Saturday 1 May 2010. Today is a tourism day. We head out to Yongin, just outside the famous city of Suwon where the UNESCO-registered Hwaseong Fortress is situated. Yongin contains a folk village which opened in late 1974, at the height of the Saemaeul movement when modernisation in the countryside was bringing to an end … [Read More]
Place: South Korea (page 23)
British designers create Gongju Design Cafe
UK designers seek to transform Gongju town hall into a design cafe. Korea Times http://bit.ly/azWtvV #. Sponsored by Gongju City, the British Council and the Korean National University of Cultural Heritage, the renovation of the Japanese colonial-era (1910-45) building was completed by Michael Marriott, Anthony Burrill, Linda Brothwell, Fabien Cappello and Korean architect Kim Paik-sun. [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #3: Moon Vases and Kim Gun Mo
Friday 30 April 2010. As usual, my arrival through Incheon Airport is swift and stress-free. Morgan, my interpreter, is there to meet me, my rental phone is ready for pickup at the SK Telecom desk, plus this time I have the added luxury of a driver (though the hotel limo-bus I usually take is also … [Read More]
Hong Sang-soo wins Un Certain Regard
Hong Sang-soo wins Un Certain Regard prize at Cannes for Hahaha http://bit.ly/cjguln #. Nice shots of the Tongyeong area. Lee Chang-dong’s Poetry also wins the award for best screenplay. [Read More]
The Seoul Book of Everything
A new guide book, featuring content from some well-known foreigners in Seoul: The Seoul Book of Everything. http://bit.ly/coILfY #. But how will it compare with Robert Koehler’s guide? [Read More]
Changdeokgung room for hire
Perk up your boring business meetings: hold them in a royal palace. The Seonghyangjae, a room in the Changdeokgung, is available for hire. (Joongang) http://bit.ly/934Fhx # [Read More]
Heritage, Human Rights, & Hanoks
MUST READ: David Kilburn's scathing critique of Seoul's conservation record, in a talk given at the National Human Rights Committee Study Centre: Heritage, Human Rights, & Hanoks http://bit.ly/9Eff2D #. Here’s a sample: Since 1976, the Seoul Government has claimed it has policies to preserve the hanoks of Bukchon. Yet the simple fact is that the … [Read More]
Yun Isang memorial hall opens in Tongyeong
Memorial park opens to honour one of Korea's most famous composers, Yun Isang, in his home town, at a cost of 8 billion won – JoongAng Daily http://bit.ly/9B2doC # “It feels like father’s spirit has returned here,” said his daughter Yun Yun-jeong at the opening ceremony, while shedding tears, according to the JoongAng Daily. [Read More]
The world’s first jail for foreigners
If you’re going to get locked up in a foreign country, Korea doesn’t seem such a bad place to get jailed: a new facility in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, has Korean etiquette classes, Korean language classes, and satellite TV in your own language. Source: JoongAng Ilbo # [Read More]
Seoul is the place to go in 2010
According to the New York Times, Seoul is 3rd on the list of of 31 Places to Go in 2010. Design is the draw this year – World Design Capital 2010. http://nyti.ms/bR80vp # [Read More]
The April 3rd Massacre Tree
An alternative, historical, tourist destination in Jeju – the April 3rd Massacre Tree. Great article in Jeju Weekly highlighting the incident whose wounds are still felt today. http://bit.ly/4Lwr07. # [Read More]
Festive illuminations in Boseong
Today’s Photo: December 11, 2009 – Christmas lights illuminate the Boseong tea slopes, South Jeolla province. Beautiful. Source: Chosun Ilbo. # [Read More]
Sardine Santa at the COEX Aquarium
Joongang Ilbo picture of the day — Sardine Santa at the COEX Aquarium: a diver in a Santa Claus costume plays with a swarm of sardines during an underwater feeding show at the aquarium in southern Seoul. The show is held four times a day until just after Christmas. Source: JoongAng Daily. # [Read More]
Jeju’s destiny is set in stone
Darren Southcott, recently returned from a stint in Jeju-do, appreciates one of the island’s unique attractions: Jeju Stone Park In this age of globalisation, authentic Korea may seem elusive and challenging for the visitor to find, but there are many sites which seek to preserve the nation’s cultural spirit. Jeju Island, despite heavy tourist development, … [Read More]
Gansong Art Museum – a must-visit if you are in Seoul May or October
Paul in Uijeongbu visits the Gansong Art Museum (간송미술관) in Seongbuk-gu, northern Seoul. Only open twice a year, and full of priceless treasures http://bit.ly/uf5jYH [Read More]
Meeting more Mr Kims: CoolstuffKorea on Cheju Island
Jennifer Barclay, LKL contributor and author of Meeting Mr Kim, has landed herself a dream assignment for the Korean Tourism Organisation: tweet about Korea, travel round Korea, write about Korea on Facebook, generally do things we’d all like to be doing, and maybe earn a little bit of pocket money as well. Nice one, Jen. … [Read More]