1. Topic: Transport in South Korea (दक्षिण कोरिया में परिवहन)

2. Writer: WBT3 (Hindi Sub Team 1: Nikhil, Nisha, Sanskriti, Bharti)

3. Short Explanation: We created a Wikipedia page on 'Transport in South Korea' in Hindi. Transportation in South Korea is provided by extensive networks of railways, highways, bus routes, ferry services, and air routes that traverse the country. South Korea is the third country in the world to operate a maglev train, which is an automatically run people mover at Incheon International Airport. 

4. Link: Transport in South Korea (दक्षिण कोरिया में परिवहन)

1. Topic: Kimchi (কিমচি)

2. Writer: WBT3 (Bengali Sub Team 2: Sayantika, Sreetama, Susmita)

3. Short Explanation: We created a Wikipedia page on 'Kimchi' in Bengali. Kimchi is a traditional Korean side dish of salted and fermented vegetables, such as napa cabbage and Korean radish. A wide selection of seasonings is used, including gochugaru (Korean chili powder), spring onions, garlic, ginger, and jeotgal (salted seafood), etc. Kimchi is also used in a variety of soups and stews. As a staple food in Korean cuisine, it is eaten as a side dish with almost every Korean meal.

4. Link: Kimchi (কিমচি)

1. Topic: Gender inequality in South Korea (दक्षिण कोरिया में लैंगिक असमानता)

2. Writer: WBT3 (Hindi Sub Team 2: Ritoja, Shirsha, Suparna, Vaishali)

3. Short Explanation: We created a Wikipedia page on 'Gender inequality in South Korea' in Hindi. Gender inequality in South Korea is any unequal opportunity or treatment men and women face in South Korea. Derived from deep-rooted patriarchal ideologies and practices, gender inequality in South Korea is consistently ranked as one of the highest in the world. While gender inequality remains especially prevalent in South Korea's economy and politics, it has improved in healthcare and education.

4. Link: Gender inequality in South Korea (दक्षिण कोरिया में लैंगिक असमानता)      

Topic: Public Education System in South Korea

Writer: Sohini Dasgupta, Sangita Chakraborty, Noureen Fazal

Summary: The article focuses on the Korean public education system. It explores the national curriculum set by the government, the main objectives of the government regarding the education sector, the structure of school education, and the national exams that students appear in. The article also briefly talks about the rising culture of vlogging among Korean school students and the well-known school clubs of Korean schools.

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_education_system_in_south_korea#REFERENCES%5Bedit%5D 

Not that Different:The separated Twins.

1. Topic: Mint-Chocolate Trend in South Korea

2. Writer: West Bengal Team 4: Members- (Srotoswini, Tithi, Soumi)

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Mint-Chocolate Trend in South Korea

Chocolate is a type of flavour which has always been popular with the masses. But around 3 years ago a unique combination arrived to the South Korean markets, which shook the markets in the early months of 2021. It’s Mint Chocolate. The mint chocolate trend started in the early months of 2021 when it started with chocolates and ice cream or some basic sweet snacks and drinks, and later spread to food items like yogurt with mint-chocolate flavour, even coffee, and milk. 

Origin :

This flavour has been around us for a long time. The Mint plant is indigenous to Europe and the Middle East, and is now cultivated widely in many regions of the world. These mint plants were cultivated in England in the 1750s. This can also be found in the wild with its parent plants. The leaves of this plant are what give this distinct flavour and smell. In the Greeks culture mint plants are used for ceremonies as well. The roman people made wreathes of mint to give as a gift.

History :

The exact history of Mint chocolate or the founder of it might be officially unknown still. However, it is said that in 1973, The British Royal Family, arranged a dessert contest in the occasion of the wedding of Princess Anne, daughter of Queen Elizabeth II.

In that contest, a British University student named Marilyn Ricketts developed an ice cream called “Mint Royale” by mixing mint and chocolate together. This ice cream dish won the first place in the contest.

The notion about Mint Chocolate culture :

People usually have a very extreme response to it. They either absolutely love the flavour or loathe it, with very few people in the neutral spectrum. This trend became so wide spread that people would rush to the markets to buy whatever mint chocolate flavoured product they could get to upload pictures to their social media. As a result all the mint chocolate flavoured products would go out of stock rapidly.

Seeing this more and more food based companies and eateries started releasing mint chocolate flavoured products and dishes. The people MZ generation (Millennial-Gen Z) who love chic cafes and dainty desserts quickly covered their sns pages with pictures of Min-cho (Abbreviation of Mint-Chocolate /민트 초콜릿: 민초) flavoured desserts and snacks. This trend was so popular that some unusual food items like spaghetti, tteokbokki and even fried chicken started coming to the market in Mincho (민초) flavour. Many celebrities and public figures started talking about this flavour adding to its popularity.

Variety :

Among the varieties of flavoured chocolate, Mint chocolate is a very popular variety. This flavour is made by adding chocolate and a mint flavouring agent, such as peppermint, spearmint, or crème de menthe. Usually Mint chocolate flavour is observed in a wide range of edible products, like cookies, candy, mints, mint chocolate chip ice cream, hot chocolate, etc.

Just as chocolate can be of various types like milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or white chocolate, the mint flavouring can also be of various types. The mint flavour depends a lot on the ingredients used and the process followed. As a result different varieties of flavour and fragrance combinations can be observed in Mincho flavoured products based on the chocolate and mint used.

Health Value :

Trend aside, mint or Peppermint (Mentha balsamea Wild) which is a hybrid of mint (between watermint and spearmint) is known to have medical importance especially to cure oral aches like toothache, gum problems etc among others. Mint tea is also very popular among mint lovers and known to relieve headaches and leave a refreshing aftertaste.

Popular Culture :

There’s a lot of debate about the taste of Mincho. Usually the Mincho lovers are in absolute favour of this product while the haters usually use the phrase “Toothpaste Taste”. The Mint chocolate lovers however label the taste as “special taste” or a kind of taste which might not be understood by people in general. In South Korea, the Mincho lovers are called “Minchodan” (민초단). On the other hand, the Mincho haters are called “'Half Minchodan'.

In Korea, Baskin-Robbins has been the first company to launch Mint chocolate flavour. It is said that the Mint Chocolate in Baskin Robbins always sells out fast and a flavour regularly on top of famous flavours. There is Mint chocolate Boba tea, Mint chocolate smoothies available in Gongcha Korea. There is also Mint chocolate flavoured almond available, with the coolness of mint and sweetness of chocolate almonds. Mint Mocha and Lotte Company’s Mint chocolate corn is also available as an unique snack. There are also perfumes of Mint’s coolness and fragrance can be found. Also, there are Mint chocolate themed makeup products were launched by Etude House in summer 2021. 

Links :

https://www.korea.net/TalkTalkKorea/Vietnamese/community/community/CMN0000010654  - 1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mint_chocolate  - 2

https://blog.naver.com/PostView.nhn?blogId=seouledu2012&logNo=222135934564&categoryNo=101&parentCategoryNo=0 – 3 and 4

https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EB%AF%BC%ED%8A%B8_%EC%B4%88%EC%BD%9C%EB%A6%BF

https://biz.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2020/08/14/2020081403635.html

Topic: Muju Firefly Festival

Writer: West Bengal team (Rupsa Nag)

Short Explanation: A Wikipedia page on Muju Firefly festival which is one of the festivals unique to Korea. The festival is important because it is based on climate preservation and raises awareness about the same.

Link: Draft:Muju Firefly Festival - Wikipedia 

1. Topic: LGBT rights in South Korea (दक्षिण कोरिया में एलजीबीटी अधिकार)  

2. Writer: WBT3 (Hindi Team: Shirsha Singh, Ritoja Paul, Bisakha Roy Choudhury)

3. Short Explanation: We created a Wikipedia page on 'LGBT rights in South Korea' in Hindi. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in South Korea face legal challenges and discrimination not experienced by non-LGBT individuals. While male and female same-sex sexual activity is legal in South Korea, marriage or other forms of legal partnership are not available to same-sex partners.

4. Link: LGBT rights in South Korea (दक्षिण कोरिया में एलजीबीटी अधिकार)       

1. Topic: Haenyeo: Sea Women (हेन्यो)   

2. Writer: WBT3 (Hindi Team: Bisakha Roy Choudhury, Ritoja Paul, Shirsha Singh)

3. Short Explanation: We created a Wikipedia page on 'Haenyeo: Sea Women' in Hindi. Haenyeo (Hangul: 해녀; lit. "sea women") are female divers in the Korean province of Jeju, whose livelihood consists of harvesting a variety of mollusks, seaweed, and other sea life from the ocean. Known for their independent spirit, iron will, and determination, Haenyeo are representative of the semi-matriarchal family structure of Jeju. 

4. Link: Haenyeo: Sea Women (हेन्यो)       

1. Topic: Food Festivals of South Korea

2. Writer: WBT3 (English Team: Sukanya Roychowdhury, Shrijita Ghosh)

3. Short Explanation: We created a Wikipedia page on the 'Food Festivals of South Korea' in English.  Food Festivals of South Korea range from traditional food to modern with dishes featuring the finest local ingredients which provide insight into Korea's taste and culture. These festival find their origin as a means of retaining their cultural identity, raising awareness, and promoting local produce, cuisine as well as the Korean food industry. 

4. Link: Food Festivals of South Korea