Says the lead story in the Chosun today, the bang bang guns featured in Silmido, the true to life story about a secret commando mission to off the North’s Dear Leader, Kim Il-Sung (Jong-il’s daddy), were not prop M-16 or AK-47 rifles after all. (more…)

Not since the death of the Blade franchise have guys 18-34 paid much attention to vampires. But after studios heard the collective sighs of millions of teenage girls when Twilight lead Rob Pattinson appeared on-screen, it was in no short order studios began formulating an answer to bring sexy back to vamp. (more…)

Korean-American actor John Cho was awesome in Harold & Kumar (NSFW), and he was pretty sharp in the Koreatown flick, West 32nd. But on his way to stardom, does something about the title of the Korea Times article throw you for a loop? (video interview…)

First, a cheeky song by an expat (below), and now this? In preparation for this week’s 3rd Annual Seoul World DJ Festival, we’re kind of in a musical mood. This music video is making the rounds because it was shot in one take. They won’t be there but hey, as they say, “Let the Beat Build” by Nyle.

[Vimeo "Let the Beat Build"]

If you want to write and publish teaching/Korea-related articles on Ratemyhagwon.com drop us a line or two. (more…)

We don’t know why ddeokbokki, the spicy sweet rice cakes boiled in red pepper sauce with odaeng (fish cakes), has changed its name to ‘topokki’. But perhaps this is all in the name of trying to globalize a street food into a corporate, pre-packaged export snack? (more…)

In an ever increasing trend of globalized fusion food, this slideshow caught our attention. What clearly looks like an ordinary Sunday picnic with kimbap, turns out to be the annual Mountain Oyster Festival in Virginia City, Nevada.

Mountain oysters by the way don’t come from the sea. “Rather, from where the sun sun don’t shine,” as one cowboy might say to another.

[NY Times]

We remember the South Korean guitar sensation created by funtwo, but like anything else, time reveals an upgrade. Meet Zack Kim, a two-guitar wielding artist with quite the sound.

[Youtube]

Though there is a striking plethora of blogs detailing the subject of the Korea experience, there are not that many published books. We browse through three books written by English teacher alumni who attempt to portray to the world our teaching lives as art–not an easy feat. (more…)