Korea, as told by a Korean
I grew up with these stories — the history, the myths, the places most people never find. This is my way of sharing them
What I Write About
History, myths, language, and the places in between. Told by someone who actually grew up in Korea
There’s a side of Korea that doesn’t make it into guidebooks. That’s what this is about
Why Are There So Many Kims in Korea? A Korean Explains a Very Literal Proverb
Why are there so many Kims in Korea? It’s one of those questions that people notice long before they ever look up the answer — usually somewhere between watching a K-drama and wondering how three different characters ended up with the same last name. Ask someone who grew up here, though, and you’ll probably get…
Gisaeng vs Geisha: The Woman Behind Korea’s Most Misunderstood Title
Gisaeng vs geisha — it’s one of the most common comparisons made about Korean history, and it shows up everywhere from travel blogs to K-drama forums. Call a gisaeng a “Korean geisha” and you’ll usually get a polite nod. Say it to someone who actually studied Korean history, and you might get a correction you…
Manpasikjeok: The Korean Flute That Silenced Ten Thousand Waves
Here’s an embarrassing confession to open with. I’ve been to Gyeongju — the ancient capital city in southeastern Korea that every Korean visits on a school trip. I saw the famous temple, the famous grotto, the famous royal tombs shaped like grassy hills. And I completely missed the setting of one of the strangest, loveliest…
See what catches your eye
Begin with what draws you in: a forgotten story, a local saying, a hidden place, or a piece of Korean history.
