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
Gongmin Shrine: A Hidden Spot Minutes from Hongdae
Most people who come to this part of Seoul are headed to Hongdae — the clubs, the cafes, the street performers. Almost none of them know that a short walk away, tucked behind an apartment building on an ordinary residential street, sits the Gongmin shrine — a 600-year-old royal shrine most guidebooks never mention. And…
Admiral Yi Sun-sin: The Hero Betrayed by His Own Country
Western naval historians have called him the equal of Nelson — some have said he was greater. What almost none of them mention is this: the war that nearly broke Admiral Yi Sun-sin wasn’t fought only against Japan. It was fought against his own government. Every Korean kid learns the same version of this story…
What Does Gungnyul Mean? Korea’s Unwritten National Rule, Explained
What does gungnyul mean? It’s the kind of word you pick up fast if you spend any time around Koreans, usually somewhere between someone shouting “beer is gungnyul!” over fried chicken and you nodding along without fully understanding why that’s a rule at all. My friends still say it constantly. Order chicken, and someone will…
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.
