South Korea Archives - Rachel's Ruminations

How to visit Haedong Yonggungsa Temple (Busan)

Ben Lloyd — Sat, 04 Mar 2023 18:17:39 +0000

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple may be the most beautiful temple in South Korea, unusual because it is right on the coast instead of on a mountain.

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Hongik University Street: 6 best things to see

Rachel Heller — Sat, 08 Feb 2020 14:47:30 +0000

Hongik University Street, also known as Hongdae, is one of the most famous streets in Seoul, South Korea. Here are 6 of the best things to see there!

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A Tourist to the DMZ

Rachel Heller — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 14:22:51 +0000

The no-man's-land of the DMZ embodies the tension that continues between these two countries, still officially in a state of war.

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Two Seoul Neighborhoods: Ikseon-dong & Bukchon Hanok Village

Rachel Heller — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 14:50:34 +0000

Two Seoul Neighborhoods: Buckchon Hanok Village contains many hanoks, but it has a completely different feel to it than Ikseon-dong Hanok Area.

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Suwon’s Palace and Fortress

Rachel Heller — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 15:02:18 +0000

Suwon, South Korea, a city with more than a million inhabitants, is a separate city from Seoul, but it’s been swallowed up in the post-Korean War urban sprawl, so that it’s in the same metro system. Getting to Suwon from the center of Seoul involves a very long metro ride: more than an hour, and...

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Seoul Tower Without a Date

Rachel Heller — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 14:04:20 +0000

Seoul Tower, perched on Namsan Mountain above Seoul, is visible everywhere, looking like some sort of 70’s version of the future. Built back in the 70’s for radio and television, it was and still is a communication tower. However, it’s also a destination for tourists and locals: a thing to do on a free weekend afternoon....

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Physical Therapy, Korean-style!

Rachel Heller — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 14:45:03 +0000

On my recent trip to South Korea, my left arm began to hurt. I dismissed it as a muscle ache, probably from carrying my luggage up and down metro stairs. Little by little, though, it got worse. I couldn’t sleep because I couldn’t find a position in which my arm didn’t hurt. When my arm started...

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Six (!) Seoul Palaces

Rachel Heller — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 14:11:18 +0000

Seoul is home to six different royal palaces, each built by or for a different king. Beautifully crafted and opulent, some are more intact and authentic than others. Authentic? The five older ones all include at least one tale of complete or partial destruction. All were burnt to the ground during the Japanese Invasion in the last decade...

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Mr. Toilet House? A toilet museum in Suwon, South Korea

Rachel Heller — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 14:15:54 +0000

The big gold-colored turd statue at the entrance to Mr. Toilet House, a toilet museum in Suwon, South Korea, sets the tone for a fun visit!

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