The Rise of Franchises and the Fall of Korea’s Independent Bakeries
Franchise bakeries have flourished in Korea. But at what cost? Local flavors, food identity, and cultural diversity are disappearing.
Maru Kim
AI-Ready? Not Yet — Inside Korea’s Public Sector Software Trap
Despite Korea's tech-forward reputation, its public software system remains dominated by outdated procurement rules, short-term contracts, and rigid project scopes — all of which undermine innovation and exclude high-growth firms.
Designed to Distract: How Overstimulation Reshapes the Mind
Why do small sounds feel unbearable? Why does silence feel unnatural? Neuroscience, psychology, and culture all point to the same answer: too much, too fast, for too long.
When Healthcare Becomes a Hashtag: The Ethics of K-Medical Exports
Aesthetic care is thriving — but at what price to the country’s healthcare system? Inside the contradiction between cosmetic excellence and essential care collapse.
How the Vegan Trend Masks a New Kind of Food Inequality
Trendy vegan cafés are thriving in Korean cities, but they may be eclipsing more practical, affordable, and ecologically grounded food traditions. What’s lost when clean eating becomes a brand — and who gets left behind?
Wellness, Movement, and Stillness Meet in Busan’s Coastal Retreats
Busan's Ocean healing program blends yoga, pilates, and sound meditation into a coastal wellness experience that redefines city tourism.
Why Eco Delta City Doesn’t Feel Like a City—Yet
Eco Delta City was designed as a smart, 15-minute neighborhood. But residents still face long commutes and car dependency in this incomplete urban plan.