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caribbeanempressblog · 5 years

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Equilibrium pt 2

Pairing: Yoongi x Assassin reader

Plot: He was just another target in your book for the right price but you didn't not expect was his six year old daughter standing there while you hold a gun to her father's head.

Word count : 3.7k

part 1

Tension when Yoongi refuse to give her the information she seeks. Will she finish the job she was given or will show the stubborn dad a little bit of patience. Secrets are revealed as she search for answers as to who set her up and why.

Warning : none to note

"Multiple heat signature detected " came the automated welcome as you punched in the security code to your house, Ada already picking up the fact that you hadn't returned home alone as the door slide open as you punched the last key to usher in the guest you've unexpectedly picked up along the way. Min Yoongi nodded politely as he carried his sleeping daughter hands wrapped around his neck tightly into your living room you entered behind him locking the door behind you.

"Ada compile all the information you have on the recent client" you commanded you had to know what you were dealing with.

"Commencing data search".

"A talking house?" Min Yoongi asked more like stated with a raised eyebrow as he glanced around his surroundings.

"Ada is more than that" you replied as you brushed passed him and made your way to the stairs. "Follow me you can put her down up here".

You glance back at him to make sure he was following and your eyes meet for a second now that he was in the light you could see them clearly a honey brown deep and mesmerizing as they gaze back at you. Min Yoongi had breathtaking eyes you could get lost in beautiful breathtaking eyes like the man himself. He was handsome the picture you had of him didn't do him any justice his features soft but firm at the same time his skin like the color of snow.

"Data complete".

You blink turned away but not before his eyes turned cold on you again and you cursed yourself for staring.

"Thank you Ada" you replied as not just for the information but saving you from an embarrassing situation as you ascend the stairs.

You reached the top of your stairs and made a right towards one of the spare bedroom turned the door open and flip the light switch then entered.

"I don't usually have guests over so I hope this is ok for her" you said as you fluffed the pillow on the bed and shake the sheets. The room was nice enough you didn't know why you bother decorating it but it had all the essentials four poster bed in the middle of a closet off to the side with matching dressing table even an En suite bathroom.

"It's fine thank you" he said curtly as he gently laid the child down upon the bed then pulled the covers over her. He brushed a stray hair from her face and she mumble something in her sleep as she chased after his hand when he pulled away a fond smile tugging on his lips.

You stood there watching your heart doing odd things at how gentle he was being the love he had for the child was undeniable and once again you were reminded that you almost took that away from her.

"We need to talk" you said voice a little rough as you try to put a damper on your emotions. Min Yoongi eyes snapped towards you and once again the softness he just shown the child seemed to evaporate into thin air.

"Who did you pissed off that they want you dead?" You pressed on ignoring his cold stare.

"Noone"

"Somebody at the office maybe a promotion that you got over them?". Men had killed for less so the probability exist.

" I don't work at an office"

You eyes narrowed on him " Slept with someone wife then?"

"What kind of ridiculous question is this?" He snapped eyes blazing fire as he shot to his feet towering over you more than a head tall." You come to my home hold a gun to my head in front of my child then accuse me of sleeping with other men wives like some despicable pervert which I'm not".

You blinked, taken aback by his words all you wanted to know was what he knew any idea he had about who had set you up. You couldn't fault him for being angry but he wasn't given you much to go with and he was being ridiculously defensive.

You glared back at him" if you had answered me without one word syllabus then I wouldn't have to assume anything" you gritted mindful of the sleeping child in the room with him."But people don't order out hit on other people for no reason".

"What reason do you or anyone have for wanting me dead huh? You don't even know me how do you get up each morning and just decide I will go murder innocent people? How do you even sleep at night?".

You open your mouth but nothing came out he had rendered you speechless his words cutting deeper than you'd expect it could.It wasn't the truth but it also wasn't a lie you did murder people but no one ever called you out on this Also no one had spoken to you that way before not since the Elite but here comes Min Yoongi questioning your integrity in you own house to besides if this was any other day he would be on the ground in pain but you couldn't fault him for being angry but you had saved him and his daughter life at least he could try to be cooperative.

"You can sleep here if you like" you said turning on your heel heading for the door. " When you're ready to disclose what you know I will be waiting". You exit the room leaving him staring at your retreating back.

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"Ada run internal background check on Min Yoongi. I want to know everything".

"Searching database"

Now in the confines of your room you took a shot of whiskey you'd fetch from the kitchen after you left fuming internally from Min Yoongi. The man was stubborn and infuriating and you've only known him for what three hours. He pushed every button you didn't know exist within you and you didn't like it.

But enough with him for one night you've had other pressing matters. After downing the liquid welcoming the burn it provided you rest the glass on your bedside table then went to your desk and click your laptop to life.

Re Vixen: You better hope I don't find you because when I do death will knocking on your door but that isn't the worst part.

You type send then sat back in your chair and waited.

It was a dangerous thing accepting a job,getting paid and not delivering in the end you are forever marked and a bounty was placed on your head. All this was at the forefront of your mind when you made that offer to Min Yoongi. The dangers that would follow you now that you hadn't confirm the kill. It's funny how only a few hours ago you were sitting in this chair accepting this job your instinct telling you something was off but your blood lust winning in the end. If you hadn't accepted that job what would of happen to Min Yoongi and his daughter? Would another been send or was it all part of an elaborate skim Min Yoongi being center of it. You didn't trust him not when he wouldn't divulge what he knew not when you wasn't sure if he had a part to play in all this. You realized bringing them here was a mistake you took one look at the kid and your emotions clouded your judgement. You thought he could be of assistance to you but how could he assist you if he was part of set up without incriminating himself.

"Background search complete" came Ada automated voice pulling your from your thoughts you swung in the chair facing away from the computer.

"Information display".

You watched as several images of Min Yoongi appeared with several unknown people begun to circle your bedroom as Ada read the contents to you.

"Min Yoongi born 1986 Daegu South Korea. Parents deceased. One living older brother. Works at Hyundai cooperation. Six year old daughter Yoon Seok Min. Widower.

You heart skipped a beat at Ada last word as you sat upright as several image of a woman flashed before the screen. She was pretty and looked so young full of life, more pictures flashed across your room until your eyes landed on a family portrait. Min Yoongi and the woman stood in front of their house the one currently sitting pretty with bullet holes as they gazed into each others eyes lovingly Yoonseok standing in front of them a happy smile on her face.Yoonseok looked yonger so this had to be atleast three years ago.

"Natural causes?"

"Car crash two year ago"

Two years ago that was so recent had Min Yoongi being raising his daughter as a single dad for the past two year you wondered as more images flashed before your eyes.

You felt your heart tighten again your pity finding a way there you could imagine what he was going through raising his kid alone without her mother. It didn't help that you almost made the kid an orphan imagine losing both your parents in the span of two year no child should have to go through that.

"How did it happen ?"

"She lost control of her car and plunge off a bridge into the Han river she died on impact".

You cringe as images of the crash flashed before your eyes. You perked up at this you had to explore every option search every loophole to know what you were dealing with.

"The case file was sealed under the Seoul FBI Service".

"Sealed why? If it was an accident why would the files be sealed?"

You frowned as you looked over the contents of the file if it was an accident the FBI wouldn't have had the file sealed there had to be more to this story. Something wasn't adding up here, Is that why Yoongi had been hesitant to answer your question that his wife was involved in something that's why the hit had been ordered on him because of what she did?

You pinch the bridge of your nose an exasperated sigh escaping you as you realize there was a lot you were missing here.

"Ada can you hack the FBI database and access the file?"

"The firewall and encryption is impenetrable" came Ada automated response.

You let out a frustrated groan as you heaved yourself out of the chair and began pacing the room.

"Run scan for deceased background what company did she work?"

"Commencing scan"

You paced back and forth as the beep of Ada hacking the police file to get the desired information filtered through the room every file she ran through then dismissed flashed across your bedroom. You hoped that filed wasn't sealed too and you could get the information you needed.

You pulled a dagger from your boots and twirl it between your fingers to help calm you down.

Something was wrong here very wrong you knew that for a fact there was no coincidences in your book. This job from the very beginning was an elaborate skim up you should have spot that, but it was too late to dwell on that now. Min Yoongi was another piece of the puzzle but where did he fit into all this? His wife death was suspicious as well why would the FBI sealed the file if it was an accident? Did Min Yoongi know that the file was sealed? Who was she anyways?.

"Scan complete. Images displaying now."

Several images of Min Yoongi deceased wife appeared on screen.

" Min SooYoung worked at Hang media up to the point of death. She was a reporter."

You stopped pacing at knife stilling in your hand a reporter that was surprising and intresting you knew a conspiracy theory was brewing the puzzle slowly starting to fall into place.

"Min SooYoung was the top reporter at Hang co-operation she uncovered a number of high profile case. The crack down on Kang cooperation was due to her discovery of illegal activity resulting in the poisoning of numerous children. The company had to pay a large sum to the families involved.

You hummed in acknowledgment" What was the last story she was working on before her death?".

"That file is also sealed" came Ada response.

Somehow you wasn't suprise already putting two and two together whatever story Min Yoongi wife was working on it probably got her killed and the FBI covered it up which means there was some big players involved people with enough power to have the police in the palm of their hands. Dirty cop wasn't uncommon but to cover up a murder that order had to come all the way from the top. You wondered if Min Yoongi knew his wife was murdered you sincerely hope he did because you didn't want to be the one to tell him.

You had no doubt tha whoever pulled to string for his wife death that person had now hire you to end Yoongi the final piece of the puzzle which would mean he must know who his wife was trying to take down.

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Morning came quicker than you liked when you finally threw yourself on your bed, it was only a second later before Ada was waking you up like she usually does. You got up rather reluctantly took a shower put on a pair of denim jeans and oversized sweater after that you pulled your gun out the drawer checked the safety then shoved it in your waist. You pulled several daggers from their safety case and placed them in your boots the other two you stuck in your belt next to your gun it was a safety precaution you really hope you didn't have to use it. You checked your email after for a response from the client only to find they hadn't responded which infuriated you more. You still had their money in your account so why were they not making stir to have that back. People didn't just drop 100k and turn their backs on it whoever this was they were plotting something you just didn't know what.

"Ada show me visuals of the house"

A second later images of your house came into focus every inch of it displayed to your gaze but you only needed one.

Being an assassin meant living on the edge you never knew who was out to get you when you killed people for a living so when you brought Ada you had the house installed with security cameras some in plain sight some hidden like the one currently sitting behind a painting in the guest room.

You looked at the images displayed before you not an inch of shame he was a stranger in your home after all as you spot Min Yoongi sitting on a chair beside the bed head resting on the edge of the bed next to his sleeping daughter. You briefly wondered if he spent the whole night like that he probably did knowing he didn't trust you,you wouldn't be surprised if he slept with one eye open.

You swipe the images away with a flick of your hands and exit the room you made your way down to your kitchen. You switched on your coffee maker listening to whirring sound as you stood there thoughts returning to the man upstairs. You needed answers and now you gave him a time to be forthcoming with the truth but he refused that option wasn't available this time around either he talk or you make him talk. You had to get to the bottom of this not only was his life in danger but yours was as well and that wasn't something you couldn't have, not now not when you had come so far you wasn't about to mess that up for anyone.

The coffee machine beeped it's finish bringing your thoughts back to the present you pulled a cup from the cupboard and poured yourself a hefty amount you popped two sugar cubes from the jar next to the coffee maker stirring it to perfection you paused before bringing it to your lips.

"I know you are there you don't have to be afraid of me " you said gently then towards the entrance to the kitchen.

You waited a few seconds until a head of black disheveled haired peeked from behind the wall.

Curious eyes stared back at you brown and sleepy but she made no move to remove her body from behind the wall.

You smile heart turning soft once more you rest the untouched coffee back on the counter.

"You must be hungry huh?" You asked with a smile as you pulled some packet waffles from your freezer it was your favorite cinnamon flavoured hopefully she liked that one too. You tear open the packet putting the contents on a plate then put it in the heater a few seconds later the timer went off.

You took it out and rest the now warm mouth watering waffle on the island counter where she could see it putting the syrup next to it.

You smile once more when her eyes light up at the food laid out on the table but she make no move.

"You can have it if you like" you said gently as you rest a fork next to the plate then backed away.You was much aware that you were a stranger towards her just a few hours ago you was holding a gun to her father's head and shortly after that the home she loved was riddled with bullets. You didn't think she fully understand what had happened or that she'd be too traumatized by it she still had the innocence of a toddler but you weren't about to take advantage of that you would let her come to you on her own.

"Daddy says I mustn't talk to strangers" the little voice tells you as much to remind herself of the century old saying and to let you know.

" If I tell you my name and you tell me yours won't that make us less like strangers".

She tilted her head to the side as she thought about what you told her and if it made sense.

"I'm Yoonseok" came the reply as she finally remove herself from behind the wall teddy bear gripped tightly in front of her. She was still wearing the clothes you last saw her in her matching barbie pyjamas feet bare on the tiles.

"Hello Yoonseok I'm Y/n" you said with a smile as she stepped a little closer eyes big and shining with wonder at the food on the table.

"You can have it if you like" you told her she watched from you to the food then finally made her way over resting her teddy on the marble top then climbing the stool to position herself in front of the food. She didn't hesitate after that picking up the fork and taking a chunk out the waffle stuffing her mouth with it forgoing the use of the syrup. You watched her eat in silent gushing inside at how cute of a child she was. She resembled her mother somewhat her beauty shining through but she had her father's eyes and pale skin.

"Can I have some milk please?" Yoonseok asked pulling you from your thoughts as she looked at you with questioning eyes.

"Sure thing sweetie" you said as you head to your fridge to pull out a carton of milk pouring the contents into a glass and placing beside the now empty plate. She muttered thank you and you then took a generous sip as marveled at how well mannered she was for a toddler her father was doing a good job of raising her.

You couldn't imagine growing up without a mother up until the time you were kidnapped your mother had always been there for you loving you supporting you when you needed her the most she was there. That mother daughter relationship was prominent in your life every little girl should be able to experience that but sadly she wouldn't have that. Some cruel twist of fate taking that away from her. You found yourself wondering if you were one of those evil people who took mothers from their daughters.

"Yoonseok"

Your stilled eyes snapping up at his deep voice suddenly filling the silence of your kitchen to see him stood there eyes blazing as he walked into the room to stand beside his daughter.

"What did I say huh?" He questioned the child eyes still drilling into you. You stared back at him well good morning to you too.

The child face dropped as she realized her error "but papa miss y/n and I are friends she even made me pancakes". She said with a pout eyes now meeting her father shining with cuteness.

"Yoonseok why don't you go watch your favorite cartoon in the living room while daddy and I have a little chat" it wasn't a question he knew it nor was he in a position to deny you this request. He simply nodded when Yoonseok seeked his permission and she squealed with delight as she got of the chair to ran into the living room with glee as you command Ada to play the appropriate children channel you turn your attention back to the man. His hair was disheveled and sticking out like he hadn't bother to look in the mirror. His face was puffy due to haven't now waken up but his eyes held no such softness they were cold and dark like the bottom of the ocean. If you wasn't the person you are you would have been intimidated as you're sure many who have stood in his presence had been but you stood ground. You had given him the whole night this was as far as your patience and generosity go you couldn't get soft now not when there was people out there trying to kill you not when your whole world had been turned upside down in a split second.Not when somebody set you up and used him to do it he had to know you wasn't one to taken lightly that your kindness isn't weakness.

"I'm only going to say this once you tell me what I need to know or I will mop the floor with your blood".

#equilibrium pt 2 #min yoongi x reader #bts yoongi #assassin reader x yoongi #assasssin au #yoongi smut #min yoongi

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the-asia-trip · 4 years

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Days 10-11: More Korea

There's a lot of things that have struck me about Korea, but chief among them is the hyper-commodified nature of everything. Japan has this too, but in Korea, there's a strange desperation to it. Every public space I see in Seoul is given over shopping. There's fake Supreme clothing in the gift shop at the DMZ museum. People love to buy things here, especially clothes. Especially fake designer clothes. The South Korean economy has long been lauded as miraculous, one of the "Asian Tigers." Still, being here, I can't help but wonder what's actually fueling it.

As I said in my last post, this is a society where the Cold War never ended. From an outside perspective, it feels like they're in the 34th year of 1985. That isn't meant to paint an overly negative picture, mind you. It's a very, very cool place to visit. The food is excellent, the scenery is staggering, the people are friendly, and there's no shortage of rich history and culture to immerse yourself in. There's not a lot that's not to like. It just so happens to be the only country on earth that's currently split in half, locked in an immovable stalemate with a mirror version of itself.

On my third day in Korea, I tried to get out of the city. I hopped on the subway for about 50 minutes and found myself in Mangwolsa, on the outskirts of Seoul. A 20-minute walk later, I found myself on a pleasant hiking trail dotted with temples, shrines, and Buddha statues. Apparently, fall in Korea is very, very pleasant.

After that, I headed back into Seoul to check out Seoul tower. Situated on a mountain in the middle of the city, it offers panoramic views of the entire Greater Seoul Area and was the perfect way to end the day. Sipping a beer on the observation deck, watching the city lights of Seoul come to life, I was reminded (as I have been at many, many points on this trip) exactly how lucky I am to be able to do stuff like this. To dispense with authorial voice for a moment—this whole trip has been really really really fucking cool. My wanderlust is, at once, sated and worse than ever.

After checking another box off my Korea list and eating some delicious dukbokki, spicy stir-fried Korean rice cakes, I headed back to my hotel to rest up for my last day.

This morning, I went to the border. You knew this was coming.

I checked out of my hotel at around 8, and met the touring company's bus around the block 5 minutes later. From there, we drove about an hour north of Seoul to Odusan Observatory, where the plan was to look across the Imjin River into North Korea (the actual border is currently closed due to an outbreak of African Swine Flu, which isn't harmful to humans but is a major concern for South Korean livestock). Unfortunately, it was too foggy to see anything, so we proceeded on to Imjingak Park, a kind of open-air museum/memorial to the events of the Korean War, about 20 minutes to the north.

The atmosphere at Imjingak was almost theme-park-like, not helped by the hordes of Chinese tourists present taking selfies and group photos like they were at Disneyland. A significant takeaway: South Korea really wants a railway through the North into China. Thanks to the DMZ and their notoriously-isolationist neighbor, the bottom half of the Korean peninsula has effectively been an island for 70 years, and they're very, very eager to change that. Various posters and installations around the park talk of a railway to Berlin, Paris and London. Obviously flying would be easier to any of these places, but it's the symbolism of the thing that seems to matter (and the reduced logistical costs of transporting goods by rail rather than shipping and planes).

Some highlights of the Park: a section of fencing where visitors can leave messages for the people of North Korea, a restored bunker complex, and a bridge that was destroyed during the war.

Once the fog cleared, we headed back down to the Observatory. There, through a pair of binoculars, I got my first (and probably last) glimpse into the world's most isolated state. Over the Imjin River, across a distance of about 2 kilometers, you can see into Amsil, North Korea. It's a small village, which my tour guide said is kept in relatively good condition since the North knows that it's the most that many people will ever see of their country. I didn't see any people, although a guy in my tour group said he saw someone walking between two buildings at one point. It's hard to gauge the whole country based on 4 kilometers of coastal village scenery, but on the whole, it felt pretty eerie.

We got back on the bus, and that was that. I looked into North Korea today. Again to dispense with formality, some real bucket list shit.

The final stop of the tour was the War Memorial of Korea, a museum dedicated to the Korean War (and every other war in Korea's 2,000+-year history). Among the highlights, a wall featuring the names of every serviceman who died in the Korean War, and an extensive gallery of artifacts from the war itself, from M1-Garands to PPSHs to a B52 Stratofortress that's parked outside the museum. Also present, hundreds of artifacts of past wars including a full-scale turtle ship, a kind of armored galley designed to repel Japanese invaders in the late 16th century and one of the most enduring symbols of pre-modern Korea.

After the museum, I grabbed a quick tonkatsu at a nearby restaurant and headed back to my hotel. I'm there now, sitting in the top-floor lounge, killing time before I head to the airport. Overall, I liked Korea a lot. I'd definitely come back here, although next time I'll be hitting up my Korean friends when they're not out of the country or slammed with work and exams.

Arriving in Korea marked the unofficial halfway point of the trip, and now I find myself around 2/3rds in. Tonight I head to Taiwan, where I don't really know what to expect. Japan is Japan, and Korea, I've always had a cursory familiarity with through Korean friends and the peninsula's influence on global culture. Taiwan is a blank space for me, though, in a good way. I'm not sure what I'll find, but I'm excited.

I won't get overly sentimental here about how the trip is almost over, because it's really, really not. I go back to work a full week from tonight. This point in the trip gives me a good moment to reflect on how it's all been going though.

So far, and I cannot stress this enough, so good.

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nctinfo · 6 years

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[TRANS] Men’s No No: Trendy spots in Seoul, South Korea as recommended by “NCT 127”!

Trendy spots in Seoul, South Korea as recommended by “NCT 127”!

DOYOUNG: Before we start talking about Seoul’s charm, nice to meet you. Our group name is an abbreviation of “Neo Culture Technology”, and this name expresses our concept that our member lineup changes for every song release. “127” is the longitude of Seoul, South Korea, meaning that with Seoul as our point of origin, we will expand worldwide.

HAECHAN: We have members from countries all over the world, like Japan, Korea, China, America, and Canada.

YUTA: As a Japanese, I used to read Men’s Non-No a lot! I’m super happy we got to do this interview.

TAEYONG: Korea has many trendy areas, but the place I want to recommend to the readers of Men’s Non-No is Rodeo Street in Apgujeong. There are shops of many different brands lined up on that street, and even if you’re just walking there, it’s very enjoyable. Lots of the young people in Seoul wear high fashion brands, but domestic brands made by Korean designers are also popular. Looking for brands that you can’t find in Japan might be lots of fun.

DOYOUNG: When traveling, you might not have too big a budget, so I recommend places such as Shinsa-dong’s Garosugil, Myeongdong, and Dongdaemun Market to buy fashionable clothes at a reasonable price.

JAEHYUN: In an area called Anguk-dong, there are traditional Korean houses and pretty cafes. While taking a stroll in the city, you can take breaks while enjoying some tea.

YUTA: It’s a city similar to Kyoto in Japan – I like it there so I go there frequently.

TAEYONG: Then, I’ll tell you my favorite place too. When you cross the bridge in Hannam-dong from the South to the North, you’ll see a lovely street on your right-hand side and the atmosphere is amazing. There are pretty stores too. It’s a secret place, but I’m sharing it just between the readers and me!

MARK: Were you really supposed to tell them that? (laugh)

TAEIL: A city loved by young people would be Hongdae. There are live music venues and clubs, and you’ll be able to feel an artistic atmosphere in this city. There are great restaurants too. But the places I personally recommend are “Jjang Entertainment Room” (an arcade), and the tiny Japanese ramen restaurant across from there (laugh).

YUTA: So specific! He’s a pro when it comes to Hongdae, so if you want to learn more about that city, please ask him (laugh).

WINWIN: The first city I went to in Korea was Apgujeong, which we previously mentioned. It’s a place where you can enjoy shopping and eating. I went there a lot as a trainee, so it holds a lot of memories.

JOHNNY: Near the Han River, which flows through the city of Seoul, you can ride bicycles, do campouts, and enjoy activities.

DOYOUNG: Doing activities like that instead of just sightseeing is great too. Korea has a highly developed delivery system, so you’ll be able to order food anytime from your smartphone.

HAECHAN: Like ordering chicken while playing at the Han River.

YUTA: Right, what I was surprised at when I came to Korea was that you can even have a single cup of coffee delivered to you. There are delivery services for things that you’ll have to go out and buy if you’re in Japan.

JOHNNY: On a show called “Road to Japan” on Abema TV, we did a tour of places like Hongdae and Anguk-dong, so you’ll get to learn more deeply if you watch it!

YUTA: That was an advertisement (laugh).

-After the members of NCT 127 have talked about Seoul’s charms, we’ll ask them about their newly released mini album, “Chain.”

DOYOUNG: NCT 127’s unique color comes from our powerful and aggressive music and choreographies. The base group, “NCT”, is infinite and is able to pull off any genre – we have an “infinite charm” that can’t be described in a simple sentence.

JOHNNY: Each of the members’ personalities and colors are different because we are from different countries, and I think we all meld in well in this group.

JAEHYUN: This gives us a good impact because for example, when we’re promoting in Japan, we can ask Yuta for help, and when we’re in China, we can ask Winwin for help.

YUTA: Johnny and Mark taught us things like “People in America and Canada listen to music like this nowadays and feel this way.” We can change our performances according to this information, and we can teach each other different languages, and share the recent trends. Understanding each other’s culture in this way gives us more strength.

YUTA: Our keyword this year is “empathy.” Our song “Chain” is made with the feelings that we want to spread and connect all over the world starting from Japan, and also our wish to connect with our fans in Japan.

MARK: When we rerecorded our originally Korean song “Limitless” in Japanese, I felt the unique beauty of the Japanese language. I thought that the sound of the words was pretty.

TAEYONG: When we sing in different languages, make new discoveries, like how Korean has many “P” sounds and how words in Japanese end with vowels. Every member is very satisfied with this mini album that we say “This is great!” to each other every time we listen to it (laugh).

DOYOUNG: I think that the phrases “We are the new age” and “We can become one” in the lyrics express our determination well.

YUTA: The charm of NCT 127 isn’t just our singing, rapping, and dancing, but also the powerful performance in which the nine of us become one. I hope that many people will listen to our new album “Chain” and learn more about us.

Translation: Miu @ FY! NCT (NCTINFO) | Source: Men’s No No (1, 2) — Do not repost or take out without out permission!

#NCT #NCT 127 #taeil #johnny #taeyong #yuta #doyoung #jaehyun #winwin #mark #haechan #t:trans #t:interview #men's nono #men's nonno: july 2018

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listerious · 3 years

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Top 8 Awesome Facts About 30 Hudson Yards

One of the most fascinating skyscrapers in the world is one of the newest and most astounding additions to the New York City skyline. Let's take a closer look at some fun and interesting facts about 30 Hudson Yards, one of New York's most amazing landmark buildings!

1. It's located near a famous neighborhood in Manhattan's West Side

30 Hudson Yards is a huge skyscraper located in the West Side of Manhattan in the Hudson Yards neighborhood of the city. This area is bounded by 30th Street on the south and 43rd Street on the north. This neighborhood is located near the iconic Hell's Kitchen neighborhood in Chelsea, once a relatively impoverished area inhabited by Irish immigrants. Since the 1980s, this area has been transformed into a trendy neighborhood, especially popular with the LGBTQ community. The Pennsylvania Railway Station is situated at about 0.5 kilometers (0.3 miles) to the southeast of the tower, while other famous landmarks in the city such as Times Square and the Empire State Building are situated about double this distance to the northeast and southeast respectively. In New York standards, this is pretty much walking distance away!

Part of the West Side of Manhattan / Karen Green / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

2. It's the centerpiece of a much larger redevelopment project

The skyscraper is one of the multiple towers built in the area as part of the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project. It was part of the first phase of the project which was completed in 2019. The second phase is estimated to be completed in 2024. One of the most remarkable facts about 30 Hudson Yards is that 13 of the 16 structures that were built in the West Side of Midtown South were constructed on an enormous platform that was built over the West Side Yard, covering most of the Eastern Rail Yard. Due to its proximity to the Hudson River, this platform sits on enormous caissons, a watertight retaining structure that is often used during the construction of bridges. This project alone cost a whopping $510 million USD!

Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project in 2017 / Tdorante10 / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

3. One of New York's most amazing attractions stands right next to it

The main developers and owners of the structures are two real estate development companies called "Related Companies" and "Oxford Properties." Apart from towering skyscrapers, Related also developed a tourist attraction right in between some of the tallest structures in the area. This attraction is called "Vessel" and is basically a climbable honey-comb-like sculpture that allows visitors to discover the area on a total of 80 platforms that are interlinked with over 2,500 steps. The structure stands 46 meters (150 feet) tall and is located just west of 30 Hudson Yards in a strategic position to provide astounding views of Hudson Yards and surrounding neighborhoods.

Vessel next to 30 Hudson Yards / Pixabay

4. It's one of the tallest buildings in the city

The building ended up becoming one of the tallest buildings in the city with a total of 103 floors and a height of 387 meters (1,270 feet). This makes it the 6th-tallest skyscraper in New York City at the time of writing (May 2021). Most of the floors are offices which are occupied by some of the biggest companies in the world, including Facebook. There are also a number of television studios inside the building from the television network CNN.

View from the street / Greaper37 / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

5. It was designed by one of New York's leading architectural firms

The tower was designed by the American architectural firm "Kohn Pedersen Fox," one of the leading firms in New York City and the United States. They have been involved in numerous high-level projects all across the world. Some of their most notable projects abroad are the renovation of the "Tour First" skyscraper in Paris, which turned it into the second-tallest building in the city after the Eiffel Tower, the Lotte World Tower in Seoul, South Korea, and the fascinating Shanghai World Financial Center in China. Closer to home, they also have been involved in some of the most prolific structures in New York, including One Vanderbilt, the 4th-tallest building in the city, and the planned 5 World Trade Center, which will become the shorter brother of One World Trade Center.

One Vanderbilt / Gaiusahala / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

6. The construction of the tower spanned a period of 6.5 years

The construction of the supporting platform on which multiple towers of the project have been built started as early as December 4, 2012, which was the day that the groundbreaking ceremony took place. The real start of the construction of 30 Hudson Yards was in mid-2015 when the developers managed to secure a $690 million USD loan from various banks to fund the project. The first floors started to rise in January of 2016 and by April 2018, construction of the observation deck near the top of the tower had started. The building eventually officially opened on March 15, 2019, as part of one of the biggest development projects in the city since Rockefeller Center in the 1930s!

Under construction in 2017 / Godsfriendchuck / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

7. The observation deck sticks out of the 100th floor of the building

One of the most amazing features of the building is the observation deck referred to as "The Edge." This observation platform is situated at a height of 340 meters (1,100 feet) on the 100th floor of the tower. The most fascinating fact about this deck is that it features a cantilevered outdoor platform that sticks 24 meters (80 feet) out of the tower in a southward direction. For daredevils who aren't afraid of heights, one section of this platform features a glass triangle on the floor. This section covers an area of 20.9 square meters (225 square feet), allowing you to directly stare at the street and rooftops blow!

The Edge observation deck sticking out / Rhododendrites / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

8. The Edge provides stunning views of New York City

One of the most astounding facts about 30 Hudson Yards and "The Edge" is that it's the second-highest outdoor observation platform in the Western Hemisphere. Only the outdoor "Sky Terrace" of Toronto's CN Tower is slightly higher at 342 meters (1,122 feet), which means that this amazing platform offers some of the most astounding views of New York City (especially watching south). This definitely makes The Edge a must-do attraction in the city!

View from The Edge / Hypnotoad78 / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en Read the full article

#Architecture #Buildings #FamousBuildings #FamousSkyscrapers #LandmarksinNewYork #MostfamousskyscrapersinNewYork #NewYork #Skyscrapers

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shaively · 6 years

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Cherry blossoms at Changdeokgung Palace

After the cold and colorless winter, spring is a welcome sight. The various bright and colorful flowers throughout the country create a stunning view at every turn. The sweet scent of blossoms permeates the air in both the heart of the city and the quietest of rural villages, making spring the best time to visit Korea. To make the most of this magical time of growth and renewal, read on to learn about the best places to visit.

Enjoy Spring Blossoms on a Day Trip around Seoul

1. Seoul’s representative cherry blossom tunnel, Yeouido's Yeouiseo-ro Road (Yunjung-ro Road)

Yeouiseo-ro Road (formerly known as Yunjung-ro Road), located behind the National Assembly Building in Yeouido, Seoul, is one of the most popular destinations for viewing cherry blossoms. As cherry blossoms begin to fully bloom in early to mid-April, the 1.7 kilometer path lined with 1,800 cherry blossom trees transforms into a snow-white tunnel, accented with forsythia and other spring blossoms, just in time for Yeongdeungpo’s Yeouido Spring Flower Festival. Traffic is restricted in certain areas of Yeouiseo-ro Road during the festival period, allowing visitors to enjoy the cherry blossoms to their hearts’ content.

Address: Areas of Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (Behind the National Assembly Building) (more info) (서울시 영등포구 여의도동 일대(국회의사당 뒷편)

2. A perfect springtime walking path, Namsan Park’s Circular Road

Namsan Park’s Circular Road, which connects Namsan Library, Namsan Octagonal Pavilion and the National Theater of Korea in Jangchung-dong, is a beautiful scenic route lined with forsythias, azaleas, and cherry blossoms. Although it stands at 262 meters above sea level, Namsan Mountain is a fairly easy walk. The walk begins from Namsan Library and takes about 40 minutes to reach Namsan Octagonal Pavilion located at the top of the mountain.

Address: 109, Sowol-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (more info) (서울시 용산구 소월로 109)

3. The most beautiful palace in spring, Changgyeonggung Palace

Changgyeonggung Palace, one of the major royal palaces in Seoul, is a prime spot to view cherry blossoms. The palace creates a gorgeous backdrop for photos made by an assortment of cherry blossoms, plum blossoms, Korean bush cherry, sansuyu (cornus fruit) flowers, apricot blossoms and royal azaleas as they bloom among ancient architecture in the heart of Seoul. From time to time, visitors can spot a fantastic shower of cherry blossom petals raining over Okcheongyo Bridge.

Address: 185, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (more info) (서울시 종로구 창경궁로 185)

4. Meet beautiful cherry blossoms at Seokchonhosu Lake

A cherry blossom festival is held every spring at Songpanaru Park, also known as Seokchonhosu Lake, a peaceful lake park that surrounds Lotte World. Seockhonhosu Lake boasts approximately 1,000 mesmerizing cherry trees lined up like a tunnel of flowers, creating a fascinating scene in spring. In addition, the festival offers events and family-fun activities for a perfect day out at Seokchonhosu Lake and Lotte World.

☞ Address: Areas of Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul (more info) (서울시 송파구 잠실동 일대)

5. Go on a dreamy picnic to Ilsan Lake Park

Ilsan Lake Park is home to a large number of flowering shrubs and trees, including thousands of cherry trees surrounding the lake. After the sun sets, lights strung around the trees create a romantic atmosphere as the cherry blossoms and lights reflect on the lake. A large lawn carpeted with soft green grass is open for visitors to enjoy picnicking. Visitors can get their fill of flowers by stopping at the nearby International Horticulture Goyang Korea, exhibiting flowers from all over the world.

Address: 595, Hosu-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do (more info) (경기도 고양시 일산동구 호수로 595)

6. Flowers gleam with vibrant yellow at Icheon Sansuyu Village

Icheon is home to a huge number of sansuyu trees. These wild trees, many over 100 years old, are spread all over the city and found most abundant in the Baeksa-myeon area, which is referred to as Sansuyu Village. The Icheon Baeksa Sansuyu Flower Festival is held at Sansuyu Village every spring when sansuyu flowers bloom, coloring the village with vibrant yellow. In particular, walking paths are prepared within the village, offering a magnificent view to anyone willing to take a walk.

Address: 17, Wonjeok-ro 775beon-gil, Baeksa-myeon, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do (more info) (경기도 이천시 백사면 원적로775번길 17)

Recommended Regional Spring Flower Hot Spots

1. Pass through a cherry blossom tunnel at Jinhae’s Yeojwacheon Stream

The city of Jinhae comes alive in spring when Jinhae Gunhangjae Festival takes place and approximately 360,000 cherry trees begin to bloom. Though the entire city is considered one of the top cherry blossom destinations, the most popular flower viewing areas are Anmingogae Hill, Jehwangsan Park, and Yeojwacheon Stream. In particular, approximately 1.5-kilometer long section of Yeojwacheon Stream is aligned with cherry blossoms, creating a tunnel of white petals. The sweet scent of canola flowers under the cherry trees will accompany visitors as they walk through the floral tunnel.

Address: Areas of Yeojwa-dong, Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do (more info) (경남 창원시 진해구 여좌동 일대)

2. Take a romantic walk along Ssangyesa Temple Simni Cherry Blossom Road

The Simni (10ri) Cherry Blossom Road is a 6-kilometer road that stretches from Hwagae Market to Ssanggyesa Temple in Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do. The road is often called the "wedding path" due to a belief that says couples who walk along the road when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom will fall deeply in love with each other. In addition, the annual Hwagae Cherry Blossoms Festival takes place around this time when the cherry trees are in bloom, offering more attractions for people walking the path connecting Hadong Hwagae Market and Ssanggyesa Temple.

Address: 15, Ssanggye-ro, Hwagae-myeon, Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do (more info) (경남 하동군 화개면 쌍계로15)

3. Greet snow white flowers at Gwangyang Maehwa (Plum Flower) Village

In Gwangyang Maehwa Village, near Seomjingang River in Jeollanam-do, plum trees start to blossom in early March, reaching their peak in the middle of the month. During the Gwangyang Maehwa Festival, large crowds of tourists from across the nation flock to the village. While plum flowers differ in color depending on the breed, most plum flowers found in the village are white. When flowers blossom in spring, the village sets off a mysterious yet tranquil atmosphere, resembling a snow-covered wonderland.

Address: 1563-1, Seomjingangmaehwa-ro, Daapmyeon, Gwangyang-si, Jeollanam-do (more info) (전남 광양시 다압면 섬진강매화로 1563-1)

4. Canola flowers bloom along the world’s no. 1 Slow Road, Cheongsando Island

Located about 19 kilometers south of Wando in Jeollanam-do is Cheongsando Island [Slow City], also known as the Dadohaehaesang National Park. Cheongsando Island was designated as the first Asian "Slow City" in 2007 and is home to the world’s first “Slow Road” as recognized by Cittaslow International. With the arrival of spring, yellow canola flowers, called yuchae in Korean, grow abundantly on the island and their fragrance fills the air. With its clear blue skies, turquoise sea, and bright yellow flowers, the island remains a favorite springtime filming location for movies, dramas and TV commercials.

Address: Areas of Cheongsan-myeon, Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do (more info) (전남 완도군 청산면 일대)

5. A famous filming site of the drama “All In,” Jeju Seopjikoji

As Korea's southernmost province, Jeju Island is the first to see the blossoming of spring flowers, drawing in many tourists with the start of spring. Yellow canola flowers spring up far and wide on the island, creating picture perfect scenery in places like Seopjikoji, a popular tourist attraction famous as a filming site of the Korean drama "All In (2003)." Visitors will be pleased to find uniquely shaped sculptures set in fields of canola flowers for photos of their trip. Furthermore, some tourist sites offer pony rides, a popular activity especially among families with children.

Address: 107, Seopjikoji-ro, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do (more info) (제주 서귀포시 성산읍 섭지코지로 107)

6. A mountain covered with azaleas, Yeongchwisan Mountain

Famous for the surrounding blue sea and beautiful islands, Yeosu is another popular destination for viewing spring flowers. Starting in April, pink azaleas color the ridges of Yeongchwisan Mountain (Yeosu), creating picturesque scenes against the deep blue ocean. The Yeongchwisan Azalea Festival is held annually in early April to celebrate the coming of spring.

Address: Areas of Sagnam-dong, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do (more info) (전라남도 여수시 상암동 일대)

Enjoy Spring Flower Festivals at Amusement Parks

1. Character Flower Festival at Seoulland

Every spring, Seoulland holds the annual Character Flower Festival, offering much to see and enjoy. Colorful flowers decorate pathways while various cartoon characters greet visitors. Stunning flowerbeds and lively characters provide excellent photo opportunities, including that of themed anniversary photos. In addition, special light fixtures highlight the flowers at night, creating a spectacular night view.

Address: 181, Gwangmyeong-ro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do (more info) (경기도 과천시 광명로 181)

2. Tulip Festival at Everland

To mark the arrival of spring every year, an annual Tulip Festival is held at Everland. In addition to Everland's tulip and rose gardens, the whole park will be decorated with azaleas, forsythias, camellias and freesias. Guests are welcome to enjoy events such as parades and performances. At night, the flowers become illuminated with colorful lighting displays.

Address: 199, Everland-ro, Pogok-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do (more info) (경기도 용인시 처인구 포곡읍 에버랜드로 199)

#ktomanila #visitkorea #visitkorea2018 #wks2018 #korea #seoul #spring #cherryblossoms #azalea #canola #everland #seoulland #themepark #koreatour #travel #koreatravel #spring2018 #kcultureandtourism

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recentanimenews · 4 years

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FEATURE: Anime vs. Real Life, The Real-World Locations of The God of High School

The God of High School has been an exciting and high-energy martial arts romp this season, with thrilling fights throughout. So it’s only appropriate that the show’s real-world setting is equally dynamic in its own right. The anime adaptation of the popular Korean WEBTOON series is set in Seoul, South Korea’s bustling capital city, which is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. And just like The God of High School, Seoul as a city is a mix of cutting-edge elements on the one hand, while still retaining and nurturing many of its age-old traditions on the other. Personally, following the show and tracking all of its locations has been quite a nostalgia trip for me, since I lived in Seoul for four years myself. Unfortunately, I haven't been back to Seoul in a few years now, and with the situation around the world at the moment, that probably won’t change anytime soon. But thanks to modern technology, we can still make the most out of it from the comfort and the safety of our homes, so in this installment of Anime vs. Real Life, let’s take a virtual tour of Seoul to see all of Gat Obeu Hai Seukul’s real-world locations!

*All images were taken with GOOGLE STREET VIEW

Let’s kick things off with The God of High School’s most important location, which is undoubtedly the venue of the eponymous fighting tournament. The tournament, which has high school students from all over South Korea competing against each other, takes place at the very real Coex Convention & Exhibition Center.

The convention center is located in the Gangnam District, one of Seoul’s major business districts, and boasts large-scale event and conference spaces, as well as a massive underground shopping mall.

Right next to the convention center is the SMTown Coex Artium, which features the country’s largest LED advertising screen wrapping around the facade of the building. However, the popular tourist destination for K-pop fans has closed down and moved location in June of this year.

But Seoul is much more than just modern skyscrapers and cutting-edge technology. Pictured above is the famous Namdaemun Gate, the most prominent one of the eight gates of the old city’s fortress wall. The gate dates back to the 14th century and was designated as Korea’s National Treasure No. 1 by the government in 1962. Unfortunately, the wooden structure of the gate was heavily damaged by arson in 2008 but was reopened after five years of reconstructive work. Adjacent to the gate is the busy Namdaemun Market, which is the oldest and largest market in the country.

When he is not fighting in the ring, you’ll probably find Jin Mori training. Here he’s jogging along the Seoul City Wall — probably the stretch of wall following the ridges of the Naksan Mountain, which also dates back to the 14th century.

The N Seoul Tower, which honestly everybody just calls Namsan Tower after the mountain it's located on, is one of Seoul’s most famous landmarks and symbols. Combined with its elevated position, the tower sits at 480m above sea level and offers visitors a spectacular view of the entire city.

Located to the right here is the eye-catching Dongdaemun Design Plaza, designed by famous architect Zaha Hadid, which I unfortunately never got to see in its full glory myself, as it was only completed in 2014, four years after I left. The building comprises large public and event spaces and is the newest landmark of the popular fashion hub that is the Dongdaemun Area. Also located here is the famous Dongdaemun Gate, Dongdaemun Market, and the Cheonggyecheon Stream, which also makes a vague appearance in the show in Episode 7.

I immediately recognized this shot of the back of the Seoul City Hall, which I passed by every day on my way to school from Seongbuk-dong to Hannam-dong, which is where the German School was located.

As a member of the Korean National Assembly, Park Mujin spends a lot of time at the Korea National Assembly Proceeding Hall, which is South Korea’s capitol building.

Jin Mori and Yu Mira have their first encounter along the banks of the Han River here while trying to chase down a purse thief.

This bridge across one of the many branches of Han River is the place where our three protagonists Mori, Mira, and Daewi had their big bonding moment after losing Mira’s sword in the river. The specific spot took me an eternity to find for some reason. I usually search for locations right after an episode airs, but ended up looking for this spot for hours to no avail. However, when I returned to the search a few weeks later in preparation for this article, I immediately found it within seconds.

The blinding golden building you’ll see in various shots of the show is the 63 Building, a 250m skyscraper on Yeouido Island, which also has an observation platform.

Mira’s wedding was supposed to take place at The Shilla Seoul, but Jin and Daewi decided to turn the hotel’s ballroom into a giant fighting ring instead.

The building right next to it, which resembles a Korean temple, is actually just a hanok-style (traditional Korean style) guest house that also belongs to the hotel.

And finally, let’s get back to the main setting of the show again. Right next to the convention center is the ASEM Tower, which also got a brief appearance in PSY’s infamous "Gangnam Style" music video.

If you want to virtually check out some of these The God of High School locations yourself, I marked them all on the map below!

Would you like to see more anime set in South Korea? Let us know in the comments below!

Wilhelm is an anime tourist, who loves to search for and uncover the real-world spots he sees in anime. You can talk with him on Twitter @Surwill or on Instagram wilhelm_donko.

Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: [email protected]

#Anime #News #Latest in Anime News by Crunchyroll!

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ericfruits · 4 years

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Typhoon season makes Japan and the Koreas ponder climate change

Banyan Typhoon season makes Japan and the Koreas ponder climate change

But Japan, in particular, is a climate laggard

SENSO-JI IN TOKYO, dedicated to the boddhisattva of compassion, is Earth’s most visited sacred site. Some 30m people a year pass through the temple’s imposing entrance, known as Kaminarimon, or Thunder Gate, flanked by Fujin, the god of wind, and his even fiercer brother, Raijin, the god of storms and rain. They are just one of countless reminders across North-East Asia that the natural calamities of downpours and floods (not to mention earthquakes and tsunamis) are deeply enshrined in the region’s collective psyche.

Yet some recent meteorological punishment looks less divine than man-made. Two years ago Japan’s summer monsoon season was the wettest on record. In their usual iteration, the life-giving rains are welcome. In excess, they sweep away roads and houses: 225 people died across 15 prefectures in 2018. The rains of 2019 set a new record as, in turn, did this summer’s deluge.

In South Korea, too, the 54 days of rain this summer marked the longest monsoon on record. The Han river, which runs through Seoul, the capital, burst its banks. The heavy rains threatened North Korea’s already meagre food supply.

No sooner did the monsoon end than the typhoon season began. The Korean peninsula typically gets one direct hit from a typhoon a year. Over the past two weeks it got three in succession, another record. On September 8th Kim Jong Un, the North’s dictator, assembled his top brass to review the damage a week earlier from the second of the typhoons, Maysak, which destroyed 2,000 homes and washed away 60km of roads and 57 bridges. As the meeting took place, the third, Haishen, was sweeping inland. Although it had weakened before it made landfall, Haishen was the first “supertyphoon” of the season. It packed sustained winds of 135 knots (250kph).

Most of the western Pacific, the world’s biggest typhoon factory, has actually seen unusually few this season. Meteorologists had predicted that. Thanks to a regular rhythm in the climate known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, their models said tradewinds in lower latitudes would be stronger than usual, making it harder for typhoons to form.

Yet something man-made may be at work farther north. A facet of global warming is that the tropics are expanding. That may account for increased monsoon flooding and a shift north in the intensity of typhoons. Surface temperatures in a huge patch of ocean south of Japan have been at record highs. The heat gives strength to the typhoons passing over. As Maysak unwound, the energy it dumped into the jet stream may have contributed to savage swings from hot to cold in western America (see Science section).

Japan and South Korea grew rich by pouring concrete. Construction—dams, levees, pumping stations—still delights planners confronting threats from the weather. A shrine for the world’s disaster experts is a cathedral-like cistern under Tokyo, a 6.3km-network of tunnels and tanks supported by 500-tonne columns.

Flood mitigation is essential. Yet though Japan and South Korea have few climate-change deniers, the sense that warming is a problem generated elsewhere has persisted for too long, says Ohbayashi Mika of the Renewable Energy Institute in Tokyo. That is changing faster in South Korea. Its civil society is more vigorous than Japan’s—and in a recent Gallup poll seven out of ten Koreans said recent floods underlined the seriousness of climate change. President Moon Jae-in promises to close ten coal plants before the end of his term in 2022. This week he used the typhoons as a reason to push for a trebling of renewable generation by 2025. South Korea’s coronavirus-related spending packages have had a strongly green element, says Ms Ohbayashi, unlike Japan’s.

There, media coverage of weather events makes the link to climate change. Yet Japan’s own hefty carbon emissions rarely come up, says Watanabe Eri of 350.org, a green pressure group. Coal’s share in power generation has risen in the past decade, especially after Japan shut its nuclear plants. Targets adopted under the outgoing prime minister, Abe Shinzo, are feeble: coal will still be more than a quarter of the mix by 2030. Japan also promotes coal plants abroad.

Change is always possible. Japanese businesses are under pressure from Western partners to cut their carbon use. Three years of floods have boosted new volunteers at Ms Watanabe’s group fivefold. The numbers remain tiny—around 250 a year. But all typhoons start with the merest waft of air.

For more coverage of climate change, register for The Climate Issue, our fortnightly newsletter, or visit our climate-change hub

This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline "The new weather gods"

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seoultoseoultravel · 2 years

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Day 4 Seoul, 15th Sept

This is hard work doing a blog after an exhausting day. If it wasn’t to have my own records I would stop. Today was an early 6.30 pick for a DMZ tour. It’s the only way to go there as it’s a very sensitive area. I did see some more westerners today on tours but still not that many around.

The DMZ or demilitarised zone is about 50 kms from Seoul. Koreans don’t go there as they find it too distressing. Out first spot was Imjingak which is a historic place that holds memories of the tragic separation of the nation after the Korean War. This is the Peace Bell. There are many hopes from South Korean for the reunification of the two countries.

There is a lot of wire fencing in this area with some having warning signs for mines.

There are a lot of symbolic statues in this area. This one was for the reunification of Korea. The two statues of Peace depict the victims of sexual slavery who were forcefully mobilised by the Japanese military during the Asia- Pacific War.

This steam train was left at Jangdan station after it was bombed during the Korean War and the evacuation of refugees.

Looking out into the DMZ area.

The Freedom bridge over which many refugees fled during the war. Millions of people were displaced after the war.

This camera was moving the whole time. There were cameras everywhere.

These wire fences are to prevent people entering the DMZ without permission. It isn’t a border fence.

This memorial is to recognise the sacrifices American soldiers made in helping South Korea during the Korean War. North Korea attack on South Korea was unexpected and swift. Seoul fell in three day. The war was only expected to last for 6 weeks which by then the North would have control of the whole country. This nearly happened. This was possible as the North had sophisticated weaponry and a very well trained army. They were also backed by the Russians under Stalin. The South Koreans only had picks to fight with until the United Nations stepped in which ended up involving 22 nations either sending troops or other supplies. For example, Norway sent medical teams. The Americans were the first to send troops and had the most casualties.

President Truman’s Statement about the war. Truman was President at the beginning of the war which stated on 25th June, 1950 but President Eisenhower was President when the war concluded on 27th July 1953.

Crossing into the DMZ there were lots of soldiers around. They came onto the bus to check our passports. They all looked so young but probably are as most South Koreans do their, now 18 months compulsory military training, after their first year of university. Women don’t have to do service. Interestingly enough, North Korean males have to do 10 years of military service and women do 7 years.

Following a military vehicle.

There were lots of barricades across the road.

I have zig zagged a lot on this trip.

We went to the Dora lookout which is the northernmost observatory in the south where you can see into North Korea. You can see the border down below which is heavily guarded. Most of this land is no man’s land. If you zoom very faintly on the right you can see a blue flagpole with the North Korean flag on it which is the largest sized flag in the world.

There are some original South Korean villagers who still live in part of the DMZ and farm. They don’t have to pay taxes. A large South Korea flagpole has been erected in this area and has the second largest flag in the world. It was the largest but North Korea keep on going bigger each time a new flag was raised.

At the lookout there was interesting information about the DMZ which is an area 4 kilometres wide. Two kilometres on the south, two kilometres to the north. It is the area within the rows of lights. If you look closely near the last white label to the right you can see a green light. This is where meetings have been held between the North and South. Military personnel have also tried to escape from the North across the narrowest section of the river you can see. This doesn’t happen often. You can vaguely see the border line through the middle.

The blue buildings are what you see on the news.

This is where Trump famously went a few years ago and met the North Korean President Kim Jong Un. Also in the photo is President Moon of South Korea.

The two presidents shaking hands across the border. Over the years there has been moves of peace but not a lot of progress has been made. South Korea now has a new President. Kim Jong Un is the grandson of the Leader of North Korea after the separation. He tries to look like him with his haircut and weight, apparently. The ideologies of the two countries are so different it is hard to see how they can be reunified.

We also visited an area where one of four tunnels have been found. We watched an interesting video about the DMZ and then we were able to go down the tunnel. No photos and helmets had to be worn. The Third tunnel was discovered in 1974 after a defector reported it. It is the biggest and deepest tunnel and up to 30,000 troops , fully packed, are thought would be able to march through in one hour. These tunnels were thought to have been built after the armistice in 1953.

Me and my friends. The whole tour was so informative about this area and the relations between the two very different countries now. Korea after Japan’ annexation and the end of WWII was one of the poorest countries in the world. That’s why Russia and the US took control of the North and South to help get them back on their feet and allow elections to take place. As you know this only happened in South Korea. The south really struggled over the years as they have no natural resources except the brain power of their population. Now 80% of people go to university and this has allowed for the development of industries and wealth. Things have really improved from the 80′s onwards. Seoul holding the Olympics in 1988 was their emergence into the world. Most South Koreans live decent lives today. Seoul itself is very modern city. However, in North Korea much of the population are very poor and many still die from starvation even though they spend a lot of money on military power and have an atomic bomb.

One story our guide finished with was about education in South Korea. She said that when she went to school she was there by 7.30 to study until 9 when lessons started and they finished at 5. They ate their meals at school and after dinner studied until 9. Many, including her, went to private tutoring classes until 1 in the morning and this was the pattern all week. The country has been criticised for the pressure it puts on young people. All I could think of as a teacher was how our students have no idea how lucky they are. The bus dropped us off at City Hall. There is a palace across rather road and the guards were changing. I was surrounded by school kids while I was watching so asked if I could take their photo. They were very happy boys.

The changing of the guards is in its original form and uniform. It’s more symbolic than real.

Very colourful

Note the nude coloured masks it makes them look faceless.

The Deoksugung Palace in parts date back to the 1500′s and was renamed Deoksugung Palace in 1907 by King Sunjong. In 1910 Korea was deprived of its national sovereignty by the Japanese.

Seogeodang Hall was rebuilt after a massive fire in 1904. It is the only two storied building remaining.

Seokjojeon Hall on the right was built between 1900 and 1910 and consisted of public spaces and private quarters. In 1946-47 the American- Russian Joint Committee met here. The building on the left is now an art gallery.

An exhibition of Moon Shin’s work was being held in the art gallery. Moon Shin was born in Japan to Korean parents. He studied art in Japan during the war then returned home to South Korea. He moved to Paris where he exhibited quite frequently before settling back in Korea. He was an artist as well as a sculpturer. He worked with all kinds of wood and metals creating stunning pieces.

Gorgeous pieces

Bronze was also a favourite element to use.

He would paint and then reinterpret in metal or wood. I thought his pieces were amazing.

These were the plaster models for his steel sculptures he made for the Olympic park in Seoul.

It was a pretty interesting informative day all up and exhausting. So much to see.

0 notes

timiistraveling · 7 years

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2. A week in Seoul

I finally arrived in Seoul on the 11th of September, after 18 hours of traveling. The journey was pretty bearable, the plane food was way better than I expected and I even managed to sleep around 2 hours! I got a pretty bad cold because of the constant air conditioner, and I was a bit jet lagged too (there is a six hour difference between Romania and Korea) but I got used to the timezone pretty fast.

On the first day we ended up taking a city-sight bus with my dad (you know, the red ones with 2 levels) and seeing the bigger attractions across the city. Seoul is super big, and even though getting around is pretty easy, the distances are still enormous, especially if you want to see the streets so you decide to go to your destination on foot. We saw some of the old palaces, the center with the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and the statues of 조선 세종 (Sejong the Great a.k.a. the King who came up with the Korean writing system) and 이순신장군 (Admiral Yi Sun-Sin - best known for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Imjin war in the Joseon Dynasty).

In the next few days I visited Building 63, Lotte World, 홍대 (Hongde - full of shops and coffee houses and waaaay to many people), 2 Raccoon Cafés, a karaoke place, tried Korean BBQ and 200 different chicken restaurants, searched - without success - for strong coffee and went in the evenings to the theater, to see my dad’s performances.

Building 63 is located on the south side of Seoul, right after the Han river. It was Korea’s tallest landmark skyscraper until this April (lost the title to Lotte Tower), but it’s worth visiting anyway. The elevator is extremely fast, it takes you to the top in 1 minute and 7 seconds (that’s and average of 1 floor/1.06 seconds! - your ears get instantly clogged around the 15th floor), where a beautiful view and a great exhibition awaits you. You can mainly see the whole city from up there, the skyscrapers and the smaller buildings, the mountains and the bridges, the sky and the woods.

Although all of this is amazing, my favorite part remains the aquarium, which can be found on 2 floors, in the basement of the building. Besides the great display and vast species the aquarium has an outstanding and peculiar attraction - a mermaid show. Yes, they have two girls who dress up as mermaids, and do a 10 minutes show every hour in the biggest tank. And let me tell you, it’s kind of super awesome. The kids love it, the adult love it, every one loves it, it’s great fun. The videos I made with my phone are the worst, but I encourage you to go and search it on youtube - you can find a ton of footage.

The next unforgettable experience was the Lotte World adventure park, one of the most famous Korean amusement parks. The thing is tremendous, you can basically get lost, it has an outside and an inside part (on 4 floors), and half a day is by far not enough to try all the attractions. As Halloween is really loved by this nation, even though we visited the park in September, the Magic Island (outside part of the park) was already transformed into Zombie Island. After 7 p.m. some actors appear (I’d say around 15-20, all of them white), all of them in really well made zombie costumes, and start “hunting” the grounds. At 8:30 they have a small show, where they jump-scare everyone, dance and perform. Not very stunning, but I’ve seen worse.

Lastly, I want to tell you a bit more about this Raccoon cafe I visited in Hongdae. It was the nicest, prettiest, coolest thing I’ve ever seen. The animals were treated well, the workers clearly cared about them. There were around 6 raccoons and 5 dogs, as people here mostly own small dogs (because of the rather small apartments) so big dogs are a true rarity. For 7.000 Won you can get a drink and a pass for the animals area, and you are able to stay there as long as you want.

All in all, ignoring that the city is really crowded and that everything is happening at light speed, it was an amazing experience and I would like to go back sometimes, to see everything else!

The next monday, a week after arriving in Seoul I set off to Busan, to join the volunteering program I’m here for.

See you there! ♡

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wheresanne · 6 years

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The Ultimate Guide to Naju: 50 Places to Visit in Naju in South Jeolla

Where's Naju?

Naju (나주시) is a small populated "city" in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. The capital of South Jeolla was located at Naju until it was moved to Gwangju in 1895. The name Jeolla (전라) actually originates from the first character of Jeonju (전주) and the first character of Naju (나주).

Despite being a relatively small, remote city, Naju offers quite a bit to the dedicated tourist or to the expat who happens to find Naju home.

Cool history: In 1986, the governmental name changed into modified from Geumseong to Naju. In 1995, Naju city became extended to include Naju county.

What's Naju famous for?

If you watch k-dramas or visit Seoul in South Korea, you may see "나주 곰탕" Naju gom-tang soup restaurants or hear about the delicious "나주 배" Naju pears.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/839428818029410461/

Naju is a city with history and modern culture.

"Its beauty comes from the harmony of history and modern culture within. The spiritual healing offered by Naju comes from this harmony."

Naju has plenty of rice fields and pear farms on the outskirts of the new "Naju Innocity Bitgaram" which is located in the eastern section of the Naju province. As of 2018, there are 12 Korea public service companies and business workers in Bitgaram, the Naju Innocity.

Here are 50 activities, cultural museums, delicious restaurants, cool cafes, and other places you should visit in Naju, South Korea.

https://www.pinterest.co.kr/pin/839428818029410479

Naju Travel (나주 여행)

There are mostly four sections of Naju: north, south, east, west.

1 - Naju Innocity / Bitgaram (빛가람동)

Naju has a new inno-city called Bitgaram (빛가람동) which became an Innovative City and the outlet ceremony for metropolis construction started on November 8, 2007. Former President Roh participated within the beginning activities. As the town received the name of "Innovative City", several Korean public companies of work transferred from Seoul, to the Naju area. Naju's creation changed into 4th began after Jeju, Gimcheon, and Jinju. Upon entering Bitgaram city, you'll immediately see some tall buildings of the companies: KEPCO, Knowledge Information Service Center, Korea Information Security Agency, Radio Research Laboratory, Korea Radio Station Management Agency, Program Deliberation & Mediation Committee.

2 - Lake Park (빛가람 호수공원)

A quite large park with both bicycle and walk paths all around the Innocity lake. Water fountain and light show starts at 8 p.m. on weekdays. And live busking music performances are scheduled on Wednesday evenings. Sometimes you’ll find other planned events, sponsored by KEPCO, KDN, Korea Council of Arts, or other companies, for families or couples to enjoy in Lake Park.

Also a bridge connects for walkers to hike up to the Bitgaram landmark observatory, or have picnics under the trees.

Address: Jeollanam-do, Naju-si, 호수 로 77

3 - Bitgaram Observatory

The Bitgaram Observatory looks like an alien ship! The facilities for the observatory include an exhibition hall, restaurant, Hole Cafe, gallery and parking lots.You can ride the Monorail for 1,000won to the top of the observatory for a view of the Bitgaram city.

https://www.pinterest.co.kr/pin/839428818029410302

4 - Business Hotels

Some of these business hotels have excellent gyms or delicious restaurants! Or behind them, is the main Bitgaram road with a Daiso, Burger King, Hyundai and Kia car dealership, Dunkin' Donuts, Paris Baguette, Tous Les Jours, Lotteria, Gongcha, Twosome Place, Tom n Toms, etc.

5 - Restaurants Street on Sangya 2-gil, Naju-si

This is a great area with a lot of restaurants.

6 - Starbucks or Drop Top cafes on Sangya 2-gil, Naju-si

7 - Go naked in jjimjilbang spa.

There’s a Eco Sejong for a family spa, across from the Starbucks, or a few jjimjibang spas for women-only or for business workers.

8 - VR Rooms

9 - Father's Bagel for a good New-York-style bagel

10 - Arcade/Singing Rooms

11 - PC Rooms

12 - KEPCO botanical garden and lotus flower reservoir pond

Go see the tallest building in Bitgaram and Naju. Even from the two bridges and rural parts of Naju, you can see the KEPCO building.

13 - CGV movie cinema building

There’s a CGV movie theater, arcade room, bows and arrows, lots of Vietnamese restaurants, a dog cafe, Pizza Etang, New York Bread, boutiques, and other places you should visit.

http://bitgaram-sclass1.com/surroundingInfo/page.apt?codeSeq=68

14 - "No Brand" supermarket

15 - Chinese restaurants

16 - More Business Hotels with great buffet restaurants

17 - Virtual Golf Rooms

18 - Olive Young, other beauty stores, NH Bank, Office Depot, a pillow and blankets store

19 - Golf Course on Lake Park

20 - Library

21 - Innocity bus terminal

22 - Bowling Alley

23 - Cute coffee shops in Innocity:

Some of my absolute favorite cafes in Bitgaram city include,

Cafe 115 (54, Hosu-ro, Naju-si)

Father's Bagel

Bucket114 Cafe (Fancy and good macaroons)

감성커피 Gamseong Cafe (16, Sangya 2-gil, Naju-si)

Double U Cafe (72, Ujeong-ro, Naju-si)

5BLOCK Cafe (Delicious bread and desserts) (19-3, Baemet 3-gil, Naju-si)

RUSTIC Cafe (23-20, Domin-gil, Naju-si)

Cafe Innovation (165, Ujeong-ro, Naju-si)

Things to do in Naju, old Naju and history.

Metasequoia-Tree Road (나주 산림자원연구소)

Many visitors and Koreans know about the famous Nami Island Metasequoia Tree Lane; however, there’s actually a similar one here in Naju!! It’s a botanical garden and research institute, so you can see a wide variety of trees, flowers, and other plants. There’s also some benches and large grass area for picnics!

I love this photo and need it http://koreatourinformation.com/blog/2015/05/01/naju-hometown-of-historic-figures/

Address: 산23 Sanje-ri, Sanpo-myeon, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do

Old Nampyeong Station.

Address:

Geumseongsan Mountain

Geumseongsan Mountain is a relatively low mountain with its peak at 450m above sea level; however, it is the tallest mountain in Naju.

Address: Gyeonghyeon-dong, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea

http://www.naju.go.kr/tour/html/sub02/0204.html

Naju Station

Naju Station on the Honam Line is a busy station, servicing 29 KTX and 18 SRT trains every day. The line between Naju and Mokpo Stations is also being expanded to include Muan International Airport from October 31. While the current Naju Station is quite nice, the old Naju Station is worth a visit due to its historical importance; the former station was the starting point for the Gwangju Student Independence Movement.

https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=2599155

Learn the Significance of Old Naju Station - It’s now the Gwangju Student Movement Memorial Hall

At Old Naju Station, you can learn more about the Korean students of Gwangju and Jeonnam resisted the oppression of the Japanese imperialists. It sparked with the incident of the Korean girl being harassed at Naju Station on October 30, 1929 and an anti-Japanese protest was staged on November 3. However, this small movement spread into a nation-wide Anti-Japanese and is also significant to Gwangju’s history too.

https://www.pinterest.co.kr/pin/839428818029410598

Understand History of the Statue of Peace Woman Statue (평화의 소녀상)

The Statue of Peace, also often called Sonyeosang in Korean pronunciation, is a symbol of the victims of sexual slavery, known as comfort women, by the Korean military during Vietnam War and the Japanese imperial military during World War II.

Address: 20 Jukrim-gil, Geumnam-dong, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do

Visit Naju’s best palace site, Geumseonggwan Hall (금성관)

The top attractions of Naju are Geumseonggwan Hall, a guesthouse operated by the Naju Government Office for visiting officials during the Goryeo and Joseon periods, and Geumhakheon House, a reconstruction of the private residence of the Naju Moksa (highest government official in the region).

I recommend starting at Geumseonggwan Hall for a history tour and then enjoying the peaceful five-minute walk to Geumhakheon House. You’ll be able to find the residence when you spot a grand hackberry tree towering over all the other trees. There are also many cherry blossom trees in the area, making it a popular attraction in spring. Unlike Geumseonggwan Hall, guests can actually spend the night at Geumhakheon House. Book a night here to feel like a traveling dignitary from the Joseon dynasty!

Address: 109-5 Gwawon-dong, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do 전라남도 나주 금성관길 8 (우) 58257 Recommended food: Naju gomtang

Eat Gomtang Soup on Gomtang Street (near Geumseonggwan Hall)

Naju is also famous for gomtang (beef bone soup). What makes Naju’s version of gomtang so special is their use of plate and shank cuts of beef for the flavoring of the broth instead of the standard beef bones used in other regions. It has also remained true to its original recipe throughout the years, drawing people back again and again. The area around Geumseonggwan Hall and Geumhakheon House is filled with gomtang restaurants, making it an easy choice when visiting!

Address: Area of Geumgye-dong, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do (전라남도 나주시 금계동)

Then eat gomtang soup at the famous restaurants and/or visit this cafe.

Among them is the ginkgo tree grown on the grounds of the Naju hyanggyo, a Confucian academy. It’s said to have been planted by King Taejo himself. 나주 학생독립운동 기념관Address: 전라남도 나주 죽림길 26 (우) 58260 Yeongsan area: East of the city center is the Yeongsan River (영산강) which flows southward through the city, then west out towards Mokpo.

Ride a traditional Korean boat, a Dotpae (돛배), on the Yeongsan River.

To do this, you need to go out to the Yeongsan-Po District. The boat is located across the street from Skate Street. You get a ticket - free for Naju residents and maybe 3,000won for non-residents - and you get to go on a 10 minute boat ride a good ways up the Yeongsan River. The boat ride offers exceptional views of the Naju countryside, and occasionally, they have musicians on the boat who play traditional "river boat" music. It can be quite a nice time.

Also quickly visit the Yeongsangpo Museum for free admission.

Yeongsanpo Skate Festival (영산포 홍어축제)

Some history myths: The myth says that Arangsa and Abisa fell in love with each other in the vicinity of the Yeongsangang River during Korea’s Three Kingdoms Period (57 B.C.-A.D. 668). In jealousy, young villagers threw Abisa into the river, but she was brought to life in the form of a giant snake. Alas, then both of them fell into the river near the Angam Rock (pictured). This area is known for its rapid currents which have overturned numerous riverboats.

https://www.pinterest.co.kr/pin/839428818029410111

https://www.pinterest.co.kr/pin/839428818029353538/

https://www.pinterest.co.kr/pin/839428818029410202/

See the Yeongsangpo Boat & In-Land Lighthouse

Smell the Skate Fish on Skate Street in Yeongsanpo

Or eat Eel Fish

Visit this cafe Breeze for a view of the Yeongsanpo River.

Across the street of this cafe Breeze, you’ll see an old movie theater and the Yeongsan Church.

Japanese Teahouse & Yeongsang Church & Yeongsan Bus Terminal

Daeungjeon Hall of Dabosa Temple

Address: 주소83, Geumseongsan-gil, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea

http://www.naju.go.kr/tour/html/sub02/0204.html?mode=V&mng_no=802

Naju Image Theme Park (영상테마파크)

This is one of Korea's most interesting and underrated tourist attractions. The name is horribly misleading as are many of Korea's "theme parks.”. This place is actually a movie/TV drama set built as an elaborate Joseon-era castle with rooms you can walk in, traditional clothes you can try on, musical instruments you can play, vendors with traditional cheledon pottery you can buy, etc. -- all of which culminates in a spectacular view of the Naju countryside from atop the castle walls. It's a good 20 minutes outside the city. Tickets cost 5,000w, and if you are a Naju resident, you can get a discount (this applies to foreigners, too, so long as your ARC lists Naju as your official address). Check out their official site for more information: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=495604

This is the Naju Image Theme Park, where the soap operas "Jumong" and "Kingdom of the Winds" were filmed. Located in the southwestern parts of the country, the city of Naju was occupied by the Baekje Kingdom during Korea's Three Kingdoms Period (57 B.C.-A.D. 668). First-time visitors to the theme park can reflect on the nation's history and may have questions about the Goguryeo-style architecture.

The Naju Image Theme Park is one of the most sought-after locations to film historic soap operas, especially those set in Goguryeo (37 B.C.-A.D. 668) and Baekje (18 B.C.-A.D. 660) times. The park is surrounded by some 95 buildings.

This is the Naju Image Theme Park, where the soap operas “Jumong” and “Kingdom of the Winds” were filmed. Located in the southwestern parts of the country, the city of Naju was occupied by the Baekje Kingdom during Korea’s Three Kingdoms Period (57 B.C.-A.D. 668). First-time visitors to the theme park can reflect on the nation’s history and may have questions about the Goguryeo-style architecture.

Address:

The Natural Dyeing Culture Center (한국천연염색박물관)

(나주시천연염색문화재단)

Naju is famous for their natural dyeing, recognized as Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 115, and is known for developing silk weaving techniques and discovering a way to create a deep navy color for fabrics. As such, Naju is home to the Natural Dyeing Culture Center. You can easily lose track of time exploring the exhibit hall, materials room, shop, and experience hall here. The experience hall in particular offers many opportunities to make your very own souvenir, ranging from naturally dyed scarves and items of clothing to coloring and woodcraft kits.

Address: 379, Baekho-ro, Dasi-myeon, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do (전라남도 나주시 다시면 백호로 379)

Naju National Museum (국립박물관)

Naju National Museum displays artifacts found near Yeongsangang River region and preserves artifacts excavated from throughout the South Jeolla region.

Address: 747, Gobun-ro, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do

Naju Mary

Naju Pear Museum (나주배박물관)

Naju Pear Museum is a museum that was opened in the year 1992 to study more about the Korean pears including the history of the fruit, process of growing them, sorting them and storing them. Located in Naju, visitors can take a guided tour of this museum. The tour lasts 20 minutes and will help you know more about your favourite breakfast food.Address:

Address: 5838, Yeongsan-ro, Geumcheon-myeon, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do

And of course what's a trip to Naju without going to the Naju Pear Museum? It's free. It's fruity. It's the Pear Museum! Learn more about this place at: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=815382

Abandoned Bowling Alley

Nearby Dongshin University, there is a large bowling alley which has been abandoned since the 1990s. Koreans don't seem to have the same fascination with abandoned buildings as Westerners do, so there aren't any drug addicts or vagrants hiding in the place. It's definitely worth a visit. If you feel so inclined, you can go bowling with ghosts and ghouls; there are plenty of bowling balls, pins, and even bowling shoes available. After you've finished your game, you can head downstairs and sing to your heart's desire at the abandoned norae-bang. If you don't believe in the netherworld, however, you can pilfer through boxes of unused shot glasses and mugs. To get there from Hoban Apartments: walk towards the university, turn right at the street that's in front of the university. Walk about 25 yards, then, you'll see paths that lead you towards the bowling alley on your right.

#1 of 5 Things To Do in Naju-si

Relax at Jungheung Gold Spa & Resort (중흥 골드스파 & 리조트)

A bit further out, there's Naju's water park. According to other websites, it costs about 37,000w to enter the park and additional money to ride the rides and eat. To learn more about this place, check out the following website: Band Adventures

Address:

Bike the Yeongsan River.

One of the best things about Naju and much of Korea is the access to the kilometers and kilometers of bike trails. Theoretically, you can bike all the way around the country from any one of the trails. In Naju, the trails are breathtaking in their beauty, personified by majestic farm lands, cattle yards, and truly sublime views of the River. Every 5 kilometers or so, there is a rest station; some offer maps. If you manage to bike through this area, it's recommended that you try to pass by Neureoji Observatory (느러지전망대), which is a lookout tower, where you can stare out across an oxbow in the River. You can read more about that here: Namu Wiki

Address:

Hike Geum-seong Mountain (금성산).

It's not a particularly tall mountain, but it does offer some stunning views and as with most mountains in Korea, quaint, enlightening Buddhist Temples nestled here and there. What makes this mountain interesting is its history: With its several jutting peaks, three in total, it has the look of a dragon's back, and so, dating back to Korea's shamanistic days, Geum-seong Mountain has been worshiped as a holy place. Also, during the Korean war, a group of North Korean soldiers got stranded up there after MacArthur's famous attack on Incheon; those soldiers set up landmines around the mountain and held out until the bitter end. There's a South Korean military base up there now, making the highest peak inaccessible. However, there is a water park located over the first ridge of the mountain; it's only open in the summer and may look out-of-business, because they drain the pools every day (strange), but it's definitely worth a visit.

Address:

Check out the Naju Culture Center

Located between the Daebang area and City Hall, the Culture Center offers several surprisingly good theater and dance performances, and it also serves as a movie theater on occasion while the new movie theater in Innovation City is being build. The 160 and 196 buses go by here. Check out there website here: http://najuart.naju.go.kr/

Address:

Yearly Festivals in Naju

Naju also hosts several festivals throughout the year.

Naju Pear Blossom Festival (나주 배 꽃 축제) - April - Pear blossoms give cherry blossoms a run for their money in terms of their beauty and soft colors.

Naju Rapeseed Festival (나주 유채 축제) - May - Odd sounding name but a lovely festival with breathtaking tall yellow-grass flowers.

Naju Yeongsanpo Skate Festival (영산포 홍어축제) - May - Celebrates skate fish. Click the link to find out more: Asia English Visit Korea

Naju Reed Festival (억새풀 축제) - September - Celebrates the reeds that grow near the river, which are quite beautiful. Walking around there, you get the feeling you're in a horror movie or something.

Mahan Culture Festival (마한문화축제) - October - Celebrates the traditional culture of the Mahan Kingdom, which ruled before the Three Kingdom period

Dongshin University Festival (동신대학교 축제) - Fall - 3-day festival with live music, games, and food, which is held in the fall.

Address:

동신대학교

나주시외버스터미널

Also read my post about how-to travel from Naju to Gwangju!

How to get from Gwangju to Naju Innocity without a car:

From Gwangju-Songjeong Station, use the 02 bus for 30 minutes to "Lake Park" or use the 160 bus for 30 minutes to Innocity. Or ride on the train for 10 minutes to Naju Station and then take the 700 or 701 bus to the Innocity.

- Naju-Innocity bound buses: 02

How to get from Gwangju to (Old) Naju without a car:

From Gwangju-Songjeong Station, use the 02 bus for 30 minutes, or ride on the train for 10 minutes. - Naju-bound buses: 160, 600, 601, 602, 603, 1160

Or Reasons I'm Happy to Live near Gwangju!

광주가톨릭대학교

1913 Songjeong Station Market

☞ Address: 38, Songjeong-ro 16beon-gil, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju (광주광역시 광산구 송정로16번길 38)

☞ Directions: Walk approx. 3 min from Gwangju-Songjeong Station, Exit 5

☞ Operating hours: Mon-Thu 11:00-22:00 / Fri-Sun 11:00-23:00 * Closed second and fourth Monday of each month

☞ Inquiries: +82-62-942-1914 (Korean only)

☞ Website: 1913songjungmarket.modoo.at (Korean only)

Yangnim History & Culture Village

☞ Address: 201-64, Yangnim-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju (광주광역시 남구 양림동 201-64)

☞ Directions: Walk approx. 15 min from Namgwangju Station (Gwangju Subway Line 1), Exit 3

☞ Operating hours: Open 24 hours (Hours vary by shop)

☞ Inquiries: +82-62-607-4502 (Korean only)

☞ Website: visityangnim.kr (Korean only)

Muan International Airport

Mokpo Station

Mokpo

Gatbawi Rock and the coastal walkway to reach it are a must when visiting Mokpo. Gatbawi Rock, Natural Monument No. 500, is said to look like two men wearing gat (traditional Korean hat). In the past, people had to ride a boat if they wanted to see the rocks. However, with the installation of a coastal footpath, visitors can easily walk to the rocks over the sea, enjoying the breeze on their way.

Gatbawi Culture Town is within walking distance, perfect for travelers who enjoy getting to know the local culture and arts. The tourism complex is comprised of the National Maritime Museum, Mokpo Culture & Arts Center, Mokpo Natural History Museum, Local Culture Hall, and Namnong Memorial Hall.

Or take a Professional Naju Tour

https://www.narabus.co.kr/jw_2ds/?menu_id=47:49

Leave a comment if you have any other Naju travel recommendations, corrections, or questions of life in Naju, South Jeolla province, or South Korea. 감사합니다!

Disclaimer: All text, photos, and videos are my own and property of Where's Anne, unless stated otherwise.

Disclaimer: All information comes from my experience of Naju tours, Naju travel information pamphlets, and the sources below:

Korea.net - News Focus http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Travel/view?articleId=127237

WikiTravel https://wikitravel.org/en/Naju

KoreaTourInformation Blog http://koreatourinformation.com/blog/2015/05/01/naju-hometown-of-historic-figures/

#NAJU #나주 #Naju Innocity Bitgaram South Korea #South Korea #EPIK #English Program in Korea #Jeollanamdo #lifeinkorea #living in Korea #JLP Program #blog post #blog #travel blogger

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sesshomarou · 5 years

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hey i saw u said u lived in south korea for a year (this is not the same anon from where u commented it) but how was it living in another country? like how's the whole process of moving there and getting a place?

for me i stayed in a goshiwon (고시원) which is a fairly small room in a dorm like building but some rooms have private bathrooms. the one i was in had a communal bathroom and kitchen which i didn’t mind, it was only 280,000 won a month, which is about $260 USD, but they can range from $200-$600. renting a studio apartment is much more expensive since security deposits (also known as key money) usually go from $5,000-$10,000, with the rent being anywhere from $500-$900 a month. since i was a student i only needed a small place so naturally i stayed at the cheaper goshiwon. there’s a website called goshipages where you can look up some options if you want to do that and contact the landlords through email (what i did), as for other apartments there’s many rental agencies that speak english, korean, and chinese you can message on kakaotalk!

as for living there, some tips i have and things i noticed: at the minimum, know how to read korean, that way you can read road signs and subway stops. knowing basic phrases like yes, no, thank you, i want this, can really help even if you aren’t fluent. get t-money card at a convenience store, you can either put money on it there or use the machines in the subway station, which have an english option. there’s no real need to drive because the public transport is so good, some taxis will even take the cards (but i don’t trust the taxis unless i’m with a korean person from personal experiences). download kakaomaps or naver if you know korean, google maps is extremely outdated and doesn’t work! you will also need to file for an Alien Registration Card if you stay there for longer than 90 days, there’s tutorials on how to do that online. WATCH OUT FOR SCOOTERS THEY DONT OBEY MAN OR GOD they will drive up on the sidewalk and zoom past you with no concern for your life. the streets are super uneven so watch out when you walk, ive seen people who were born there fall HARD. move out of the way of older people, don’t talk too loud or on the phone on the bus or subway, give up your seat for older or pregnant people, hold on while on the bus you will fly across the aisle bc they also don’t obey traffic laws, be respectful and know you’re not in your own country and generally do research on how to act~

now the fun stuff- clothes are sooo much cheaper and cuter; the fast fashion places like Hongdae are really good for finding clothes, but beware if you’re larger, they may not have your size. the food is all delicious and extremely cheap, you can live off of $8 a day if you really need to! if you’re in a program or working be outgoing! don’t just stick around other foreigners, it can be awkward making friends with locals but it’s very rewarding, i have tons of people to see when i move back! Myeongdong is more like outlets but there’s cafes and street food and is worth a day trip to walk around and see all the shops! the Dongdaemun Design Plaza is like an architectural and art museum where they have seoul fashion week twice a year, it’s also where those LED white roses are that you see all over instagram and tumblr! it was one of my favorite places and the exhibits always rotate! the Banpo Bridge park and Yeoido park are by the Han river and are very popular for a reason, the river keeps you cool in the summer, the bridge lights up and does a water show, and during the spring there’s a cherry blossom festival! last my absolute favorite place is Insadong, the area built around Gyeongbukgung, the palace and original city capital. there’s tons of traditional korean souvenirs, you can rent hanbok to wear, go to the palace and the hanok village, and go to a traditional tea house! the architecture and nature there is so gorgeous!

moving there is just like moving anywhere, it’s stressful, airports suck, immigration can take forever, and carrying three bags of luggage up four flights of stairs was painful. but i wouldn’t change a thing about my year there, there were times when i really wanted to leave and see my family, i missed my cat, i missed american snacks, but i made a lot of friends and tried new things out of my comfort zone, it helped me adjust. i’d wanted to go since i was 14, and over the time i was there i finally found a place where my heart is happy and i feel like i belong. i stopped taking my depression medication and i had so many fun experiences. it will be different for everyone and not every person ends up liking it or staying, but i promise living there is worth it if you’re willing to adapt, be respectful, and try!

#long post /#sorry this is probably so much more than you needed lol but if you have any other questions specifically just message me again!#south korea #seoul #anon

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