Today, I visited Green Eats, a brunch café in Hongnong-eup, Yeonggwang, with a close friend. We went for a late lunch and ordered shrimp rosé pasta and ham kimchi pilaf. After eating, we stayed for an iced Americano and an iced toffee nut latte. What surprised me most was the value. The prices were lower … 더 읽기
Sometimes, the most memorable moments in life come from the simplest plans. One evening, my daughter was away on a school field trip, so it was just my son and me at home. We decided to go for a walk through our village. We eventually decided to walk to a small local shop called Dongrak … 더 읽기
When people think about the Korean countryside, they often imagine rice fields, mountains, and quiet village roads. But there is something else that makes rural Korea interesting: the many different crops growing in the fields. In Part 1 of this series, I shared our occasional morning walk to school. In Part 2, I showed the … 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
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
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
When people imagine rural Korea, they often picture rice fields, mountains, traditional markets, and quiet villages. Those images are real. But they are only one part of life outside Korea’s big cities. Drive from a small farming village into the center of a county town, and the scenery can change quickly. There are supermarkets, restaurants, … 더 읽기