Korean Job Discussion Forums

JackSarang · Joined: 28 Jan 2003

The Teen Times is an English language newspaper published in Korea and aimed, presumably at Korean teenagers who speak or are learning to speak english.

The most notable thing about it is that surprisingly, the pieces they write aren't fluff (the main stories anyway), they cover the serious issues Korea is struggling with. Stuff the Korea Times and Herald ignore. The reporters are supposedly Korea teens themselves, but obviously have a lot of editorial assistance.

This week's issue shocked me because it admitted that Korea has homosexuals. Korean Homosexuals. It was specifically about teenage homosexuals in Korea and coming out and the difficulties of doing so. Also mentioned the Lesbian park behind the Hyundai Department store in Shinchon.

Past issues dealt with the Korean obsession with plastic surgery, the growing need for rural Korean men (farmers) to import wives and the mainstream opposition to this because the offspring would dilute the mighty korean gene pool. The paper was also somewhat critical of re-unification.

I use the paper in one of my Returnee conversation classes but they're a little young to grasp most of the issues, 13 year olds.

I find it an interested read, if a bit lacking in depth. You can actually read the article on homosexuality at their website: http://www.teentimes.org/