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‘A woman is not a baby-making machine’: a brief history of South Korea’s 4B movement – and why it’s making waves in America

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ming-gao-1496188">Ming Gao</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-catholic-university-747">Australian Catholic University</a> In South Korea, a growing number of young women are rejecting societal expectations of marriage, motherhood and heterosexual relationships, known as the “4B Movement” or the “4 Nos”. The “B” is a homophone for the Korean word bi (비/非), meaning “no”, representing the movement’s four principles: bihon (no marriage), bichulsan (no childbirth), biyeonae (no dating) and bisekseu (no sex). By refusing to marry, have children, engage in romance, or participate in sexual relationships with men, 4B feminists seek to redefine their lives outside the confines of traditional gender roles. In the wake of the reelection of Donald Trump, there has been <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-10/donald-trump-win-4b-movement-male-supremacists-make-threats/104575732">increased interest</a> in the 4B movement from women in the United States. But what is the 4B Movement, where did it come from, and how is it reshaping the feminist landscape in South Korea and beyond? <h2>Challenges facing young women</h2> The 4B Movement reflects <a href="https://www.khan.co.kr/national/national-general/article/202004140938001">a broader dissatisfaction</a> among young South Korean women who face instability of housing, digital sexual violence, economic disparities and cultural pressures. It emerged in the mid- to late-2010s, following a surge of interest in feminism in South Korea, and spread primarily through women’s online communities. The roots of the 4B Movement lie in South Korea’s rapid economic transformation and the subsequent challenges it posed for younger generations of the 2000s. For young women, economic insecurity is compounded by systemic gender inequality. South Korea <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/south-korea-s-gender-pay-gap-worst-in-oecd">consistently ranks</a> worst in the OECD for the gender wage gap, and social mobility remains limited. Against this backdrop, traditional life paths – marriage, childbearing and homemaking – have become less appealing. Living an alternative life without men emerged as a radical strategy for young digital feminists to challenge the rigid patriarchy in South Korea. The <a href="https://www.khan.co.kr/national/national-general/article/202405172212001">senseless killing</a> in 2016 of a woman in a train station toilet by a man in Seoul shocked the nation and fuelled the movement. Online platforms became spaces where women could share their frustrations, critique patriarchal norms and organise protests. During this period communities like radical feminist online groups gained traction. Among these was the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/korean/news-44329328">Tal-Corset</a> (escape the corset) movement, which encouraged women to reject societal beauty standards by foregoing makeup, cosmetic surgery and restrictive clothing. The 4B Movement built on this momentum, targeting not only beauty standards but the very institutions that sustain patriarchy. It collectively challenges the notion that women’s value lies in their ability to support men and sustain the family unit. <h2>‘A woman is not a baby-making machine’</h2> The birth rate in South Korea ranks among the <a href="https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/birth-rate-by-country">lowest in the world</a>. The government has long viewed this as a national crisis. Policies such as subsidised housing for newlyweds and tax incentives for families have sought to encourage marriage and childbearing. In 2016, the government launched a national <a href="https://www.womennews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=248514">pink birth map</a> visualising the number of women of reproductive age in each district. It sparked outrage. Women criticised it as reducing them to reproductive tools, proclaiming, “<a href="https://www.nocutnews.co.kr/news/4713565">my womb is not national property</a>” and “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FsEWD1bi3E">a woman is not a baby-making machine</a>”. For many 4B feminists, these policies represent a stark example of how the state prioritises population growth over women’s autonomy. In response, the movement frames its rejection of marriage and motherhood as an act of political resistance. As one <a href="https://www.womennews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=111598">protest slogan</a> declared: “End population policies! Stop blaming women”. <h2>Living on their own terms</h2> Despite its growing influence, the 4B Movement faces significant challenges. The radical principles have sparked backlash, with critics labelling participants as selfish or anti-social. Swearing off men as a form of protest against patriarchal structures and traditional marital norms is sometimes (mis)interpreted as implicitly favouring <a href="https://brunch.co.kr/brunchbook/radsview2">lesbianism</a>, given its stance against heterosexual relationships. The movement has also attracted negative political attention. <a href="https://www.khan.co.kr/national/national-general/article/202004140938001">Lee Seung-cheon</a>, a 58-year-old Democratic Party candidate, pledged to introduce “measures to reject the 4B Movement” as part of his policy campaign in 2020. Yet 4B feminists remain steadfast in their vision of a future where women can live on their own terms. Their rejection of traditional life paths is not a retreat into isolation but an attempt to create new ways of being free from patriarchal constraints. As one participant noted, rejecting marriage allows women to envision futures beyond societal deadlines like “<a href="https://brunch.co.kr/@404homealone/34">a woman’s age has an expiration date</a>”. <h2>An international movement</h2> The 4B Movement’s radical critique of patriarchy has resonated internationally. 4B Movement ideas are starting to strike a chord in the US. The movement’s core principles align with broader feminist critiques of patriarchy and capitalism, which have intensified in response to political developments such as Trump’s rhetoric and debates over reproductive rights. In the US, Trump’s presidency (and now his return) has been a flashpoint for feminist activism. Policies restricting access to abortion, coupled with an increase in conservative rhetoric around women’s rights, have galvanised movements that resist patriarchal structures. For American feminists, the 4B Movement offers a framework for resistance that goes beyond economic precarity. It provides a roadmap for rejecting political conflicts, focusing on reclaiming agency by prioritising autonomy over their own bodies and rights. 6B4T is inspired by the 4B Movement and has gained particular attention <a href="https://weibo.com/1263977197/KaFZGjoG4">in China</a>. This version incorporates additional principles, including rejecting consumerism and fostering mutual aid among unmarried women. The spread of 4B ideas across Asia and beyond highlights the universality of feminist struggles. As the movement continues to evolve, its impact extends beyond South Korea, sparking conversations about gender, autonomy and the future of feminism. Whether embraced or contested, the 4B Movement forces society to confront uncomfortable truths about the cost of sustaining patriarchy – and perhaps the possibilities of living without it. <hr /> Correction: 6B4T is inspired by the 4B movement and gained attention in China; it did not originate in China.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/243355/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ming-gao-1496188">Ming Gao</a>, Research Scholar, Gender and Women's History Research Centre, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-catholic-university-747">Australian Catholic University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-woman-is-not-a-baby-making-machine-a-brief-history-of-south-koreas-4b-movement-and-why-its-making-waves-in-america-243355">original article</a>. </div>

Relationships

Disturbing twist in children's suitcase homicide

The two suitcases that contained the bodies of siblings in Auckland were reportedly moved from one unit storage to another before the harrowing discovery. Two children’s bodies were discovered in suitcases by an Auckland family who purchased the bags at an auction on August 11. It has now been revealed that the suitcases were moved in the second half of 2021 between different storage units at the same SafeStore Papatoetoe facility, <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/suitcases-containing-childrens-remains-were-moved-between-storage-units-a-year-before-harrowing-discovery/RWQQNLAU6HINPF6A5L6F2EOMIQ/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZ Herald</a> reported. A worker told the publication that there were dead flies and rats around the bags but no smell to indicate anything more damning. A SafeStore spokesperson refused to comment due to the ongoing police investigation in which a woman from South Korea, believed to be the children’s mother was arrested. The 42-year-old <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/woman-arrested-in-relation-to-dead-children-found-in-suitcases" target="_blank" rel="noopener">woman was arrested</a> by local police following a request from NZ Police. "South Korean authorities arrested the woman today on a Korean arrest warrant pursuant to two charges of murder relating to the two young victims," Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Vaaelua said at the time of the arrest. "The arrest warrant was issued by the Korean Courts as a result of a request by NZ Police for an arrest warrant under the extradition treaty between New Zealand and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). “NZ Police have applied to have her extradited back to New Zealand to face the charges and have requested she remain in custody whilst awaiting the completion of the extradition process.” At the time, Detective Inspector Vaaelua suggested that the children were aged 10 and five respectively when they died four years ago. The family who purchased the property where the suitcases were found are not involved in the deaths and have asked for privacy. Images: NZ Herald

Legal

Woman arrested in relation to dead children found in suitcases

A South Korean woman has been arrested a few weeks after <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/tragic-update-after-horrific-suitcase-discovery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">children’s bodies were found in suitcases</a> in New Zealand. The 42-year-old woman was arrested by local police following a request from NZ Police after the harrowing discovery. Two children’s bodies were discovered in suitcases by an Auckland family who purchased the bags at an auction on August 11. An investigation launched into the shocking find with NZ Police saying the children may have been dead for years and finding a connection - <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/major-new-detail-in-suitcase-homicide-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener">possibly the children’s mother</a> - in South Korea. "South Korean authorities arrested the woman today on a Korean arrest warrant pursuant to two charges of murder relating to the two young victims," Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Vaaelua said. "The arrest warrant was issued by the Korean Courts as a result of a request by NZ Police for an arrest warrant under the extradition treaty between New Zealand and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). “NZ Police have applied to have her extradited back to New Zealand to face the charges and have requested she remain in custody whilst awaiting the completion of the extradition process.” A statement issued also thanked South Korean authorities for their assistance and coordination with NZ Police. No further information will be revealed as the case is now in front of the courts. News of the children’s bodies in the suitcases made headlines around the world with police scrambling to piece together evidence of what happened. At the time, Detective Inspector Vaaelua suggested that the children were aged 10 and five respectively when they died four years ago. He also said the family who purchased the property where the suitcases were found are not involved in the deaths and have asked for privacy. Image: Newshub

Family & Pets

Woman kicked off flight for “offensive” pants

A DJ who was kicked off a flight for her “inappropriate” and “offensive” pants has claimed she was “humiliated” in front of everyone. South Korean DJ Hwang So-hee, also known as DJ Soda, was on a flight from JFK to LAX with American Airlines on April 25 when she was kicked off. She was left fuming over her treatment and took to Twitter to document the ordeal to her 127,000 followers. “I GOT KICKED OFF FROM @AmericanAir flight and they harassed me to take off my sponsored @RIPNDIP 'F**K YOU' sweatpants in front of people to board again,” she began. “Yesterday coming back from JFK to LAX with American Airlines, I was harassed and humiliated. I was forced out of the plane and was harassed to take off my pants in front of the flight crews at the gate. “I have never had an issue with wearing this pair of pants before in my many months of touring in North America and they did not have any problem with me wearing it at the time of check-in nor when I sat down at my seat.” DJ Soda claims she was approached by a staff member who told her to pack up her things and that she would not be boarding the flight. They then made comments about her pants calling them “inappropriate” and “offensive” and that she would have the next flight. She explained that she could not afford to miss the flight due to a very important meeting. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I GOT KICKED OFF FROM <a href="https://twitter.com/AmericanAir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AmericanAir</a> flight and they harassed me to take off my sponsored <a href="https://twitter.com/RIPNDIP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RIPNDIP</a> 'F**K YOU' sweatpants in front of people to board again. <a href="https://t.co/YU0TrhZjry">pic.twitter.com/YU0TrhZjry</a> — djsoda (@dj_soda_) <a href="https://twitter.com/dj_soda_/status/1518850282490187776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2022</a></blockquote> “I pleaded to stay on the flight but was ignored by the staff and the flight attendants. I even offered to get changed but the request was denied. What happened next was horrendous,” DJ Soda continued. “With my broken fingers, I hardly ended up taking off my pants in front of the whole crew and standing half-naked while they still refused to board me on the flight. They even sarcastically commented that I could have taken off my pants earlier. “When they finally let me enter, I put my pants inside out and finally sat down after an hour of delay causing inconvenience to the members of the flights on board. “I was mortified and trembling in fear for the next 6 hours on my flight back to LA. In my 8 years of touring, I have never experienced or been treated unfairly, especially in a country that is known for its freedom of speech and individuality. “From now on, I will be boycotting @AmericanAir and hope this NEVER happens to anyone ever again.” DJ Soda was called out by fans who said she was in the wrong, especially since it’s common knowledge to dress appropriately on flights. “Maybe other airlines didn't previously notice; but it is common knowledge that most major airlines have dress policies that prohibit profanity and vulgarity on their flights. They have every right to protect their customers' values. Sorry. No sympathy here.” someone wrote. “That's what you get for dressing inappropriately on an airliner, you're on their plane, their rules. You can fly with Delta, United, Southwest or even pulling TWA back from the grave and they would still kick you out,” another commented. “As well you SHOULD! It's rude, offensive, and children can READ TOO!! But some of us adults don't want to see or hear it either! America might be the land of the free, but it doesn't mean we don't have some rules. Abide by them or leave!” another wrote. Images: Twitter

Travel Trouble

Qantas announces new direct routes overseas

After international travel returns following years of closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Qantas has announced a way to help travellers get to their destinations more efficiently. The airline giant recently announced plans to grow its international network out of Sydney by unveiling new direct routes to India and Korea, which will be taking off this year. A direct route will be introduced between Sydney and Bengaluru (Bangalore) in southern India from September 14th. This will be the first non-stop flight between Australia and southern India by any airline. Qantas and Jetstar have also announced the launch of direct flights between Sydney and Seoul, South Korea. The flights will commence from November 22nd and will occur three times a week, making Jetstar the only budget airline to make the direct flight. Qantas will also make direct flights from Australia to South Korea from December 10th, making the airline’s first scheduled service to Seoul since 2008. The introduction of these new direct routes are designed to help kickstars New South Wales’ post-Covid tourism recovery. "Sydney is one of the world's truly global cities and these new direct flights to India and Korea will make it easier for millions of people to come here," Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce says. "It's clear that Australia is back on the map for international travellers. Demand for our international flights has rebounded since borders reopened, and that's giving us the confidence to launch these new routes together with the marketing support from Destination New South Wales." "With expected strong business, premium leisure and low-cost travel demand on the route, we see an opportunity for both Qantas and Jetstar to fly on the route." Image credits: Getty Images

International Travel

North Korean man sentenced to death for distributing Squid Game

A man in North Korea has been handed the death penalty after smuggling in copies of the hit Netflix show Squid Game and illegally distributing them. Sources in the North Hamgyong province told Radio Free Asia that the man brought in the copies on USB drives from China and sold them to high school students. The operation was foiled when authorities caught seven students watching the hit South Korean drama. The perpetrator has been sentenced to death by firing squad, as North Korea tightens its laws on letting capitalist media into the country. One student that purchased the show has been sentenced to life in prison, while six others who watched Squid Game have been sentenced to five years hard labour. The students were punished under North Korea’s new Elimination of Reactionary Thought and Culture law, which keeps a firm grip on outside media. Penalties were extended to the school too, with reports teachers, the principal and other administrative staff were dismissed. The nine-part fictional Netflix drama sees 456 bankrupt contestants compete for a multi-million dollar cash prize. The contestants take part in a series of children's games to win the money, and those who lose the games end up paying with their lives. After being released in September, Squid Game has quickly become the most popular show in Netflix's history. Image credits: Netflix

Travel Trouble

This coffee shop is 2D

In Seoul, South Korea, there is a café unlike any other. Greem Café boasts a unique interior that transports visitors into a two-dimensional world inspired by the Korean animated series W. Inside, every wall, counter, and piece of cutlery and furniture has been made to look like a two-dimensional black and white drawing ripped from a cartoonist’s sketchbook. To make the illusion, every object is white with a dark outline. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CPKCuMYlmWx/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CPKCuMYlmWx/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Since 2017 / Greem cafe / 2D (@greem_cafe)</a> </div> </blockquote> The design is more than just a gimmick to draw visitors in, but is all about creating an experience for patrons. Marketing manager J.S. Lee told <a href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-this-south-korean-coffee-shop-designed-look-cartoon">Architectural Digest</a> that visitors “want to make unique memories in a memorable place”. Due to the popularity of the concept, visitors are forbidden to take any photos until they have made a purchase. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLNaX92FpdI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLNaX92FpdI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Since 2017 / Greem cafe / 2D (@greem_cafe)</a> </div> </blockquote> The café has outgrown its original location too, moving to a larger space down the road and now including a roof terrace patrons can visit - including a stylised 2D clothesline and patio furniture to match the café’s unique aesthetic. Lee said he expects to open additional locations around Korea, and he hopes to expand on a global scale too. Image credit: Greem Café / Instagram

International Travel

“No Chinese allowed”: Racism surges as fear around coronavirus spreads

The outbreak of the coronavirus has led to a surge in anti-Chinese racism that adds to the anxiety felt by expatriate communities worldwide. Social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook have been overrun with hate speech in the form of racist memes and slurs and in some cases, suggesting violence against Chinese people or calling for the country to be “nuked”. “I don’t think it’s necessarily turned people into racists but what it does is inflame the existing prejudices within the community,” said ANU researcher Yun Jiang, coeditor of the China Neican policy newsletter. “So now people who perhaps have existing prejudice suddenly have an excuse to act out with racist behaviour and remarks.” In South Korea, a number of businesses are <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_international/926084.html" target="_blank" title="english.hani.co.kr">refusing to serve Chinese customers</a>, placing signs in windows reading, “No Chinese allowed.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"> As of 6 pm on Tuesday, the entrance to a seafood restaurant in downtown Seoul bore a sign that read, in red Chinese characters, “No Chinese allowed.” That same day, union of food delivery workers asked to be excused from making deliveries to areas with a large Chinese population <a href="https://t.co/tSE0Z7wwhk">pic.twitter.com/tSE0Z7wwhk</a> — Klaus (@Kakapolka) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kakapolka/status/1222451845534060544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2020</a></blockquote> Similar notices have been placed in Japanese stores, saying that “No Chinese are allowed to enter the store. I do not want to spread the virus”. Chinese authorities have announced that the official death toll has risen to 170, with 7,711 cases now reported across the country. University of Manchester student Sam Phan wrote in <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/27/coronavirus-panic-uk-hostile-environment-east-asians" target="_blank">The Guardian</a> about how the panic was making him feel “more and more uncomfortable”. “On the train over the weekend, a group sat opposite me chattering about their weekend plans,” Mr Phan wrote. “One of them seriously advised the rest, ‘I wouldn’t go to Chinatown if I were you, they have that disease.’ In another loud conversation, I overheard a woman talking about how terrified she was that her friend, who had spent some time working with Chinese students, might have infected her with the virus.” Mr Phan said as the virus spread, it had “revealed more and more stereotyped judgments about Chinese people”. “East Asians have been accused of instigating the virus by having ‘revolting’ eating habits,” he said. “Most Asians know these stereotypes all too well.” Ms Jiang agreed. “You look at the history of racism, a lot of it is linked to concepts of hygiene and customs such as food — the western conception of what’s weird and not, what is hygienic — and I think that really plays into this racist discourse as well,” she said.

Travel Trouble

Bong Joon-ho: The secret of the man behind Parasite

For film enthusiasts around the world, there is no reason for Bong Joon-ho not to celebrate. His hit thriller Parasite has continued to break records – with honours from the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards – and is now a top contender for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. But the man himself said he is just doing what he can to “survive”. In an interview with <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/01/oscar-special-2020-bong-joon-ho">Vanity Fair</a>, Bong said he struggled with anxiety. “I don’t think people around me can feel it, but I do have a lot of anxiety,” he said, mentioning his fear over appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “[Sometimes] I feel like a baseball player who’s forced to go up on the mound.” The Okja director and co-writer said movies saved his life. “A psychiatrist actually told me that I have severe anxiety, and I have severe compulsive tendencies to the point where it would be impossible for me to have a social life,” he said. “But thanks to filmmaking, I’ve been able to survive.” When asked whether he would take on a big studio film or a superhero franchise to reduce his anxiety, Bong rejected the idea with a laugh. “It would make me much, much, much more anxious. If I do something like that, I think I will suffocate to death,” the 50-year-old said. “For me to feel safe, I have to start the project, build everything up, one by one, and see it to the complete finish. I really admire directors who can easily do superhero movies and big-budget films.” The director is currently in talks to make a six-hour for HBO limited series of Parasite. “I just couldn’t include all those ideas in the two-hour running time of the film, so they’re all stored in my iPad and my goal with this limited series is to create a six-hour-long film,” Bong told TheWrap’s Sharon Waxman. The estimated release date for the limited series is yet to be announced.

Movies

Bushfires are Australia's costliest natural disaster

It’s hard to estimate the eventual economic cost of Australia’s 2019-20 megafires, partly because they are still underway, and partly because it is hard to know the cost to attribute to deaths and the decimation of species and habitats, but it is easy to get an idea of its significance – the cost will be unprecedented. The deadliest bushfires in the past 200 years took place in 1851, then 1939, then 1983, 2009, now 2019-20. The years between them are shrinking rapidly. Only a remote grassfire in central Australia in 1974-75 rivalled them in terms of size, although not in biomass burnt or loss of life. The term “<a href="http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/CFEOR/LogIn/log%20in%20docs/recent%20research/mega%20fires.pdf">megafire</a>” is a new one, defined in the early 2000s to help describe disturbing new wildfires emerging in the United States – massive blazes, usually above 400,000 hectares, often joining up, that create more than usual destruction to life and property. Australia’s current fires <a href="http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/CFEOR/LogIn/log%20in%20docs/recent%20research/mega%20fires.pdf">dwarf</a> the US fires that inspired the term. They are 25 times the size of Australia’s deadliest bushfires, the 2009 Black Saturday fires in Victoria that directly killed 173 people, and so large and intense that they create their own weather in which winds throw embers 30 kilometres or more ahead of the front and pyro-cumulus clouds produce dry lightning that ignites new fires. The Black Saturday fires burnt <a href="https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL2006-10No225Introductory.pdf">430,000 hectares</a>. The current fires have killed fewer people but have so far burnt <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/datablog/ng-interactive/2019/dec/07/how-big-are-the-fires-burning-on-the-east-coast-of-australia-interactive-map">10.7 million hectares</a> – an area the size of <a href="https://graphics.reuters.com/AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-SCALE/0100B4VK2PN/index.html">South Korea</a>, or Scotland and Wales combined. There are easy to measure costs… The federal government has promised to put at least <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/bushfire-recovery-fund-to-get-2-billion-over-two-years-20200106-p53p8j.html">A$2 billion</a> into a National Bushfire Recovery Fund, which is roughly the size of the first estimate of the cost of the fires calculated by Terry Rawnsley of SGS Economics and Planning. He put the cost at somewhere between <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-economic-cost-of-bushfires-on-sydney-revealed-up-to-50-million-a-day-and-rising-20191212-p53jbq.html">A$1.5 and $2.5 billion</a>, using his firm’s modelling of the cost of the NSW Tathra fires in March 2018 as a base. It’s the total of the lost income from farm production, tourism and the like. It is possible to get an idea of wider costs using the findings of the <a href="http://royalcommission.vic.gov.au/Commission-Reports/Final-Report.html">2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission</a>. It came up with an estimate for tangible costs of <a href="http://royalcommission.vic.gov.au/Finaldocuments/volume-1/HR/VBRC_Vol1_AppendixA_HR.pdf">A$4.369 billion</a>, which after inflation would be about $5 billion in today’s dollars. …and harder-to-measure costs Tangible costs are hose easily measured including the cost of replacing things such as destroyed homes, contents and vehicles. They also include the human lives lost, which were valued at A$3.7 million per life (2009 dollars) in accordance with a <a href="https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/3310859/best-practice-regulation-guidance-note-value-of-statistical-life">Commonwealth standard</a>. The measure didn’t include the effect of injuries and shortened lives due to smoke-related stroke and cardiovascular and lung diseases, or damage to species and habitats, the loss of livestock, grain and feed, crops, orchards and national and local parks. Also excluded were “inangibles”, among them the social costs of mental health problems and unemployment and increases in suicide, substance abuse, relationship breakdowns and domestic violence. The cost of inangibles can peak years after a disaster and continue to take tolls for decades, if not generations. One attempt to estimate the cost of intangibles was made by Deloitte Access Economics, in work for the <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/au/en/pages/economics/articles/building-australias-natural-disaster-resilience.html">Australian Business Roundtable for Disaster Resilience & Safer Communities</a>. Deloitte put the tangible costs of the Black Saturday fires at A$3.1 billion in 2015 dollars and the intangible costs at more than that again: A$3.9 billion, producing a total of A$7 billion, which would be A$7.6 billion in today’s dollars. Black Saturday is a starting point This season’s megafires are, so far, less costly than the 2009 Victorian fires in terms of human life, roughly on par in terms of lost homes, and less costly for other structures. But given that considerably more land has been burnt we can expect other costs to eclipse those of Black Saturday. As of today, 25 times as much land has been burnt. Scaling up the royal commission’s Black Saturday figures for the size of the fire and scaling them down for the fewer deaths and other things that shouldn’t be scaled up produces an estimate of tangible costs of A$103 billion in today’s dollars. The Deloitte Access Economics ratio of intangible to tangible costs suggests a total for both types of costs of A$230 billion. As it happens the tangible costs estimate is close to an estimate of A$100 billion prepared using methods by University of Queensland economist <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/10/perspectives/australia-fires-cost/index.html">John Quiggin</a>. The reality won’t be clear for some time. There are several weeks of fire season remaining, and we are yet to reach the usual peak season for Victoria, which is in the first week of February. What we can safely say, with weeks left to go, is that these fires are by far Australia’s costliest natural disaster.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/129433/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paul-read-18089">Paul Read</a>, Climate Criminologist & Senior Instructor/Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/richard-denniss-4045">Richard Denniss</a>, Adjunct Professor, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/crawford-school-of-public-policy-australian-national-university-3292">Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/with-costs-approaching-100-billion-the-fires-are-australias-costliest-natural-disaster-129433">original article</a>.

Domestic Travel

Parasite: The global rise of South Korean film

The international success of Parasite, the black comedy thriller by Bong Joon-ho, has been rather spectacular. It started with a slew of early season awards, including the prestigious <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/may/25/bong-joon-hos-parasite-wins-palme-dor-at-cannes-film-festival">Palme d'Or</a> (by unanimous vote) at Cannes. It has now won <a href="https://variety.com/2020/film/asia/korea-celebrates-parasite-golden-globes-win-1203457949/">Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language at the Golden Globes</a>, multiple <a href="http://www.bafta.org/film/awards/ee-british-academy-film-awards-nominees-winners-2020">nominations at the Baftas</a>, and <a href="https://oscar.go.com/news/nominations/oscar-nominations-2020-list-nominees-by-category">six Oscar nominations</a>, including in some of the most distinguished categories (film, director and screen play). If it wins an Oscar, it would be the first Korean film to do so and a testament to the rising popularity and success of the Korean film industry internationally. <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/859817/south-korea-movie-export-value/">The estimated export value</a> of the Korean film industry in 2018 was US$41.6 million (£32 million). South Korea is the <a href="http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190530000661">fifth leading film market</a> by gross box office revenue after the US, China, Japan and the UK. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/isOGD_7hNIY?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Rooted in the 90s South Korea has come a long way since the damaging effects of <a href="https://www.history.com/news/japan-colonization-korea">Japanese occupation</a> (1910 to 1945) and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Korean-War">Korean War</a>, which ended with a ceasefire agreement in 1953. Experiencing monumental growth between 1960 and 1990, the country became one of the <a href="https://www.economist.com/special-report/2019/12/05/after-half-a-century-of-success-the-asian-tigers-must-reinvent-themselves">Four Asian Tigers</a> and is now the continent’s fourth largest economy. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1HRTy26s4hw?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> In the late 80s, as Korea emerged from a period of censorship, <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1225545?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents">restrictions</a> that had previously limited the influx of foreign films were lifted. This led to an increased appetite for Hollywood blockbusters and a decline in Korean cinema. To protect the country’s arts industries and counter the effects of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Asian-financial-crisis">Asian economic crisis of the late 90s</a>, the government mounted several policies with a strong focus on promoting Korean culture abroad. Central to this was the <a href="https://wipolex.wipo.int/en/text/441192">Framework Act on the Promotion of Cultural Industries in 1999</a>, which said: <blockquote> The purpose of this Act is to lay the groundwork for the development of cultural industries and enhance the competitiveness thereof, thereby contributing to the improvement of the quality of national cultural life and development of the national economy, by providing for matters necessary for supporting and fostering cultural industries. </blockquote> As a result, <a href="https://martinroll.com/resources/articles/asia/korean-wave-hallyu-the-rise-of-koreas-cultural-economy-pop-culture/">South Korean culture has grown globally</a> in recent years. <a href="https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/2/16/16915672/what-is-kpop-history-explained">K-pop</a>, K-drama, K-beauty, and K-cuisine have all found new international audiences, initially in China and later in wider Asia and the west. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xwWgp1bqVwE?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> The “<a href="https://www.inverse.com/article/13916-the-korean-new-wave-and-the-anxieties-of-south-korean-cinema">Korean New Wave”</a>, the international fascination with Korean entertainment and film industry, began in the <a href="http://kultscene.com/introduction-to-the-korean-new-wave-of-cinema/">1990s</a>. This phenomenon, known as <a href="http://www.korea.net/AboutKorea/Culture-and-the-Arts/Hallyu">Hallyu</a>, centres around the work of directors <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0661791/">Park Chan-wook</a> (Oldboy, Lady Vengeance, The Handmaiden), <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0094435/">Bong Joon-ho</a> (Memories of Murder, Host, Okja and Parasite) and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0453518/">Kim Jee-woon</a> (A Tale of Two Sisters and I saw the Devil). Distinctly Korean Korean cinema is <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=vYSgpD1yWQ4C&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=korean+cinema&ots=Jr0EGwPX4V&sig=GkUhIuE6ALUYbsGgi6qWKghSZgw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=korean%20cinema&f=false">deeply embedded in the Korean experience</a>, eschewing Hollywoodisation and producing an oeuvre that makes a Korean film distinctive to international audiences. Korean society has a reverence for tradition and at once extraordinarily modern, and its cinema embodies these qualities proudly. Korean cinema has become known for often exploring the dark side of human experience. The films can be unsettling, often mixing dark humour with elements of extreme violence, sumptuous cinematography and high production values. Many of them feature passionate revenge stories (Oldboy, 2003, or I Saw The Devil, 2010), captivating crime investigations (Memories of Murder, 2004), or unusual friendships (Joint Security Area, 2000, or The Handmaiden, 2016). Not shying away from controversial topics or challenging its audience, Korean films dare to tread in places western films are sometimes scared of. It is not surprising, then, that they have attracted the attention of a wider public and the admiration of filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino – who has compared Joon-ho to <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/quentin-tarantino-koreas-bong-joon-647767">Steven Spielberg in his prime</a>. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w4UUGIIZxFU?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> The Oldboy official trailer. Parasite has amassed a <a href="https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/news.jsp?pageIndex=1&blbdComCd=601006&seq=5300&mode=VIEW&returnUrl=&searchKeyword=">box office revenue</a> of US$137 million (£105 million) globally, and <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbean/2020/01/07/box-office-bong-joon-hosparasite-positioned-for-big-pre-oscars-run/#44b52aa4c182">is set to rake in more with this slew of awards and nominations</a>. Exceeding everybody’s <a href="https://variety.com/2019/film/news/parasite-bong-joon-ho-success-next-movies-marvel-netflix-1203408123/">expectations</a>, this subversive anti-capitalist film is winning over both critics and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/27/business/media/parasite-movie-studio-neon.html">audiences</a>. So much so, there is already a rumoured <a href="https://www.vulture.com/2020/01/bong-joon-hos-parasite-tv-show-expanded-film-not-remake.html">HBO series spin-off</a> in the works. Parasite’s accomplishments come off the back of Joon-ho’s previous <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/27/movies/review-okja-bong-joon-ho.html">critical success with the 2017 ecological fantasy Okja</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/bafta/status/965374939061735425?lang=en">Park Chan-wook’s 2018 film Handmaiden</a> (the first Korean film to be nominated for and win a Bafta) and <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/burning-oscar-snub">Lee Chang-dong’s 2018 film Burning</a> (the first Korean film to make it to shortlist for best foreign film at the Oscars). If this momentum is anything to go by, the “Korean Wave” is only set to get bigger.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/128595/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/agata-lulkowska-439983">Agata Lulkowska</a>, Lecturer in Film Production, Staffordshire University, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/staffordshire-university-1381">Staffordshire University</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/an-oscar-for-parasite-the-global-rise-of-south-korean-film-128595">original article</a>.

Movies

Hikers rejoice! New trails in North and South Korea are opening

Hardcore hikers are rejoicing as they now have the option to explore the hiking trails that are alongside the Korean Peninsula’s Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). The trails just so happen to be near the world’s most heavily armed border that divide North and South Korea, but as a part of South Korea’s Peace Trail project, there are three new trails being built. Local government has approved three trails within the DMZ buffer, which stretches 4 kilometres wide and 240 kilometres long. The area where the trails are looking to be built has divided the nations since 1953. The first trail, which is inside Gangwon province on the east side of the Korean Peninsula, opened on the 28th of April. "United Nations Command (UNC) and the ROK [South Korea] government have demonstrated superb teamwork, collaboration and coordination throughout the entire 'peace trail' process and will continue to do so," said General Robert Abrams, leader of the UNC, in a statement. "The ROK military has worked extremely long hours to ensure the success of this very important initiative, while assuring visitors their safety remains paramount." As the DMZ has been closed off to the public for more than six decades, it’s given the wildlife a chance to flourish. The area is home to endangered species, such as rare types of cranes, ducks, deer and mountain goats. According to reports from <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/korea-dmz-wildlife-hiking-trails/index.html">CNN</a>, there are more than 6,000 different species of flora and fauna living inside the DMZ. However, hikers will be accompanied by military personnel and be required to wear bullet-proof vests and helmets during the walks.

Travel Trouble

President Donald Trump grilled in 60 Minutes interview: "I'm not a baby"

US President Donald Trump has faced some tough questioning in an interview with the US’s 60 Minutes program, which airs on the CBS network. Journalist Lesley Stahl grilled the President on everything from his close ties with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Russian interference with the 2016 election, and the cutthroat nature of Capitol Hill. In a sign of his tumultuous presidency, that has been filled with scandal and the resignation of several cabinet members and advisers, the commander-in-chief said he mistrusted some of his staff, and called Washington DC “a vicious, vicious place,” reports <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/donald-trump-grilled-in-extensive-60-minutes-interview/news-story/445a1688bddf5722c68d738be2940df7" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>. “I don’t trust everybody in the White House, I’ll be honest with you,” said Mr Trump. “I’m not a baby. It’s a tough business. This is a vicious place. Washington DC is a vicious, vicious place. The attacks, the badmouthing, the speaking behind your back. “I have some people that I’m not thrilled with. And I have other people that I’m beyond thrilled with.” When questioning turned to President Trump’s close relationship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, he was unrepentant about his recent comment that the pair “fell in love”. “And then we fell in love, OK? No, really. He wrote me beautiful letters. And they’re great letters. We fell in love,” he said at a recent political rally. Stahl took Mr Trump to task on the statement, reminding him of the Supreme Leader of North Korea’s shocking and cruel acts. “I want to read you his resume,” said the journalist. “He presides over a cruel kingdom of repression. Gulags, starvation, reports that he had his half-brother assassinated, slave labour, executions — this is a guy you love?” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Lesley Stahl on Kim Jong Un: "He presides over a cruel kingdom of repression, gulags, starvation…slave labor, public executions. This is a guy you love?" President Trump: "I know all these things… I get along with him, okay? … Let it be whatever it is to get the job done.” <a href="https://t.co/J6Gbuns2t6">pic.twitter.com/J6Gbuns2t6</a> — 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) <a href="https://twitter.com/60Minutes/status/1051619117789302784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2018</a></blockquote> “I know all these things. I mean, I’m not a baby. I know these things,” said the President. He put his recent remarks down to “a figure of speech”. “Look. Look. I like, I get along with him, OK?” he said. It seems the pair have gotten over the acrimony which involved threats of nuclear attacks and name calling. “I believe he likes me. I like him,” said Mr Trump. “We have a good relationship.” “I do trust him. I trust him. That doesn’t mean I can’t be proven wrong.” On Russian interference in the 2016 election, the President admitted that “they meddled. But I think China meddled too,” he said. “I think, frankly, China is a bigger problem.” He said that he had taken a “tough” stance with Russian President [check] Vladimir Putin over the matter, despite claims he’d avoided the accusations of political tampering. “I think I’m very tough with him (Putin) personally. I had a meeting with him. The two of us. It was a very tough meeting and it was a very good meeting.” Of the investigation into Russian interference in the election and possible collusion with US officials, Mr Trump said it was “very unfair". “There was no collusion of any kind,” he said. “There is no collusion.” In a rare moment of humility, President Trump admitted that he had made some missteps during his tenure so far, saying, “Everybody makes mistakes.” He reiterated his scathing attack on Washington DC and its hard-bitten politicians as another learning curve since winning the top job, comparing the environment to the tough world of Manhattan real estate, a world he knows all too well. “I always used to say the toughest people are Manhattan real estate guys. Now I say they’re babies,” said Mr Trump. “This is the most deceptive, vicious world. It is vicious. It’s full of lies, deceit and deception.” And again President Trump lashed out at media outlets that have questioned and criticised his presidency, calling them “dishonest". “I never knew how dishonest the media was. I really mean it. I’m not saying that as a sound bite,” he said. His antagonistic relationship with the media was apparent when he arrogantly dismissed Stahl’s probing on the issue. “Lesley, it’s OK. I’m president and you’re not.” Did you learn anything new about the US President from his latest interview? Let us know in the comments below.

Trump controversially cancels North Korea summit with Kim Jong-un

US President Donald Trump has cancelled the North Korea summit with Kim Jong-un, citing, “tremendous anger and open hostility” from Pyongyang as his reason. <a href="http://www.news.com.au/" target="_blank">News.com.au reports</a> the Leader of the Free World was due to meet Kim next month as part of talks aimed at negotiating denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula. The breakdown comes after an aggressive statement from North Korea’s foreign affairs ministry which labelled US Vice President Mike Pence a “political dummy” and used incendiary language, threatening a nuclear “showdown”. Mr Trump reportedly said that he felt it was “inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting”. “Therefore, please let this letter serve to represent that the Singapore summit, for the good of both parties, but to the detriment of the world, will not take place,” Mr Trump said. “You talk about your nuclear capabilities, but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used.” Mr Trump described the cancellation as a “tremendous setback” for the world, but said he was still hopeful of meaningful dialogue moving forward. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The full letter from the President Trump to Chairman Kim Jong Un : <a href="https://t.co/RJD9qV0HSl">https://t.co/RJD9qV0HSl</a> <a href="https://t.co/b0BEf0mKWf">pic.twitter.com/b0BEf0mKWf</a> — The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/999659289080889344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2018</a></blockquote> “Hopefully everything is going to work out well with North Korea,” he said. “A lot of things can happen. Including the fact that, perhaps, it’s possible the existing summit could take place or a summit at some later date. “Nobody should be anxious. We have to get it right.” What are your thoughts?

News

10 best things to do in South Korea

South Korea might share a border with one of the most dangerous countries in the world, but it’s one of the world’s most fascinating tourist destinations. Whether you’re shopping in Seoul, visiting a centuries-old Buddhist temple, getting caught up in the frenzy of a baseball game or hiking up a mountain, there’s no shortage of things to do. While this is by no means the be all and end all of what South Korea has to offer, we’ve decided to share 10 things we think you shouldn’t miss when exploring this fascinating country. To see them all, scroll through the gallery above. Have you ever been to South Korea?

International Travel

The world’s new most powerful passport

Australians have it pretty good with our passports, which allow us to travel to 156 countries visa-free, but we’ve got nothing on South Korea. According to the <a href="https://www.passportindex.org/byRank.php" target="_blank">Passport Index</a>, created by global financial advisory firm Arton Capital, the 2018 Winter Olympics host has bumped Germany off the top spot when it comes to passport power rankings. Thanks to Uzbekistan’s recent decision to grant visa-free travel to South Korea and Singapore, both nations have overtaken Germany with access to 162 countries visa-free compared to the latter’s 161, tying it with Japan. European countries continue to dominate the top 10, however, but Australia isn’t far behind at number 7 with access to 156 countries without needing a visa. New Zealand is just one point behind at 155. And while there isn’t a huge difference in numbers, Arton Capital president Armand Arton says it’s becoming increasingly important to travellers to have as much visa-free access as possible. “People don’t like imaginary borders that set boundaries to their opportunities in life,” he said. “Having multiple passports has become the new norm and people who haven’t invested in this privilege feel anxious and left out.”

Travel Tips

Mysterious bodies turn up on ghost ship

It might sound like a scene out of Moby Dick, but mysterious bodies have turned up on a “ghost ship”, which washed up off the northern coast of Japan this week. And while the emergence of the ship is still shrouded in mystery, a small detail hidden amongst the bodies has offered a clue to the origin of this skeleton-filled vessel. Senior local police official Hideaki Sakyo told AFP while there was little to identify the bodies by, boxes of North Korean tobacco and life jackets with figures in Korean script suggest the boat could’ve been populated by would-be defectors. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> A ‘ghost ship’ containing 8 bodies washed up on Japan’s shore — and it may have come from North Korea <a href="https://t.co/Z8i8tlWGnB">pic.twitter.com/Z8i8tlWGnB</a> — NowThis (@nowthisnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/935615035014918144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2017</a></blockquote> That said, there’s still no hard and fast proof. “Nothing else was found on the beach nearby, and so far we haven’t found anything (suggesting they may be defectors),” a Japanese coastguard spokeswoman told AFP. North Korean fishing vessels washing up on Japan’s coast isn’t an entirely uncommon occurrence, especially during winter where fishermen contend with high winds. North Korean fisherman often venture far and deep on government orders, and the old, poorly equipped vessels are prone to issues. Once something goes wrong, there are few rescue options available for people on the boat. Earlier this month a North Korean solider who managed to defect into the South made headlines after managing to cross the demilitarised zone (DMZ) despite being shot at five times. What are your thoughts? Hero image credit: Twitter / The Independant

Cruising

Melania Trump sparkles in sheer navy gown on South Korea visit

Over the last year, First Lady Melania Trump has become as well known for her <a href="/travel/travel-insurance/2017/08/melania-trump-causes-stir-with-her-outfit-when-visiting-storm-ravaged-texas/" target="_blank">at times controversial</a> fashion choices as her husband has for <a href="/news/news/2017/10/donald-trump-under-fire-for-insensitive-comments-to-soldiers-widow/" target="_blank">his gaffes</a>, but whatever you think of the family in the White House, there’s no denying Melania’s latest outfit is a winner. <img width="500" height="379" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/45585/melania_500x379.jpg" alt="Melania" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Dazzling in a sheer, sequined navy J. Mendel gown, the First Lady knew exactly what to pick for a state dinner at South Korea’s presidential mansion, the Blue House. Even the President swapped his trademark red tie for a cobalt blue one. It’s the latest in a long series of chic (and incredibly expensive) looks from Melania as she joins Donald on his presidential tour of Asia. To see all her stunning outfits from the trip, scroll through the gallery above and tell us in the comments, which do you like best?

News

Elephant saves her baby from drowning

A visitor at Grand Park Zoo in Seoul, Korea, has captured the incredible moment an adult elephant rushes into the water to save her baby’s life. The unbelievable footage was uploaded to YouTube last week by user Chorong Park and has already been viewed more than 825,000 times. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KozEQl3OBpA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> After her calf unexpectedly fell into the water, the gentle grey giant frantically runs towards the commotion, then enlists the help of another elephant to enter the water and herd the bub back to safety. It just goes to show that even in the animal world, there’s nothing that can stop a mother from protecting her baby at all costs.

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Elephant saves her baby from drowning

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