South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, much of which is attributed to intense social pressures. Director Yoon Ga-eun’s debut feature film shows childhood isn’t so simple. Before we see them, we hear them: “Rock, scissors, paper. Rock, scissors, paper,” the soft thump of fists against palms as children pick…
When the weather cools down and especially after you’ve had a heavy western meal, Koreans crave a good old fashioned doenjang jjigae. We all have our special touches and secret ingredients, but sometimes it’s great to peel back the layers of improv and go back to basics. Here’s my classic version which includes potatoes, a…
CKA’s mission is to advance the national voice and influence of the Korean American community through collaboration and leadership development. CKA envisions a community that invests in each other and in future leaders, and aspires to a world in which Korean American leaders serve at the highest levels in society. This year, CKA annual gala will…
Blackpink’s own original documentary film is now available to stream on Netflix! The film follows each member’s journey from their very beginning pre-training days all the way to their universal star status success today. The much anticipated film promises a humanizing glimpse at the tradeoffs made to achieve success, which includes a training program that…
What do Winston Churchill, Thomas Edison, Colonel Sanders, and a humble Korean American like me have in common? We are all Rotarians! How did I become involved in this rather lofty sounding organization? You might be surprised. Have you ever thought about getting together a few of your close friends and starting a club? That’s…
K-Dramas have taken over Netflix and have captivated the world with their cutting edge fashion, beauty, and style. Now thanks to these incredibly creative Etsy sellers, you can match your jewelry with your favorite K-Drama characters. From dramas such as Crash Landing on You and Touch Your Heart, these super cute pieces have received tons…
What is soju? Simply put, soju is a clear, distilled, rice based drink from Korea that has long been the world’s most popular liquor. It’s the No. 1 selling liquor by volume, and sales have only been growing in recent years. In terms of potency, Jinro classic soju is 20% alcohol and falls somewhere in the middle…
The movie Parasite captivated the entire world with its stylish and engrossing narrative about two families. So much deft storytelling and artistry are woven through the movie it’s hard to point to one or two qualities that set it apart from the rest. But surely the one thing that most people acknowledge as a powerful…
The Walker Art Center hosts Director Bong Joon Ho interview two days after historic Oscar win. When Parasite won six Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director earlier this year, I thought we were doomed. Of course I loved the film and was thrilled about the Oscar coup for Director Bong, and for Korea,…
There are so many memorable scenes in the film Parasite, but one that stands out for me was the ramdon scene. Ramdon is the movie’s fictional name given to a popular humble dish in South Korea called chapaguri – a mashup of two different instant Korean noodles, Chapagetti and Neoguri. The scene underscores the casual…