[box_light]Festival Time Seoul finds many ways to celebrate in October[/box_light] Written by Robert Koehler In Seoul, October is a time to celebrate. Throughout the month, the city’s streets, parks, and cultural spaces play host to a wide range of festivals and celebrations. Whether it’s enjoying a street performance during the Hi Seoul Festival, trying new […]
Busan Sikdang 부산식당 Busan is famous for their seafood, and if you are looking to get a taste of it while in Seoul, head over to Busan Sikdang. This little brick building near Insadong has been at the same location doing the same food for over 30 years, so they must be doing something right. […]
Daily Delights Here are my suggestions for a great food day in Seoul. [button link=”The URL of the button” variation=”darkgrey”]Breakfast[/button] Abalone Rice Porridge at Sen Jeonbokjuk 센전복죽 Abalone rice porridge is a delicacy in Korea that used to be served to kings. This dish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and is a good source […]
Quick Bites Handmade Pickles at Bapjitgo 밥짓고 티우림 A local favorite, this restaurant is known for their various pickled vegetables (jangajji). Here they make soy-sauce pickled cucumbers, chili pickles, turnip pickles, pickled mountain herbs and roots, and even pickles made from squid. They specialize in home-style Korean food with a twist. You can get smoked […]
[button link=”The URL of the button” variation=”lightgrey”]Jeongeup Granite Phallus 정읍백암리남근석[/button] Like many Korean rural villages, the entrance of the village of Wonbaegam in Baegam-ri, Jeongeup, Jeollabuk-do, is guarded by a sacred tree which is regarded as the protector of the community. Next to this tree, however, stands a 1.35 m high stone penis, said to […]
[button link=”The URL of the button” variation=”lightgrey”]Suwon’s Mr. Toilet House 수원 화장실문화공원[/button] Late Suwon mayor Sim Jae-duck was born in his grandmother’s outhouse, so perhaps it’s no surprise he maintained a keen interest in all things lavatory his entire life. Best known for his efforts to improve Suwon’s bathroom scene for the 2002 World Cup, […]
[box_light]Yeongwol Byeolmaro Observatory 영월 별마로 천문대[/box_light] Perched atop a nearly 800 m peak in rugged Yeongwol, Gangwon-do, Yeongwol Byeolmaro Observatory is Korea’s largest astronomical observatory, home to 11 telescopes, including Korea’s largest. Because of its location, far from the light pollution of Korea’s larger cities, the site is Korea’s best for stargazing, with an average […]
[box_dark]Adventurous Quick Bites[/box_dark] A Taste of the Phoenix and Dragon at Bomungol Hanok-jip 보문골 한옥집 The turtle is a symbol of longevity and strength in Korea. They are also supposedly descendants of dragons and phoenixes. The fact that turtles were only allowed to be eaten by the king makes the idea of eating turtle soup […]
[box_dark]KOREA THROUGH HER BIRDS Bird-watcher Robert Newlin explores an underappreciated avian world[/box_dark] Written by Robert Koehler Through Korea through Her Birds (Seoul Selection, 2013), photographer, comparative and English literature professor, and “birder” (the trendy term for bird-watchers) Robert Newlin wished to do more than simply show off his beautiful photographs; he wanted to do something […]