This past Saturday marked the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War armistice that ended the hostilities between North and South Korea. Lasting from 1950-1953, the war that was catalyzed by conflicting negotiations over the reunification of post-World War II divisions resulted in over 2.8 million casualties, separated tens of thousands of families, …
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Fortunately, in our wide world of numerous languages and dialects, these words need not be spoken, or translated for that matter, for the message of a photograph to be conveyed and appreciated. Social media outlet (and my most recent app addiction), Instagram, proves this to be …
Before the days of discount supermarkets and department stores, markets were the primary locales for shopping, trading, and gossiping in Korea’s major cities. Sadly, due to rapid modernization and an increase in more convenient shopping facilities over the past few decades, traditional markets have continuously lost patronage and are quickly diminishing in size and number. …
When I graduated from high school, I thought my days of field trips were long gone. So, when I was told at the beginning of the semester that my Sogang University classmates and I would be participating in an off-campus “cultural experience” this past week, I got a little bit excited, mostly because it would …
Not long ago, I wouldn’t dare travel without my handy dandy Lonely Planet guide, dependent upon its maps, hotel reviews, and attraction suggestions. However, as the years passed and I checked off my dream destinations one by one, I realized that not only did these guides fail to give me insightful information, but they were …
Nami Island is, without a doubt, one of my all-time favorite Korean attractions. Sure, it’s touristy, but with good reason. The island’s stunning scenery and artistic atmosphere make it an ideal destination for nature lovers and design enthusiasts alike. Because Namiseom is a bit of a journey from Seoul, I’m not able to get out …
Nestled between Inwang and Bugak mountains, Buamdong (부암동) is a peaceful neighborhood located in the center of Seoul, shielded by nature from the neon and concrete that drench the remainder of the metropolis. Boasting only a single bus stop, Buamdong is not the most convenient place to visit. It’s this very remoteness, however, that has …
South Korea: a nation of kaleidoscopic vibrancy with a prowess to hypnotize any unsuspecting visitor with its technicolor features. While many might associate the Asian country with the colors of grey concrete, black smog, and neon, there’s much more to the palette that illustrates the colorful attributes that make up Korea. Wanting to prove this, …
It was about a decade ago when the coffee craze hit Seoul. Although the caffeinated beverage had been introduced a century earlier, it was often considered a luxury product and was not consumed by common folk until the sixties. The industry further transformed, however, in 1999 when Starbucks entered the Korean market. It didn’t take …
On a warm spring afternoon, Jin Park, a 32 year old Korean citizen, guides me to our destination on Nodeul-seom, a seemingly unremarkable island smack dab in the middle of Seoul’s Han River. Park looks like any other guy his age, donned in cargo pants and a navy hoodie. Those passing him probably suspect he …