Gyeongbokgung (경복궁): visiting the best palace in South Korea

When talking about South Korea, one of the first things to keep in mind is definitely its history rich in culture and art.
In this article I will tell you about a very important place to visit during your trip to Korea.
If you want to know more about this incredible place, keep reading this article to find out more about Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁), how it was born, how it is composed and how to get there.

History

Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) is located in the center of Seoul which is also called the most historical part of the city. Gyeongbokgung was the largest palace of the 5 built in the Joseon Dynasty. The palace was built in 1394, it also symbolizes the Korean royal family and covers an area of 410,000 square meters, with a complex of 330 buildings and 5,792 rooms.

Map of Gyeongbokgung Author: Seoul Tourism Organization (https://english.visitseoul.net/walking-tour/GyeongbokgungPalace/ENN000608)

However, in 1911 the Japanese occupation destroyed all the buildings, sparing only 10 of them, with the result that historians had difficulty understanding how it was in his original state due to the lack of photographs.

Two of the most important buildings are the Imperial Throne Hall and the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion (경회루), which is located in the center of an artificial lake of lotus flowers.

You will notice that the pavilion is featured on the 10,000 won bills
Since 1990, restoration work has begun on the palace to restore it to its original state.

But let’s take a look at some of the most important buildings:

Geunjeongjeon (근정전): It is the main hall of the palace, where the King performed his duties and welcomed foreign embassies. In this hall, 7 kings were also crowned (1395-1546)

This room is on a single floor and has a very high and important ceiling, like the authority of the King.
In the center of the back is located the throne and in the center of the ceiling you can see clouds with 2 dragons that symbolize the King.

Gyeonghoeru (경회루): Gyeonghoeru, also called the Pavilion of Joyful Encounter, is the largest elevated pavilion in the country. In 1592 the Japanese occupation burned the pavilion and only the stone pillars remained but it was rebuilt under the reign of Gojong.

Gyeonghoeru (경회루) Photo by eimoberg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/eimoberg/298496073/)

During the Joseon period, the pavilion was used for banquets, and today it is used for special occasions.

Final conclusions

So what can we learn from this? Gyeongbokgung is an important pillar of Korean history and culture, despite the turbulent history behind this incredible palace, there has always been a way to rebuild and preserve it over time so that we have the chance to see its beauty to this day.

Where the palace is located and how to get there

Gyeongbokgung is located at the end of the great road of Sejong-dero, which is the heart of Seoul.
Moreover, since there is a subway station, it is also quite easy to get there.
How? Just take subway line 3 and get off at Gyeongbokgung station (경복궁역) Exit 5, or if you want to take a walk first, you can take subway line 5 and get off at Gwanghwamun Station (광화문역) Exit 2.

Surroundings

Speaking of walking, since you are in the heart of Seoul, you can also visit other wonderful places around the Palace, such as the famous Gwanghwamun (광화문) Square, where they often organize very interesting cultural events, or you can stop by the National museum of Korean contemporary History.
Or why not visit one of the wonderful traditional and non-traditional cafes that are in that area?

Source: Wikipedia

If you are planning your trip to South Korea, you definitely need to have a guide with you, whether digital or paper, and I have just the thing for you!
On the Lonely Planet website you can purchase an itinerary entirely dedicated to your visit to South Korea and specifically to Seoul!
With my discount code ABROADNESSA10 or by clicking the affiliate link (here) you will get a 10% discount on your purchase.
You can choose between the eBook, the Book and the eBook+Book combo.

April 30, 2024April 30, 2024

Between French pastries, great classic books and teddy bears the Teddy Beurre House (테디뵈르하우스) might be for you

During my stay in South Korea I visited a lot of cafés, because as I had already talked about in my past article ”If you like cozy cafés this post is for you”, the coffee culture in Korea is very prominent and therefore there are of all types; but today I will focus on one in particular, namely the Teddy Beurre House (테디뵈르하우스) If you’re curious, keep reading the article

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Teddy Beurre House (테디뵈르하우스)

So, let’s start from the fact that the most popular coffees are the so-called cute and aesthetic ones, so you will find plenty of them, but the Teddy Beurre House in particular is incredibly cute.
In fact, both the interiors and exteriors, as the name suggests, are teddy bear themed.
As soon as you arrive you will be able to see this rustic style building with 2 large teddy bears waiting for you at the entrance. Inside, the ”wooden house in the middle of the woods” theme also extends to the counter, where you can order delicious French pastry products, or in any case inspired by typical French pastries, such as the classic Croissants or the famous Pain au chocolat.

In the middle of the café you will find a staircase decorated with the names of great classic books, such as The Little Prince and Pride and Prejudice, and at the top you will find a small shelf of books on display – I’m not sure if you can touch the books on display, but you can ask at the counter – but in that area you can still take those cute photos you see on Instagram.

I find it to be a cafe worth visiting, especially if you miss European treats or if you just want to try something new. I strongly advise you to book as it is always full, but if you are in the area and still want to pop in, as soon as you arrive you will have to register your number or they will give you a waiting number and you can wait until they call you when there is a vacancy table. (wait about 20-30 minutes).

*The prices of drinks vary from 4,000-5,000 won, while for pastries, they vary from 5,000-9,000 won. It’s a little more expensive than other cafes but it’s worth it.

Where it is located and how to get there

The Teddy Beurre House is located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, near the Han River.
To get there, take subway line 4 and get off at ”Samgakji” (삼각지역), exit at exit 3 and then walk for about 4 minutes. Or take line 6 and get off at the same stop. (walking time is the same)

Instagram: Teddy Beurre House

April 23, 2024April 23, 2024

Visit this big museum in Seoul: the National Museum of Korea (국립중앙박물관)

One thing I like to do is recommend museums when visiting a country, it is always nice to discover the art and history of the place that is giving us hospitality, so in this article I will tell you about the National Museum of Korea, a MUST visit during your stay in the country.

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National Museum of Korea (국립중앙박물관)

This museum located in Yongsan Park in Seoul is the sixth largest museum in the world. Inside there are 220,000 artefacts on display, including 13,000 displayed in permanent exhibitions. Furthermore, it is South Korea’s main art and history museum.

The first museum was founded in 1908 by Emperor Sunjong (last Emperor of Korea) This museum was moved several times over the years, and only found a permanent home in 2005.

The collections

This museum is made up of 3 floors:

1°floor: On the first floor we have the archaeological gallery which goes from the Paleolithic to the Silla unification period
2°floor: On the second floor we can find an exhibition on Korean religious and traditional art and also a collection of 800 artifacts from other cultures.
3°floor: Last, on the third floor there is a gallery that displays Korean artisan objects and Buddhist sculptures, plus you can find many Asian art objects

The really interesting thing is that the museum also continues outside, in fact you can find an exhibition of pagodas, stupas, steles and a garden with local plants.

Stupa and Stone Coffin for Master Jingong, 869-940

Stone Lantern from Hyeonhwasa Temple, 1009-1031

How to get

To get to the museum, take subway line 4 or the Gyeongui-Joungang line (경의중앙) and get off at Ichon Station (이촌역), exit at Exit 2 and walk for about 150m (5 minutes on foot)

Personal thoughts

I find that this museum is too important not to be visited, as it contains a lot of Korean history and art, you can have a more open and specific vision of how this country was born, and in my opinion it is right to visit it at least once. Even the little ones will be able to have fun and learn many things.

Once the internal visit is finished, you will have an entire park to visit, where you can take a nice walk among nature, and at the same time read some more information on the various finds scattered around the museum.

Museum entry: free

Museum website: National Museum of Korea

*All photos were taken by me

*Source: Wikipedia

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April 8, 2024April 8, 2024

This K-beauty products might be perfect for your daily life

A few weeks ago I wrote an article about the best stores where you can buy k-beauty products during your trip to Korea, but today I would like to go into detail and recommend 6 products that I personally love and that I think might interest you.
So if you’re not sure what to buy, keep reading the article

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1. Clio pro eye palette N.14 Atelier in Hannam

Let’s start with a product for the eyes; I personally love glitter, pink and all its shades, and I bet there are many people like me, so I think that the Clio pro eye palette N.14 is perfect for you.
The colors are pigmented and give you that beautiful natural effect but which manages to give character to the eye. The glitters – which is a must in Korean makeup – is easily applied both with the brush and with the fingers.
In my opinion, this palette fully represents everything related to the classic make-up that we see K-celebrities wearing all the time, i.e. neutral and natural colors but with a touch of brightness and glow effect.
I found this palette at Olive Young but it was new and therefore they no longer sell it in stores but you can purchase it on the CLIO website.

Website: Clio pro eye palette

2. Peripera Ink Velvet

This lipstick is literally one of my absolute favorites, Peripera never ceases to amaze me honestly.
The velvety formula of the lipstick leaves the lips soft and hydrated, it is absolutely not heavy and lasts all day. You can also use it to make the famous gradient lips: more intense in the center of the lips and then blended out, or simply applied normally on all the lips.
I personally prefer red tones, but Peripera offers a wide range of colours, from nude to brighter colours.
You can find this brand and this specific lipstick in all the most famous make up shops in Korea (Olive Young) or you can buy it online. I highly recommend to try it, you won’t regret it.

You can buy it on Yesstyle website: Peripera Ink Velvet

3. JMsolution Water Luminous mask

We all know that Korea is famous for its face masks. During my stay in Korea I tried many and many different brands, and this has become one of my favorites.
The JMsolution water luminous mask leaves your skin super hydrated and moisturized, after removing it you will immediately feel better and much more glowy.
I also recommend it because there is a lot of product in the package that you can also use on your neck and the rest the body to give more hydration to the skin and not waste anything.
You can find these masks in all the shops that sell face masks in the so-called ”shopping streets” such as in Myeong-dong.
But if you are not in Korea you can buy them online.

Yesstyle website: JMsolution masks

4. Ma:nyo Pure&Deep cleansing foam

Cleaning your face every day is a very important thing, and using the right products by choosing them carefully is essential, so I would like to recommend this cleansing foam by Ma:nyo because it cleans the skin thoroughly but delicately, leaving the skin beautifully hydrated and soft after washing.
I find it perfect for those who, like me, have sensitive skin.
Furthermore, the product lasts a long time as only a small amount of product is enough to clean your entire face.
You can find it at Olive Young when you are in Korea or buy it online.

Ma:nyo US website: Pure&Deep cleansing foam

On Yesstyle

5. Beauty of Joseon Sunscreen

Let’s talk about sunscreens; one of the most important things in our entire skincare/make up routine, to protect the skin from damage caused by the sun.
I know that finding the perfect sunscreen for us is often difficult, I also tried many before finding the right one, and I finally found it! Beauty of Joseon’s sunscreen is one of the best on the market in my opinion. This sunscreen is very light on the face, hydrates the skin and is SPF50+ PA++++, therefore it protects our skin as much as possible.
It is also composed of vitamin B, C, E and rice extracts (30%).
But the most important thing is that it doesn’t leave that terrible white halo that many sunscreens unfortunately leave on the face, making you look like a ghost. With this cream and its light formula you won’t have this problem.
You can find the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen, obviously at Olive Young and on the Beauty of Joseon website.

Website: Beauty of Joseon

6. Stay Nudie ”Over Floral” Hair and Body mist

As a last product I would like to recommend a hair and body mist that I fell in love with during one of my usual visits to Olive Young.
This fragrance is called Over Floral and is incredible; First of all it lasts all day and then if you like floral scents this perfume is for you.
The packaging is super cute in pink/peach tones.
This fragrance is composed of coconut, jasmine, Lily of the valley and vanilla. In short, you will taste fresh and clean.
As mentioned before you will find it at Olive Young but if you are not in Korea you can buy it on yesstyle.

Yesstyle website: Stay nudie Over Floral

*This article is NOT an advertisement, and I was NOT sponsored by any of these brands and websites. These are just my recommendations.

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March 27, 2024April 8, 2024

Reasons why you MUST visit the Starfield Coex Mall

Today I want to recommend a super interesting place to visit during your trip to South Korea. I’m sure that during rainy days or when it’s very hot/cold you don’t really want to be outside, that’s why I wanto to give you another option, so in this article we’ll talk about… shopping mall! to be precise, one in particular: The Starfield Coex Mall.
If you are curious to find out more, continue reading the article…

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Starfield COEX Mall

But let’s immediately see what this immense shopping center located in the Samseong-dong (삼성동) district in Seoul – between Jamsil 잠실 and Gangnam 강남 – has to offer.
The Starfield Coex Mall is the largest underground shopping center in all of Korea, in fact inside there is: a large aquarium, a big cinema, luxury hotels, lots of shops, 2 refreshment areas and most importantly… a library!

Yes, you understood exactly right, a huge library called Sarfield Library, made available to all those who want to stop for a moment from the frenzy and sit down to read a good book, a magazine or a comic. Well yes, you can borrow one of the books made available by the Starfield Library.
This library offers 50,000 titles, so it can be said that there is something for everyone. Furthermore you can partecipate at different events like presentations of new books or small plays that could interest even the little ones.

Christmas decorations at the Starfield Library

Some pictures of outside the mall

One of the entrance of the shopping mall

Some stores outside the Starfield Coex Mall

What else to do?

But that’s not all, in addition to the library, you can dedicate yourself to unbridled shopping, you will have the opportunity to visit many shops of international brands such as H&M, Zara, Vans, Nike, Swatch etc… or the more local ones such as Daiso, Aland, Kakao Friends, SPAO etc… in short, whatever you are looking for, be it clothes, shoes, make up, household products, you will find everything conveniently in the same place.

Inside the shopping center you will also find many restaurants of all types, from typical Korean ones to those from other countries, to satisfy everyone’s tastes.
The Coex Mall also has a large aquarium where you can spend a nice day in the company of little fish, penguins, turtles and much more. But if you are not a fan of the sea life you can always go check the cinema, as this shopping center hosts the MEGA BOX.
You will also find many coffee brands, the most famous ones in Korea, such as Hollys and Coffee Bean.

Starfield Aquarium

So what are you waiting for? pop in and enjoy all the things this incredible shopping center has to offer

You can look at the floor map here: F LOOR INFO

How to get there

To get to the Coex Mall, take line 2 and get off at Samseong Station (삼성역) or take line 9 and get off at Bongeunsa Station (봉은사역).
You won’t have any difficulty finding the shopping centre, as both subway stops are located exactly under the Coex Mall, so all you have to do is follow the signs and you will come out directly at one of the entrances.

*all photos and videos were taken by me

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March 20, 2024April 8, 2024

The 5 best Korean make-up and skincare stores

All Korea lovers know that South Korea is the home of skincare and makeup, and being a fan of beauty products myself, I would like to recommend the 5 beauty product shops that in my opinion are the best with excellent quality-price.
So if you are passionate about skincare and make up and are planning a trip to South Korea, continue reading this article

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1) Innisfree

Let’s start with a bang, let’s talk about Innisfree – personally one of my absolute favorites – this shop which has now become global, offers a vast quantity of skin products of all types, with a lot of choice, in fact you can find various toners, serums and moisturizing creams that are right for you.

Innisfree also offers make up and nail polish. I personally love their line of ”Airy Matte” lipsticks and the famous ”Jeju Cherry blossom jelly cream”, which is a real treat for the skin.
The price of the products is also very good considering the high quality of the products.
If you plan a longer stay in Korea, I recommend getting a membership card which could be useful to you as Innisfree offers advantageous discounts once you are a member.
The shop assistants are always kind and helpful in case you need help or some advice.
Innisfree is completely cruelty-free

Where can I find the stores?

Everywhere! Innisfree is one of the most popular brands in South Korea, so wherever you are you will have no difficulty finding an Innisfree store.

Website: Innisfree

2) Olive Young

Well what can I say, this shop is THE STORE par excellence when it comes to beauty and body care products. Olive Young is the most popular shop in all of South Korea, you can find it everywhere even in the most remote places, in the narrowest alleys, there will always be an Olive Young available for you!

But now let’s talk about what this shop has to offer; first of all you will have a huge selection of make up, you will be able to find very popular korean brands and products that are on trend at that moment or exclusive collections. The same goes for skincare products, a huge selection that also varies in price, you can find cheap or very expensive products, but the quality is always incredible.

One thing I particularly appreciate about Olive Young is that very often you will find ”1+1” written on the packages which means that if you take that particular product, you will receive a free one of the same size or you will have the normal product and then a smaller version of it, and in my opinion this is excellent for those who perhaps can’t spend too much but still want to spoil themselves a little.

The larger stores also offer international brands, such as Urban Decay and Maybelline.
Olive Young also offers other products, such as perfumes, hair dyes, personal hygiene products and there is also a small section that sells snacks (however, I recommend buying those directly at the convenience store as they cost less)
So if you need anything related to the care of your body, Olive Young is for you.

Website: Olive Young

3) Nature Republic

Ok so let’s talk about Nature Republic, I discovered this brand by chance, in the sense that I have always walked past it but never checked it out, then one day out of curiosity I decided to take a look at it and… best decision I could make! First of all, at Nature Republic you can find the much-loved face masks, of all types and for all skin types and then it is also very cheap but offers excellent quality for any product you purchase, from skincare to make up, you will be amazed how great the products are for such a low price.

I honestly fell in love with their ”Honey melting lips” lipsticks, the brown mascara and the glitters. I highly recommend visiting Nature Republic because they have so many great products for everyone.
Furthermore, if you buy more than two or three products, you will often be given freebies to try.
Nature Republic is cruelty-free.

Where can I find the stores?

You can find Nature Republic stores on popular streets like in Myeongdong and Hongdae, but you can often also find a smaller version underground where you take the subway.

Website: Nature Republic

4) ETUDE HOUSE

Etude House is more focused on make up products, you will find lots of lipsticks, palettes and products for your base. This brand is very aesthetic to the eye, in fact the shops present themselves with this house-shaped design and with all the shades of pink and white, very nice if you like the slightly ”pastel-like” genre.

If you are a fan of Korean makeup, here you will find all the products that even Korean celebrities use to create those wonderful glowy and natural looks that you see on advertising signs or on the computer.
I think that Etude is going strong when it comes to palettes and lipsticks.
The price may vary, but generally remains medium-cheap.
You will also find this brand more in the so-called ”shopping streets” – I wrote an article about it if you want to check it out
So if you like this very ”cute” style, Etude House is for you.

Website: ETUDE

5) Tony Moly

Last but not least we have Tony Moly. This was one of the first Korean skincare brands I ever tried – I recommend the ”ceramide mochi toner’‘, truly fantastic – However, this brand may be slightly more expensive than the others, but honestly, if you have the chance I highly recommend it.

Here too you will find both make up and skincare – Tony Moly often collaborates with Kpop idols – so they are quite popular products.
Also here you will have a wide choice of face masks (also sold in packs and often with excellent discounts), and a great choice of sunscreens, which we all know are very important, and usually Korean sunscreens are the best when it comes to protect your skin.
Tony Moly is cruelty-free

Where can I find the stores?

I admit that initially I struggled to find the shop, but now that I know the areas well I can tell you with confidence that you can find the Tony Moly shop in Myeongdong, Hongdae and Gangnam.

Website: Tony Moly USA – Tony Moly KOR

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March 12, 2024April 8, 2024

Learn Hangeul (한글): make the most of your stay in Korea

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Today I’m going to talk about the Korean language, one of the most fascinating and beautiful languages you can learn. That’s why the love for this language led me to live in Korea for 2 years.
But whether you are a tourist or whether you want to live there for a longer or shorter period, learning the Korean alphabet (Hangeul 한글) can be extremely useful to you. So if you want to know more, keep reading this article, it’s worth it!

History

First of all we need to know how and who created the Hangeul (한글) alphabet: therefore, this fascinating language was created in 1443 by a group of scholars in the royal research organization, called Jiphyeonjeon (집현전), under the direction of King Sejong ( 세종대왕), of the Joseon Dynasty.

The first Korean alphabet was proclaimed in 1446, under the original name Hunminjeongeum (훈민정음) which means ”the correct sounds to educate people”
Thus the Hunminjeongeum is a manuscript that describes the purpose of the creation, and use of Hangeul.

King Sejong statue in Gwanghwamun Square

The purpose

But what was the purpose of creating Hangeul? Well, korean people long time ago borrowed Chinese characters as a writing system, but learning or expressing oneself with Chinese characters or Hanja was difficult for common people, so its use was limited only to people of the upper classes.
And here comes King Sejong, who created Hangeul to facilitate and make the writing system accessible to people and to lower the national level of illiteracy.

The basics of Hangeul (한글

So now let’s go into more detail: Hangeul is based on 3 forms: sky, earth and the human being. By combining these 3 shapes, they create the vowels of the Hangeul alphabet.

The basic consonants are based on the articulatory forms of the vocal organs, while the additional strokes or duplications of symbols represent variations of the basic consonant sounds. Therefore, consonants and vowels represented by these principles form a very close system, both phonetically and phonologically.

Initially there were 17 consonants and 11 vowels, but some were eliminated and therefore 24 characters remain today. Since King Sejong contributed to the elimination of illiteracy, a ceremony is held every September 8th. In Korea there is also the national holiday of ”Hangeul Day”, celebrated on October 9th each year.

Consonants and vowels

Nowadays there are 40 letters, 19 consonants and 21 vowels:

Table of consonants and their respective sounds

Table of vowels and their respective sounds

*note that romanization may vary depending on where you get your sources

Below I leave you 2 useful videos on how to pronounce vowels and consonants, both simple and complex ones:

Consonants + Vowels pronunciation

Some features

There are 4 different types of Korean syllable structure:

When writing in Hangeul, the letters are not written one after the other like in English for example, but rather grouped into syllables.

There are two different positions for vowels, and they require different positions than consonants.

Vertical vowels are written with the consonants positioned to the left and horizontal vowels are positioned with the consonants positioned above:

Syllables that begin with vowels require the addition of the consonant ”ㅇ”, which has no sound in the initial position, but when placed as an initial consonant, it becomes a ”placeholder”

Syllables that end in a consonant put the final consonant below the vowel

The position of the final consonant in syllables with vertical vowels

The position of consonants in syllables with horizontal vowels

Here a small table of some simple words that you can try to pronounce:

There would be many other rules and things to say about this wonderful language, but for the moment I’ll stop here.
If you want to know more or if you don’t understand something you can leave a comment or write me a message directly on one of my social media.
Furthermore, if by chance you also want a part 2, don’t hesitate to ask me.

Sources: 서울대 한국어 Student’s Book 1A

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March 2, 2024April 8, 2024

This little treasure near the Namsan tower (남산타워) will make your jaw drop

Today I want to tell you about one of my absolute favorite places in Seoul.
I discovered this place completely by chance when I was returning home with the bus during one of my first days in Korea, and without exaggeration, I fell in love with it.

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But where is it?

This incredible place is located just below the Namsan Tower (남산타워) and is a street that runs alongside Huam-dong (후암동) in the Yongsan District (용산구).

You can go there only by car, bus or on foot, as there is no subway line.

namsantower, little trasure — Namsan Tower

What to do?

First of all you can take a nice and relaxing walk, with breathtaking views over the whole city, furthermore this area offers a huge variety of cafes, bars and restaurants with rooftops available which is always very popular in big cities. And it is understandable, given that even in this case you can enjoy your drink, coffee while watching the sunset or simply enjoy the view. -you can also take super Instagrammable photos, as they say nowadays-

But what I appreciate most about this place is the gorgeous terrace made available by one of the cafes below, where you can sit and watch the view and chat with your friends – I also highly recommend this place as a first date-
This place in general is very quiet, as it is not very touristy you will have the opportunity to enjoy everything that surrounds you to the fullest.

little treasure namsan — Sunset on the city

Along the way you will also find small streets that lead to the town, where you will also find a large number of unique cafés.

One of the streets that lead to the town

How to get there?

My advice is to take the subway to City Hall (line 1 or line 2) and then from there take bus number 402 and get off at the stop called ”Huam Mineral Water Station (후암약수터)”
Or if you come from Gangnam (강남) take bus 402 directly and get off at the same stop mentioned above.

So what are you waiting for? now that the good weather is approaching it’s the perfect time to go and check it out!

*all photos were taken by me

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February 18, 2024April 8, 2024

Insadong (인사동): The heart of Korean tradition

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We all know that when visiting a country, one of the most important things is to get to know and immerse yourself in the culture of the place, which is why today I will tell you about one of the most traditional neighborhoods in Seoul: Insadong!

But where is Insadong located, and how was this neighborhood born?

Insadong (인사동) is located in the Jongno district – we have already encountered this district in previous articles –

Anyway: Insadong is made up of many small streets that brings you to different areas of the city, plus, this beautiful neighborhood is home to a vast number of art galleries and tea houses, and is also known in history as the largest antique and art market in Korea.

Insadong began 500 years ago as a residence area for officials, and after the end of the Korean War, this area became the center of cafés and artistic culture.
Furthermore, this area became very popular among foreigners during the Seoul Olympics in 1988. Continuing to attract tourists from all over the world, this neighborhood offers traditional-style accommodation, cafés and restaurants.

Insadong the heart of korean tradition — **Insadong (인사동) street**

So what to do in Insadong?

Well first of all it is an excellent place to fully experience Korean tradition, visit the artisan shops that sell traditional products such as ceramic objects, tea and traditional Hanji paper (한지) and its calligraphy brushes. -I highly recommend this area to buy souvenirs as you have the possibility to find cheap or slightly more expensive items depending on your budget-
You can also take long walks through the streets of the neighborhood and find your own suitable place to eat something or drink a traditional coffee or tea.

Ssamziegil (쌈지길)

Ssamziegil (쌈지길) is a shopping center located in the heart of Insadong and is the center of many small artisan shops, cafes and art galleries. The interesting thing about this place is that in addition to being outdoors you have the possibility of going up a spiral encountering a vast amount of tradition, including food and handmade objects. At the top of the shopping center you can also have a nice view of the neighborhood and its surroundings.

**View from the rooftop of** **Ssamziegil (쌈지길)**

Address: 44 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Annyeong Insadong (안녕인사동)

About 1 minute walking from Ssamziegil (쌈지길), there is another shopping mall, called Annyeong Insadong (안녕인사동), this place also offers many activities to do and cafes to visit. I would really like to recommend you to stop by Seollaeneun Majung (설레는마중) café, this place offers delicious traditional Korean desserts, such as Hangeul Bread (한글빵) -the red bean ones are amazing, I recommend you try them-

And if you are a fan of Line characters, you can find their ”Line Friends” store as well.

Annyeong Insadong the korean tradition — **Annyeong Insadong (안녕인사동) entrance**

Address: 49 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

What to see nearby?

Since we are in the center of Seoul, there are a thousand other activities you can do but I personally feel like recommending two places in particular: first of all I find it necessary to check out the Jogyesa temple (조계사), which is the main temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. (4 minutes walk from the two shopping centers)

Address: 55, Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Insadong temple, korean tradition — **Jogyesa temple**

The second place I would like to recommend is the ”Seoul museum of craft art” (서울공예박물관) which exhibits a series of traditional and modern Korean crafts. (also 4 minutes walk by the main street of Insadong)

Address: 4 Yulgok-ro 3-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

How to get there

The direct subway lines to get to Insadong are: Line 1 (the blue one) with stop at Jonggak Station (종각역), or you can also get off at Jongno 3ga (종로3가역)
You can also take subway line 3 (the orange one), and get off at Anguk Station (안국역) -exit 6-

*all photos were taken by me

*Sources for the historical part: Wikipedia

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February 13, 2024April 8, 2024

This historical figure is one of the most important in Korean history

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Today I would like to talk about something a little different, since Korean history is very interesting and rich, I think it is right to delve into it as much as possible and give it the right relevance. That’s why in this article I will tell you about one of the most important historical figures in the country: Korean admiral and soldier Yi Sun-sin (이순신)

Who is Yi Sun-sin?

Yi Sun-sin was born on April 28, 1545 in Hanseong (한성) the modern day Seoul. At 22 he began training for a military career and at 28 he attempted for the first time the exam to enter military service as an officer. Unfortunately, however, he failed due to a bad fall from his horse, where he broke his leg. But with a lot of willpower he managed to pass the exam on the second attempt, at the age of 32, making him the oldest of all the new officers.

**Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin** **(이순신)**

From the Army to the Navy

Admiral Yi Sun-sin was a very intransigent and determinate person, therefore this character of his brought a lot of antipathy among his superiors and since this moral integrity of his did not go down well with his officers, one of them managed to have him imprisoned and in August of 1587 he also managed to have him demoted to a simple soldier.
But in 1588 he fought a battle against the Jurchen on the Tumen River. The conduct of this battle caused him to partially rehabilitate.
In 1587 there was a Japanese invasion in Goheung County (고흫군), due to this invasion, fear of a possible attack spread. For this reason, the border defense council established the importance of hiring capable officers, which is why Yi Sun-sin was recommended to the King, due to his great military skills.
In 1591, at the age of 47, he became commander of the naval forces of Jeolla Province (전라도) and was tasked with defending the western waters of the south of the country. Despite his little experience, he committed himself to strengthening the marine forces under his command.

The Imji War

In 1592 , Japan invaded Korea landing near the city of Busan and unfortunately the Japanese army was too strong and managed to conquer Seoul and Pyongyang (평양). Despite this, the Korean navy was not completely annihilated, in fact in June 1592 Yi Sun-sin received the order to face the Japanese navy. He therefore managed to defeat all the ships he managed to locate, making the most of the Korean ships (panokseon-판옥선).

In the subsequent clashes the Koreans managed to defeat the enemy ships without suffering any losses. Yi Sun-sin therefore managed to destroy the Japanese ships without too many consequences and bring one victory after another.

With China’s entry into the conflict in 1594, there was a truce between the 3 countries, and negotiations began. But in 1597, the war resumed with a new Japanese landing, but in this case the Korean defense was weak, because Yi Sun-sin was arrested for refusing to attack the Japanese fleets in the Busan area, as he did not consider it suitable.

Yi Sun-sin was imprisoned by Gwon Yul (권율) and the command of the fleet passed to Won Gyun (원균) who, however, not being able to manage the Korean ships, led the mission to disaster, causing almost all the ships to be destroyed, in fact after his death, only 12 remained. King Seonjo eventually returned command to Yi Sun-sin.

The Battle of Noryang (노량)

In December 1598, together with the Chinese admiral Chen Lien, Yi Sun-sin fought his last battle.
The two fleets (Chinese and Korean) attacked the Japanese one, which was withdrawing its troops.
Unfortunately Yi Sun-sin died hit by an enemy dart, but despite this, he died with pride, becoming one of the heroes of national history.

Kobukson (거북선)

Yi Sun-sin was also the ”inventor” of the turtle ship (kobukson) – if you want to see a replica of the ship, you can find it at the War Memorial museum. You can also find more information in my article ”Visit the best museums in South Korea” –

Coming back to us: I put quotation marks on inventor because the kobuksons already existed before, but Yi Sun-sin renewed and perfected them, also being so robust this type of ship accommodated around 150 sailors.

Museum

You can see the Yi Sun-sin statue in Gwanghwamun Square (광화문) in central Seoul. Also, under the statue it is possible to visit a small museum, dedicated to the story of Admiral Yi Sun-sin (충무공 이야기) and King Sejong (세종 이야기).

Historical figure Yi Sun-sin — **Gwanghwamun Square (광화문)**

If you want more information, you can visit the museum’s website: 세종충무공이야기

Entry: free

Address: 175, Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul – 서울특별시 종로구 세종대로 지하 175

Sources:

Wikipedia
Storia della Corea by Maurizio Riotti

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