-
Seokguram Grotto: Seoul’s Version
Seokguram Hermitage (경주 석굴암) is one of those places that makes it onto every list of top 10 temples, Buddhist sites or wondrous views while in Korea. If you haven’t heard about it yet, head over to my friend Dale’s website and read more about it there. As I’ve read the name and heard it again and again, though haven’t yet been the site myself, I recognized it when I came across the name in Korean as I sat on the side of Mt. Inwang in Seoul. Seokguram… Seokguram (인왕산 석굴암), when I realized why I recognized the name it made me all the more confused as to why there…
-
Tongin Market: Eat On A Budget Near Gyeongbokgung Palace
Traditional markets dot the map of Seoul with some becoming more popular than others either due to a central location, the size, or a delicacy or item you just won’t get anywhere else. Tongin Market (통인시장) probably became famous due to it’s location in the high traffic area just west of Gyeongbukgung Palace, but over the years it has become popular with tourists for another reason. Tongin Market offers a fun and budget friendly place to try a plethora of Korean eats in small portion sizes perfect for tourists and locals who want a little everything when it comes to Korean cuisine. Want a unique experience in downtown Seoul? Head…
-
A Landscape Revealed
At the foot of Mt. Inwang (인왕산수성동계곡) an interesting thing happened a few years ago. During demolition of the Ogin Sibeom Apartments in 2008, a scene very similar to that of the artist Gyeomjae Jeong Seon’s (1676 – 1759) in his “Eight Scenes of Jang-dong” appeared. During the rapid growth and industrialization of the area, the scene on the side of the mountain had been covered over with an apartment building in 1971 and wasn’t viewed again for more than 30 years. Upon razing the building a stone bridge was uncovered and the city, which had bought the land back for reclamation, decided to turn the area back into the beautiful natural…
-
Korean Eating: Where To Try Daegutang in Busan
Not all stews in Korea are spicy, though depending on where they are served, some may be spicier than others. Daegutang (대구탕), or cod fish stew, is one dish that is very different if you pop into a shop to eat some in the north versus the south. In the north, the soup comes out with a deep red broth. It’s spicy and is more akin to maeuntang (매운탕), or spicy fish stew. In the south however, the cod is boiled and served in a broth that hasn’t had spices other than salt, pepper and garlic added. The result is a deliciously simple yet flavorful and filling dish that allows…
-
The Military Invasion of Jeju Island
Most people that head to Jeju Island, known as the peace island, go with the intention of seeing the beautiful scenery from waterfalls and green tea fields to black lava sand beaches and palm tree lined lanes. Honeymooners go for romance and tourists go for scenery. With the tallest mountain in the country being the biggest draw by far for everyone from the avid hiker to the average Joe just out to get a jaunt and see some views, it’s a wonder that there hasn’t been more done to protect the island from military invasion. Though protesters in the small town of Gangjeong, meaning “Village of Water”, on the southern…
-
8 Stereotypes of the Korean Husband
What is it like being married to a Korean guy? Are Korean guys good husbands? Short answer: it depends on the man, same as anywhere. But Korea’s own labor and safety statistics do show real, measurable patterns by international standards, and after nearly two decades in Seoul, over a decade married to my own Korean husband, and a daughter we’re raising together, I’ve got both the data and the lived version to compare. Here’s what’s actually true. I never realized how many stereotypes about Korean husbands there were until I married a Korean guy and people somehow bring it into conversation so easily. Admittedly, the stereotype conversation usually comes from…
-
O’Sulloc Green Tea Fields: What To Do on Jeju Island
No trip to Jeju Island in South Korea would be complete without a stop at the O’Sulloc Green Tea Fields and Museum. It’s a must see spot and included on almost every Jeju itinerary that you’ll find online and popular for a good reason. The O’Sulloc Green Tea Fields and Museum (오설록티뮤지엄) is one of those places that is almost always busy with tourists to Jeju. But for delicious reasons. That doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of space to roam about though. With high-quality tea coming straight from the fields of Jeju, it really is a beautiful sight and a great souvenir from Korea or gift. Plan a trip to…
-
Gapa Island: Jeju’s Quiet Little Island for Biking, Barley, and Olle Trail 10-1
Gapa Island (가파도), the second southernmost point of Korea, sits just 5.5 kilometers off the coast of Jeju Island. It’s not the island off of Jeju that comes up in most planning conversations, most people head to Udo Island if they’re doing island-hopping. But Gapa is something different: flatter, quieter, and off the tourist trail unless you’re doing the Jeju Olle-gil. I first visited about 12 years ago and came back recently specifically to complete the Jeju Olle Trail 10-1 that runs around it. Gapa is said to look like a ray swimming in the waves, which is how it got its name. The highest point is only 20.5 meters…
-
Sanbangsan: A Temple Hike and Grotto on Jeju Island
This mountain was the peak of Mt. Halla before it was broken off and thrown to this spot on the southwest coast of Jeju Island, at least that’s one of the legends surrounding Sanbangsan (산방산) and the grotto inside it. The folklore really makes this stop. If you’re building a Jeju Island itinerary, Sanbangsan is one of the most rewarding and manageable stops on the island. The mountain has grown more popular in recent years thanks to nearby fields of flowers in bloom in the right seasons, and the temple complex at its base is beautiful. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your visit. Skip around, get the…
-
Jangeo: What Is Korean Eel and How To Eat It
Jangeo (장어), or eel, is one of the top three dishes to eat in Korea on the hottest of days in the summer, but it’s just as good any other day of the year as well. While you should definitely eat jangeo this summer in Korea, whenever you go, make sure you try this healthy and delicious Korean meal. I never tried eel until I lived in South Korea, but I can thankfully say it is now one of my favorite meals. If you’ve never eaten jangeo, now is the time to try it. From how to eat it to what to eat it with, here’s what to know about…
-
Saving Money the Multicultural Family Style in Korea
Banks are a fickle sort, aren’t they? After finishing up a two year savings CD in Korea, we were looking into another one and I heard through the multicultural family grapevine, over which much information is passed, that there were CDs especially available for us with higher interest rates. What? Did multicultural savings accounts in Korea exist two years ago too? They indeed had. Why hadn’t the bank teller mentioned this when it was clear that a multicultural family was sitting in front of her? Questions such as this and many more were answered on a recent trip to a branch of Kookmin Bank. Yes, this type of savings account…
-
Tapgol Park: A Respite In Seoul’s Historical District
There’s a park at the southern end of the popular street in Insadong that features a gorgeous pavilion and other historical artifacts. Tapgol Park (탑골공원) is a popular place for older Koreans to gather, chat, and play games and tourists meander in from time to time as well. This is also where the bus picks up to take tourists out to Nami Island so it’s a good spot to know the location of in downtown Seoul. More than that though, it’s an important historical stop to learn about the independence movement in South Korea. Learn more about Tapgol Park in Seoul: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive…
-
Chingu: Why Friend in Korean Only Works With Same-Age People
“Thank you”, “Hello”, “Give me… please” and a few other words and phrases are among a handful of words that foreigners just in Korea learn and among them is often the word chingu (친구), translated loosely as “friend”. Foreigners splice this word into their English sentences without hesitation and use it seemingly without understanding exactly what it means. This is probably one of my least favorite words in Korean and I’ll explain why. If you’re learning Korean or trying to speak Korean, then you’ve probably learned that there is a hierarchy in the language and how you use it. Because of this, who is considered your “friend” is really important.…
-
Korean Cooking: How To Make a Korean Pumpkin Side Dish
What do you do when you’ve accidentally picked a green pumpkin instead of a zucchini from your garden and you’ve got a zucchini recipe to try? My answer: try the recipe anyway. At least they are in the same family of plants. You might be wondering how this happened in the first place and I can say simply that in Korean, hobak (호박) is used as an all encompassing term for anything in the gourd family. The gourd family includes pumpkins, squash and zucchini and while I think they are so very different and deserve differentiating words, the Korean language does not. At the beginning of the summer season, I…
-
How We Revealed The Gender Of Our Baby
Living abroad when you’re going through big life changes that you’d like to share with your family can be rough. Luckily, planes, trains and automobiles exist. Though we can’t celebrate every part of our first pregnancy with my family in person, there are things we’ve been able to share through video calls and online and last week week we were able to fly to the States for three weeks to see them in person too. While we were home, we decided to make the reveal of our baby’s gender a bit of a spectacle in order to celebrate at least one aspect of this child within with everyone. (This post…
-
How To Get The National Happiness Card For Pregnant Women In Korea
With becoming pregnant in Korea comes a whole new set of rules, information, Korean vocabulary lists, shops to find, doctors to meet and well, just a lot of stuff to learn about. One of those things is the Pretty Mom card (고운맘카드) or National Happiness Card (국민행복카드) which all pregnant women, foreign and Korean alike, as long as they’re paying into the National Health Insurance system can get. This card is a pregnancy benefit that pregnant women can apply for in Korea, and this article is specifically about getting it: what it’s worth, what paperwork you need, and how the application actually goes. For the bigger picture of pregnancy in…
