Lives of LGBT South Koreans

By Jeanine W. (24)— In 2017, 23-year-old Byun Hee Soo (변희수) enlisted in the military, and following her gender reassignment surgery in 2019, she became the first openly transgender soldier in South Korea. Unfortunately for Hee Soo, her loss of male genitals was classified as a disability and she was forcibly discharged in January 2020. She went to court, pleading

Baby Box: A Second Chance at Life

By Adelia K. (24) — APIS Radio · Baby Box: A Second Chance at Life One cold evening Pastor Lee Jong-Rak, head of the Jusarang church, received a distressed phone call from a woman claiming that she had left her newborn child in front of the church door. Sure enough, there was an infant laying inside a fish box. “It

Behind the Melodies

By Yuli C. (24) — APIS Radio · Behind the Melodies As you walk down Music Street (음악의 거리) near  the Seoul Arts Center, you can hear musicians practicing their techniques, students laughing with their fellow artists, and instructors coaching these aspiring classical musicians.  The street is bustling with music students as young as five years old to 25 years

Gwangjang Market & the Effects of Covid

By Jacob H. (23) – APIS Radio · Gwangjang Market As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, countless industries and locals have been affected by the downturn in the economy, which has brought about an unusual disruption to daily life worldwide.  In South Korea, the vendors and individuals operating at the historic Gwangjang Market are among the many communities struck

Why is K-Pop So Popular Worldwide?

By Jiwan Kim — In recent years, K-pop has grown tremendously. Not only did the popularity of musical groups increase, but the economy of South Korea also improved. K-pop is now a billion-dollar industry, contributing more than $5 billion a year, but what is the secret behind its rapid success? How could the genre overcome the language barrier and become

The Unheard Voices of Our Future

By Ariel Choi — In the past year alone, it is estimated by WHO that up to 1 billion children between the age of 2-17 experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence or neglect. The situation is especially serious in Korea where the remains of Confucian ideals hold children vulnerable to violence.

No job, no future

By Junho Son — Youth unemployment has been a big social problem all over the world. However, in Korea, the problem was especially severe, and there are foreigners who don’t see it because they are covered by brilliant Korean celebrities. They also need to face up to the dark side of Korea.

Discrimination towards LGBTQ+ individuals in South Korea

By Benjamin Ha — South Korea is known for its conservative mindset when it comes to the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. This podcast explores various areas of discrimination towards LGBTQ+ individuals that have been observed by the media and interviewee, and attempts to suggest a solution.