Michael Chesnut

A sign for a Korean chicken soup restaurant with pages of notes written in different languages praising the restaurant

This is an interesting multilingual writing practice in the #LinguisticLandscape: restaurants featuring notes praising the cuisine in many different languages. Great example here and really tasty food!

A sign for Garlic Boy at a traditional market

GARLIC BOY

Quite the neat retro English sign at this traditional market in Seoul. Quite a few newer hipper shops at the market, including a pop-up oyster bar I did not photograph, amid the older more traditional shops and restaurants. Lots going on in the #LinguisticLandscape here!

Yeah, I think there will be boondoggle issues, and more given the role this test has in gatekeeping university access.
Sometimes it's hard to change things for various reasons, so maybe AI will give someone an excuse to really remake this test, I don't really know

Korea's infamously difficult CSAT English section to get AI makeover - The Korea Times Korea’s notoriously difficult College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) English section is now heading for an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven over...

Just a whole lot going on here, but undoubtedly there is some great research being done on the 'authority' AI is being given regarding English in Korea, and the role English serves as a part of testing and gatekeeping in Korea. Yeah, lots here.
www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/s...

Would You Leave Your Bag Unattended at a Starbucks? They Did. For Hours.

The story of flight attendants in Seoul leaving their bags unattended in Starbucks for hours has now even made the New York Times! Seems like there is a lot of interest in cafes in Korea, might be time for even more journalism on this interesting topic!
*Gift Article*
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/w...

Kwangjang Market near or maybe in Dongdaemun, it's the new-ish Starbucks inside the traditional market, built out of unused manufacturing space, I believe. Neat place!

A view of the market

A view from down below to where I was, with a touch of Starbucks

AS YOU COMMAND!

A sign in Korean text for Starbucks and a another sign for the market

Lots and lots going on here

Sign about this being a community store

Lots of interest in this particular Starbucks cafe, located in a traditional market in Seoul

Two cafe beverages and a treat, looking over a covered market

RESEARCH!

How The New York Times uses a custom AI tool to track the “manosphere” The daily podcast round-up is just one way the Times is adopting in-house AI transcription and summarization tools.

Very interesting article on a very VERY interesting tool that I wish was available to the public, at least in some form. A morning report on what is going on in the manosphere would be useful news, I think. This tool has me wondering about what else is out there too
www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/how-...

Flight crews criticized for long-term, unattended use of Starbucks seats A photo showing dozens of unattended bags occupying cafe seats has sparked controversy online in South Korea, after a cafe owner said flight attendants repeated

More interesting cafe and Starbucks discourse in Seoul, this time involving flight crews. Lots of talk around customers leaving items in cafes for extended periods, taking up space, and other issues.
m.koreaherald.com/article/1067...

Map of a Friends experience zone at a Starbucks cafe in Seoul

Yeah, seen today in Seoul

A small recreation of a room

And a few interesting things here, as with Joey and Chandler's Room, for example . . . .

A poster advertising Friends in Starbucks

Only on till the 28th, for those interested . . . .

A picture of a couch which looks like it could be from Friends

If anyone wants evidence of the continuing cultural power of TV's Friends, Starbucks Jangchung Lounge R in Seoul has a whole Friends experience zone up at the moment, perfect for Instagramming I assume, and for thinking through issues of coffee, culture, fandom, place, and much much more

What inspired us to develop this bowl? The answer is simple: "K-drama"! Back in Nigeria, I was obsessed with K-dramas, and I still am! You know how they're always eating, and you wish you could be a fly in their homes? My obsession pushed me to learn how to cook their dishes. I mastered recipes like bulgogi, bibimbap, kimchi, and Gochujang chicken. However, the one that really stuck with me was bulgogi. I decided to try it with jollof rice, and it turned out amazing! From there, we added it to our menu. I've always loved Afro-fusion dishes, so I knew that was the direction I wanted for our brand. I'm still working on unique fusions because creating recipes that work takes time

A picture of this dish

Screenshot from Facebook account of Ora's Bowl in the UK, a Nigerian restaurant which offer a Jollof and Bulgogi Bowl, with the text explaining the K-drama origins of this dish being on offer. Also a picture of the dish from another site. Anyway, going on my very long list of dishes to try!

A glass door with a few signs on it looking into a convenience store

어서오세요, 세븐입니다 (Welcome, this is seven)
Life Changing Experience

Seven-Eleven getting quite bold with their claims in English in a welcome to Seven-Eleven sign, adding some serious ambition to the convenience store #LinguisticLandscape!
I do like this particular shop though so . . . .

Ohhhhhhh, very interesting! Didn't realize this are so many interesting ways of referring to this tasty treat! In Korea, I mostly see 'Pain au chocolat' in bakeries, and now I am a bit curious about the global use of terms for this particular baked treat!

Another poster about Dubai chocolate

More DUBAI CHOCOLATE in the cafe #LinguisticLandscape, from the same cafe

I am pleased to announce that I will be guest editing a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Disney Studies, with the inimical Joel Gray and...you? We're looking for a Goofy to join our Donald and Mickey, so please consider signing on. Issue CFP will follow in due course.

A poster for drinks at a cafe in Seoul

Dubai
LOVE

Some Dubai chocolate inspired drinks at this cafe in Seoul, adding a lot more to the chocolate #LinguisticLandscape and maybe to the chocolate soft power of Dubai as well!

A very interesting discussion here for those interested in the chocolate and baked goods #LinguisticLandscape!

Image of Mark Carney looking absolutely overjoyed in Hollander’s team canada fleece

All of Canada when Bad Bunny yelled CANADAAAA

Coffee and chairs, looking through glass onto a street

RESEARCH!

Yeah, I haven't encountered any real Olympic energy, but I wonder if that'll turn around if a few big stories emerge. Hope so!

A screenshot of an Irish pub in Korea's Inatagram video about a Superbowl viewing party

Probably a fun paper waiting to be written on early morning pub-based Superbowl viewing parties in Asia . . .

Very cool photos! Absolutely love the photo of the rising or setting sun over the ridge line and Lotte World Tower! Very neat representation of Seoul and got a flash of Lord of the Rings too with the tower right there. Great stuff!

Why South Koreans are tuning out 2026 Winter Olympics - The Korea Times The Winter Olympics are back after another four years, but South Koreans barely noticed. The Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games, which officially o...

Interesting and somewhat sad perspective on what the Olympics mean in Korea in 2026
www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/s...