13 Mar 2010, Posted by Matt in Chungcheong, Festivals & Holidays, Gyeongsang, Jeju, Jeolla, Nature, Seoul, 15 Comments

Spring 2010 Flower Festivals

Korea’s first spring flower festivals are underway! It’s time to check out some of the many festivals celebrating the sansuyu (cornus flower), maehwa (flowering apricot) and, of course, the beotkkeot (cherry blossom).

10 Aug 2009, Posted by Matt in Art & Culture, Historic Korea, Seoul, Video, 11 Comments

Gwanghwamun Plaza: A City’s New Center

The unveiling of a controversial, renovated Gwanghwamun Plaza has created a new centerpiece in downtown Seoul. Long a busy city intersection, what was 16 lanes of traffic is now punctuated by a 19,000-square-meter public plaza.

18 Apr 2009, Posted by Matt in Gyeongsang, Nature, 2 Comments

Busan’s Mt. Yongdusan Park

What do Melbourne, Osaka and Chicago have in common?  Well, they’re all considered their nation’s second cities, metropolises in their own right, yet wrapped up in feelings of both inferiority and superiority, thanks to always being in the shadow of the Sydney’s, Tokyo’s and New York’s of the world.

Korea’s second-largest city, Busan, is no stranger to such feelings towards its big brother, Seoul. Although it would be impossible for Busan to match up to the nation’s capital in terms of sheer size or cultural influence, the people of southeast Gyeongsang Province are rightly proud of their gorgeous and special city.

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02 Apr 2009, Posted by Matt in Food & Drink, Jeolla, Nature, 6 Comments

Jeolla’s Seonyudo Island

Although South Korea has industrialized remarkably over the past several decades, there are still unspoiled corners where nature remains in charge. One such place is Seonyu Island (선유도), which is located off the coast of North Jeolla Province.

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24 Mar 2009, Posted by Matt in Buddhist Temples, Festivals & Holidays, Food & Drink, Gyeongsang, Historic Korea, Nature, 40 Comments

Jinhae’s Cherry Blossoms

On the road from Masan to Jinhae. After emerging from a tunnel, the hills are covered in pink blossoms.

The city of Jinhae (진해시), is a special city located on a mountainous stretch of Korea’s namhae, or southern coastline. The town is best known as home to the world’s largest number of flowering cherry trees, or beotkkot namu (벚꽃 나무). For only a few short weeks each spring, an estimated 340,000 trees burst into a virtual sea of pale-pink blossoms. Fortunately, for the past 46 years, the hospitable people of Jinhae have shared their local treasure with the world as hosts of the Jinhae Gunhangjae (군항제), or Naval Port Festival.

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15 Mar 2009, Posted by Matt in Chungcheong, Festivals & Holidays, Gyeonggi, Gyeongsang, Jeju, Jeolla, Nature, Seoul, 3 Comments

Spring 2009 Flower Festivals Calendar