“Oh, you mean Korean sushi?” One of my top three Korean foods is no doubt Gimbap. One of the most common misconceptions about Gimbap is that it’s Korea’s version of sushi. Although I understand the thought process, Gimbap is not “Korean sushi”. Sushi originates from Japan back when fermented rice was used to prevent…
For over 75 years, the National Museum of Korea (NMK) has sought to educate its visitors about Korea’s long history and rich culture through a variety of mediums. Temporary and permanent exhibitions and educational workshops help museum visitors experience thousands of years of Korea’s history through a variety of artifacts including, but not limited to,…
The tou, or Silla clay dolls, are one of the most highly regarded cultural heritages of Korea that reveal the lifestyles of the ancient Korean people. The word tou literally translates to ”clay dolls” or ”dolls made from clay.” In a broader sense, not only do these dolls take on the human form, but they…
Located in the city of Gyeongju of Gyeongsangbukdo Province, South Korea, Cheomseongdae is the oldest living observatory in the world. It stands as one of the most monumental sites that reveal the importance of astronomy and astrology on the ancient Korean civilization. Roughly translates to the ”star-gazing tower (Atlas Obscura)” or the ”reverently regarding the…
Recently, K-pop and the Korean Wave has been becoming popular around the world and a lot of people have been taking an interest in the culture and also to learn the language. Korea has its own writing system “Hangeul.” The Korean alphabet, also known as Hangeul was created in 1443 by King Sejong the…
On September 8, 1945, a lost treasure was found in a storage at Seoul Station. It was the manuscript of Joseonmal Keunsajeon (The Comprehensive Korean Language Dictionary) that had been lost since its confiscation by police during the Japanese Occupation Period (1910-1945). The manuscript consisted of 26,500 pages. After two years of sorting and editing,…
“Looking at my painting of Mt. Geumgang will give a better sense of the mountain than hiking it on your own feet.” – From Geumgang Jeondo by Jeong Seon Jeong Seon (1676-1759), one of the most respected painters during Joseon, expressed his confidence in his painting. Geumgang Jeondo, a Korean-brush painting of Mt. Geumgang on…
Every day, the King and crown prince discussed a native calendar system with Jeong Cho and other officials at the Ganuidae royal observatory – A record of August 11, 1433, from the Sejong Sillok Chiljeongsan is the Korean native calendar system created in 1443, the 15th year of King Sejong’s reign, during Joseon. Chiljeong in…
Korea has the world’s second-oldest existing astronomical chart. In 1395 during early Joseon (1392-1910), Cheonsang Yeolcha Bunyajido (star map) was created. The map was carved on a flat black stone of 122cm width and 211cm height. A total of 1,467 stars are engraved on it. Nearly all the constellations visible to the naked eye in…
How did Goryeo become the first to produce movable metal type print? In 1967, Dr. Park Byeongseon, then a librarian at the National Library of France, found the second volume of Jikji in the library’s collection. Jikji consists of two volumes that contain the essence of Zen teachings, compiled by Goryeo’s Monk Baekunhwasang. It was…