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I FEEL the steady vibration of the drums, I hear the sound of wind flowing through the pipes, and I see the lotus made out of dancing pink-feathered fans—I am mesmerized. I recall going on a school trip to The Korean Folk Village in elementary school where everything simply seemed “colorful” and “lively” as if I were in a fairytale. As a child, I did not put much thought into the significance of the traditional aspects of the village. I remember staring blankly at the low-rise buildings, thinking they were “big” and “old.” The sandy grounds were just another playground for me to run arou
Travel Diary
Yang Soung-hyun
2019.09.04 20:47
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EVERY ONCE in a while, even the most casual of daily routines can take a toll on you. During the midterm exams, there was one single powerful thought that kept me going throughout: I wanted to see the ocean. This desire came to my mind once more as I randomly recalled the lyrics to “Gwandong Tunes,” an old Korean poem that we learned back in high school. Jeong Chul, the poet of the Tunes, had sought healing from the nature of Gangwon-do as he waited for his king to summon him back to the royal courts. Coming to know the natural beauty of Gangneung thanks to studying Korean Geography and having
Travel Diary
Cho Seung-wan
2019.06.03 23:42
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EARLY SUMMER is everyone’s favorite time of year in Korea –– the warm breeze after the chilly air has thawed, the freshly sprouted green leaves, and the bright sunlight evokes a feeling of peaceful bliss. Imagine being in the fresh outdoors that's bursting with excitement, and with mid-terms having come to an end, there is no better place to blow off some steam than at any Han River Park. Join me on my visit to the Yeouido Han River Park. How to find the Yeouido Han River Park Hidden away in the middle of a forest of skyscrapers, Yeouido Han River Park appears suddenly at the turn
Travel Diary
Yoon Young-seo
2019.05.07 14:58
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SPRING HAS officially arrived. Pleasant winds awaken all life hidden from the sharp cold of winter, and cherry blossoms fill the air with a subtle pink hue. However, with the mid-terms just around the corner, I was stuck in the library all day, dying to take a break from all my books and notes. Luckily, I found a way to enjoy a short trip, through the blue bus 710. Stopping in front of the Yonsei University Main Gate, this cobalt vehicle happens to pass by several landmarks close to campus. Itching to embrace the warmth of April, I quickly scurried down Baekyang-ro, hopped on the 710, and emba
Travel Diary
Park Jae-ha
2019.04.03 18:37
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WE HAVE become so accustomed to living in the city nowadays that we might sometimes stop to think twice before planning a trip out into nature. To be surrounded by the beauty of untainted land is only a dream to some who see nothing past the concrete and glass walls we call home. From time to time we need a break, a spiritual retreat to take in the fresh air and spread our wings. There is one such place, beyond the artificial lights and away from the suffocating blanket of fine dust, where there lies a rich culture and history as vibrant as the aurora borealis and where gentle breeze brushes t
Travel Diary
Kim So-yeon
2019.03.06 11:06
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MARKING THE end of autumn and the beginning of winter, December has finally arrived. The piercing chill works its way through our thick jackets, and not even a cup of hot tea is enough to keep ourselves warm. As trees are stripped of their leaves and our breaths puff white clouds, a visit to Onyang Hot Spring offers a great means of melting away the cold. Onyang-dong has already been a popular winter travel destination for the elderly, as it is easily accessible through public transportation and it provides them a chance to relieve their nerves in public baths. Although enjoying hot springs ha
Travel Diary
Lee Hyun-kyung
2018.12.01 19:27
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ISSUES CONCERNING the division of the two Koreas and their reunification have always been unapproachable for me, as I lived abroad throughout my adolescence. I was oblivious to the inerasable scars that the division had left on Koreans, and its tremors still reverberating throughout the contemporary society. However, the repercussions of the separation struck me recently after watching a heartbreaking video on the reunion and almost immediate separation of family members from North and South Korea; these families were sobbing at the fact that they are unlikely to see each other again in the fo
Travel Diary
Lee Chae-wan
2018.10.03 00:20
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THE PAST ten years of my life was spent in the Philippines. For the first few years of my stay in this foreign land, I felt that I belonged only to Korea. As time went by, however, the Philippines grew on me as a second home, so much so that I have come to know the town where I lived in like I did the back of my hand. Then, I returned to Hwagok-dong, the place where I spent my adolescence. I was out of my comfort zone once again. The new buildings that had not been there before made my childhood home even more unfamiliar. I felt disoriented and unstable. So, I tried to make myself feel at home
Travel Diary
Hong Jee-seung
2018.09.02 11:04
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AT LAST draws the end to another hectic semester of the weekly-18-hour lectures, jam-packed exam schedules, and the never-ending array of all-nighters. Squashed under the heavy load of responsibility and assignments, everyone eagerly awaits the first possible moment to disentangle and bounce away for the summer holidays. In hopes to rejuvenate my weary heart, I impulsively booked a ticket to Chuncheon, a city rich with the days of my innocent childhood. 6:00 a.m.: ITX Train My trip began early in the morning when I took the first train of the day. The only memory I had as a child regarding tra
Travel Diary
Kim Min-jung
2018.06.04 20:43
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“EXILED TO Songdo.” An inside joke that Korea University students use to make fun of Yonsei freshmen, who are obligated to live in “the barren land” for the first year of college. It is quite childish and immature, but also not completely false. The thing is, when you are a freshman in Songdo, you tend to stick to the usual route: Songdo Central Park, Triple Street, Hyundai Premium Outlet, Campus Town. It is a dull cycle that we are all too familiar with. However, this is not all that there is to Songdo. Only about twenty minutes away from the Campus Town subway station is Soraepogu, a place d
Travel Diary
Kwon Young-sau
2018.04.09 17:14
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WELL DONE. We made it! It’s finally October 2017, the ‘Golden Holiday’ of Korea. Since the government’s announcement to make Oct. 2, 2017 a day-off, the country has been buzzing with excitement for the past three months. Social media has been overflowing with flight ticket promotion ads, personal travel hacks, national tourism campaigns, etc. The hype is no exception for university students who are full of energy, passion, and youth—all perfect for traveling. Where are you headed for this long awaited break? Still underprepared and unsure of what to do? Why not take a spontaneous trip to
Travel Diary
Kim Min-jung
2017.10.16 21:53
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IN A busy metropolis like Seoul, people are constantly yearning to discover the next “hot” location to satisfy their wanderlust. Luckily, the city government has recently renovated an old road above Seoul station into a walkway filled with unique attractions and bustling restaurants. Dubbed Seoul-ro, the walkway has become very popular since its opening last May. I decided to pay Seoul-ro a little visit to see if it lived up to the hype. Location Coming out of Seoul Station Exit 2, there is a round staircase up to the Seoul-ro bridge. You can also use the elevator. There are also a few other e
Travel Diary
Lee Kyo-jin
2017.09.03 22:25
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THE WORD cave makes us think of a mythical pit full of treasures and unknown creatures. Caves somehow fire up our desire for an adventure, but since they are hard to find around the city, we have to suppress our instincts for exploration. For adventurers out there seeking exciting journeys near the city, Gwangmyeong Cave is the place to go. Only about an hour and a half ride away from Sinchon Station by subway, Gwangmyeong Cave provides both an escape from reality and a thrill of the unknown. Remnants of a sorrowful history Gwangmyeong Cave was previously a mine established by the Japanese in
Travel Diary
Kim Yu-jin
2016.11.04 00:01
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CITY DWELLERS these days often head off to the mountains to escape the crowded city, but they tend to overlook the subtle beauty of nature that surrounds them. After scrutinizing popular travel blogs and websites, people fall into the trap of only observing what they are told. The result is a bunch of clichéd photos taken after strolling through the same courses. So my advice for travelers is to look at what the place is meant to show rather than what they are told to see. Here is an account of what I have observed throughout the one-hour trip to Bugak Skyway. Watch, listen, and smell t
Travel Diary
Yeo Ye-rim
2016.10.04 00:04
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COULD YOU believe it if there was a place where you canfind 7 national cultural assets and over 50 gorgeous traditional architectures in just one city? Suwon, home to Hwaseong, is this month’s destination. Hwaseong was built by King Jeongjo, the 22nd king of the Joseon dynasty. King Jeongjo’s father Sadoseja was destined to ascend the throne. But he fell victim to factionalism, and died after being locked away in a wooden rice chest. After witnessing his father’s tragic death, King Jeongjo sought initiate political reform, and thus constructed a fortress for the purpose of moving Joseon’s capi
Travel Diary
Jo Eun-ho
2016.09.07 00:59
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FOR MOST people, the Airport Express is merely a cheap means of transportation to Incheon or Gimpo Airport. However, the airport stations are only 2 of the stops among a total of 12, which means that it can actually take people to every corner of Incheon. With less than ₩10,000 in your bus card, you can leave immediately from downtown Seoul to the West Sea, where there are romantic parks and beautiful islands. Don’t worry about having to change your original schedule, because it takes less than an hour from Hongik University Station to Incheon International Airport Station. Ara-baet-gil, a rom
Travel Diary
Jeong Da-eun
2016.06.13 09:13
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BUAM-DONG IS where Yun Dong-ju, a reputable poet who lived during the 1930s and 1940s, stayed when he studied at Yeonhui Technical School, the predecessor of Yonsei University. While studying literature at Yeonhui, he resided in writer Kim Song’s house with his friend Jeong Byung-ook. During these times, Yun would climb Mt. Inwang, where he would polish his poetic concepts. Byeol hyeneun bam (Night counting the stars), Jahwasang (Self-portrait), Ddo dareun gohyang(Another hometown) and many other poems of Yun Dong-ju that are still loved by Koreans were written during this period. Thus in memo
Travel Diary
Choi Ye-seon
2016.05.11 00:54
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MULLAE-DONG, WHICH literally refers to the site of Mun Ik-jeom’s cultural ancestry, was once a foundation of Seoul’s steel and machine industry. During the 1960s and the 1970s, many textile manufacturing companies and steel industries were rooted in Mullae-dong; more than 1,000 steel industries were in full operation. However, due to the financial crisis in the late 1990s and the establishment of industrial complexes around the capital area, steel industries started to move out. As a result of the mass relocation, many buildings were left empty and the rent around the region declined drastical
Travel Diary
Choi Ye-seon
2016.03.05 21:24
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DUMULMEORI IS where two rivers, Namhan River and Bukhan River, meet. Dumulmeori is an old name that literally means “the place where two streams of water meet” in Korean. Although the name may sound unfamiliar, looking around, many will notice some familiar scenery. This is because Dumulmeori is where long separated couples in numerous dramas and movies met again. As such, Dumulmeori boasts beautiful scenery with a unique ambience that made it a favorite spot for many movie and drama directors. Let’s go into the details of this unfamiliar, yet reminiscent place. The history and story of Dumulm
Travel Diary
Choi Ye-seon
2015.11.05 03:32
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THE MECCA of greenery surrounding the World Cup Parks was once a mountain of trash. The parks were built on a place previously called Nanji-do, which served as Seoul’s trash landfill site since 1978. Before long, the once fertile land became polluted with gas and leachate. The citizens decided to revive the dying land in 1996 and started to care for the surrounding environment. As a result, Nanji-do was reborn as the World Cup Parks - the land of nature and life. Only 25 minutes away by subway from Sinchon station, the three World Cup Parks are Pyeong-hwa Park, Ha-neul Park, and No-eul Park, w
Travel Diary
Kim Yu-jin
2015.10.08 19:36