Tabloid

So now you know

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by Philip Gowman on 19 February, 2017

in Asides, DPRK, In the news, Tabloid

You couldn’t make this up. Or maybe you could. Even though I suspect it’s a fake cover posted online to make people go out and buy the paper itself (which I would do if it weren’t cold outside), it’s still too good not to share. Thanks to Paul Matthews for spotting this gem (also to […]

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Gangnam Style remembered on Strictly

by Philip Gowman 14 November 2016
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Thanks to would-be Labour finance minister Ed Balls for brightening up our dull Autumn on the BBC’s celebrity talent show Strictly Come Dancing. Consistently at the bottom of the scoreboard, he is saved by the popular vote. In the most recent episode he had the guts to do a Gangnam Style inspired Salsa, choreographed (with […]

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Alcohol advert ban for young celebrities?

by Philip Gowman 25 April 2015
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The BBC picked up on a story in the Chosun Ilbo that celebs under 25 could be banned from leading teenagers astray by advertising booze. A bill proposing the clamp-down was passed by the National Assembly’s committee on health and welfare on 23 April. Reportedly prompted by Kim Yu-na’s Hite advertisements in 2012 (when she […]

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Looking back at 2014: Domestic news

by Philip Gowman 15 February 2015
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Our final look back at 2014: mainly domestic news stories from South Korea: The Sewol and safety culture The MV Sewol capsized on 16 April, causing the death of 304 passengers. A number of factors contributed to the disaster, including lax safety inspections, unsafe modifications, unsecured cargo, overloading, and an inexperienced crew hired on temporary […]

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Burberry – the favoured brand of Korean flashers

by Philip Gowman 5 October 2014
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In the last decade, British fashion brand Burberry manage to rescue itself from the chav associations caused by too liberal licensing of its check design to companies it couldn’t control. But you can’t control the use to which a raincoat is put. And according to the Hankyoreh: Burberry coats have long been sought after in […]

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Dance videos, tasteless films and hair promotions – different ways to annoy the DPRK authorities

by Philip Gowman 19 July 2014
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It’s not just the Americans and the Brits who annoy the North Korean establishment with their irreverant lèse-majesté. Now the Chinese are doing it too. So far the video has been left online: And a reminder of the two other things that recently got the DPRK establishment annoyed: an upcoming American comedy film, and a […]

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Eating yeot, or not

by Philip Gowman 1 July 2014
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Ask A Korean has a great post on the reason why a disgruntled fan might want to lob a few toffees at the returning Korean football team. He has a few explanations why “Eat Yeot” is considered an insult. The article promted an LKL reader to add a different story about eating yeot as a […]

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What can be had at McD’s in Korea

by Philip Gowman 15 March 2013
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First, the Potato Party story, which was first broken by Rocket News, in which a crowd of kids bought $250 worth of fries at McDonalds and set about them with gusto. “Stop causing trouble, you brats! Get out of here!” an attendant is reported to have said. The story even made it into the Guardian. […]

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Looking back at 2012: Domestic news

by Philip Gowman 26 January 2013
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In our final round-up of Korea-related stories which caught our eye in 2012, we look at domestic and business news. Modern Life and how to escape it. Korea came 24th out of 34 leading countries in an OECD quality of life index, coming bottom of the class in job security and gender income inequality and […]

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Saharial’s Entertainment Weekly: Rain, Tablo, Psy and Propofol

by Saharial 12 January 2013
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In 2008 Choi Jin Shil, a popular actress, committed suicide after threats and pressure from netizens and from her personal life. Two years later in March 2010 her brother committed suicide, and now on 6th January 2013 her ex husband Jo Sung Min also took his own life in the same manner. A former basketball […]

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Saharial’s Entertainment Weekly: Block B’s lawsuit and Rain’s National Service Lite

by Saharial 5 January 2013
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Its only the first week of January and the Korean media is already buzzing with a heap of scandal. First off the bat is Rain who enlisted in the army in March 2012, and joined the Defence Media Agency (DEMA) like many other stars before him. Whilst not having used up his three official holiday […]

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Who would YOU vote for as Woman of the Year?

by Philip Gowman 24 November 2012
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Well, GQ Korea says it’s SiSTAR, but the girl group was picked “because there were not many other options.” Actor Ha Sung-woo was man of the year. Needless to say, Kim Ki-duk and PSY also get mentioned.

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Elephant learns to speak Korean

by Philip Gowman 1 November 2012
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Well almost. According to the BBC, Koshik the elephant has learnt to imitate human speech and can say five words in Korean: hello, no, sit down, lie down and good. The zoo animal places the tip of his trunk into his mouth to transform his natural low rumble into a convincing impression of a human […]

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How to get a Korean boyfriend

by Philip Gowman 3 September 2012
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Many of you will have seen this already, but I only just came across it via Stephen Epstein’s and Rachel Joo’s fun article on Japanfocus.org on legs, abs, and the surprising de-emphasis of boobs in Korean pop culture. The entertaining video, from My Korean Boyfriend, is particularly fine in respect of its observation of “aegyo” […]

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Korea’s latest theme park celebrates the toilet

by Philip Gowman 19 August 2012
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Suwon is home to Korea’s latest theme park: the “Restroom Cultural Park” (수원 화장실 문화공원), which opened on 4 July 2012. Suwon is the city that launched the “Making Beautiful Public Restrooms” project in 1997, and lists its top conveniences on the city website. (via Rocket News; photo: KBS)

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Today is not a good day to be managing the Mangyongdae funfair in the DPRK

by Philip Gowman 9 May 2012
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The management of the Mangyongdae funfair got a very public roasting from Kim Jong Un during an on-the-spot guidance visit. The Great Successor even did a spot of weeding to show them how bad things looked. Who would want to be in their shoes? Full story on the KCNA website. Natty hat, by the way.

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Tabloid story of the week

by Philip Gowman 19 January 2012
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Tabloid story of the week: eight South Koreans arrested over alleged scheme to smuggle gold to Japan in their rectums: http://t.co/OB5hfpQn (via the Marmot)

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