[HanCinema's Digest] Culture Corner

ESPN showcases the struggles of female gamers in Korea's thriving e-sports scene, Forbes reviews Concept Korea's hopes and dreams at New York Fashion Week, 10 Magazine reveals some things you may not know are illegal in Korea, and the government gets behind the country's biggest national holiday with free passes and other incentives.

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"10 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ARE ILLEGAL IN KOREA"

Michael Song, writing for 10 Magazine, lists ten things you may not know are illegal in Korea. While many activities on the list aren't strictly legal, they operate in a kind of 'grey zone' when it comes to the law. Tattoos, for example, can only be done by a trained medical professional; "However, the growing ranks of non-medically trained tattoo artists has seen little law enforcement in recent times". Do any of the things listed here surprise you?

...READ ON 10 MAGAZINE

"Game: Interrupted"

South Korea's gaming culture is well known and thriving, but female gamers in Korea still face serious social barriers to entry and success at the highest level. "While female gamers don't have the same physical disadvantages against males as, say, female basketball players", writes Mina Times, "very few have thrived on a professional level". In this feature on ESPN, you'll hear how Kim Se-hyeon's (aka 'Geguri') struggled to get her skills recognized in Korea's very male-dominated e-sports scene. "It doesn't matter where I'm going -- I just want to be the best".

...READ ON ESPN

"Concept Korea: Bringing K-Wave To New York Fashion Week"

Forbes writer Rana Wehbe notes that the current 'Korean Wave' (K-pop, K-drama, K-beauty, K-Food, ...) is attractive to young millennials who are "increasingly looking east for lifestyle inspiration". Here, Rana discusses another important crest of the K-wave: "daring and stylish" K-fashion. In particular, Rana explores the Concept Korea Spring/Summer 2018 fashion show at the New York Fashion Week (NYFW), why K-fashion stands out from the crowd and articulates some of the hopes and challenges facing designers and their brands.

...READ ON FORBES

"Free entrance, discount events to spice up Chuseok holidays"

Chuseok is Korea's largest national holiday and takes place during the first week of next month. A recent survey revealed that most Koreans plan on travelling during this festive time of year. And in the spirit of the occasion, the government is offering various incentives "to encourage people to enjoy themselves cheaply, scrapping admission fees to popular spots, including Seoul's royal palaces". To encourage both locals and visitors to engage with the country's history and heritage, many of the country's cultural and heritage venues will be open and free for all. Happy Chuseok indeed!

...READ ON THE KOREA TIMES