English-speakers have nothing to worry about in Korea. The English-language resources on Korea seem endless, making you more likely to get lost in the web of information then to get lost in translation.
There are several English-language newspapers widely distributed throughout South Korea. Korean magazines written in English, local specialist publications and international magazines are also available. Additionally, the numerous blogs and expat websites provide an enormous source on anything you’d like to know about Korea.
[box_dark]1. Newspapers[/box_dark]
Printed newspapers
The Korea Times
One of the largest-circulation English-language newspapers in Korea. Well-regarded for its up-to-date services on foreign and business news, including economy and finance.
KRW 1.000 a copy.
koreatimes.co.kr/
The Korea Herald
Another major English-language Korean newspaper, is currently being distributed in over 80 countries around the world.
KRW 1.000 a copy.
koreaherald.com/
JoongAng Daily and International Herald Tribune
Quality newspaper providing daily, culture and human interest stories. Also it reports in depth on the foreign community in Korea including business coverage and social activities.
The paper is affiliated with International Herald Tribune, which is distributed along with the JoongAng Daily.
KRW 2,000 a copy.
koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/
Jeju Weekly
Weekly newspaper from island of Jeju.
jejuweekly.com
Online newspapers
Access to articles is free, unless stated otherwise.
Digital Chosunilbo
Online presentation of the Korean daily The Chosun Ilbo.
english.chosun.com/
Dong-a Ilbo
Online service providing Korean news in multiple languages (English, Japanese, Chinese).
english.donga.com/
The Hankyoreh
Independent and progressive newspaper, committed to journalistic freedom, democracy, peaceful coexistence and national reconciliation between South and North Korea.
The newspaper’s ownership is quite unique, too: it’s not part of business conglomerate like many other newspapers, but it’s owned by about 62,000 shareholders who joined the original drive for the paper’s inception.
english.hani.co.kr
The Kyunghyang Shimun
This newspaper investigates activities of the government and Chaebols (conglomerates). They are monitoring abuses of human rights and violations of personal freedom.
english.khan.co.kr/
Yonhap News Agency
Major Korean news service, delivering news to customers, newspapers, broadcasting firms, government agencies and many more. News items range from politics to entertainment.
english.yonhapnews.co.kr/
The Seoul Times
Online English newspaper for foreigners in Korea.
theseoultimes.com
The Korea Economic Daily
Economic newspaper, mostly read by Korean office workers and university students.
english.hankyung.com/
MK Business News (Maeil Business newspaper)
Business newspaper.
news.mk.co.kr/english/
Daily NK
Newspaper with a focus on the future of North Korea. Daily NK sees the people of North Korea as separate from their regime and emphasizes a peaceful unification with South Korea based on democracy and the realization of human rights.
dailynk.com/english/
Korea IT News
Most prominent daily newspaper specializing information technology in Korea, for the purpose of providing a variety of IT portal services on the internet.
english.etnews.com/
Dynamic Busan
Online news on Busan
dynamic.busan.go.kr
Foreign news on Korea:
Asia Times (online newspaper) – Korea section
Publications that report on and examine geopolitical, political, economic and business issues. Look at these issues from an Asian perspective, as opposed to a Western one.
atimes.com/atimes/Korea.html
South Korea News.Net
This online newspaper assembles news on the South Korea area, including stories from around the region and beyond.
southkoreanews.net/
Seoul Daily
Media community that collects news articles from all over the world. Is part of The World News (WN) Network
seouldaily.com/
South Korea News – Ein News (subscription)
Industry, business, and political news.
Subscription: $ 49.95 a month.
world.einnews.com/country/southkorea
Official News:
Korean Government Homepage
Official news, articles on Korean culture and history, paintings, music, and more.
korea.net/
[box_dark]2. Magazines[/box_dark]
Printed Magazines
SEOUL Magazine
Monthly travel and culture magazine that provides in-depth reporting on living in Korea, on travelling, events and cultural news.
magazine.seoulselection.com/
KOREA Magazine
This magazine, published by the Korean Culture and Information Service, provides general information with an emphasis on Korean policy.
korea.net/Resources/Publications/KOREA-Magazines
10Mag
A monthly lifestyle magazine that focuses on activities for the foreign community. All kinds of leisure activities are covered such as exhibitions, concerts, sporting events, dining, nightlife, travel.
10mag.com
Groove Korea
Monthly magazine that covers a range of topics including community, music, sports, travel and food.
groovekorea.com/
Koreana
A quarterly magazine on Korean art and culture. The magazine also deals with other subjects such as the environment and lifestyle.
koreana.or.kr
Korea Post
Monthly magazine on economy and business, agriculture, tourism and society activities. There’s a section dedicated to women as well.
koreapost.com
Global Asia
The print edition of Global Asia is published quarterly, while the internet edition is updated continuously with new articles and contributions.
Global Asia is a publication of the East Asia Foundation, founded in Seoul, and its aim is to give voice to the global dimension of what’s happening in Asia through providing a platform for distinguished thinkers, policymakers, political leaders and business people to debate the most important issues in Asia today.
globalasia.org/
BusinessKorea
Monthly magazine on Korea’s business, economic and financial worlds directed to Korea watchers overseas as well as Korea’s own top decision-makers and business circles.
businesskorea.net/
Eloquence
A monthly art magazine for and about creators that deals with photography, fashion, design, sound, video and many more.
eloquence.co.kr/
Art & Seoul
Fairly new non-periodical arts magazine that offers coverage of anything art-, music-, or design-related in Seoul.
artandseoulmag.com
K-Soul Magazine
Quarterly magazine on Korean pop culture (K-pop), with reviews of K-pop concerts, information about going to live shows, drama information, filming locations, and guides for how to take part in the hallyu wave culture.
ksoulmag.com
Busan Haps
Bi-monthly print magazine that provides the reader with the most up-to-date events, attractions, restaurants and nightlife around Busan.
busanhaps.com
Online Magazines
Korea Focus
Monthly webzine, featuring commentaries and essays on Korean politics, economy, society and culture, as well as relevant international issues.
koreafocus.or.kr/
WorknPlay Magazine
As the name suggests, this online magazine provides a free job search facility but maintains an up-to-date entertainment guide too. Essential information for expatriates and short-term visitors is given as well.
worknplay.co.kr/
[box_dark]3. Television and Radio[/box_dark]
Arirang TV and Radio (English, Chinese, Spanish, Korean, Arabic, Russian, Vietnamese, Indonesian)
This government-funded broadcaster provides news and entertainment on Korea for the international community.
arirang.co.kr
KBS World TV and World Radio (Korean Broadcasting System) (English, Chinese, Japanese, French, Spain, German, Other)
Public broadcaster providing informative and entertaining programs to the audience.
english.kbs.co.kr/tv
SBS (Seoul Broadcasting System) (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese)
Apart from its function as public broadcaster it also distributes a range of corporate channels throughout Korea.
global.sbs.co.kr/en/main/main.htm
AFN (American Forces Network) Pacific
Popular entertainment programs and command internal information networks used by the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS).
test.afnpacific.net/Home.aspx
EBS (Educational Broadcasting System) TV and Radio
Broadcasts educational contents for every age
global.ebs.co.kr/eng
TBS (Traffic Broadcasting System) Radio
24-hour English radio for citizens of Seoul and surrounding areas, on local information, current affairs, entertainment and culture.
tbs.seoul.kr/ENG/
SkyLife (Korean and English)
Digital satellite broadcaster that provides over 150 specialized channels from anywhere in the country of movies, education, children’s programming, sports, news and music with high definition picture and sound.
skylife.co.kr/eng
MBC (Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation) TV and Radio
Public broadcaster both active in Korea as in about 30 foreign countries.
aboutmbc.imbc.com/english/
[box_dark]4. Blogs[/box_dark]
When it comes to blogs on Korea, it seems like the choice is never-ending.
The following blogs are among the best rated expat-blogs:
– On the Seoul Searching blog by Mimsie Ladner you can find articles on destinations, travel tips, shopping, entertainment, culture, events, food and people. Mimsie’s blog is appealing for the eye and is – not unimportant – well organized.
myseoulsearching.com/
– Written by Seoul Selection’s own magazine editor Robert J. Koehler, The Marmot’s Hole presents a healthy crossroads of Korea and the Western world. Robert maintains a vigilant eye on Korean media as well as western perspectives. Apart from political, social and media matters, the author also does travel-related photo essays from time to time.
rjkoehler.com/
– If you want to consult a blog on Korean food, ZenKimchi is the place to be.
The experienced team of writers and experts working on ZenKimchi has been consulted for and has written for media such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and several Korean journals.
zenkimchi.com/
– Chris in South Korea (although he recently left South Korea) is packed with information and is an excellent resource for any expat.
chrisinsouthkorea.com/
– Run by a young Canadian married couple, Eat Your Kimchi is the place to go for information on K-pop and quirky videos on life in Korea. Although their quirkiness can be a little too much at times, their enthusiasm is contagious.
eatyourkimchi.com
– Named the “Best Korean Travel and Culture Blog” by the Korea Tourism Organization, Discovering Korea by Matt Kelley is definitely worth a look around. It’s an excellent source of information for travel destinations in and outside of Seoul.
discoveringkorea.com/
[box_dark]5. Other useful websites[/box_dark]
– Galbijim Wiki is a collaborative Wiki community which holds almost thousand articles of advice on living, working, and traveling in Korea.
wiki.galbijim.com/Main_Page
– Korea4expats is a very detailed and informative website, providing virtually everything one needs to know on living and working in Korea.
korea4expats.com/
– AngloINFO, similar to Korea4expats, holds a great amount of information on living, working and other things you need to know in Korea.
seoul.angloinfo.com/
– Koreabridge serves as an information- and community-portal for all of Korea. It collects already existing Korea-related content and also provides a space for the users to add some information themselves.
koreabridge.net
– The Official Korean Tourism Organization provides a great deal of useful information on its website. Admittedly, you might have to do some additional research yourself – sometimes the links to other websites or contact information isn’t up to date – but the website’s basically a travel guide on its own.
The website is available in other languages apart from Korean and English: Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Thai and Arabic are provided as well.
english.visitkorea.or.kr
