U.S. News Anchor ‘Jokes’ That BTS-Themed Cookies Spell Out “Death to America”
It’s completely normal for a journalist to joke around saying that a cookie bore the words, “Death to America,” right?
Category: Issues
BTS’ Suga Co-Wrote a Music-Based Book About Autism Therapy
Why Suga’s Korean-language book “MIND Problem” excites me more than the pop group’s worldwide tour.
“What Kind of Asian” is Stella Choe? The Kind Who Dances at the 2026 Academy Awards.
“‘What Kind of Asian Are You?’ is what I wished I could do when that question has come up,” said actress and dancer Stella Choe. “But most of the time I’m just in shock and so annoyed [that] I don’t know what to say. The video version of myself is a lot more witty and sassy. I wish I was that quick to clap back!”
In The Latest Edition of ‘You’re Not Korean Enough,’ the Internet Attacks a Transnational Adoptee
Accusing a Korean adoptee of ‘not being Korean enough’ isn’t the slam dunk losers think it is.
Korean Influencer Describes Spouse as “Just a Housewife”
“When a country experiences such fast economic growth, it doesn’t give generations enough time to adapt to modern realities. You end up thrusting people into modernity without changing the structures around them. In South Korea, gender roles within households remain stuck in the past.” — Nobel Prize-winning economist Claudia Goldin
Why Isn’t More Being Done to Stop the Stalking of Jung Kook?
While it’s easy to blame the K-pop system for encouraging parasocial relationships between fans and idols, experts told me that the modern “celebrity machine” in general emboldens stalkers.
“Dear Juno,” Persimmons, and Language Loss
How a children’s book reflects on the profound impact of losing your first language
Bestselling Author Baek Se-hee Dead at 35
Since the release of her book “I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki,” Baek Se-hee opened up dialogue about depression and the importance of normalizing mental health care. May she rest in eternal peace.
What is Happening with South Koreans in Cambodia?
The 2nd season of “Taxi Driver” depicted a fictional storyline that is eerily similar to what is happening now in South East Asia.
If You’re Not a White U.S. Citizen, Get a Passport and a Certificate of Citizenship ASAP
Ordinarily, “K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim” is dedicated to Korean or Korean-adjacent topics. Today’s newsletter fits into that realm, but with a broader scope – because what is currently happening in the United States can happen to any of us.
“The Summer I Turned Pretty” and Its Lack of Asian American Identity
Some people have said that Asian Americans should just feel grateful to be represented at all, and I absolutely do not feel that way. I used to when I was a child when there was almost no representation, and that’s actually a bit depressing to think about.
“Where Are You Really From?”
“Where Are You Really From?” Why many Asian diaspora don’t like being asked this question
The ‘Squid Game’ finale answers questions, then raises one more
NPR invited me back on their Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast to discuss the third and final season of the Korean series “Squid Game.”
K-Pop Idol BAIN Came Out Because He was Tired of ‘Hiding’
“I’m still scared sometimes, and there’s so much I’m still learning. But one thing I know for sure is that I feel freer and stronger than ever. For the first time, I’m not hiding. I’m finally moving toward what I really want — not what I think people expect from me.” —BAIN
What Happened to Kim Sae-ron was a Tragedy
Two things can be true: You can commit a crime, and you can atone for your actions without being harassed to death. But that wasn’t the case for actress Kim Sae-ron.
“Squid Game” Season 2 heads back into the arena
NPR invited me back on their Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast to discuss the second season of the Korean series “Squid Game.”
Martial Law in South Korea: What to Know and Why K-pop Fans Were Raising Concerns
The last time a president declared martial law in South Korea was in 1980.
Suga’s ‘Perp Walk’ Wasn’t Necessary
Suga’s ‘perp walk’ wasn’t necessary: Due Process vs. Freedom of the Press
Has the Korean Press Learned Nothing After Lee Sun-kyun?
Suga isn’t stupid. He knows he’s one of the most famous men in South Korea, and that the news media and the public would literally love to catch him in a scandal. And since he hasn’t been caught in a dating scandal or a bankruptcy scandal or a family scandal, the news is making do with what they have: scooter-gate.