Sunset in Bukchon Hanok Village A little over a year ago, I moved to Bukchon Hanok Village from Yeonhui-dong. I moved there to be closer to Sungkyunkwan University, which is just on the other side of Changdeokgung, a brisk walk up the hillside. Bukchon itself is the area between the palaces Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung, where…
CNN reports on Korea’s ancient fortress wall CNN’s Global Treasure show, a TV program that explores UNESCO World Heritage Sites across the world, recently shed light on Korea’s Namhansanseong Fortress in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do (Gyeonggi Province). CNN reported that some 26 new sites around the globe were newly chosen as UNESCO World Heritage sites…
Let’s walk together to explore Korean heritage A series of events are planned to help non-Korean residents in the country explore Korean historical sites, sports, traditional music and arts & crafts. The Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS), part of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), will introduce a program targeting…
NYT calls kimchi ‘Korean soul food’ The New York Times has praised kimchi in a recent article. The New York-based daily reported in an article on January 20, “Cooking With Kimchi,” that, “It is the very backbone of Korean cuisine,” and that it is, “eaten enthusiastically at every meal, and daily life is…
A night in a traditional Hanok home, full of warmth, hospitality Amid the forest of high rises in downtown Seoul, there is a chic quarter of traditional Hanok houses, creating a stark contrast between tradition and modernity. It’s the Bukchon Hanok Village, located in Jongno-gu. Travelers who hit the neighborhood as part of…
NYT recommends Seoul for 2015 Seoul, the capital of Korea, has been included in the New York Times’ (NYT) list of 52 must-see travel destinations for 2015. The 52 cities and countries selected by the NYT this year are destinations that were once somewhat off the beaten tourist path, but which have now…
KTO publishes halal guidebook A food guidebook for Muslim tourists visiting Korea has recently been published. The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) produced “Muslim Friendly Restaurants in Korea” written in English last month. The book was designed to boost convenience for observant Muslim tourists who eat only halal food and no pork, alcohol or…
