Ryukyu Kingdom special exhibition opens In November 1500, the ancient kingdom of Yuguguk (유구국, 琉球國), a chain of islands located far to the south and east of the Korean Peninsula, dispatched an envoy to the Joseon court. The envoy delivered a message to the Korean monarch. It reads: “King Sangjin of the Jungsanwang…
‘Dokdo is the proper name’ Representative Ed Royce, R-Calif., chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said on December 6 that “Dokdo” is the proper name to refer to Korea’s easternmost islands. Royce is known to have said that, “We have to understand history and what abuses occurred, because it is…
Korean Literature in English ‘The Guest,’ by Hwang Sok-Yong ‘The Guest,’ by Hwang Sok-Yong The Korean War is a historic event that had a great impact on the Korean Peninsula and the people living on it. Of the many different faces of war, big or small, that haphazardly happened across the war-stricken peninsula,…
Ancient Baekje fortress wall believed to be 5 stories high In eastern Seoul, on the southern banks of the Hangang River, lie the ancient remains of an earthen-walled fortress, the Pungnaptoseong. Archaeologists believe it to be the ancient capital city of the Baekje Kingdom (18 B.C.-A.D. 660) from Korea’s Three Kingdoms Period (57…
Goryeo tomb found with ancient Indian script A tomb from Goryeo times (918-1392) has been recently unearthed in Sunchang, Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla Province), that features ancient Sanskrit script. The tomb in Sunchang-gun (county), known as the Old Burial Mound, or the Nongso gobun, was previously thought to be a tomb from Korea’s Three…
Seoul, a top-ten city for students Seoul has been selected as one of the ten best cities in the world in which to be a student. The Guardian newspaper reports on the QS Best Student Cities 2015 report which introduced Seoul as one of the best cities worldwide for students. QS, a global…
Masks & the Mask Dance *This is the fourth part in our series, “Masks & the Mask Dance” published in partnership with the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage Mask dances performed in an open field (yaryu) • The Suyeong Open Field Dance • The Dongrae Open Field Dance The open field mask…
Learn the island’s history at the Jeju National Museum The creation of Jeju Island, which constitutes the only special self-governing province in Korea, is based on the Myth of the Samseong (삼성, 三姓), the three demi-gods. The three demi-gods — Yangeulna (양을나, 良乙那), Goeulna (고을나, 高乙那) and Bueulna (부을라, 夫乙那) — were known…
Enjoy the hidden scenery of Jeju on foot Walking is the best way to explore every nook and cranny along the way. It allows travelers to see and experience things that they are very likely to have missed out on from their vehicles. The pleasures that nature gives us — the sounds of…
The joys of photography in Korea: when you’ve got a camera in your hands, anything can happen I never knew I would fall in love with photography when I came to Korea almost seven years ago. What started out as a simple hobby has turned into one of my greatest passions. Being a…
