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
Princess Bari: The Abandoned Daughter Who Guides the Dead
In Korea, there is a goddess who guides the souls of the dead. Her name is Princess Bari, and it is usually said to mean “the one who was thrown away.” Because on the day she was born, that is exactly what her father did. Years later, she went to the land of the dead…
Gapjil: Why Korea Needed a Word for Power Trips
If you’ve ever worked a job in customer service, you’ve probably met this person. They don’t like your answer. They lean over the counter. And they say something like, “Do you know who I am? I’m the customer here.” In Korea, almost every young person who has worked a part-time job has met them too….
South Korean President Assassinated by His Own Spy Chief: The Night Korea Still Can’t Agree On
At about 7:40 on the evening of October 26, 1979, gunshots rang out inside a quiet, walled house a few minutes from South Korea’s presidential residence. Dinner had been served. Whiskey had been poured. By the end of the night, a South Korean president assassinated at his own dinner table lay dead — shot by…
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.
