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Wed, November 30, 2022 | 09:36

Perfect and poor teeth in Joseon

Perfect and poor teeth in Joseon

When Harmon V.S. Peake, an American missionary, visited Fusan (modern Busan) in 1891, he seemingly took great pleasure in describing in his diary what he perceived as the backwardness of his Korean hosts but grudgingly described one young Korean lady as having “sparkling dark eyes, smiling, cherry lips and perfect teeth.”

2021-11-13 09:24

Thai shipwreck surviors met with kindness

Thai shipwreck surviors met with kindness

One morning in early November 1880, the residents of Yeondo - a small island off the coast of Gunsan - were surprised to discover a large number of foreigners struggling ashore from a sinking ship. They were the survivors of the Kim Yuen Tae (or Kim Yuen Tye) - a 329-ton Siamese (Thai) barque.

2021-11-06 09:54

Ghostly encounters in Korea's schools of the 1990s

Ghostly encounters in Korea's schools of the 1990s

In the early 1990s, ghost stories involving schools were very popular in Korea. It isn't clear how these stories spread so quickly and so widely - the internet was still relatively new - but undoubtedly they were gleaned from newspapers, magazines, radio programs and even TV (although there weren't many channels to choose from back then).

2021-10-31 08:49

Haunted Jongno

Jongno is a very popular and vibrant area in downtown Seoul. In fact, Timeout magazine recently named one part of it the third “coolest neighbourhood” in the world and described it as “historic, eccentric and very unpretentious.” However, up until the mid-1990s, it had a much seedier atmosphere - especially at night - and was reputed to be haunted.

2021-10-30 09:25

Joseon in mourning: Where the dead receive more consideration than the living

Joseon in mourning: Where the dead receive more consideration than the living

Korea was once described as “a land where the dead seem to receive more careful consideration than the living and where they occupy the most pleasing of all sites and surroundings.” This description may have been true, for the most part, especially when the deceased were affluent men, but for the poor and those without family, it was a land of ignoble endings.

2021-10-24 16:09

Korea's ancient trees

Korea's ancient trees

Trees, especially large ones, are one of the most iconic symbols of nature. They dominate their surroundings and garner the attention and admiration of young lovers, elderly couples and the viewfinder of photographers' cameras with their beauty. However, these giants are also the guardians of the past and harbingers of the future.

2021-10-24 09:04

A Romanian visitor's street views of Korea

A Romanian visitor's street views of Korea

Palaces, gates, temples and old monuments are often the subject in old photographs of Korea. The value of these images is undisputed as they provide us with a glimpse of these important sites from a century ago, but the sheer number of them and their lack of different perspective of view make them repetitive and boring.

2021-10-17 08:35

A dirty misperception

A dirty misperception

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a popular subject in letters home or to local newspapers was Western visitors' perceptions of cleanliness in Korea. While there may have been some truth to their observations, most appear to have been exaggerations - if not fabrications - to amuse their audience.

2021-10-16 09:34

Pak Seon - A scapegoat for regicide

Pak Seon - A scapegoat for regicide

Korea in the mid-1890s was changing rapidly. The 1894-95 First Sino-Japanese War had ended Chinese dominance in the kingdom's politics and replaced it with Japanese reforms and interference. Nowhere were the changes more evident than in Seoul, as people from all over the country sought opportunities. People with initiative, courage and ability were able to find lucrative posi...

2021-10-10 09:02

Queen Min's death and Joseon's failed future

Queen Min's death and Joseon's failed future

In the late 19th century, Korea, like most of the world, was a man's country. Everything centered on and revolved around men. Women were usually invisible in men's writing, but when they were described in newspapers and magazines, they were portrayed as belonging to their husbands or assisting male counterparts. Fortunately, not all Western journalist who visited Korea were m...

2021-10-09 09:17

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