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Background: Korea was an independent kingdom under Chinese suzerainty for most of the past millennium. Following its victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, Japan occupied Korea; five years later it formally annexed the entire peninsula. After World War II, a republic was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed in the north. During the Korean War (1950-53), US and other UN forces intervened to defend South Korea from North Korean attacks supported by the Chinese. An armistice was signed in 1953, splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth with per capita income rising to roughly 14 times the level of North Korea. In 1987, South Korean voters elected ROH Tae-woo to the presidency, ending 26 years of military dictatorships. South Korea today is a fully functioning modern democracy. In June 2000, a historic first North-South summit took place between the South's President KIM Tae-chung and the North's leader KIM Jong Il.

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By Kristy and Colin
March 1st 2006

It's all Korean to us Asia » South Korea » Seoul

9 traditional panch'an

So this is going to be a quick entry. We have been negligent with reporting of February activities. The month seemed to go very quickly as we eagerly anticipated the visit of my sister Christine...on scene. She arrived on February 21, the same night that Kristy and I attended an Oasis concert. The concert was ok (they only played for 1.5 hrs, and did little to impress the crowd), but not necessarily worth the $66 American, and the 2 hours it took me to write out detailed directions (with pics) that would guide Christine safely from the Airport in Korea to [View Full Entry]

By Munchkin
February 28th 2006

"I feel....weird" Asia » South Korea » Seoul

Walking to the prison gate

The prison wasn't what I thought it would be. I think that is probably what the majority of tourists think as they walk slowly through the halls, and cells, and torture chambers of what was once, not so very long ago, the Japanese prison used during the occupation. Many Korean suffered and died in these halls. So to walk though it all, to be right there, right in the middle of such place, is rather unsettling. However, it is not the idea of what once was that really shakes you to the bone. Oh no, it is what is happening right [View Full Entry]

By kbth
February 26th 2006

I've Been Fighting With Myself. . . Asia » South Korea » Seoul

Yes, the battle has been a bloody one. Predictibly, time has passed on, and my laziness has increased to the point that this is my first update of this spot since our return from Beijing. As it happens, I'm now on the verge of the Next Great Adventure. Our flight departs Incheon Airport at 10:30am on March 5th. We're headed for a one hour layover in Bangkok before continuing to our final destination of Hanoi, Vietnam. We have two nights booked at a hostel in Hanoi, following which, we plan to visit Halong Bay. Follow [View Full Entry]

By Bekah
February 23rd 2006

And I thought, "only in the movies." Asia » South Korea » Seoul

Myo kyung Sunim and I

ON Saturday I had the pleasure of seeing an old friend of mine Ji hyang. She came to Maryville College to study about 2 years ago and graduating Yonsei on Monday. She took me out to sushi and we talked of new times and old ones. It was so good to see her. We walked around and checked out the night life, then had coffee. I saw her again on Tuesday and she took me to some really nice places. We met up at 2 to go down to a more secluded part of the city SamcheongGak. It was origionally [View Full Entry]

By Munchkin
February 22nd 2006

You CAN go home again....at least to Bundang Asia » South Korea » Seoul

Snowfall on our street

Home again, home again. And this time, that "coming home" feeling after a long holiday- that feeling that you no longer need to expend yourself, no longer need to BE somebody else, you can just relax and live "normally"- that feeling is here. And yet, as would be expected, it feels nothing like that. A few weeks in the Philippines, as it turns out, was exactly what I needed to kick start the next few years of my independent. Before the Philippines I was still holding on, still in that transitional stage of "what do I bring from home here? how [View Full Entry]

By Iminimelanimo
February 22nd 2006

Bonjour de Coree Asia » South Korea » Seoul

Un restaurant

Je suis en Corée… Jamais je n’aurai pensé un jour me promener en Corée. Il y a seulement 4 ans de ça l’Asie ne m’intéressait tellement pas! Et puis il y a eu le coup de foudre, et j’ai choisi le Japon… maintenant je suis en Corée, où nombreux de mes films préférés de malades mentals ont été créés… Je n’avais tellement aucune idée de ce qu’était la ‘Corée’. Je n’avais comme image que ces vieux films de guerre qui se passaient dans le bois… la guerre entre les deux Corées… alors quand mon oncle m’a [View Full Entry]

Je ne connais pas le nom de la place, mais c'est joli

By Bekah
February 20th 2006

Skyscrapers and Temples Asia » South Korea » Seoul

World Trade Tower

On Monday we went to Alien Registration and then all around Seoul. We visited Samseong, which is the business side of town. Here we went up into the top floor of the World Trade Center (51st Floor). We later on went to one of the largest Buddhist Temples in Seoul. I will let the pictures tell the story this time! [View Full Entry]

By Bekah
February 19th 2006

Gyongbokgung Asia » South Korea » Seoul

Palace Entrance

Sunday February 19, 2006 Today we went to the Gyeongbok Palace, which means “The Palace of Shinning Happiness.” This palace is from the Josen Dynasty and was the largest of all the palaces in Korea. It was burnt down in 1592 during the warfare of the Japanese. They began to rebuild it in 1993, but this restoration will not be complete until 2010. We managed to get a tour in English, which took a good hour. The palace was covered with visitors and it was very touristy, though almost everyone there was Korean. Our group was about 40, yet amidst the [View Full Entry]

By the_frontal_lobe_disinhibited
February 17th 2006

Another week of slop Asia » South Korea » Seoul

Matt at the DMZ

And a merry evening to you all... Hope you've all eaten well and are resting like good little boys and girls... ready for a big weekend as usual... We went to see some sort of stage show today involving cooking... knives... kung fu and all sorts of jive... it was pretty good! We had our mid semester exams... we both did fairly well... scoring 80s and 90s for most stuff... After the exams we had a bit of a party... at the end of it matt disappeared and came back 3 hours or so later with a box of frosties... who [View Full Entry]

By Bekah
February 17th 2006

Ups and Downs and all arounds... Asia » South Korea » Seoul » Seodaemun-gu » Sinchon

Korean?

Thursday Afternoon: I have just had the most traumatic last few hours. Two to be exact, and they were spent in the Woorie Bank. I first had to exchange the rest of my USA currency. Then I went to go open my account. I gave the teller my money order and she stood up and hurriedly escorted me back to the currency exchange speaking to me in Korean the whole way. This was after she had asked me if I spoke Korean and I told her that I did not. So I waited in line again at the currency exchange (after [View Full Entry]

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