Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 7h

I’m going to dig in and do some research, especially on that gap for high-interest, lower-level nonfiction. As a native Korean, this is exactly the kind of thing I can miss, so I really appreciate you pointing it out. I’ll think through what I could build for this niche.
Thanks, truly 🙏

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 7h

Wow, this is all new to me! I’m not a Korean teacher, so I actually looked up each thing you mentioned (TTMIK Stories, the Darakwon readers, CEFR A1–B2, etc.).

Thank you for the high-signal info. It’s sparking ideas!!!!

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 23h

And here are screenshots of your post on my other socials 🥹

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 23h

Love this 🤩 thank you so much! I didn’t have graded readers on my roadmap, but now I’m seriously considering it.

And the glossary? That was thanks to you. I’m grateful for how you keep inspiring me to widen my boundaries and encouraging me to build bigger 🙏

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 23h

I love how learning another country’s language, culture, and history, and consuming its stories, makes life so much deeper and richer. Welcome to the world of K-culture 🤗

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 1d

Such feedback is pure rocket fuel. 💛
Thanks a lot, @zephtx.bsky.social!

Your encouragement and recognition help me keep going 🥹

If anyone wants the real stories behind #K-dramas and Korea’s #DemocraticDevelopment, I’m sure my writing will be useful (even to #Korean readers too!)

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 2d

Deeply, deeply appreciate it!! You really fuel me to keep going 🥹

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 2d

Is it okay for me to share your post as a screencaptured image on my other social media? It would be super useful to share the usefulness of my post ❤️let me know🙏

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 3d

Indeed Masterpiece!!!!!!! Wow, thanks for sharing!

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 3d

Did you know South & North Korea celebrate Hangul (Korean alphabet) on different days?

South: 한글날 = Oct 9, 1446 (official)
North: 조선글날 = Jan 15, 1443 (creation)

If reunified, which date should be kept—or both?

#HangulDay #한글날 #조선글날 #KHistory #KCulture #LearnKorean

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 4d

Wow, thank you so much for sharing this 🥹 I just added the episode glossary in the YouTube comments.
Also, if anyone is curious about the original article, you can read it here: yoonjiwon.substack.com/p/how-trauma...

How Trauma Built Modern Korea: From “Ppalli-Ppalli” to the Miracle on the Han River

The postwar survival algorithm—speed, education, real estate, and han—behind South Korea’s rapid rise

yoonjiwon.substack.com

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 4d

Want the original write-up? Read here:
yoonjiwon.substack.com/p/joseon-dyn...

3. Of the King, by the Scholar-Officials, for the People: How Joseon's Radical Vision Shaped Korea’s Academic Drive

Unraveling the surprising origins of Korea's intense academic drive—it all started with a revolution and a philosopher's radical vision.

yoonjiwon.substack.com

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 4d

How to listen + links
🎧 Episode: Of the King, by the Scholar-Officials, for the People (Ep. 3)

Open your podcast app → search “Understanding Korea” → play Episode 3

Or, you can listen here:
youtu.be/0owZOdwf5uA?...

3. Of the King, by the Scholar-Officials, for the People: How Joseon's Radical Vision Shaped Kore...

YouTube video by Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time

youtu.be

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 4d

More cards (5–6) + the player view.
#LearningKorean isn’t just vocab—it’s context.

If you can follow these terms, you’re reading Korea between the lines.

Even most Koreans don’t know this much history (seriously, quiz your friends).

**How to listen + links in the next post.**👇

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 4d

Happy #HangulDay! 🎉
I made 9:16 glossary cards for Episode 3 of my podcast #UnderstandingKorea —so you can catch the history behind the words (Joseon, scholar-officials, exams, Sejong).
Timestamps = first mention. Screenshot & study.
Swipe 👉 Save & Repost for later.
(Cards 1–4 of 6 attached)

#한글날

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 5d

Learn more → yoonjiwon.substack.com/p/uri-series-2

Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 5d

In an emergency, Koreans say “Saram sallyeo!” (Save the person), not “Help me.”

One centers the individual voice. The other calls we to act.
#KoreanCulture #LearnKorean #Korea #우리 #Uri

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you for creating something that reveals new layers every time I watch, and for giving Korean kids growing up outside Korea a story that makes them proud to be Korean ❤️

Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 5d

Oh, I love this one! Thanks for sharing 👍

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 5d

You can watch the original video here: youtu.be/WJPbaUUWa7I?...

APEC 2025 Promo Explained | With English Captions

YouTube video by Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time

youtu.be

Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 5d

3/3

(Final part of the APEC promo breakdown 👇)
Part 3 of the carousel series (images 9–10).

Swipe ▶ (9–10)

President Lee Jae-myung as parking marshal—batons in hand.

Hands-on leadership, clearing turbulence, runway ready.

That’s the full story: pride, competence, momentum.

#LeeJaemyung

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 5d

2/3
(Continuing the APEC promo breakdown 👇)
Part 2 of my carousel series (images 5–8).

Swipe ▶ (5–8)

(Last part coming → 3/3)

#APEC2025 #SouthKorea #SoftPower #KCulture #JangWonyoung

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 5d

1/3

(The APEC promo video I posted below 👇)
Here’s Part 1 of my image carousel—a card-by-card breakdown of the symbolism.
English captions + visuals so you can pause, zoom, and catch every beat.

Swipe ▶ (1–4)
(To be continued → 2/3)

#APEC2025 #SouthKorea #DJPeggyGou #ParkChanwook #ParkJiSung

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 6d

I research each piece like a mini thesis and write so that anyone, whether Korean or not, can understand Korea with more context and nuance. I’m learning a lot as I go, and I think you will too.

If you’d like to follow along, free or paid, I’d love to have you.

yoonjiwon.substack.com

Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time | Dr. Jiwon Yoon | Substack

A closer look at Korea’s current events, culture, history, and social issues—how they shape the Korea of today and tomorrow. For those seeking to understand the stories and moments that brought Korea ...

yoonjiwon.substack.com

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Dr. Jiwon Yoon @jiwonyoon.bsky.social · 6d

I turned on paid just to learn how it works…
and someone already became my first paid subscriber 💛

No paywalled posts yet — but it reminded me that what I’m building is real and shared.

Starting late October, I’ll share monthly deep dives on Korean books that haven’t been translated into English.

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