August 15th is Gwangbokjeol (광복절) or Korean Independence Day, which celebrates the defeat of the Japanese during WWII and Korea’s liberation after 35 years of oppressive colonial rule.
In honor of the day, let’s head to Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province to visit the Independence Hall of Korea. The extensive complex was opened to the public in 1982, and serves to collect, preserve and display a wealth of data about the Korean civilization, with a special focus on the nation’s early 20th century independence movement against Japan.
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One of the wonderfully funky buildings that line the beachfront on Incheon’s Wolmi Island.
How about we escape the sub-zero temperatures of Seoul for a reminder of a warmer time several months back? This time around we hop on Seoul Metro and go west to the port city of Incheon: the city that’s striving to be the gateway to Northeast Asia.
As one of the world’s largest cities, it can’t be easy being in Seoul’s shadow. But Korea’s port city of Incheon, just 36 kilometers west of Seoul, is making a name for itself with an ambitious plan to become a regional business and logistics hub.
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Gongju’s well-kept royal burial mounds turn gold in autumn.
During ancient Korea’s Three Kingdoms period, the culturally sophisticated Baekje Kingdom (18BCE-660) sought a new capital when its principal city near Seoul was sacked. The city of Gongju (then Ungjin) was chosen, and for 63 years its spectacular temples and palaces thrived until the city was destroyed by a Silla-Tang China coalition in 660.
Today, this town in South Chungcheong Province has several important cultural attractions that remind guests of Baekje’s glory, but often escape notice from travelers to Korea. And among the most interesting is the Songsan-ri Burial Mounds.
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