On the fifth day of the trip to South Korea, we went on a little tour of both the history of the country as well as a physical walking tour of the city. We first stopped by to do taekwondo across the city so the subway ride over was long. We learned the very basics of Taekwondo as well as the purpose and moral obligations for the skill as well. These moral obligations included being strong for oneself, helping others, and doing good works. Some of the skills we learned included how to punch and how to kick which allowed us to break a whole wooden board in half!

Later that day we went on a walking tour of Seoul City Hall, the location of the mayoral office. We learned that there are two city halls with one of them being newer and the current location of the office. The old city hall was originally built during Japanese occupation of the country in 1926 and has remain standing since. The building now is a museum that stands in front of the new city hall. The newer city hall is a feat of engineering with its design, and it was built in 2012.

In the afternoon, Dr. Yun our faculty advisor sent us on a GeoGuess competition across the city. The goal was to explore the city more, see a new tourist location, and become more affiliated with the subways. My group was able to locate our location of Dongdaemun Design Plaza easily where we explored the modern structure and the surrounding areas. This included the former city wall of Seoul and a gate that once checked people who came in and out of the city. All I could say was wow. Exploring the city gave me a new perspective on the rich history of the country. Seoul is one of the few cities in the world where both modern design and ancient buildings stand side by side. I guess this is what gives the city such a unique culture.