Reflections & momentos from David’s autumn 2022 visit to South Korea
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.
Sun 18 Sep 2022, Day 6/61. Tweet from the British Ambassador to the Republic of Korea following the service at Seoul Cathedral at which he gave the eulogy.
Sun 18 Sep 2022. Day 6/61. A tweet from New Zealand’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea following the service in the Cathedral, in which he played a part.
Fri 16 Sep 2022, Day 4/61. Fascinating visit to the Seoul Hall of Urbanism & Architecture, revealing how architects & planners have responded to the needs of Korean society. One example is last year’s exhibition ‘Our Happy Life: Architecture and Well-Being in the Age of Capitalism’.
This could be seen as reflecting a society infamous for its pressures to succeed in education & work and with a higher suicide rate than any other developed nation. I noticed a few new small spaces set aside for relaxation in the heart of Seoul and wondered if this was one response.
An older example is the way Korean architects, after the defeat of their Japanese occupiers, sought to replace buildings inspired by Japanese architecture with more authentically Korean buildings.
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.
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. 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 