Photo via the Marmot’s Hole

It’s well known that plastic surgery in Korea is a booming industry. Considering population size, the beauty-obsessed nation goes under the knife more than any other.

So it should come as no surprise to learn that contestants in the annual Miss Korea beauty pageant have likely had part of their bodies nipped, tucked and altered. Notably, last year’s winner was unapologetic for her choice to go under the knife.

Recently, however, images of Korean beauty contestants were released by a Japanese blog and promptly went viral, sparking a frenzy on Reddit and making its way to Gawker, which stated that the women were contestants in the upcoming Miss Korea pageant. Except for the case of one, this is not true. Continue Reading »

Dating in the digital age? There’s an app for that.

Single South Koreans can now use a new feature on the i-um —meaning “to connect” —smartphone application, which aims to bring together hardworking, professional men and women over their lunch breaks, Reuters reports.

I-um users create profiles and upload pictures, much like you would on any other online dating website, but what makes the service different is the way in which it brings people together. Continue Reading »

Photo via Yonhap News

Bill Gates has stirred up controversy in South Korea this week after he casually shook hands with South Korean President Park Geun-hye during a Tuesday visit, AFP reports.

While for many outside of South Korea, Gates demeanor may not seem like anything to clamor over, South Korean media outlets and netizens found his overtly relaxed approach and one-handed greeting disrespectful. Gates had kept his other hand tucked away in his pocket when he greeted President Park.

The photo was displayed on the front page of almost every national daily newspaper and had social media abuzz with debate.

“Even considering the cultural difference, there is an appropriate manner for certain occasions,” one netizen tweeted, according to AFP. “How can he put his hand in his pocket when meeting a leader of the state?” Continue Reading »

Photo via Korea Times

Several prominent South Koreans are accused of falsifying admissions documents in the hopes of getting their kids into schools for foreigners, including former actress Park Sang-ah and former news anchor Noh Hyun-jung.

With the alleged help of an American school staffer, wealthy parents were able to purchase fake documents from brokers. The parents did so in an apparent attempt to “give their children a better chance to develop their foreign language skills,” the Chosun Ilbo reports.

Park and Noh reportedly transferred their children to different schools when news of the police probe broke. Incheon District Prosecutor’s Office is looking to indict Park, Noh and numerous other parents on the charges. Continue Reading »

Police have broken up an international drug syndicate which set up drug-making operations in Incheon for shipment abroad, according to Korean cable news organization Channel A.

The illicit drug makers were manufacturing methamphetamine using 300,000 doses of cold medicine. A 31-year-old Australian, referred to as Mr. A, was caught trying to smuggle drugs attached to his body into Australia. The drugs were manufactured in an industrial complex in Incheon, which was disguised as a normal office.

The drugs were made from easy-to-obtain cold medicine. A 35-year-old Korean man named Mr. Woo collected 10 million tablets from 300 pharmacies across the country. The Australian accomplice then created the drugs by extracting specific ingredients from the cold medicine. Continue Reading »

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