on public broadcasts to avoid offending audiences. And until last year, men with…
February 1, 2022
An emerging online trend is sweeping South Korea with uncertain political implications. Gukppong refers to a type of hyper nationalistic rhetoric mainly circulated through social media. The term is a portmanteau of “nation” and “meth”, referring to patriotism so excessive that it is like a drug. Some feel that it shows a sense of inferiority…
January 25, 2022
On January 9, O Yeong-su made history by becoming the first Korean actor to win a Golden Globe. This historic win follows Youn Yu-jung becoming the first Korean actress to win an Oscar last year. These milestones ask whether the Korean entertainment industry might be breaking through the persistent underrepresentation of Asian actors and actresses…
January 18, 2022
During the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea’s entertainment industry pioneered a new era of virtual concerts. K-pop bands live-streamed their performances, often adding features like augmented reality to provide audiences at home with new experiences. This also complemented the broader push in the industry to become more technologically savvy, including the adoption of virtual avatar idols and strategic partnerships with…