This is south Korea

  When visiting a convenience store, remember to get a transportation card along with your ramen Introduction: Getting Around Korea Made Easy Dear readers, today I would like to briefly introduce the transportation card that is essential when using public transportation in Korea. If you’re visiting Korea for the first time, one of the first things you’ll need to figure out is  how to get around . Sure, you can always hop in a taxi right from the airport, and most taxis accept credit cards or cash in Korean won. But keep in mind that taxi fares in Korea have gone up quite a bit in recent years. That’s why many travelers—and even locals—recommend using the subway or bus instead. Korea’s public transportation system is  fast, affordable, and safe , making it one of the best ways to explore the country. There’s just one catch: in many places, especially on buses, you can’t pay with cash. This is where the  T-money card  comes in. For both convenience and savings, it...

An image evoking a real estate office, helping to illustrate Korea’s unique jeonse rental system Introduction: Hello, dear readers! Today, I would like to introduce Korea’s unique jeonse rental system in real estate transactions. This will be especially helpful if you are renting or engaging in real estate deals in Korea. Let’s get started! In South Korea’s housing rental market exists a unique system that is rarely found elsewhere in the world. This is the Jeonse system . Foreigners who first encounter Korea’s housing rental practices are often most surprised by Jeonse, as it contrasts sharply with the monthly rent–centered systems common in Western countries. At first glance, it may seem like nothing more than “a system where tenants deposit a large sum with the landlord instead of paying rent,” but beneath this lies a deep connection to Korea’s economic and financial structure, its historical background, and the residential culture of ordinary people. In this article, I will exp...

A retired couple supporting each other as they live in the countryside. Introduction: Life After Retirement, a Question That Awaits Us All Every person is born, grows, works, and eventually reaches the time of retirement. Life after retirement is shaped largely by one’s accumulated assets, social systems, personal health, and lifestyle habits. Korea is one of the fastest-aging societies in the world, and the way its retirees live and cope with economic reality has become a matter of great interest even for people in other countries. Dear readers, hello! Today I would like to address a somewhat weighty subject — life after retirement. Koreans are known for working harder than almost anyone else prior to retirement, but what is life really like for them afterward? Let us begin. In this article, we will look at how Korean retirees prepare for retirement and how they actually live day to day. My intention is not to paint an overly glamorous picture, nor to offer a pessimistic depiction...

Autumn scenery of Nami Island, where gentle ripples meet colorful foliage Prologue: The Memory of a First Visit Dear readers, today I would like to introduce a travel destination that is popular among both Koreans and foreigners. That place is none other than Nami Island. Let’s get started. The road to Chuncheon in Gangwon Province always stirs a sense of anticipation. Driving along the highway that follows the Bukhan River, the landscape unfolds as if painted on a canvas. Sunlight shimmers and dances on the water, and in the river’s center a round, inviting island appears. From a distance it may look like an ordinary river islet, but as you approach, you begin to sense that this place holds stories far beyond a simple landscape. To reach Nami Island, you must take a ferry or shuttle boat. Although the crossing lasts only a few minutes, it always feels like the true beginning of the journey. The thought of heading to an island in the middle of the river brings with it the thrill of ...

One of the soybeans most loved by Koreans, Green flesh black bean (a variety of black soybean) Introduction: Why Is the Soybean Important? Hello, dear readers! Today, I would like to share with you a story about soybeans — a key ingredient in Korean cuisine and a food enjoyed by people all around the world. Since I am not an expert on soybeans, I will simply introduce some well-known facts in a concise manner. So then, let us begin! Today, no matter where you go in the world, you can easily find foods made from soybeans. From Asian staples such as tofu, soy sauce, and doenjang to Western uses like soybean oil, soy protein–based meat substitutes, and soy milk, soybeans appear widely across cuisines. For this reason, the soybean is a food ingredient shared by people around the globe. Yet there is a fact many do not know: the soybean’s place of origin is the Korean Peninsula and southern Manchuria. In other words, the roots of the soybeans people enjoy today trace back to Korean lands. ...

Rice cakes such as Gyeongdan, Baekseolgi, and Honey Tteok arranged on a platter look delicious. Introduction — Korean tteok: a cultural symbol beyond a simple dessert Dear readers, greetings! Today, I would like to introduce you in detail to a traditional Korean food, tteok. This article will cover the origins, characteristics, varieties, and modern transformations of tteok, with the hope that it will help you, dear readers, gain a deeper understanding of Korean culture. Korean tteok (tteok) is not simply a food made primarily from rice. It is a cultural symbol that embodies the lives, history, and sentiments of the Korean people, and a traditional food handed down through generations. Often called “rice cake,” Korean tteok actually carries meanings and an identity that are quite distinct from Western rice cakes. Its chewy texture, delicate colors, and nutty or sweet flavors are distinctive charms unique to Korean tteok. Moreover, tteok is not merely something to eat; it also funct...