Activists for North Korea's human rights hold signs during a news conference in front of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea in Seoul, Apr. 17, 2009. The signs, which display the Korean alphabet called Hangul, read: "Compensate for illegal detention!" and "Commission investigate!" (Lee Jae-Won/Reuters)

Can Korean scholars save a language?

In an effort to preserve their language, the Cia-Cia people of Indonesia try adopting the Korean alphabet.

SEOUL, South Korea — When King Sejong the Great set out to create a Korean alphabet for his people during the Joseon Dynasty in the 15th century, he did so out of the goodness of his heart.

Previously, only highly educated Koreans were able to write using Chinese characters that differed greatly from the spoken language.

“I have created 28 new characters out of pity...

Recent on South Korea:

• Latest

A World of Trouble: Is the nightmare over?

Thomas Mucha - Commerce - October 14, 2009 13:35 ET

With signs of economic recovery finally emerging, here's where things stand in 20 countries around the world.

At your service, any time, any task

Jiyeon Lee - South Korea - August 27, 2009 11:37 ET

Is your time valuable? In South Korea you can hire an "instead man" to buy makeup or go to school for you.

Bending over backwards for a pork cutlet in Seoul

Jiyeon Lee - South Korea - August 25, 2009 15:07 ET

A Korean restaurateur is only on the market for serious customers.

Forget the PGA loss. Will Tiger go for gold?

Mark Starr - Sports - August 17, 2009 18:23 ET

It appears golf is headed for the 2016 Olympics. Here's why.

Pyongyang's negotiating tactics

Jiyeon Lee - South Korea - August 8, 2009 08:09 ET

Release of US journalists fuels anger over South Koreans still held captive.

Stolen from Mongolia for sex

Mitch Moxley - Asia - August 3, 2009 09:00 ET

Deception, prostitution and crime: The toll of human trafficking.

Kim Jong Chill?

Thomas Mucha - Commerce - July 28, 2009 08:33 ET

Yes, North Korea is making its own beer and, apparently, beer commercials. Bottoms up.

The deadly air they breathed

Jiyeon Lee - South Korea - July 24, 2009 15:15 ET

South Korea ignored warnings about the dangers of asbestos. Now it has a major health problem. Are other Asian countries next?

Fears of a nuclear Burma

Patrick Winn - Thailand - July 22, 2009 12:15 ET

The evidence, the conspirators and one "very concerned" Hillary Clinton

The world of underground tattooing

Jiyeon Lee - South Korea - July 20, 2009 15:04 ET

South Koreans are starting to embrace tattoos — but they have to go to underground parlors to get them.

Cyberattack rocks South Korea

Jiyeon Lee - South Korea - July 12, 2009 15:32 ET

The so-called 7.7 Cyber Terror was a chilling reminder of the vulnerability of the world's "most-wired" country.

A long hot Korean summer

Brett Cole - South Korea - July 8, 2009 16:33 ET

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's hard line conservatism is fueling tension with the North.

Need a protest? Call Park Chan-sung.

Jiyeon Lee - South Korea - July 7, 2009 19:25 ET

South Korean protester loves setting things on fire. He also loves getting people to notice.

To die with dignity in South Korea

Jiyeon Lee - South Korea - June 27, 2009 09:50 ET

Case showcases changing attitudes toward death in a traditionally religious and conservative society.

Opinion: Will Obama stand up to North Korea?

Michael Moran - Worldview - June 25, 2009 05:48 ET

As the Kang Nam I chugs toward Myanmar, the new US president has a decision to make.

For North Korea captives, two different stories

Jiyeon Lee - South Korea - June 23, 2009 05:49 ET

Detention of South Korean factory worker likely to drag on as North holds on to a potential bargaining chip.

Inside Kim Jong Il's mind

David Case - Asia - June 19, 2009 15:06 ET

GlobalPost's North Korea columnist explains what drives the Axis of Evil's staunchest member. "Essentially, they are extortionists."

Imprisoned by Kim Jong Il

Bradley K. Martin - Worldview - June 18, 2009 06:11 ET

Opinion: Politics, bad judgment, or something else?

A World of Trouble, the sequel

Thomas Mucha - Commerce - June 15, 2009 06:40 ET

Special Report: It's still ugly out there.

Global Blogs:

• Latest

North Korea “the best socialist state in the world” about to be scrutinized

Grant Montgomery, Family Care Foundation - South Korea - November 7, 2009 02:16 ET

Conditions in North Korea face unusually close scrutiny at the U.N. Human Rights Council on December 7, when it goes through a “universal periodic review” (UPR), a mechanism designed to...

Mediocre Sports Heroes?

Ask a Korean! - South Korea - November 6, 2009 22:56 ET

Dear Korean,Why is my father (a first generation immigrant) completely obsessed with any Korean athlete, even the ones that are mediocre at best, simply for being Korean? I do not understand this at all! Chan Ho Park and Hee Seop Choi have done absolutely nothing to warrant the...

The dystopian world of Boys Over Flowers

Gusts of Popular Feeling - South Korea - November 6, 2009 04:33 ET

[Update: I finally tracked down Gord Sellar's post looking at a later episode.]From January to March this year, the show that all the young people were talking about was '꽃보다 남자' ('Boys Over Flowers') (which can be watched here). It was based on the Japanese manga...

Honeymoon: Victoria Peak

Lee's Korea Blog - South Korea - November 3, 2009 09:09 ET

The funny thing about travelling is that you often end up making short-lived acquaintances with local people. Then when you look back on your photos after returning home, you remember some of them and think "Hey yeah, that person was pretty friendly."If I ever return to Hong...