Image from the Metaverse King Sejong Institute (Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) To meet the growing interest in studying Korean all over the world, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the King Sejong Institute Foundation are offering Korean language classes in the metaverse to help foreigners learn the language anytime, anywhere. The Metaverse King Sejong Institute (http://ksif.zep.site) allows users to take remote language course

Voice phishing has become a major crime in Korea, with the number of cases hovering over 30,000 every year and the total amount scammed increasing. (Courtesy of Integrated Data Analysis Center)   Since the first case was reported here in 2006, voice phishing has become one of the most serious crimes in Korea, with tens of thousands of residents scammed every year.   People are well aware of such crimes and are constantly being informed about how to avoid becoming v

Square glass lanterns from Joseon Dynasty royal parties repurposed as streetlights near Gyeongbokgung Palace, central Seoul, December 12, 2022 (Courtesy of Cultural Heritage Administration) Glass lanterns that were used in royal celebrations during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) inspired a new streetlamp design in downtown Seoul.     Since mid-December, 350 lanterns have lit up the streets around major Joseon Dynasty palaces in Jongno-gu District after being ins

People watch the sunrise at Jeongdongjin Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon-do Province. (Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization, Kim Ji-ho) Koreans believe a wish made while watching the New Year’s Day sunrise will bring good luck in the year ahead.   Hence, on January 1, family and friends head to beaches, mountains and other wide-open spaces to enjoy the first rays of the New Year. It is a time when people look back on the past year and make hope-filled resolutions.

The entrance to Sodayu Tunnel at a mine on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, Japan (Courtesy of Northeast Asian History Foundation, Nam Sang-gu) Japan’s attempt to list its Sado Mines – a collection of mostly gold mines on an island off the coast of Niigata Prefecture – as a UNESCO World Heritage site is causing concern. Korea and other Asian nations whose citizens were subjected to forced labor there during World War II fear history will be distorted.   The earlier