Madeo of Merchant
Madeo (마더; the phonetic enunciation of the English word ‘mother’) is a film exploring themes of blind faith and emasculation. It is the 4th film directed by Bong Joon-Ho, and…
Silk Related
Merchants from the North arriving to Seoul, via Pekin Pass highway, 1904. . Trade roads such as this had existed since the Silk Road days, and Koreans had established fond…
Keeping it Old School
An old school Korean restaurant with a man sitting next to a few ‘Ohng-Gi’ (옹기). Ohng-gi refers to clay pottery and in most cases they are used to fermentation or…
A Kitty Cat Hike
Came across a furry kitten friend on our hike on Gwanaksan (관악산: ‘Gwan-Ahk-San’)! The mountain’s name means “hat-shaped” and is located just South of Seoul, where the National University of…
Jemulpo of Incheon
Jemulpo or Chemulpo (제물포: “Jeh-Mool-Po”), is a harbour front in Incheon, where Korea first opened its gates for visitors in 1883. Its name ‘Jemulpo’ was once a pure Korean word…
A photographer in Seoul, c.1900.
A curious group of children gather outside their home to glance at a foreign photographer while a man walks by with a walking stick. This is an era after a…
Dang these teachers look beat.
“Yangban”(양반) is the scholar class of the Josun ( 조선) dynasty in Korea (1392-1897). These scholars are technically upper class, however this didn’t mean they were in better living conditions.…
Genesis of Vengeance
“Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance” (“복수는 나의 것”, pronounced “Boksu Neun Na Eui Gut”, translates to “Vengeance is Mine”), is Korean film director Park Chan-Wook’s 3rd film, and first of his…
Guardians of the…Merchants
These wooden totems are “jang sŭngs” (장승), demon wards that protect villages or traveled paths. It is an ancient shaman practice that can be traced back to China and India.…
