During the Joseon era, it was considered abhorrent for a person to never marry.
Korea is a land full of traditions where religions and beliefs have changed over time. The country has seen Shamanism,...
You might know that March 1st is a 빨간날 bbalgan nal or “Red Day”, meaning a national public holiday in Korea, but do you know what Koreans are celebrating? It’s an important day in Korean history, the Independence Movement Day or 3-1절 samil jeol, which celebrates the starting day of...
Korea, in the summer of 1894, was a hotbed of intrigue and uncertainty. China and Japan were on the brink...
We have all been taught that aviation history was made on December 17, 1903, when the Wright brothers managed to...
You might be surprised to find out that today happens to be a day especially set apart for declarations of love. Yes, the 17th of September – what seems to be just another day in a month – is the designated ‘Confession Day’ in Korea, in which all of us...
In 1885, Percival Lowell published a book entitled “Choson: The Land of the Morning Calm.” It was a huge success...
Words by Robert Neff Images from the Robert Neff Collection Up until the mid-1890s, Buddhist priests were banned from...
Words by Robert Neff Photos from the collection of Robert Neff One of the earliest modernizations to Seoul was the introduction of streetcars in 1899 by an American company. It was heralded by many people as a symbol of modernization and prosperity. But not all viewed the streetcars with anticipation...
During the late Joseon era, Koreans were well-known for their fondness for children—not only their own, but foreign children as...