[HanCinema's Digest] Culture Corner

Published on 2015/11/22

Do you know any Korean jokes?, the Kimchi Queen tackles hard facts about Korea's LGBT community, The Three Wise Monkey's talk about researching Korea, and find out how Korean Culture is being celebrated on the ground.

"Top 10 Korean Jokes"

If you want to know a people, know what makes them laugh. Jokes are a funny thing, sometimes the humour doesn't translate, but more often than not there's a universal funny bone that we all like to have tickled.

…READ ON 90 DAY KOREAN

"One fifth of LGBT youth attempt suicide in Korea"

In this piece, The Kimchi Queen offers her summary of a recent survey detailing, specifically, discrimination against sexual minorities: "At school, LGBT youth face ostracization, insult, and disadvantages due to their identity. Students also reported being coerced to give up on school activities or faced disciplinary action like penalties or suspension".

… READ ON THE KIMCHI QUEEN

"Why Is Researching Korean Culture Easier in Japan?"

This interesting: is it easier to research Korean culture if you're doing your work in Japan? Hal Swindall, and professor at East Asian, examines to degree to which knowledge is available to researchers in Korea: "The global success in this century of the Korean Wave (aka hallyu) has certainly given the country's self-esteem a boost, especially among younger people to whom places like Gyeongju are less meaningful. Whether it is traditional or contemporary, though, Koreans hope their culture is known abroad. In the country itself, however, they do not do what is really necessary to make their patrimony accessible to foreigners, such as English signage in museums and national parks beyond the main attractions".

…READ ON THE THREE WISE MONKEYS

"Culture will be power for new Korea"

South Korean culture is being welcomed around the world, but back home, Kim Jong-deok, the country's minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is also making it his mission to ensure that Koreans first have a deep and shared understanding of themselves: "Cultural enrichment is one of the priorities of the Park Geun-hye administration and the MCST takes the responsibility".

… READ ON KOREA TIMES