IMF Bailout of Korea During East Asian Financial Crisis (Part IV)

[Series Index]The earlier parts of the series, written by Wangkon936, discussed the international forces that led to the East Asian Financial Crisis and the IMF bailout of Korea. This part, by the Korean, will discuss the social impact of the East Asian Financial Crisis on Korea.Domestic Economic ImpactThe impact of East Asian Financial Crisis on Korea was simply devastating. It is faster to count...

How do You Grow Hair Quickly?

Dear Korean,I've been an English teacher working here in Korea for 7 months. The other day I was casually remarking to a friend of mine about how quickly my hair grows and that it's almost a nuisance getting it cut every 3 weeks. She then said there's a Korean myth about people whose hair grows quickly but she wouldn't tell...

Ask a Korean! News: Making Batteries with Koreans

New York Times had a very interesting article about a new governmental project to promote lithium-ion battery manufacturing in Michigan, which also had a great deal to do with Korea. A few excerpts (all emphases added by the Korean):Over the last two years, the federal government has doled out nearly $2.5 billion in stimulus dollars to roughly 30 companies involved in advanced battery technology....

Philosophy of Plastic Surgery

New York Times had a very interesting column about a possibility of philosophy behind plastic surgery, with Brazil as an example. The Korean recommends reading the whole article, as it is a terrific column with a lot to chew on. Here are some excerpts:I assumed that the popularity of cosmetic surgery in a developing nation was one more example of Brazil’s gaping inequalities. But Pitanguy had long...

Ask a Korean! News: Korea's Role in Libyan Economy

Democracy is not just a supreme value for human freedom -- it also does a great deal for wealth and prosperity. Korea's role in rebuilding post-Gadhafi Libya is a nice example of this. Some excerpts:As the regime of Moammar Gadhafi crumbled, the value of South Korean construction firms rose.When rebel forces swarmed into the dwindling Tripoli strongholds of Moammar Gadhafi Tuesday, investors in distant...

Looking for "Lee Michelle"

The Korean is putting out an APB -- does anyone know this woman's story? From what the Korean could tell, she goes by the name of "Lee Michelle", and teaches vocal in Korea. Also, she appeared as a backup chorus in the hit show "I am a Singer" (나는 가수다), where the Korean first spotted her.Given the number of questions that the Korean receives from non-Koreans about wanting to be a K-pop star, her story...

Only in America would serious people even wonder about whether there is too much learning going on. Luckily, most panelists on the New York Times responded in the negative, and a few did point out that the question itself was stupid (in gentler words, of course.) But the fact that this question even appears on the New York Times is itself a troubling si...

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Are Korean Men Into Black Women?

Dear Korean,I'm 19 and live in the United State and very attracted to korean men such as TOP and Taeyang form big bang,Kim Bum, Kim Hyun Joong, ant etc., I thought of moving to South Korea after college. I've been learning the language but I wonder do korean like black girls. My features are european for the most part and I am light skinned such as Lee Hyori and Park Shiyeon but I and black. So I'm...

IMF Bailout of Korea During East Asian Financial Crisis -- Interlude

[Series Index]How ironic is it that as this blog discusses the IMF bailout of Korea during the East Asian Financial Crisis of 1997-98, U.S. and Europe are undergoing similar problems? The Economist captures very well a sentiment of schadenfreude among some Asian commentators:These sundry calamities in the West have provided Asian commentators with an unmissable chance to unveil Western hypocrisy....

Ask a Korean! News: AIDS in Korea

Here is a short piece of news about AIDS in Korea. Thankfully, most people with AIDS are alive:Reports showed that the man and woman who were found to be the first AIDS patients in Korea in the 1980s are still alive. According to the Center for Disease Control, Korea's first official AIDS patient was 55-year-old Mr. A, who contracted the disease in 1985. Mr. A discovered that he contracted AIDS from...

Technical Proficiency and Creativity

The Korean always enjoys reading Anthony Tommasini's take on classical music on the New York Times. His recent article regarding the increasing technical ability of classical musicians (specifically pianists) is quite interesting:Ms. Wang’s virtuosity is stunning. But is that so unusual these days? Not really. That a young pianist has come along who can seemingly play anything, and easily, is not...

Baekseju, the "100 Year Wine"

Dear Korean,What is the deal with 'bek sae ju'? I am told that drinking this 'hundred-year-wine' can help you live longer. Are there any actual health benefits to drinking this beverage? How did it get its reputation/name?AndiDear Andi,You inadvertently stumbled onto a highly interesting example of how a Korean product manages...

Ask a Korean! News: "War criminals are not really war criminals"

The Korean previously wrote that the Japanese government is unable to make a truly meaningful apology and reparation because the Japanese people, as a whole, do not think their country did anything wrong in World War II and the occupation of Korea. And sure enough, Noda Yoshihiko, Japan's finance minister and the most likely candidate to be the next prime minister, confirms this view:On August 15th...

Do Naturalized Koreans Get Drafted?

Dear Korean,If I apply for the Korean citizenship before 35 years old, do I need to serve the military service?RomanShort answer -- you do not have to, but you can volunteer.Long answer --First of all, starting from 2011, the duty to serve is in effect until age 37, not age 35, if you were born after January 1, 1980. Be careful here, however -- the draft eligibility does not expire on your 37th...

Ask a Korean! Wiki: Mixed Koreans?

Dear Korean,As an 18 year old male of mixed Korean/British race, what is modern Korea's outlook to an "unpure" Korean?Jonathan L.Dear Jonathan,The only answer that the Korean could give is: it wildly depends on the individual. In the 1950s and the following years, there definitely was a strong discrimination against mixed raced Koreans, because they were generally assumed to be the products of...

Guns and Riots

Recently the traffic at this blog spiked up, apparently because apparently some people found this picture from this post to be inspiring in light of the riots in London:The commentary accompanying this picture usually goes along the lines of: "Hey, look at these Korean Americans! They protecting their own with guns! I bet their...

50 Most Influential K-Pop Artists: 26. Jaurim

[Series Index]26.  Jaurim [자우림]Also known as:  紫雨林 ("purple rain forest")Years of Activity:  1997-presentMembers:Kim Yoon-Ah [김윤아] - VocalLee Seon-Gyu [이선규] - GuitarKim Jin-Man [김진만] - BassGu Tae-Hoon [구태훈] - DrumDiscography:Purple Heart (1997)Lover [戀人] (1998)The Wonderland (2000)04 (2002)All You Need is Love (2004)Ashes to Ashes (2006)Ruby Sapphire Diamond (2008)Conspiracy Theory...