Reflections & momentos from David’s autumn 2022 visit to South Korea
Fri 16 Sep 2022, Day 4/61. Hugely honoured to be invited by the Bishop of Seoul to lead Sunday’s Service of Remembrance for the Queen in Seoul Cathedral. With the participation of Ambassadors of the UK, Australia, Canada & New Zealand and the presence of other ambassadors, including the US.
Fri 16 Sep 2022, Day 4/61. On both my visits to Seoul, the city centre has been brought to a standstill by protests. In 2019 it was right wing demonstrators railing against liberal reforms planned by the then-President, Moon Jae-in (문재인). Today it was bank workers on strike.
Thu 15 Sep 2022, Day 3/61. Seoul was shaped first by its river and mountains. Then the old city wall, Hanyangdoseong (한양도성). And these days of course its roads & metro. Parts of the city wall still survive, Notably the main gate, Sungnyemun, (숭례문), South Korea’s first National Treasure.
Thu 15 Sep 2022, Day 3/61. I’ve just discovered the wonders of Google Translate, which reminds me of Arthur C Clarke’s description of some technology being ‘indistinguishable from magic’. I’m sure I’ll be using it a lot, but will it stop me learning the language?
Wed 14 Sep 2022, Day 2/62. Time to start making sense of the language & signs around me. One thing I have done is learnt the Korean alphabet, Hanguel, 한글. So I can work out that the most prominent sign in my view of Seoul, 한화생명, (hanwha saeng myeong), is Hanwha Life, a big life insurance company.
Wed 14 Sep 2022, Day 2/61. Surprised to discover almost everyone wearing masks out on the streets of central Seoul. It’s not compulsory. Back in England I’m one of the cautious few still masked on crowded trains. But outside? I suspect the risk is very low. Unless it gets crowded.
Wed 14 Sep 2022, Day 2/61. My thanks to the helpful and friendly staff at the Embassy for taking this. The Embassy is next to the Anglican Cathedral, where I’m preaching a couple of times in October. But I’m hoping not to be in need of their services in the next two months!
Tue 13 Sep 2022. Day 1/61. I began to fall in love with Seoul back in September 2019 when I was taken out to a great restaurant by locals. This evening I walked out of my hotel in search of food, and guess which was the first restaurant I stumbled across? An omen.
I’m having such a great meal here three years later. I think this might be my favourite restaurant in the whole world. Meanwhile Fitbit tells me I’ve had less than four hours sleep in the last 36 hours. A lie-in might be on the cards.
Tue 13 Sep 2022, Day 1/61. The result of my COVID test at Incheon Airport has just arrived. Reassuringly I don’t have to spend a week in quarantine.
Tue 13 Sep 2022, Day 1/61. Finally arrived in my Seoul Hotel Room, 25 hours after setting out from Kettering. Great to take my mask off after 16 hours. Just three nights here, the first of seven places I’m staying in South Korea.
My journey to Korea 