Korean culture

An Interview with Joey Rositano, Photographer of Jeju Shamanism

Joey Rositano is not your ordinary expat. Hailing from Nashville, the Tennessee native has called Jeju-do, an island off the southern coast of South Korea, home for the past nine years.  But it’s not just the island’s tropical charms and beautiful beaches that keep him there. Rather, his interests in shamanism, a religion that has …

1, 2, Cha, Cha, Cha: The Rounds of Korean Nightlife

It’s no secret that Koreans are some of the hardest workers in the world. From a young age, one spends his or her school days buried in books, memorizing endless pages of material while hopping from math academy to English lessons to study hall. There’s very little time for play, or childhood, for that matter. …

Who’s Who: Korean Ghosts, Goblins, and Gumiho

With Halloween festivities in full swing here in Seoul, it’s hard not to be in the spirit. Jack-o-lantern cutouts plaster the windows of restaurants, costumes have been donned, and posters in the city’s nightlife districts advertise Halloween-themed dance parties. Vampires, zombies, and mad scientists wander the streets, snapping photos with other cleverly costumed folks. And …

Getting Into the Halloween Spirit, Seoul Style

Note: The following information is accurate as of October 2017.  Halloween isn’t a traditional holiday here in Korea but over the past decade or so, it has begun to slowly seep into the nation’s culture. In Seoul, decorations can be spotted in storefronts while costumes can be purchased at supermarkets and specialty stores. Kindergarteners go …

Ideas and Tips on Gift-Giving in Korea

If you’re new to South Korea, you’ll notice the hundreds of specialty shops that dot the city streets that offer more goods and gifts you could ever hope to buy for yourself. A great way to take advantage of these amazing shops and indulge in their wares is to immerse yourself in the rich tradition …

Gross or Great? 8 of Korea’s Most Bizarre Foods

Every country has its fair share of… “delicacies”… and Korea is no exception. While some of the country’s dishes are downright scary (both in appearance and taste), others are just unfamiliar concepts to the Western palate that work surprisingly well. Nevertheless, they are all components of Korea’s rich cultural and gastronomic heritage that should not …

Muuido Island: Sea and Sand for the Weary Waegookin

To take advantage of the oh-so-wonderful but way-too-short bout of beautiful weather, a couple friends and I recently planned a weekend camping trip to Muuido, a small island located near Incheon International Airport. The Korean peninsula’s western coast often takes a lot of flak for its less than impressive beaches and lackluster views. As we …

Six Things You Need for a Korean Picnic

Is the weather not glorious right now?! In sunshine like this, I refuse to be inside for any longer than I absolutely have to. This includes for meals. In fact, one of my favorite things to do in this weather is picnic. And with all the great green spaces the city has to offer (like …

A “Zen”-Course Lunch at Barugongyang Buddhist Temple Food Restaurant in Insadong

Barugongyang offers up authentic Buddhist temple cuisine using only fresh, local ingredients. Read on for my personal review of the restaurant’s peaceful atmosphere and thoughtful course meals. It’s only been fairly recently that we’ve learned how eating greener and cleaner rather than focusing on calorie and fat counts can positively affect the health of our …

How To Celebrate Valentine’s Day Like a Korean

No one does lovey-dovey coupley stuff better than Koreans. This is evidenced by their tendency to snuggle in public, book lovers’ seats in movie theaters and celebrate a number of made-up holidays dedicated to coupledom. While each holiday has its own concept and is celebrated on the 14th of each month, there’s no doubt that …