National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek tells Host Carolyn Beeler about Suyanggae, South Korea, an archaeological zone with rare and precious relics of the peoples who first arrived there up to 46,000 years ago. He observes that the Stone Age represents about 99% of human history, and most of that unrecorded human experience remains unknown.
To many South Koreans, a degree from a prestigious American university is seen as a ticket to success. And for some students, there’s an alternate educational system and industry focused on getting them into the school of their dreams.
Each year, thousands of tourists visit the demilitarized zone that separates North and South Korea. Now a North Korean defector is guiding tourists and offering his view of what it is actually like to grow up on the other side.
The demand for language courses on US college campuses typically has reflected global shifts. Today, universities report that Korean-language classes fill up as soon as they add them and there are long wait-lists. And it’s all attributed to a surge of interest in Korean pop culture.
In 2020, the Korean film “Parasite” made history at the Oscars when it became the first non-English language film to win best picture. But before “Parasite,” there was a different Korean film occupying the international cinematic landscape: a 2003 movie called “Oldboy.” It’s being rereleased in theaters on Wednesday for its 20th anniversary.
Seon Joo Oh, a grandmother in her 60s, teaches Korean cooking classes at the Milwaukee Recreation Department. She says her own grandmother back in South Korea lived to be 105 years old and told her that you’re never too old to learn something new. Now she wants to pass that on to her community in the US.