청계천

In the dawn of May the 6th, a great adventure began! On our first planned activity of the trip, the Plus3 Korea group rode the Korean metro to Cheonggyecheon Square. Riding the metro was, itself, a unique experience. Korea’s metro is extensive and has many twists and turns; thus, becoming lost was not uncommon. However, with our friendly Asia Institute tour guide, Kay, we always found our way to the designated train line. Furthermore, the station platforms have sliding doors that prevent people from falling into the tracks-an innovation I found rather interesting. Similarly, the payment gates for the metro were rather unguarded, and at times, nonexistent, a sign of the Korean integrity. A key highlight of the Cheonggyecheon Square is the Cheonggyecheon river, which runs for ~10.84 km [1]. In the midst of Korean industrialization, the Cheonggyecheon river was a wasteland. Trash flowed through the murky river, abandoned river, yet after a 3-year transformation project the river became the pride of Seoul [1]. I particularly enjoyed how aesthetic the whole area was, enchanted by the Korean-style decorations.

경복궁

After touring the Cheonggyecheon Square, the group proceeded to the Gyeongbokgung Palace. On the way, I was able to see various statues dedicated to prominent, historical Korean figures, such as King Sejong. An image of me in front of the palace may be seen below.

The group arrived at the palace just in time for the changing of the guard’s ceremony. In this ceremony, the current chief of the guard ends his shift, and another guard replaces him in guarding the palace. An instance of the ceremony is pictured below.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, we walked around the palace and were able to better understand how the King and Queen used to live. For instance, the Royals slept in different houses, the King’s being the bigger of the two. Similarly, I learned about the unique techniques the Koreans implemented to heat their dwelling. They would have an underground vent-like system, by which they would light wood and charcoal to heat the floor, and by extension, their homes.

청와대

Located in the proximity of the palace is the so-called Blue House, or the Cheong Wa Dae. This used to be the office of the President of the Republic of Korea until 2022, after he decided to convert it into a park for the population to enjoy! Comparing this architectural wonder to the US, it is the equivalent of the White House. The building received its name due to its roof tiles, which possess a cyan blue hue. Inside the two-story building, one finds a mini-museum packed with various Korea-related facts. The many rooms of the Blue House paint a picture into the inner workings of the executive branch of the government.

조계사

Having just visited various sites of Korean historical significance, the group altered heading and took a peek at a Buddhists temple—the Jogyesa Temple. We were lucky and were able to witness a Buddhist mass with monks. While we did not enter the temple, we were able to hear the unique hymns they sang. Even though there was rain, it was a memorable experience. I had never seen monks in real life, only in movies, so it felt surreal to see them. Observing local culture from a first-person perspective increases my genuine understanding of the culture, something I genuine enjoy.

남대문

To wrap up the day, I visited Namdaemun Market with the group. In the ~2 hours we were there, I was able to take a interact with various street vendors and purchase various tasty treats! The Market featured an underground section that was absolutely packed with vendors. There were alleyway-like walkways, where the vendors were nested in the sides in the corner of a 1-meter by 1-meter box. It was truly a sight to see!

To conclude our day, we had an introductory dinner with the group that consisted of traditional Korean food, picture below. My favorite dish was a pasta-like dish made of jellyfish. For drinks, we had a savory barley tea and a sweet sugary drink. Altogether, I am excited for all I will experience during the next 2 weeks!

“A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the [Seoul] of the people”.

-Mahatma Gandhi