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
Yeonsan-gun: The Story Behind Korea’s Most Infamous King
He is remembered as Korea’s worst tyrant. But the story of Yeonsan-gun begins not with rage — but with a six-year-old boy who was never told the truth about his mother. There is a tree in northern Seoul that has been standing for six hundred years. It grows beside a quiet tomb in the Dobong…
Speak of the Tiger: A Korean Proverb About Words, Timing, and Awkward Entrances
There is a Korean proverb that begins exactly like this. You are talking about someone. Maybe a friend. Maybe a coworker. Maybe someone you probably should not be discussing out loud. Then the door opens. And there they are. In English, you might say, “Speak of the devil.” In Korean, the expression is stranger and…
The Ten Kings of the Korean Underworld : A Complete Guide
This article explains the Underworld of Korea. This is a companion guide to the Jeoseung Saja series. If you arrived here directly, you may want to start with Part 3: You Die. Then What? — it explains the 49-day trial that sets the stage for everything below. Before We Begin: A Note on Names The…
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.
