Korea JoongAng Daily - Daily News from Korea

This article is by Yoon Sung-min, Oh Hyun-seok and read by an artificial voice.

OSAKA, Japan — President Lee Jae Myung told Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during their summit in Nara, Japan, that South Korea intends to pursue membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the top office said Wednesday.

"The CPTPP was among the topics discussed [during the leaders' meeting the previous day]," National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said at a press briefing in Osaka, Japan. "We reconfirmed our intention to move forward with accession."

The CPTPP is a Japan-led multilateral FTA.

South Korea formally applied to join in September 2021, but progress has stalled, largely due to Japan's position that Seoul must first resolve its ban on Japanese seafood imports.

Takaichi told Lee that Tokyo hopes to maintain sufficient bilateral communication so that South Korea can take a science-based approach to the issue, according to the Japanese side.

Although there had been expectations ahead of the summit that CPTPP-related language would be included in the joint press statement, the issue was ultimately omitted. Taken together, explanations from both sides suggest that while the leaders reiterated their respective positions on CPTPP accession and Japanese seafood imports, they did not narrow their differences.

Wi said the matter would require further consultations at the working level between relevant authorities.

"Based on the shared universal values of human rights and humanitarianism, this could serve as a starting point for South Korea and Japan to jointly address historical issues," he said.

Wi added that Dokdo-related issues were not discussed during the summit, and noted that there was no specific discussion of China-Japan relations during the talks.

Lee said in the joint press statement that he emphasized the need for South Korea, China and Japan to seek common ground and strengthen communication and cooperation in Northeast Asia.

While strengthening trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan was discussed, Wi said the leaders also touched on enhancing South Korea-China-Japan cooperation, stressing that the talks "were not directed at any particular country."

As part of ongoing "shuttle diplomacy," the next bilateral summit is expected to take place in South Korea in the form of Takaichi's return visit.

Wi said Andong was mentioned as a possible venue, but no decision has been made.

Regarding North Korea's allegation of South Korea's drone infiltration, Wi said authorities need to determine whether civilian actors may have been involved, noting that such actions would likely violate domestic law as well as the armistice agreement.

He added that North Korea has previously sent drones into South Korean territory, which also constitutes a violation of the armistice.

"We will respond from a balanced standpoint," Wi said.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

This article is by Jin Min-ji, Park Eun-jee and read by an artificial voice.

A Seoul court rejected a request for an arrest warrant for MBK Partners Chairman Michael ByungJu Kim and several executives of the private equity firm on Wednesday, following a record-long hearing on charges of fraud and violations of the Capital Markets Act related to the sale of Homeplus bonds.

With the arrest warrant request rejected, Kim avoided the worst-case scenario, although he still must contend with the ongoing investigation.

Kim and three MBK Partners executives — MBK Vice Chairman and Homeplus CEO Kim Kwang-il, MBK Vice President Kim Jeong-hwan and Homeplus CFO Lee Sung-jin — were released 13 hours and 40 minutes after appearing at a Seoul court on Tuesday.

Senior Judge Park Jung-ho, who ruled on the decision, cited a lack of grounds for an arrest.

"It is clear that the damage and consequences of the case are grave, but the materials submitted so far do not provide enough basis for the charges to justify detention," the judge said, adding that the court will ensure the suspect's rights to defense without being detained.

MBK welcomed the decision, adding that the prosecutors "misinterpreted" the company.

"We respect and appreciate the court's prudent decision to dismiss the arrest warrants," the private equity firm said in a statement. "The prosecution has misinterpreted the efforts undertaken by MBK Partners and Homeplus to restore the company through the rehabilitation process."

Prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for Kim on fraud charges for issuing bonds around the time Homeplus's credit rating was downgraded without disclosing the potential risk. It allegedly issued around 116.4 billion won ($79 million) in bonds just before the rating was lowered, according to local media reports.

After analyzing internal MBK documents, prosecutors concluded that MBK and Homeplus were aware of the impending downgrade and identified circumstances indicating that they began preparing for corporate rehabilitation as early as 2023.

Credit rating agencies, including Korea Investors Service and Korea Ratings, downgraded the company's rating to A3- from A3 on Feb. 28. Four days later, it filed for court-led rehabilitation.

The executives, excluding Kim, were charged with accounting fraud worth approximately 1 trillion won, for improperly treating debt as equity in violation of accounting rules and inflating the valuation of property assets.

MBK Partners acquired full ownership of Homeplus in 2015 from British retailer Tesco for 7.2 trillion won. The retail chain faced financial struggles amid a downturn in the supermarket industry, driven by increased competition from e-commerce operators.

Kim was named the wealthiest individual in Korea by Forbes, although he holds U.S. citizenship.

With a reputation as a trailblazer and leader in the Asian private equity market, Kim worked at Goldman Sachs and Salomon Smith Barney, and was the head of Carlyle Asia before founding MBK Partners in 2005.

This article is by Kim Ji-ye and read by an artificial voice.

The hosts of Netflix's hit dating show "Single's Inferno" (2021-) — the streamer's first Korean original to reach a fifth season — teased the latest installment as the series' biggest yet.

"I'm incredibly thankful that we've been able to set a record like this," said Hong Jin-kyung, one of the show's five hosts, during a press conference for the fifth season held in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Wednesday. "Making it to season five proves that the show has the potential to keep going to season 50 — because it's hard to reach five, but once passing that point, the possibilities to get to 50 really open up."

Another host from the show, Kyuhyun, added, "Even though I'm in the position of announcing season five, I'm already looking forward to season six."

The latest season was produced once again by Kim Jae-won, Kim Jung-hyun and Park Su-ji, who also led the previous season. The show continues with its familiar panel of hosts: Hanhae, Dex, Hong, Lee Da-hee and Super Junior's Kyuhyun.

The show continues with its signature format of following attractive single men and women searching for love on a deserted island dubbed "Inferno." On the island, electronics are not allowed, and the cast members have to cook their own meals and find water. Participants can leave the island only by matching with a partner, earning a night at a luxurious hotel called "Paradise."

While staying true to its core structure, the producers and hosts shared a few spoilers, including a new rule for the truth-or-dare game.

"One of the key highlights to watch in the first week is the truth or dare game," producer Kim Jae-won said.

"To give a slight spoiler, we introduced a new rule this time. In previous seasons, participants could choose to drink instead of answering questions they didn't want to respond to, but that option is gone. This time, every question had to be answered. This caused complete chaos, and the impact of the game carried all the way through to the final day."

Producer Kim Jae-won also added that the production team aimed to make Inferno feel even harsher. "We wanted Inferno to feel even more like hell, so we made the preparation process tougher. After all, love becomes more meaningful when it has obstacles to overcome."

The hosts of the show — who have remained largely unchanged since the first season, except for Dex, who joined in the third — warned viewers about the heightened tension among participants to find love.

Kyuhyun personally pointed at the pool scenes, an iconic setting in the franchise, as some of the most memorable moments from the season.

"This season features what may be the sexiest pool scene in the show's history," he said. "Viewers should probably brace themselves every time the pool comes into play."

The hosts' candid reactions have also long been considered one of the show's highlights, and this season was no exception.

"We really didn't hold back," Hong said. "We didn't care about our image at all. If we felt like swearing, we swore, and if we were angry, we showed it."

Hong continued, "Then every now and then, Kyuhyun would pull himself together and try to tidy things up or calm things down, like throwing a blanket over me, but I would just kick it away."

With its biggest number of cast members yet, the producers emphasized that the relationship dynamics and characters are more diverse. They also advised viewers to look forward to the female participants, describing this season as "a battle between strong female personalities."

"One of the things to watch this season is that the women are much more forward-moving and have very strong personalities," producer Kim Jae-won said.

Despite the changes, the producers said that the new season also returns to the show's original appeal.

"For this season, we also put effort into returning to the show's roots, capturing the freshness and fluttering excitement that viewers felt in seasons one and two," producer ...

This article is by Sarah Chea and read by an artificial voice.

From Jan. 4 to 13, Chung embarked on a 10-day tour of three major economies with significant global influence — China, the United States and India — accelerating global management efforts while inspecting key production sites on the ground.

Chung first visited China on Jan. 4 and 5 to attend the Korea-China Business Forum, where he held in-depth discussions with CATL Chairman Robin Zeng on EV batteries. CATL established a Korean office last year and has signaled plans to expand its business in the country.

He also met with Hou Qijun, chairman of Chinese energy giant China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), to exchange views on hydrogen-related businesses.

Hyundai is currently the world's largest hydrogen vehicle maker and produces hydrogen fuel cell systems at its hydrogen business hub, HTWO Guangzhou, in China. Sinopec has also been fostering hydrogen as a key strategic industry, recently launching a green hydrogen plant with an annual capacity of 20,000 tons.

Hyundai launched its first China-exclusive EV model, the "Elexio," in October last year and plans to expand its local EV lineup to six models by 2030. Kia has been building its EV portfolio in China by introducing at least one new electric model each year from 2023 through 2027, starting with the EV6.

Following his China trip, Chung traveled directly to Las Vegas on Jan. 6, where he met with top executives from global big-tech companies, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Qualcomm COO Akash J. Palkhiwala. He also toured major companies' booths at the CES 2026, the world's largest IT and consumer electronics exhibition.

Chung's reunion with Huang also raised expectations that Hyundai may adopt Nvidia's autonomous driving AI, Alpamayo, a new technology unveiled at CES 2026. The first production model to feature the system is Mercedes-Benz's upcoming CLA.

Hyundai and Nvidia have been expanding cooperation across multiple fronts, including a contract for the supply of 50,000 Blackwell GPUs.

Chung's next destination was India, where he visited Hyundai's Chennai plant in southeastern India, Kia's Anantapur plant in central India and Hyundai's Pune plant in the country's midwestern region, reviewing local production and sales performance as well as mid- to long-term growth strategies, from Jan. 12 to 13.

Hyundai Motor, which entered the Indian market in 1996, currently ranks second in the country with a market share of around 20 percent.

"As Kia enters its eighth year in India, the market offers significant growth potential and opportunities," he said. "By leveraging our DNA — moving swiftly once a goal is set, not fearing failure and recovering quickly even when we fail — we must achieve sustainable growth and build a resilient, powerful brand."

This article is by Yoon Seung-jin and read by an artificial voice.

[Hired in Korea]

As more internationals look to build careers in Korea, many find themselves facing practical hurdles — from limited guidance to a lack of firsthand experience. To bridge that gap, the Korea JoongAng Daily talks with professionals who have carved out their paths in diverse fields, offering readers real-world insights on how to start their careers in the country in this series "Hired in Korea."

Ellada Charatsidou had little knowledge of Korea until she unexpectedly came across the 1950–53 Korean War as topic during the graduation project of her religious history course at a university in Greece.

What began as a chance academic topic not only introduced her to Korea but also led her to meet a visiting exchange professor from the country, a turning point that would ultimately reshape her academic and professional path. Recognizing her potential, the professor repeatedly encouraged Charatsidou to pursue her studies in Korea.

Once she had made up her mind to go to Korea, Charatsidou committed fully. She successfully secured the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), which was awarded to only two students in Greece at the time, completed a master's degree in computational linguistics at Kyung Hee University, and went on to launch her career as an instructor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS).

"I didn't know anything about Korea at the time, and I brushed off my professor's recommendations several times," Charatsidou said in an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily. "But once I decided, I tried my best to get the scholarship and make it work. Now, I'm teaching my mother tongue to Korean students at one of the country's leading language universities."

"I would say becoming a language instructor or professor here can be a very rewarding career path. Also, the future of language-related majors looks even brighter, ironically with the rise of AI," she added.

The Korea JoongAng Daily sat down with Charatsidou to hear more about her journey, the challenges of being an instructor in Korea and her advice for those hoping to build a career here.

Q. What is your role at HUFS?

A. I'm an instructor at the university's Yongin campus.

Under the Greek and Bulgarian linguistics major, I teach some mandatory and elective classes, including preliminary speech, conversation, phonology and grammar to students whose fluency levels range from A2 to B1.

As an instructor, I'm only responsible for my own classes and grading my own students, unlike tenure professors who are in charge of research as well.

How did you start your teaching career at HUFS, and what qualifications do you need to become an instructor at the university?

A professor from the university found me on LinkedIn and contacted me via email. I then went through an interview with two professors, followed by an application process that included submitting various documents.

If you want to teach at a university, you must complete graduate-level education and have prior teaching experience or hold a degree that certifies you as a qualified instructor.

In my case, I have multiple certifications as well as teaching experience at both schools and private institutions.

Your major also matters. My bachelor's and master's degrees are closely related to linguistics.

How does working as an instructor affect those who want to become professors?

I think it is a good stepping stone to see whether you want to become a professor or not.

Being a professor means that you have complete knowledge of the topic that you're teaching. And of course, you can always learn more.

Before reaching that certain level, you can always try first as an instructor to see if it suits you, and you can find another major that might suit you better or you can try a whole different career.

Based on your experience with Korean Universities, both as a student and an instructor, what aspects do you think are positive for international studen...

This article is by Yoon Seung-jin and read by an artificial voice.

[Hired in Korea]

As more internationals look to build careers in Korea, many find themselves facing practical hurdles — from limited guidance to a lack of firsthand experience. To bridge that gap, the Korea JoongAng Daily talks with professionals who have carved out their paths in diverse fields, offering readers real-world insights on how to start their careers in the country in this series "Hired in Korea."

Ellada Charatsidou had little knowledge of Korea until she unexpectedly came across the 1950–53 Korean War as topic during the graduation project of her religious history course at a university in Greece.

What began as a chance academic topic not only introduced her to Korea but also led her to meet a visiting exchange professor from the country, a turning point that would ultimately reshape her academic and professional path. Recognizing her potential, the professor repeatedly encouraged Charatsidou to pursue her studies in Korea.

Once she had made up her mind to go to Korea, Charatsidou committed fully. She successfully secured the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), which was awarded to only two students in Greece at the time, completed a master's degree in computational linguistics at Kyung Hee University, and went on to launch her career as an instructor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS).

"I didn't know anything about Korea at the time, and I brushed off my professor's recommendations several times," Charatsidou said in an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily. "But once I decided, I tried my best to get the scholarship and make it work. Now, I'm teaching my mother tongue to Korean students at one of the country's leading language universities."

"I would say becoming a language instructor or professor here can be a very rewarding career path. Also, the future of language-related majors looks even brighter, ironically with the rise of AI," she added.

The Korea JoongAng Daily sat down with Charatsidou to hear more about her journey, the challenges of being an instructor in Korea and her advice for those hoping to build a career here.

Q. What is your role at HUFS?

A. I'm an instructor at the university's Yongin campus.

Under the Greek and Bulgarian linguistics major, I teach some mandatory and elective classes, including preliminary speech, conversation, phonology and grammar to students whose fluency levels range from A2 to B1.

As an instructor, I'm only responsible for my own classes and grading my own students, unlike tenure professors who are in charge of research as well.

How did you start your teaching career at HUFS, and what qualifications do you need to become an instructor at the university?

A professor from the university found me on LinkedIn and contacted me via email. I then went through an interview with two professors, followed by an application process that included submitting various documents.

If you want to teach at a university, you must complete graduate-level education and have prior teaching experience or hold a degree that certifies you as a qualified instructor.

In my case, I have multiple certifications as well as teaching experience at both schools and private institutions.

Your major also matters. My bachelor's and master's degrees are closely related to linguistics.

How does working as an instructor affect those who want to become professors?

I think it is a good stepping stone to see whether you want to become a professor or not.

Being a professor means that you have complete knowledge of the topic that you're teaching. And of course, you can always learn more.

Before reaching that certain level, you can always try first as an instructor to see if it suits you, and you can find another major that might suit you better or you can try a whole different career.

Based on your experience with Korean Universities, both as a student and an instructor, what aspects do you think are positive for international studen...

This article is by Woo Ji-won and read by an artificial voice.

First came diaries covered with stickers and washi tape. Then bags followed, heavy with key rings and plush dolls. And just when it seemed there was nothing left to customize, the trend landed — unexpectedly — on pens.

A pen may not seem like much of a canvas. But in the world of decoration, it is enough to make it personal and fun.

The fifth floor of the complex has become the epicenter of Korea's newest decorating craze. At dozens of small shops, shoppers browse trays of charms and dangling ornaments, most priced at just a few hundred won.

The pen customizing process starts with the pen body, which comes in a variety of colors and shapes. Unlike regular pens, which are not suitable for customization, the complex's pens resemble the skeleton of a fish — solid at the head and tail, but open in the middle. Charms with small loops are added to the body, allowing users to build their own designs piece by piece.

Lee was among the crowd gathered at one of the market's best-known pen customization stores. She claimed a spot at a side table full of charms specificially for pen customization, putting them in and out of the pen to make sure they fit. Nearby, mothers followed their daughters and young women compared options, dropping charms into small baskets, while older women debated what looked best.

Short videos of people assembling pens — clicking caps into place, snapping charms onto clips — went viral last week, transforming what had once been a niche hobby into a popular trend that caused crowds to descend on Dongdaemun.

So far, the craze is largely confined to stores at the Dongdaemun Shopping Complex.

The owner of the shop that went viral said the concept itself was nothing new. "People have been customizing pens for some time," she said. "But after Instagram, it exploded. We've even had customers from Japan."

Demand has been so intense that some stores, including hers, have run out of pen bodies altogether. Shoppers are now sent elsewhere in the building to buy the base before returning to decorate it.

Despite already making three, Lee said she plans to come back once more pen bodies are restocked — though she did not leave right away, lingering instead at a charm stall, still sorting through pieces long after making that promise.

Customization, however, is not limited to pens.

"I came to buy key caps and parts," said Kim Min-ju, leaving with a handful of tiny plastic keys. "I've been into them this year. It's become my hobby to decorate things." Keyboard key caps have become just as trendy.

Lee Eun-hee, a consumer studies professor at Inha University, said decorating personal items is "a way of expressing oneself through the things one owns."

"There's a sense of personal satisfaction in decorating something and making it truly your own. People enjoy creating something that reflects who they are and then showing it off offline, where others can see it, admire it or even feel a little envious."

Shop owner Im also said decorating trends "move very fast here." After 10 years in Dongdaemun, she has learned to read subtle shifts in what people pick up.

One change she has noticed is the growing number of families, especially mothers visiting with their children. "More parents come with their kids now," she said. "Some even travel from far outside Seoul just for this."

This article is by Woo Ji-won and read by an artificial voice.

First came diaries covered with stickers and washi tape, a decorative tape originating in Japan. Then bags followed, heavy with key rings and plush dolls. And just when it seemed there was nothing left to customize, the trend landed — unexpectedly — on pens.

A pen may not seem like much of a canvas. But in the world of decoration, it is enough to make it personal and fun.

The fifth floor of the complex has become the epicenter of Korea's newest decorating craze. At dozens of small shops, shoppers browse trays of charms and dangling ornaments, most priced at just a few hundred won.

The pen customizing process starts with the pen body, which comes in a variety of colors and shapes. Unlike regular pens, which are not suitable for customization, the complex's pens resemble the skeleton of a fish — solid at the head and tail, but open in the middle. Charms with small loops are added to the body, allowing users to build their own designs piece by piece.

Lee was among the crowd gathered at one of the market's best-known pen customization stores. She claimed a spot at a side table full of charms specificially for pen customization, putting them in and out of the pen to make sure they fit. Nearby, mothers followed their daughters and young women compared options, dropping charms into small baskets, while older women debated what looked best.

Short videos of people assembling pens — clicking caps into place, snapping charms onto clips — went viral last week, transforming what had once been a niche hobby into a popular trend that caused crowds to descend on Dongdaemun.

So far, the craze is largely confined to stores at the Dongdaemun Shopping Complex.

The owner of the shop that went viral said the concept itself was nothing new. "People have been customizing pens for some time," she said. "But after Instagram, it exploded. We've even had customers from Japan."

Demand has been so intense that some stores, including hers, have run out of pen bodies altogether. Shoppers are now sent elsewhere in the building to buy the base before returning to decorate it.

Despite already making three, Lee said she plans to come back once more pen bodies are restocked — though she did not leave right away, lingering instead at a charm stall, still sorting through pieces long after making that promise.

Customization, however, is not limited to pens.

"I came to buy key caps and parts," said Kim Min-ju, leaving with a handful of tiny plastic keys. "I've been into them this year. It's become my hobby to decorate things." Keyboard key caps have become just as trendy.

Lee Eun-hee, a consumer studies professor at Inha University, said decorating personal items is "a way of expressing oneself through the things one owns."

"There's a sense of personal satisfaction in decorating something and making it truly your own. People enjoy creating something that reflects who they are and then showing it off offline, where others can see it, admire it or even feel a little envious."

Shop owner Im also said decorating trends "move very fast here." After 10 years in Dongdaemun, she has learned to read subtle shifts in what people pick up.

One change she has noticed is the growing number of families, especially mothers visiting with their children. "More parents come with their kids now," she said. "Some even travel from far outside Seoul just for this."

This article is by Cho Jung-woo and read by an artificial voice.

Korea was heartbroken after sending away beloved giant panda Fu Bao in 2024. But there may be a new opportunity for fans of the adorable bears after President Lee Jae Myung asked China to loan Korea a new pair of pandas during his state visit last week.

During his four-day visit to Beijing and Shanghai last week, Lee said discussions were underway regarding China loaning a pair of pandas to Uchi Park Zoo in Gwangju, regarding the idea as part of a broader push for balanced regional development.

"We are in talks about sending a pair of pandas to Uchi Park Zoo in Gwangju as part of efforts to promote balanced regional development," Lee said on Jan. 7.

Since 1949, China has used giant pandas as symbols of goodwill in its diplomacy with allies and competitors alike.

According to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, the proposal was also raised during a state banquet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Lee told Xi that pandas could serve as a positive symbol of exchange between the two countries, and repeatedly emphasized his hope that they could be housed at the Gwangju zoo, she said.

Following Lee's remarks, the Gwangju city government confirmed it had submitted a report in December 2025 assessing whether Uchi Park Zoo could accommodate giant pandas. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said the issue would be discussed further at the working level, noting that talks are still in the early stages.

A cuddly diplomatic gesture

Korea currently hosts four giant pandas. Ai Bao and Le Bao, along with their twin cubs Rui Bao and Hui Bao, all live at the Everland theme park in Yongin, Gyeonggi. The pair are also the parents of Fu Bao, who was returned to China in April 2024 after becoming a national sensation as the first naturally born panda in Korea. Panda cubs are typically sent back to China between the ages of two and four to join the country's breeding program.

China's practice of lending giant pandas to foreign countries has long been intertwined with diplomacy. The Chinese government retains ownership of all giant pandas worldwide. As such, they are sent overseas on loans.

"Any giant panda exported for loan, and its offspring, should remain the property of the Government of China," reads the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora regarding loans for giant pandas.

Samsung C&T, which operates Everland, pays about $1 million a year to China for each pair of pandas, with the funds directed toward panda conservation and breeding research. Baby cubs born abroad are also subject to one-time payment of up to $600,000.

Ai Bao and Le Bao arrived in Korea in March 2016 under a 15-year contract that expires in 2031, though that can be extended.

Their arrival followed a joint summit statement issued during President Xi Jinping's 2014 visit to Seoul, which included support for joint panda research. It marked the first time in more than two decades that giant pandas had come to Korea. In 1994, a pair named Li Li and Ming Ming arrived to commemorate the second anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and China but were returned early, in 1998, due to the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

Fu Bao, born in July 2020, became the most visible outcome of 2014's declaration of cooperation between the countries. Ai Bao and Le Bao later gave birth to twins, Rui Bao and Hui Bao, in July 2023.

With discussions over a possible new loan still at an early stage, officials said financial details have not yet been discussed.

Asked whether there had been any discussions about Fu Bao returning to Korea, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said President Xi had remarked that he hoped "many Koreans will come to see Fu Bao" in China.

Why Gwangju?

The focus on Uchi Park Zoo reflects Lee's emphasis on regional balance. Located in Buk District, Gwangju, the zoo is one of only two national base zoos in the country, alongside Cheongju Zoo in Nor...

Kim Dong-ryul

The author is a professor at Sogang University.

A friend of my wife recently came to Seoul with her daughter. It was her first visit in decades. She currently lives in New York and used to avoid returning to Korea. In the turbulent 1980s, she had been a hard-line student activist, imprisoned repeatedly during the authoritarian era. Her father, a civil servant, ultimately lost his job because of her political activities.

For many years, Korea was an object of anger and contempt for her. But she found herself boarding a plane at the insistence of her daughter, who had just entered university. Parents, after all, can rarely refuse their children. The daughter had one clear reason for coming: the National Museum of Korea, often called "Gukjungbak" in Korean shorthand by younger generations.

The daughter was deeply immersed in Korean pop culture. The reach of the Korean Wave among American college students has gone far beyond what many in Korea may assume. Curious and slightly skeptical about what there was to see, I decided to visit the museum myself. It had been about 20 years since my last visit.

The scene was striking. Cafes and other facilities were packed, and the atmosphere felt closer to a public plaza than a quiet exhibition hall. Museums are not places people visit frequently. Unless they are specialists, many Koreans reportedly go only once in their lifetime. Now, people come not only to view exhibitions but to buy merchandise from the gift store or to take photos to post on social media. The center of gravity has clearly shifted beyond passively viewing artifacts.

In the early 2000s, after returning from studying overseas, I brought my children, who were in elementary school at the time, to the National Museum of Korea. It was housed inside Gyeongbok Palace back then. My goal was simple: to introduce them to Korean culture. But the dimly lit galleries failed to hold their attention, and we left early after they repeatedly complained that they were bored. I still remember their words clearly.

The same museum has now reached critical mass. Becoming a world-class institution no longer feels like an unrealistic goal, but to achieve that, it must continue to evolve into a place that people visit for the experience and enjoyment — not merely to passively observe. In Europe and the United States, museums have increasingly become refined social spaces.

It may now be your turn to go. A meeting at a museum carries a certain quiet dignity, so even grabbing a cup of coffee there will do.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.