South Korea first allowed women into the military in 1950 during the Korean War. Back then, female soldiers mainly held administrative and support positions. Women began to take on combat roles in the 1990s when the three military academies, exclusive to men, began accepting women. Kim Young-ha 1990sacademyaccept share on social
In 2013, Samsung accounted for about 20 percent of South Korea's total business profits. Samsung Electronics, just one of scores of subsidiaries, accounts for close to 15 percent of the total shares in the South Korean stock market. But you don't need to know these figures to get a feel for Samsung's hold on the country. Kim Young-ha accountbusinessclose share on social
We are all born artists. If you have kids, you know what I mean. Almost everything kids do is art. They draw with crayons on the wall. Kim Young-ha artartistbear Change image and share on social
Just like any other company, Samsung can fail, and if that happens, how will the South Korean economy overcome the shock? If we don't decrease our over-reliance on the chaebols and prepare to let smaller, dynamic start-ups fill the gaps in their place, it won't. Kim Young-ha chaebolcompanydecrease share on social
The most difficult thing about living as a writer is precisely 'having to write.' Pretending to be a writer is easy. Living freely, reading many books, going on frequent trips, cultivating minor eccentricities... but genuinely being a writer is difficult, because you have to write something that will convince both yourself and readers. Kim Young-ha bookconvincecultivate share on social
In the early 2000s, people expected that anonymity on the Internet would be positive for the development of democracy in South Korea. In a Confucian culture like South Korea's, hierarchy can block the free exchange of opinions in face-to-face situations. The web offered a way around that. Kim Young-ha 2000sanonymityblock share on social
A military career offers the stability many South Korean women crave. Kim Young-ha careercravekorean Change image and share on social
In my 20s, I became obsessed with the role-playing game 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms,' named after a classical Chinese novel, and later 'The Sims,' a life-simulation game, and 'StarCraft,' a science-fiction game. Kim Young-ha 20schineseclassical share on social
We don't know why we should be artists, but we have many reasons why we can't be. Kim Young-ha artistreason Change image and share on social
When I wrote 'Your Republic Is Calling You,' it was Franz Kafka's writing that I had most in mind, and James Joyce's 'Ulysses.' Entirely out of the blue, Kafka's characters receive an order to go somewhere, and when they try to comply, they never quite manage it. Ki-yong in 'Your Republic Is Calling You' is precisely that sort of character. Kim Young-ha bluecallcharacter share on social