Introducing Jeonju Hanok Village

It is Jeonju where one of the most traditional cities in Korea. Jeonju is located in Jeollabuk Province, southern part of Korea.

And there is Hanok Village which is Korean traditional style village where you can feel the real Korea.

Since I was born and have lived here in Jeonju, I go around there from time to time. As I was young, I used to walk the streets there with my parents holding hand in hand and now, my children and husband are my companies.

How to look around the village?
Here is a tip to look around it well. Start from Geongkijeon(the historical buildings from Choseon Dynasty).
Starting from Geongijeon, look around some Korean unique houses and shops along the narrow paths and then go up to the small hill called Omokdae to see the whole village. You can have warm and peaceful feelings looking down the view. It is not just traditional which has only an old style but something modern adding in it.

I guess the best part of enjoying the Hanok Village is to feel the Korean houses walking along the paths. From young kids to elders, to foreigners, all the visitors sink into its fascinating lines of Hanok; the beauty of its curves and straights mingled together catch the people’s eyes.

When spring comes, the Hanji (the Korean traditional handmade paper) festival will be held in Jeonju and there will be various events waiting for us such as making kites, fans, masks and lamp covers that you can experience and make some special memories.
 
Then what kinds of food should we try in the Hanok village?
There are some famous dishes around the village such as bean sprout soup, DDuckalbi, knife-cut noodles, eta.
Although the dishes are folky and not very expansive, their tastes are rich and give us feel satisfied.
 
I really recommend you visit the attractive village one day if you want to get the healing of your heart.

Nagasaki Peace Park

At 11:03 am. on August 9, 1945, the sky above Nagasaki was filled by a white flash, and all the clocks stopped.

 

Nagasaki Peace Park was established to commemorate the atomic bombing of the city on August 9, 1945 during World War II, with a firm resolution not to go through such a miserable war.

 

There is a 9.7m tall bronze peace statue symbolizing a universal prayer for world peace and for the consolation of war victims. According to the sculptor, Nagasaki-born Seibo Kitamura, the statue's right hand pointing upwards symbolizes the threat of the atomic bomb. The left hand stretching horizontally symbolizes peace. And the lightly closed eyelids convey the idea of an ardent prayer for the souls of the war dead.

 

On August 9 every year Peace Declaration is proclaimed for the whole world. Below is an excerpt from Nagasaki Peace Declaration in 2013. Just like the voices of the survivors of the atomic bombings, hoping there is no more war, I sincerely desire a new era of peace to come.

 

Please consider whether or not you will allow the existence of nuclear weapons in the world today and in the future world of your children. Please talk to your friends about this matter. It is you who will determine the future of this world.

excerpt from Nagasaki Peace Declaration 2013

City of Love, Namwon - The Healing City

Namwon is a small city in Jeollabukdo province, which has its nickname of "City of Love". No one denies this romantic nick name on Namwon in Korea.

Namwon is the hometown of the greatest love story, Choonhyangjeon. Choonhyangjeon is a love story in which a man and a woman have achieved and fruited their love through dedication and sacrifice over the fetters of the tradition of sex and social status in a very hierarchical society.

The reason this story is still loved is the heroine, Choonhyang. In a patriarchal society where women were even prohibited not only from expressing themselves in public but also from taking a look outside: they used to have a swing in order to see things over the fence, and having a swing is the manin motive that the two of them have met and fallen in love, she showed her great courage to remain steadfast in her faith on her love.

In a contemporary point of view, she can be the symbol or image of the woman who is required today. Her inner strength, bravery and passion over hard time can be an essential ingredient making peace in today's world. It is said what we need to make peace stopping wars and conflicts taking place around the world is the "Love of Mother" or feminity; unconditional dedication, patience and 'fidelity and constancy' on their faith. In fact, there have been a lot of female peace activists like Mother Theresa and Aung San Suu Kyi (a Nobel peace prize winner) who give a message for peace, heal people's heart in trouble and resolve conflicts.

 

Full of the pride and respect on the symbol of true love, Choonhyang, Namwon people seem to be warm hearted and generous to visitors, who will feel the healing inside them with the noble spirit of true love.