Waking up in Seoul, South Korea is an amazing feeling. When one rises in Seoul, they know that they will be fortunate to enjoy captivating cultural sites, thriving businesses, and delightful food. I experienced all of these joys today through embarking on a guided Royal Palace Tour and Seoul Symbolic Tour with all students of the Plus3 Korea Program. This morning I saw the Gyeongbokgung Palace, a historical artifact of Korea constructed in 1395 during the Joseon dynasty. The Gyeongbokgung Palace is a fascinating site because it is grand in size as it once held over 7,000 rooms within numerous buildings, yet this palace is still humble due to the wooden designs of the buildings. Gyeongbokgung Palace was constructed during a time period wherein the philosophies of Confucianism ruled Korea society, thus the palace was designed on modest principles. The quaintness of Gyeongbokgung Palace’s architecture is met by a stark contrast in the site’s backdrop—the massive skyscrapers belonging to organizations driving the Korean economy. The role of these conglomerates in society were elaborated upon by our tour guide from the Asia Institute whom said, “You can have a baby born in a Samsung-owned hospital, dress the child in a Samsung-owned clothing brand, and feed the child food from a Samsung-owned restaurant.” This was intriguing to my American mindset that had previously believed that electronics and appliances were the primary divisions and focus that this organization was innovating in; however, the scope of Samsung is much larger and highly successful, proving its conglomerate status. Furthermore, a unique aspect of the Korea culture to which I have little experience with is the food, but I’m eagerly working to change this! Today I was able to enjoy Hotteok, a sweet pancake with brown sugar filling at the Myeongdong area of Seoul. This street food treat radiates warmth and happiness, much like the city of Seoul itself! I am prepared to keep moving at a fast-pace and learn more about Korea!