A Rural Harvest Festival in Korea: Autumn in the Rice Fields — Part 1

A rural autumn harvest festival surrounded by golden rice fields in Myoryang, South Korea

Autumn is one of the most important seasons in rural Korea. Rice fields that were green throughout the summer gradually turn golden, harvesting machines begin appearing beside country roads, and farming villages prepare for the rice harvest. But harvest season is not only about work. On September 19, 2026, an autumn harvest festival was held … 더 읽기

What Is a Community Center Like in Rural Korea?

Myoryang Cultural Community Center in rural Yeonggwang, South Korea

When people imagine rural Korea, they usually picture rice fields, mountains, old houses, and quiet village roads. Those are certainly part of the countryside. But rural life is not only about the landscape. People also need places where they can meet, learn, organize activities, and stay connected with their community. In Myoryang-myeon, a rural area … 더 읽기

Inside an Eco-Friendly Farming Area in Rural Korea

Eco-friendly rice farming area surrounded by fields and mountains in rural Yeonggwang, Korea

At first glance, there is nothing unusual about these rice fields. A narrow farm road runs between the paddies. Rice stretches toward the mountains, utility poles follow the road, and small villages can be seen in the distance. It looks like an ordinary farming landscape in rural Korea. But this particular area near my home … 더 읽기

Why Are There Small Pavilions Beside Rice Fields in Rural Korea?

Two wooden rest pavilions beside rice fields in rural South Korea

Drive along a small road through the Korean countryside and you may notice something that seems slightly unusual. In the middle of wide rice fields, beside a narrow farm road, there may be a small wooden pavilion with a roof but no walls. Sometimes there is only one. In other places, two may stand side … 더 읽기

A Small Detail of Rural Korea: Old Rain Boots Turned Into Planters

Old rain boots reused with plants in a rural area of South Korea

Not everything worth noticing in Korea is a famous tourist attraction. Sometimes, it is something as simple as a row of old rain boots. While walking around a rural area in Korea, I came across these boots sitting beneath a wooden structure. They were no longer being worn. Instead of being thrown away, they had … 더 읽기

Walking Barefoot on a Red Clay Trail in Rural Korea

Barefoot red clay trail through Mulmusan Happy Forest in Yeonggwang, South Korea

Barefoot walking has become a familiar sight in many parts of Korea. People take off their shoes and walk on soil, forest paths, and specially prepared red clay trails. Some do it for exercise, some enjoy the feeling of the ground beneath their feet, and others believe it is good for their health. In Yeonggwang … 더 읽기

A Quiet Walk Through Mulmusan Forest in Rural Korea

Forest steps leading beneath a large tree in Mulmusan Happy Forest in Yeonggwang, Korea

When people imagine traveling in Korea, they often picture the busy streets of Seoul, famous palaces, beaches, or crowded tourist attractions. But there is another side of Korea that is much quieter. In Yeonggwang County, where I live, there is a low mountain called Mulmusan. Around it is Mulmusan Happy Forest, a place where local … 더 읽기

Autumn in Rural Korea: When the Rice Fields Turn Golden

Rice fields beginning to turn golden under a blue autumn sky in rural Korea

South Korea has four distinct seasons, and each one changes the landscape in a different way. Spring brings warmer weather and new growth. Summer turns the countryside deep green under hot and humid conditions. Winter can be cold and dry, leaving fields quiet until another farming season begins. But in rural Korea, autumn feels different. … 더 읽기

Why Do Traditional Korean Houses Have Walls Around Them?

Traditional Korean hanok house behind a stone wall and stone steps in rural Korea

When people first notice a traditional Korean house, or hanok, their eyes usually go to the roof. The dark gray tiles, curved rooflines, wooden columns, and wide eaves are some of the most recognizable features of traditional Korean architecture. But when I walk through rural areas of Korea, there is another feature that often catches … 더 읽기

A Hanok Cafe in Rural Korea: Cafe Dahwa in Yeonggwang

Cafe Dahwa in a traditional hanok setting in Yeonggwang, South Korea

When people imagine cafes in South Korea, they may picture modern buildings in Seoul, crowded streets, and stylish interiors. But travel into the Korean countryside, and you can find something very different. In Beopseong-myeon, Yeonggwang, there is a small area where hanok-style buildings sit together along a quiet rural road. Some are used as accommodations, … 더 읽기