01 Aug 2010, Posted by Matt in Gyeongsang, Historic Korea, UNESCO Sites, 0 Comments

Yangdong Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Gyeongju’s Yangdong Folk Village is said to be the most valuable of Korea’s six traditional villages in terms of its size, preservation and numerous cultural assets.

23 May 2010, Posted by Matt in Art & Culture, Best of DK.com, Seoul, Shopping, 3 Comments

Seoul’s Folk Flea Market

This market sells everything under the sun, from Joseon-era pottery and a knight’s helmet to a real tiger pelt. It’s a great place to get one-of-a-kind gifts for friends and family.

14 May 2010, Posted by Matt in Art & Culture, Best of DK.com, Festivals & Holidays, Historic Korea, Seoul, UNESCO Sites, 2 Comments

The Jongmyo Royal Shrine’s Great Rite

When King Taejo founded the Joseon Dynasty in 1394, he built the Jongmyo Royal Shrine to honor his ancestors. Each May, Korea’s royal Confucian ancestral rites are opened to the public.

05 May 2010, Posted by Matt in Chungcheong, Gyeonggi, Historic Korea, Jin's Around the Block, 3 Comments

Jin’s Around the Block, Day 2 (Suwon to Onyang Hot Springs)

Despite more rain, Jin and her friend continue their voyage south from Suwon to Cheonan and the Onyang Hot Springs.

01 Apr 2010, Posted by Matt in Best of DK.com, Food & Drink, Nature, Seoul, 8 Comments

A Bicycle Tour of Yeouido and Seonyudo

With spring on its way, why not take a bicycle tour of two Seoul islands – Yeouido and Seonyudo (My cover story from Seoul Magazine’s April 2010 issue).

06 Mar 2010, Posted by Matt in Art & Culture, Historic Korea, Seoul, Video, 5 Comments

The Lock Museum

A six-story modern box of rusting metal is an appropriate facade for The Lock Museum, a Seoul site dedicated to the collection, preservation and display of the dying art of handmade metal work.

22 Feb 2010, Posted by Matt in Art & Culture, Best of DK.com, Food & Drink, Historic Korea, Seoul, Video, 6 Comments

Tranquil Seoul in Buam-dong

Buam-dong feels far away from Seoul. Indeed, one shop owner described the neighborhood as, “too quiet for a serious business.” Many hope their peaceful piece of the big city stays that way.

03 Feb 2010, Posted by Matt in Historic Korea, Jeolla, 6 Comments

Nagan Fortress Folk Village

War, colonization and rapid industrialization have decimated Korea’s architectural heritage, and yet an astonishing amount of it still remains, especially outside the big cities. And thankfully, local and federal governments are making increasing efforts to preserve what’s left of old Korea, especially the numerous “folk villages” that dot the countryside. Among my favorites is Nagan Folk Village (낙안읍성민속마을), located in South Jeolla Province.

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10 Oct 2009, Posted by Matt in Historic Korea, Nature, Seoul, Video, 3 Comments

The Cheonggyecheon Stream

Here’s a new video blog about the Cheonggyecheon (청계천), perhaps Seoul’s best-known urban renewal project. To read the original post with photos, go here.

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.