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Your adventure through the Korean banking world starts here! Image: Korean cash machines - Source: The Korea Herald Why should you open a bank account in Korea? The requirements may vary, but make sure to at least prepare these documents: Passport Visa Registration Card (ARC) Your address in Korean & English A Korean phone number - if you don't have one already, you English-Speaking Staff at Korean Banks Yes, generally, Korean banks do have English speakers, especially

The Art of Sarah  is a South Korean mystery thriller that follows the life of a woman who has carefully Thoughts The Art of Sarah  is shaping up to be a compelling addition to Netflix’s growing lineup of Korean

South Korea: Where Love Returns to Reality Can This Love Be Translated? Filming Locations in Seoul (Credits: Netflix) South Korea grounds the story emotionally, bringing romance Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul As Korea’s symbolic heart, Gwanghwamun Square represents the collision of

When Kill Boksoon dropped in 2023, it became Netflix’s unexpected flex in the assassin thriller game. Two years later, Netflix thought, “Why stop there?” and delivered Mantis . This time, the spotlight shifts to a younger, flashier generation of contract killers trying to rebuild their world after the fall of MK Entertainment and its top assassins. Instead of a heart-wrenching mother and daughter story like Boksoon, we are thrown into a world of start-ups, rivalries, and plenty of knife fights. The story mainly follows four key players: Yim Si-wan , Park Gyu-young , Jo Woo-jin , and Choi Hyun-wook . Mantis comes back from vacation, finds his world is upside down, and soon realizes all are competing to become the number one assassin. Mantis movie poster (Credits: IMDb) As the murder for hire empire crumbles, the film leans more on layered competition and shifting alliances than on a single assassin’s journey , even though the title might make you think otherwise. But here is the million-dollar question: Is the film actually worth your time? Will it keep you hooked on a Saturday night, or will you be checking your phone halfway through? If you have not seen it yet, read on, but fair warning, we are diving into both the highs and lows of this Netflix spinoff. So buckle up, and let’s get into it. Meet the New Gen of Killers Meet Han-ul (played by Yim Si-wan ), aka Mantis. He’s talented, cocky, and fresh off vacation when he finds out MK has gone up in flames. His solution? Launch his own killer company (because LinkedIn clearly wasn’t an option). He’s joined by Jae-yi (played by Park Gyu-young ), his childhood friend/rival, who’s been struggling to survive after being blacklisted from MK. Their chemistry is on point; sometimes they’re ride-or-die partners, sometimes it feels like they’d kill each other for the last dumpling. Park Gyu-young and Yim Si-wan (Credits: IMDb) Mentoring them is Dokgo ( Jo Woo-jin ), an older assassin coming out of retirement, plus a random investor ( Choi Hyun-wook ) who’s more obsessed with Jae-yi than is probably healthy. The Good Stuff: Vibes & Violence The real juice here is the Han-ul and Jae-yi dynamic. Their friendship, rivalry, and love-hate relationship give the movie its authenticity. Park Gyu-young especially kills it (pun intended). Her performance is layered with anger, ambition, and vulnerability. Honestly, she steals the spotlight from Si-wan more than once. Park Gyu-young (Credits: IMDb) The review would be incomplete if I didn't mention Mantis; he is good at whatever he does. The action and the dialogue delivery were delivered on point. The action? Pretty slick. It doesn’t hit the highs of Kill Boksoon , but it’s still sharp enough to keep you hooked. The final fight sequence, especially, is a banger. Plus, the whole “young assassins hustling for gigs in a collapsing industry” thing is unexpectedly relatable. (Freelancers, we see you.) Yim Si-wan (left), Park Gyu-young (Credits: IMDb) The Flop Side: Story Struggles Here’s where Mantis stumbles. While Kill Boksoon had laser focus on one woman, one moral crisis, this spinoff tries to juggle too many ideas. Assassin unemployment rates? Shaky company politics? Side plots that go nowhere? It gets messy. Si-wan's Mantis , despite being the title character, doesn’t feel fully out. For most of the movie, he’s just orbiting around Jae-yi’s goals. Noble, sure, but a little hollow. Honestly, Jae-yi should’ve been the main lead. Lee Tae-sung’s direction is solid, and the film starts with the right hook, but it slips away into a half-baked plot. Too much information ends up spoiling the broth. Final Verdict: Should You Stream It? Mantis is like that scrappy younger sibling trying to live up to an older sister’s legacy. It’s fun, flashy, and occasionally heartfelt, but it doesn’t quite cut as deep as Kill Boksoon . If you’re here for slick fight scenes and killer chemistry between Si-wan and Gyu-young, you’ll have a good time. If you wanted the same emotional depth and tight storytelling as Boksoon ? You might leave a little disappointed. Yim Si-wan (center), Park Gyu-young (left), and Jo Woo-jin (Credits IMDb) Final Call Mantis is a decent watch for assassin-thriller fans, but maybe one you’ll remember more for the fight clips than the full story. Movie details: Movie Name Mantis Direction Lee Tae-sung Movie Cast Im Si-wan, Park Gyu-young, Jo Woo-jin, Choi Hyun-wook Original Title 사마귀 Mantis 2025 Writers Byun Sung-hyun, Lee Jin-seong and Lee Tae-sung Time Duration 1:53 minutes Let us know in the comments: did you vibe with Mantis ? Was it a yes or a no for you? #Mantis #ImSiWan #ParkGyuYoung #JoWooJin #ChoiHyunWook

In celebration of 75 years of friendship between Korea and the Philippines, the Korean Cultural Center Harmony at 75: A Celebration of Philippine-Korean Friendship Through Music Harmony at 75: A Celebration of Philippine-Korean Friendship Through Music (November 15, 2024, 5:00 PM | Leandro Locsin Auditorium Hosted by the United Korean Community Association in the Philippines (UKCA), this annual event kicks traditional acts and Filipinos showcase Korean performances, celebrating the cultural fusion of the

Papago: Your Language Companion While learning the Korean language is a great asset for expats, it takes It's more accurate for translating Korean text than Google Translate, especially for complex sentences Papago will help you bridge the language barrier while you work on mastering Korean. 4. Smooth Sailing in South Korea Moving to South Korea can be a life-changing experience filled with adventure So, download these apps, stay connected, and embark on your South Korean journey with confidence and

In this article, we will focus on whether or not Gen Z is killing the traditional Korean Chuseok (Korean side than their elders, many traditions that surround Chuseok , such as wearing Hanbok (traditional Korean a seven-day holiday, otherwise known as a "Golden Holiday" from October 3 - October 9 , with some Koreans Gen Z Young Koreans these days, otherwise known as Gen Z spend a lot of time on social media. Jeon — Korean-style savory pancakes made from ingredients like zucchini, meat, or fish, dipped in egg

In Korea, especially for expats, Christmas can be a very unique experience. Let's take a look at what a " couple Christmas " looks like in Korea and why it's that way! Our first thought is that Korea is not a Christian country, even though there are many Christians and It is a unique way of experiencing Christmas here in Korea. What do you think about Christmas in Korea? Comment below!

The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines and the National Museum of the Philippines are delighted dual celebration of Museum and Galleries Month in the Philippines and the National Foundation Day of Korea Haru, known for their innovative approach to traditional Korean music, will present a fusion Pansori *Gayageum and ajeang are traditional stringed instruments of Korea. The two groups will perform together the famous Korean folk song "Arirang", and "Salidummay", a melodic

Jun-ho leads the Netflix K-drama Cashero (Credits: Netflix) Cashero  is one of the most talked-about Korean It is based on a popular Korean webtoon and blends fantasy storytelling with real-life emotions.

very cultural, experience attracts just over one million visitors each year, which makes it one of Korea's

A heartrending Korean Drama echoes the present-day struggles of innocent lives lost. Recently, the Korean drama Youth of May has captivated audiences with its portrayal of love and friendship In recent days, many Koreans have expressed their solidarity with the people of Palestine, recognizing Films and Korean dramas have vividly depicted the connections between these two nations, highlighting #YouthOfMay #Korean #war #Korea #Japan #SouthKorea #NorthKorea #Palestine #Gwangju #Korea1980 #Kdrama