The Economist's charts trace 2,000 years: Dangun's bear-born founding (2333 BCE), Three Kingdoms' rivalries, Silla unification, Joseon glory under Sejong, Japanese rule, 1945 split at 38th parallel, Korean War fury (Incheon to armistice), and DMZ scars. South thrives (GDP $35k+, K-wave hub); North isolates. For UK K-fans: hanok-Seoul magic awaits.

A soban is a small Korean tray-table that once served as a personal dining table in floor-seated homes. Today, it appears more often in traditional dining settings, craft, and contemporary design, carrying both everyday practicality and quiet cultural beauty.

LIFE The Secret Vessels Behind Korea’s Deep Flavours If you’ve ever wondered why Korean gochujang tastes deeper than your average supermarket chilli paste, the answer lies not in a factory, but in a quiet courtyard filled with breathing earthenware jars(onggi). Long before the rise of stainless-steel kitchens and glass spice jars, Korean households kept their essential seasonings gochujang (red chilli paste), doenjang (fermented soybean paste), and ganjang (soy sauce) in larg