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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 Docjsh
February 7th 2006

Preparations Asia » South Korea » Seoul

I leave on my trip in a little more than three weeks, and while I'm whittling away at my to-do list, I still have many things to do. The past six months have flown by and I have not been as active in my planning as I should have been. For example, I am still looking for a way to get the bulk of my possessions from Korea to the U.S. in an inexpensive manner. I think I'll have it figured out by today because Jackie, my girlfriend, is calling movers today and if their quotes are good, I'll use one [View Full Entry]

By Kristy and Colin
February 6th 2006

Another New Year Asia » South Korea » Seoul

A chilly day for a hike

Happy Lunar New Year! I’m a few days late but apparently we just got through one of the biggest Korean holidays. My students explained to me that it is a time of offering to ancestors where the whole family gets together for the weekend to wear traditional clothing (hanbok), eat foods that are strategically placed on the offering table, and bow to their elderly who then in return give the children money. For Colin and I it meant a three day weekend and an empty city because everyone headed back to their home towns outside of Seoul. It was the strangest [View Full Entry]

By Munchkin
February 6th 2006

Back Again Asia » South Korea » Seoul

What is it about Itaewon that draws one so consistently back? I know what people that have been here are thinking...you are lazy tourists that want to avoid the authentic experience and hide away in your own pre-established routine and plethora of expectations and don't want to be challenged or embarassed (HA! to those who think Itaewon can't embarass you). I think it is the hockey. Jen and I had an errand running day....back in Bundang. We were wandering the suburbian streets last night at 2 o clock in the morning because we were too tired to argue with the Korean [View Full Entry]

By srev
February 5th 2006

it got really cold!!! Asia » South Korea » Seoul

Us with Mr. Rhee, Mrs. Moon, and their daughter

Well, the day we were supposed to hike the famed Bukansan with Mr Rhee, the temperature dropped to about minus 14. At first, we werejust going to buy icepics for our shoes, but Mr. Rhee thought it would be a tad dangerous. Instead, we loafed around the local Musuems... they are all so giant! At night, Matt, the teacher here from Texas, took us out to "Rodeo", which is the happening spot for overworked, wealthy Koreans to let loose. We first stopped atanice restaurant called "alcohol hall", which was filled with Koreans dressed in suits...apparently westerners don't have to live upto [View Full Entry]

By srev
February 3rd 2006

sleep for free with Mr Rhee!!!! Asia » South Korea » Seoul

At the top of Gwanaksan!

So much has happened since our last little blog... day 2 (wednesday), we found a nifty mountain to hike on the internet... "GwanakSan". So we hopped on a subway, and followed the people with the hiking gear, and found the trail entrance pretty easily. They actually have gondolas bringing up military officials (they have a base somewhere up there), but of course, since we're soooo hardcore, we hiked it. well, it wasn't as cool as the peak (kidddinnng)! It was so rad! nifty pine trees and mountains made of giant balls of granite were all around us... and we had a [View Full Entry]

By Jupe
February 1st 2006

Lost but Found Asia » South Korea » Seoul

Dongdaemun

I can't believe it's February! Actually I can. Part of me feels like time is going so freaking slow but the other part seems like it's going really fast. I suppose that's what time does a lot of the time. I give up trying to figure out which it's doing. I keep telling people that this break is really what I needed to heal from everything in China - my relationship with Camillo, my very backward relationship with Stone, working all the time without a two day break anywhere to be seen, kids that either don't want to be in class [View Full Entry]

By srev
January 31st 2006

so much soul in seoul... teehee Asia » South Korea » Seoul

us at lunch... yayy

And so we departed... midnight our time on January 29... and arrived at the Incheon Airpost a very long 14 hours later... on the 31st, 4am Korean time. The flight was strange.. I'm pretty sure we were 2 of the only four non-koreans on the flight. Cool thing, though - sometime during the 14 dark hours spent flying over Canada/Alaska/Russia/China, we saw the Northern Lights. Rad. And, we were fed some interesting meals... hotsauce in a toothpaste tube, green tea rice porridge, and even bean cakes. Yess!!! . We landed in a very surpirsingly empty Incheon airport, though it was 4 [View Full Entry]

By the_frontal_lobe_disinhibited
January 30th 2006

Some sort of monster Asia » South Korea » Seoul

Cooper's!

The creature we have become is quite an interesting one... things seem to be known about Matt and myself by people we have never met... interesting... Anyways, we've taken Matt's class for a night out and taught them drinking games etc... we've also been to the top of the tallest building in Seoul, and met some friends, had cup noodles for lunch because all of the shops are closed for the Chinese New Year. [View Full Entry]

By Jay3
January 30th 2006

Lunar New Year Asia » South Korea » Seoul

Temple Downtown

This weekend was Lunar New Years in Korea and all over Asia. During these three days, Seoul comes to a grinding halt as most Koreans leave the city to visit their relatives in the country. On this holiday the grandchildren preform a ceremony paying respect to their elders. This nice little ceremony pays off, as they get fat envelopes stuffed with cash in return. One kid at my friends school got 1 Million Won last year ($1,000). Now thats a Happy New Year! The New Year is also alot more than that. The Urbanites get to visit their roots outside the [View Full Entry]

By Jay3
January 30th 2006

Three Mountain Goats Asia » South Korea » Seoul

Seoul at Night

A few weekends ago I went hiking again with a cool guy I met on my last trip. He's a retired professor who grew up in Japan and has taught and lived in Seoul for many years. Well, to say this guy and his friends like hiking would be an understatement. They've been hiking every weekend, no matter the weather, for over 20 years! One of his friends, who is 62, hikes for 2 hours up to the peak and down EVERYDAY! Anyway, my friend Candace and I went to hike with these three guys up one of the biggest mountains [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Asia » South Korea » Seoul

Seoul Travel Blogs, page 87

Seoul Travel Blogs

Korea, South