On a beautiful autumn morning in rural South Korea, the sky was a brilliant blue, the rice fields were turning golden, and our children were ready for school earlier than usual. It was the perfect day to leave the car at home. So we decided to walk to school, bringing along our Shiba Inu, Sonny. … 더 읽기
When people imagine Korea, they often picture Seoul—crowded streets, tall apartment buildings, busy subway stations, and brightly lit shopping districts. But an ordinary morning in rural Korea can look very different. One morning, I took my children to school as usual. Around our house, morning glories were blooming in many places. At the school, I … 더 읽기
Sometimes, an ordinary drive through a small Korean town reveals something unexpected. One evening, I was passing through Yeonggwang-eup in Jeollanam-do when I came across this large traditional-style gateway. At night, it is difficult to miss. The wooden structure is illuminated above the road, while cars simply drive underneath it on their way into and … 더 읽기
When people think about traveling in South Korea, places like Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island usually come to mind first. But Korea has another side that many overseas visitors rarely get to see. I live in Yeonggwang, a rural county in Jeollanam-do, and one of the most beautiful places in this area is Baeksu Coastal … 더 읽기
When people think about watching movies in Korea, they may imagine a huge multiplex in Seoul or another big city. But movie culture in Korea is not limited to large cities. Recently, I noticed this poster at Yeonggwang Small Cinema, the small local movie theater in Yeonggwang, a rural county in Jeollanam-do. It was advertising … 더 읽기
There is a large jujube tree right in front of our home in rural Korea. Most of the year, it is simply part of the scenery. We pass by it every day without thinking much about it. But when autumn comes, the small green fruits begin to change color, and suddenly the tree becomes impossible … 더 읽기
Yesterday was Gaecheonjeol (개천절), Korea’s National Foundation Day. While passing through the small town center near where I live in rural Korea, I noticed Korean flags hanging along the street. For Koreans, seeing the Taegeukgi on days like this is nothing unusual. But for someone visiting Korea, especially outside Seoul, it might raise a simple … 더 읽기
When you look across the Korean countryside, rice fields are usually the first thing that catches your eye. In late summer and early autumn, they can stretch across the landscape in shades of green and gold. But there is another part of this landscape that is much easier to overlook. Look beside the narrow farm … 더 읽기
Sometimes, going out does not need to be a big event. No long drive. No fancy restaurant. No carefully planned date. Sometimes, you put the children to bed, look at your husband, and decide to go watch a movie. That is exactly what we did one evening in Yeonggwang, the rural county in South Korea … 더 읽기
This is Part 1 of a two-part story about going to the movies in rural Korea. In this post, I’ll show you what our small local cinema is actually like. When people imagine going to the movies in South Korea, they may picture a huge multiplex in Seoul, surrounded by shopping malls, restaurants, and crowds. … 더 읽기