My Korea

Prologue 4
The Historical Name of Korea 12
General Impression of Foreigners towards Korea 17
Have You Been to Jjimjilbang in Korea? 18
Which is the Better Household Appliances Maker: LG or Samsung? 21
Check-in Times at Incheon International Airport 22
Screen Golf 23
Moonlight Walks at Deoksugung Palace 24
Sareung: Royal Tomb of Queen Jeongsun 25
Visiting Olympic Park 28
The Biggest Cosmetics Store in the World 30
Seoul’s Fortress Wall 33
Have you heard about the reopening of Seokjojeon Hall in Deoksugung Palace? 34
Do you know King Gojong enjoyed coffee at Jeonggwanheon? 35
Bike Season is Coming 40
Korean Catholic History 44
Spring Weddings in Korea 47
Mountain Climbing at Jeongneung 50
Enjoying Spring Streets 51
Gyeonghuigung Palace 52
Jongmyo Shrine 55
Changing Seasons 56
Enchanting Anapji Pond 58
Deoksugung Palace 60
Do You Want to Study in Korea? 63
Sports Facilities at the Park 64
Why Koreans Hold Memorial Services for Their Ancestors during Lunar New Year’s Day 66
Best Place for Strolling: Changgyeonggung Palace 68
Do you know the DMZ? 70
The Beautiful Garden of Changdeokgung Palace 71
Traditional Korean Dress: Hanbok 75
Delicious Cheonan Walnut Cookies 76
Visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace 79
Motorcycle Dispatch Riders 80
Do you want to see the Korean Fortress in Suwon? 83
Where Is the Exit for Deoksu Palace? 84
Winter at the Eastern Coast of Korea 86
Namdaemun Market 88
Korean Buddhist Temple 94
Korean Bibimbap 97
Insufficient English Signs at Intercity Bus Terminals 98
Free Public Toilet for Travelers 99
Autumn Colors in Korea 102
Family Dinner at Home 107
The Significance of Leap Month in Korea 108
Korean Weekend Life 110
Strong Korean Wife 113
Free Parking Tips on Holidays 114
Dress Code for Wedding Ceremonies 115
Traffic Law 120
Supermarkets in Korea 122
Dynamic Korea 125
Public Golf Courses in Korea 126
University Campus Festival 128
Climbing Mt. Bugaksan 132
Itaewon Street Experience 133
Popularity of K-Pop Stars 139
Namsan ‘South Mountain’ 141
Insadong 142
Korean Karaoke ‘Noraebang’ 143
Travel Tips in Korea 146
Travelling in Jeollabuk-do Province 149
‘Miyeok Guk’ Instead of Birthday Cake 150
Have You Ever Tried ‘Kimchijjiage’? 153
Korean Greeting 154
The Greatness of Chungju City 157
Japanese Traditional Houses in Gunsan City 160
Iseongdang Bakery in Gunsan City 162
Bicycle Riding along Han River 166
Jejudo 168
Korean Table Manners 169
Korean Family Name 170
Korean Drinking Practice 173
Coffee Culture 174
Korean Job Title 177
Chopsticks Culture 178
Korean Professional Baseball 180
Incheon International Airport 183
Korean Messaging Service: KakaoTalk 184
Winter in Korea 185
Korean Mountain 188
Division of Korea 193
Lunar New Year Gift 194
Attending a Korean Funeral 197
Express Bus 201
Korean New Year Greeting 202
Jajangmyeon: Black Bean Sauce Noodles 203
Korean Winter 204
Seoul Taxi 207
Gimjang 208
Safe Country Korea 210
Gangnam Style and Samsung Phone 211
Kalbi 212
Gimbap 213
Etiquette in the Korean House 215
No Tipping Country 216
Busan 217
Soju 220
Bibimbap 223
South and North Korea 224
Dongdaemoon Market 226
Chuseok Gifts 227
Visiting Gravesites and Chuseok Activities 228
Namsan Walk and Business Opportunity 232
Gangbuk Style 233
Healing Road 235
Misunderstanding Samsung 236
Mt. Namsan 239
Another Young Generation Street: Itaewon 240
Business Lunch 241

After I finalized the first photo essay called <Way to Work, Yaksudong Street>, I have moved to another stage to introduce Korean culture in English through Facebook in 2013. The reason I started to write English essays on Korean custom is that several overseas colleagues in the hotel industry brought up the question why I did not introduce an English photo essay book for foreigners to better understand Korean culture. After I received various suggestions on the next publication, I started to realize that there is no proper book explaining the latest in local culture including Korean life style. When selecting a reading material for the hotel room guest, the concerned employee is always reluctant to hand an appropriate book which includes good pictures showing Korean life. As an hotelier for over 30 years, I have many chances to meet different types of people and business men from overseas. However, none of them was interested in or ever brought up Korean history. Instead of that, the traveler or the businessmen are more fascinated about the latest Korean fashion, life style, and favorite food and beverage restaurants in Seoul. I understand that in-flight magazines like Morning Calm Magazine from Korean Airlines provide these types of information with pictures. Even so, these magazines are only available in airlines’ cabins. In addition, while Korean hotel staff prepare their VIP room set up for government officials or group chairman from overseas, appropriate photo books in the guest rooms are not easy to find.
When I took a trip to Hong Kong last year, I noticed that each suite room at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong displayed a photo book titled Beyond the Metropolis. It represented village life in Hong Kong. These books seem quite elegant and are found on the bedside table. Although that book describes old Hong Kong life, the readers understand not only the city’s latest history but also the current way of life. On the other hand, locally published books about Korea only show beautiful pictures with introductions on Korean peninsula and the country’s long history together with shots of major historical palaces. I understand that the English essays seem to have been directly translated from Korean and all of the pictures were taken by commercial photographers who are not aware of the book author’s real intentions. Even though I am not a professional English and Korean writer, I decided to publish an English essay photo book based on my experience as an hotelier for more than three decades. I believe that this book will give a more positive and more lasting impression to readers who really want know about Korea and to Korean language major students who need to understand Korean ordinary life. Furthermore, my hand-picked photographs will surely pique the readers’ attention and will help showcase the beauty of the county.

Seoul’s Fortress Wall
April 30, 2015

After introducing the Fortress Wall of Seoul last week, my colleagues were quite concerned about its history and wished to tour the walls which stretch 18.6km along the ridge of Seoul’s four inner mountains, Baegaksan, Naksan, Namsan, and Inwangsan.
At present, a 12km section of the wall was designated as a historic site and was protected accordingly, along with the gates, water gates, and signal fire mounds. Following sustained damage or been entirely destroyed at various times in the city’s past, I understand that certain sections of the walls have undergone extensive restoration work.
Taejo, who was founder of the Joseon Dynasty, held the groundbreaking ceremony on January 9, 1396(by the lunar calendar). One hundred ninety seven thousand four hundred young men were placed under requisition over two years and completed the castle along the mountains Bugaksan, Naksan, Namsan, and Inwangsan.
Although I walk along the wall located at Mt. Namsan every morning, I do not cover entire courses which take about two days. I believe that the walking experience along the entire fortress wall will provide not only the knowledge of the Joseon Dynasty history but also a stunning panoramic view.