Japan and my mother

Wed 5 Oct 2022, Day 23/61. It happens to be interesting for me personally to hear the South Korean perspective on these issues as I grew up with a mother who had lived and worked in Japan. Here she is, some time between 1951 and 1954.

Liancourt Rocks / Dokdo / Takeshima

Wed 5 Oct 2022, Day 23/61. One live dispute with Japan, hard to avoid because of South Korean government publicity, concerns the islands called ‘Dokdo’, 독도, by the Koreans but ‘Takeshima’ by the Japanese. Wikipedia diplomatically sticks to a French name.

The relationship with Japan

Wed 5 Oct 2022, Day 23/61. The relationship with Japan has surfaced in several conversations here. I expected the prime preoccupation to be with North Korea. But many long for reunification with their fellow Koreans & continue to nurse grievances against Japan.

Demonstrations outside the Japanese embassy

Wed 5 Oct 2022, Day 23/61. The Japanese embassy is opposite our hotel. Every Wednesday there are demonstrations demanding the resolution of injustices against Korean sexual slaves; but also counter-demonstrations protesting against an ‘anti-Japanese lobby’.

A glimpse of old Seoul

Tue 4 Oct 2022, Day 22/61. A glimpse of old Seoul on a visit to Bukchon Hanok Village (북촌한옥마을), which preserves a view of life around 600 years ago in the residential quarter of high-ranking government officials and nobility. A hanok is a traditional Korean house.

North Korean propaganda

Mon 3 Oct 2022, Day 21/61. I’m not sure I’m allowed to reproduce the national emblem of North Korea here in the South. On entering the country I had to sign a declaration I had no North Korean propaganda on me.

The South Korean National Anthem

Mon 3 Oct 2022, Day 21/61. Baekdu Mountain is mentioned in the South Korean national anthem, Aejukga (애국가). It was where Kim Il-sun organised resistance against the Japanese & is also mentioned in North Korea’s National Anthem, as well as appearing on their national emblem.

Baekdu Mountain

Mon 3 Oct 2022, Day 21/61. Baekdu Mountain is on the North Korean – Chinese border. Hwanung married a bear he’d turned into a woman. Their son, Dangun, founded the first Korean kingdom. Baekdu Mountain continues to hold a special place in the culture of both North and South.

National Foundation Day

Mon 3 Oct 2022, Day 21/61. 3 October is a Public Holiday, National Foundation Day, also observed in the North. Its Korean name, Gaecheonjeol (개천절), ‘the day the sky opened’, celebrates the descent in 2333 BC of Hwanung, Son of the Lord of Heaven,to Mt Baekdu.

Sejong the Great

Sat 1 Oct 2022, Day 19/61. After dinner I headed straight to see the big man’s statue: King Sejong the Great, looking down benevolently on his people. He’ll be appearing again, for sure.