The War Memorial of Korea

The grounds of the War Memorial of Korea were once the headquarters of the Korean Infantry. Many experts from different fields were consulted numerous times and exhaustive research was done in order to complete the exhibits. This memorial is the largest of its kind in the world.

There are 8 main exhibits at the War Memorial: the Hogukchumo Exhibit, War History Exhibit, June 25th War Exhibit, Overseas Dispatched Troops Exhibits, Military Development Exhibit, Large Equipment Exhibit, and the Outdoor Exhibit. The Hogukchumo Exhibit honors the spirit of those who perished fighting on the battlefield. Visitors can learn all about Korea’s war history by visiting the War History Exhibit, June 25 War Exhibit, Overseas Dispatched Troops Exhibits, and the Military Development Exhibit, as well as witness how the Korean military developed over the years. Different kinds of weapons and military equipment are exhibited as well, inside and outside the building. 

Exhibits inside the building display equipment used during the Korean War in such a way as to invite comparison between the items. Large weapontry and equipment used by different countries during World War II and the Vietnam War are also on display. In the Large Equipment Exhibit on the second floor, many kinds of defense industry equipment and both real and model weapons are displayed. In the Bangsan Equipment Exhibit, you can look at weapons and war equipment produced in Korea. In the War Memorial’s Storage Room, 17,800 files and artifacts of war are preserved. Modern damage control and prevention devices have been installed to keep these materials safe from harm.

Besides these, you can also visit the Miniature Exhibit or the Peace Hall. There is a lecture hall at the memorial, and many presentations are held here. If you want to learn more about any specific aspect of war, you can head over to the bookstore to pick up a book or a pamphlet. The shop also sells a variety of military souvenirs that will not only help you remember your time at the memorial but will also remind you of the significant role war has played in world history. The memorial also has a fast food restaurant and stores located outside the building.

How to Cool Down in Summer: Try Eating!

If you’ve ever visited Korea during the summer months, you will experience extremely sultry weather starting from late June to July for 3 or 4 weeks, the ‘jangma,’ which is the rainy season. After the rainy season has dispelled, it gets even more humid and unbearable especially in the months of July and August. During this time, some people run for a cool shady place in a park while others hibernate in their homes or offices in air conditioning. There are others who seek a cool refuge in the subway or swimming pools. However, there are some tricks to enduring the summer heat in Korea. Koreans and foreigners alike find desperate ways to stay cool during the summer. One way is by eating! Not just anything, but Korean foods especially made for summer! Are you curious to find out which ones they are? Bring along your appetite and get ready to try some delicious summer foods!

Samgyetang (Chicken Ginseng Soup)

In Korea, there are usually three days in summer, which mark the beginning, middle, and end of summer. This summer 2006, July 20 is the start of summer called "Chobok", July 30 is the midpoint of summer called "Jungbok", and August 9 is the end of summer called "Malbok", which tends to be quite hot.  As an invigorating food, Koreans have traditionally eaten ‘samgyetang’ on these three days in summer, which is equivalent to what westerns refer to as chicken soup simply because it said to give you more stamina, nutrients, and energy which can easily be lost through sweating and physical exertion in the sweltering heat of summer in Korea. It comes in a watery broth of Korean ginseng sparsely decorated with green onions, dried jujube fruit, garlic, and ginger and in the middle of the soup is a young chicken, which will be quite filling for one person. The best part about this dish is the chicken comes stuffed with glutinious rice, garlic, dried jujubes, and fresh ginseng.  I really recommend trying ‘samgyetang’ during the summer, especially on one of these three days. You’ll not only rejuvenate your energy, but truly experience what typical Koreans like to eat for summer food to beat the heat. There are specialty restaurants that only serve nothing but samgyetang, which has gained local popularity through their special recipe for the dish which are often kept secret.  To learn more about the ingredients and how to make ‘samgyetang’, click on this link:

< Where to eat : Goryeo Samgyetang >  ☞ Business hours: 10:00 AM ~ 20:00 PM  ☞ Closed: Seollal, Chuseok  ☞ Phone: 02-752-9376  ☞ Menu Specialties: Samgyetang: 11,000won ; Roasted Chicken: 11,000won, Chicken Porridge: 11,000won, Ogolgyetang (Black Chicken Soup): 20,000won.  ☞ How to Get There: Take subway line 2 (green line) or line 1 (dark blue line) to City Hall and go out of exit 10 (blue line) and walk straight ahead for about 300 meters. The restaurant is located at the first alleyway on the right. Tour Les Jours is across from Shinhan Bank. You will see a restaurant with a white billboard called, “Korea Ginseng Chicken.”

Naeungmyeon (Cold Buckwheat Noodles)

Another favorite dish that’s eaten in the summer is Naeungmyeon, which are cold buckwheat noodles. Why this is eaten in the summer may well be because it tastes refreshing and cool. What I found really fun about eating naeungmyun are the buckwheat noodles, which is thin and long. It is served in a large bowl with a tangy iced broth that comes garnished with sliced beef or pork, a boiled half egg, slices of Asian pear (the best part), and sliced cucumber sprinkled with chopped scallions and sesame seeds.  Two main varieties of naengmyun, which are most commonly eaten, are Mul naeungmyeon, and Bibim naeungmyun. Mul naengmyun is basically water noodles served in a cold soup that comes with slices of beef. You can add some seasoning to this dish with mustard or vinegar. It tastes quite good if you add a touch of it to give it a kick. As for bibimnaeungmyun, it is also a noodle dish served in a spicy dressing. This dish is much spicier than the mul neungmyon so for amateurs, it’s recommended you try a milder type of naeungmyun before sampling bibim naengmyun. Koreans also have a way of arranging the food beautifully to make it appear more appetizing; in this case, the noodles are heaped nicely in the middle of the bowl with cucumbers and an egg on top. Looking at this dish, it seems more like an work of art; much too pretty to eat, but as your stomach starts to grumble, your cravings take over, and you indulge in a nice summery dish which leaves you satisfyingly full but not too full. A great light snack on a humid day or even after your main course in which some places serve as an after dinner snack or dessert.  → How to cook Korean noodles  Tip: Because the noodles are so long, most restaurants will cut them for you so you don’t end up eating all the noodles in one slurp. You can ask to cut your own noodles usually with big-sized scissors!  < Where to Eat : Sanbong Neungmyon >  ☞ Business hours: 11:00 AM ~ 20:00 PM  ☞ All year round  ☞ Phone: 02-775-8853  ☞ Menu Specialties: mul neungmyon 6,000 won bibim naengmyun 6,000 won hoenaengmyeon 6,500 won, wang mandu 6,000 won  ☞ How to Get There: Take subway line 2 (green line) or line 1 (dark blue line) to City Hall and go out of exit 4 and walk straight ahead for about 100 meters. The Seoul Finance Center is on your left side. The restaurant is located at B1 of the Seoul Finance Center.

Guksu (Cold Wheat Noodles)

Another delectable summer dish to try is called “Kimchi Mali Guksu,” which is thin wheat noodles with kimchi served cold. It’s very refreshing and fills you up just right. It’s recommended to eat this on hot days. It has a bit of a sour taste and is garnished with an egg and other cucumbers. The kimchi has a bit of a crunch to it and is chewy. Because this dish has kimchi in it, it makes it a little spicy, so for those who have a difficult time eating spicy foods, I would like to recommend another dish called ‘Tteokgalbi,’ which reminds me of a grounded hamburger patty. This is very tasty and comes along with a side of ddok, long rice cakes.  < Where to Eat : Nunnamujib >  ☞ Business Hours : 10:40 AM ~21:20 PM  ☞ Closed : National Holidays  ☞ Phone: 02-725-3712  ☞ Menu Specialties: Kimchimariguksu (Cold Noodles in Kimchi Soup) 4,500 won / Kimchimaribap (Cold Rice in Kimchi Soup) 4,500 won / Tteokgalbi 7,000 won / Tteokbokkeum (with Tteokgalbi) : 3,000 won  ☞ How to get there : Go out of Exit 1 of Anguk subway station (line no.3) → Take a taxi to KBI (KOREA BANKING INSTITUTE) – Usually costs only the basic fare of 1,900 won, but could vary due to traffic → Walk straight to the three-way junction → Walk straight a little ways across the pedestrian crossing → A yellow colored restaurant sign will appear on the right-hand side; this is the is the new building of the restaurant. Across the street is another yellow sign, which is the older establishment. On the sign are Chinese letters that read ‘雪木軒’ along with Korean letters.

Patbingsu (Sherbet shaved or chilled ice topped with sweet red beans, fruit or ice cream)

During summer, besides eating ice cream, there’s quite a popular dessert, which Koreans are found eating with friends, families, coworkers, and lovers, called ‘Patbingsu’, which is a big swirl of yogurt or sherbet mounted on some ice and garnished with sweet red beans called ‘Pat’ or fruit. There a various creations and sizes to enjoy with a group or by yourself. The best part of eating this dessert is that you don’t have to worry about calories or watching your weight unlike ice cream. It’s a guilt-free dessert, and one, which is considered a healthy snack.  I highly recommend ‘Green Tea Patbingsu,’ not only is it considered a well-being food, but its shop specializes only in green tea, making all its food from this ingredient. In the west, ‘green tea’ is still a novelty, which is mostly considered a beverage. It’s a great opportunity to treat two new things- green tea and patbingsu- if you haven’t already. Patbingsu reminds me of a glorified snow cone, but much, much better than a regular snow cone.  Another great franchise to eat fruit bingsu is at a place called “Ice Berry”. It specializes in fruit yogurt desserts with ice and fruit. There is an assortment of different kinds of fruit toppings to choose from such as watermelon, kiwi, peach, strawberry, as well as cereal and vanilla ice cream. If you share with a group of people, it’s best to order a large size bowl called “Jangpan bingsu”. It’s a sumptuous treat to eat in the summer as well.  Tip: Make sure before you eat patbingsu or fruit bingsu, to mix it thoroughly. The taste is much better! Also be careful, don’t just eat the ice by itself. A big spoonful of it may make your brain freeze. < Where to Eat : O’sulloc Tea House>  ☞ Business Hours : 11:00 AM ~23:00 PM  ☞ Closed : Seollal, Chuseok  ☞ Phone: 02-774-5460(Myeongdong Branch), 02-596-0546 (Gangnam Bracnch)  ☞ Menu Specialties: Green ice-cream Red-Bean Shabet 8,000 won, Green hard ice-cream 4,500 won, Green Soft ice-cream 2,500 won, Green Yoghurt ice-cream 5,000 won ☞ How to get there: There are 4 branches in Seoul; Myeongdong branch(Euljiro 1-ga Station of subway line 2, Exit 5), Gangnam branch (Gangnam Station of subway line 2, Exit 6) Jongno Branch(Jonggak Station of subway line 1, Exit 4), Daehangno Branch (Hyehwa Station of subway line 4, Exit 2).  < Where to Eat : Ice berry>  ☞ Business Hours : 10:00 AM ~23:00 PM  ☞ All year round  ☞ Menu Specialties: patbingsu topped with fruits 3,000 won, Jangban bingsu: 5,500 won per 2 persons, 7,800 won per 3 persons, 9,900 won per 4 persons, King of Bingsu 1,1000 won  ☞ How to get there: There are lots of branches in Seoul; Sinchon, Ihwa university, Gangnam, Jongno

Mango Yogurt and Raspberry Yogurt Drink at Red Mango

There seems to be a health consciousness ingrained in Koreans, in which a majority of foods Koreans eat are good for you, if not delicious, especially ever since well-being products took off in Korea, and became a part of mainstream society. In the west, cookies, cakes, ice cream, and chocolate are typical desserts. However, low-fat yogurt seems to be a craze in Korea especially during the summer. Almost on every street corner, you can see Red Mango franchises selling yogurt desserts which pops up just as many times as Starbucks. There’s a reason why so many customers frequent this place: for it’s yummy fruit yogurt desserts and drinks. There are many choices to choose from, especially toppings and its main ingredient is yogurt, such a wonderful substitute for ice cream that made many people delighted and coming back for more. Some recommended choices are the raspberry ice yogurt drink, and yellow mango yogurt dessert. It tastes much better if it’s shared with a friend, a significant other, or a group of friends. < Where to Eat : Red Mango >  ☞ Business Hours : 11:00 AM ~23:00 PM  ☞ Closed : National Holidays  ☞ Phone: 02-774-5460(Myeongdong Branch), 02-596-0546 (Gangnam Bracnch)  ☞ Menu Specialties: Low fat natural yogurt shaved ice 4,600 won(S), 6,700 won(M), 8,800 won(L) / Yogurt shaved ice with fruits 4,900 won(S) / Low fat natural yogurt 3,600 won per 1 person, 5,700 per 2 persons, topping 1,000 won  ☞ How to get there: There are lots of branches in Seoul; Sinchon, Ihwa university, Gangnam, Jongno. When you get around the downtowns such as Jonggno, Sinchon, Gangnam, you’ll find Red Mongo easily.

UNESCO World Natural Heritage

Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes The island of Jejudo figures significantly in terms of the preservation of biodiversity. Almost half of all vascular plants found in Korea and about 200 endemic plant species are found on the island, together with half of Korea’s endangered and protected wild species. High on the summit of Mt. Hallasan live polar plant species that advanced southwards during the Ice Age, while numerous indigenous species and endangered species inhabit the lower altitudes. Without a doubt, Mt. Hallasan is a rich ecological treasure trove, with 1565 species of plants and 1,179 species of animals. On June 27, 2007, UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee listed Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes as a World Natural Heritage in view of the site’s parasitic volcano and lava tubes, as well as for its outstanding geological features and special properties as a habitat for a variety of rare and endangered species. Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes largely comprises of three sites: Mount Hallasan Natural Reserve, Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, and the Geomunoreum Lava Tube System. The lava tube system includes Geomunoreum, a parasitic cone, and the five lava caves of Bengdwigul, Manjanggul, Gimnyeonggul, Yongcheondonggul, and Dangcheomuldonggul.

Mount Hallasan Natural Reserve

At 1,950 meters, Mt. Hallasan is the tallest mountain in South Korea with gentle slopes formed by eons of volcanic activity. The summit area, however, is steep as it is formed of a steep trachyte edifice. A variety of animals and plants inhabit the natural reserve together with numerous endangered species. Because of the unique and mysterious landscape created by the surrounding 360 cinder cones and its outstanding research value, the Korean government designated the mountain as a national park in 1970, and it has been protected ever since. → Click for more on Mt. Hallasan National Park

Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, one of the 360 parasitic (cinder) cones on Jejudo Island, was uniquely created on the sea floor. Some 5,000 years ago, an underwater eruption on the shallow seabed resulted in a tuff ring. Rising 182 meters above sea level, the tuff ring was originally an island, but the gradual deposit of sand and gravel formed a connection to the land. Also called the Oreum of the Rising Sun, Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak is one of the treasured landmarks of Jeju Island, which attracts numerous tourists for a view of the sunrise and sunset. → Click for more on Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

Geomunoreum Lava Tube System

The Geomunoreum Lava Tube System refers to the series of lava tubes formed some 100,000 to 300,000 years ago by huge amounts of basalt lava that spewed from Geomunoreum Volcano. Lava tubes designated as UNESCO World Natural Heritage are Bengdwigul, Manjanggul, Gimnyeonggul, Yongcheondonggul, and Dangcheomuldonggul. The largest tube in the Geomunoreum system is Manjanggul. In terms of both length and scale of the entrance, Manjanggul and Gimnyeonggul are among the most internationally recognized formations. Also notable is Bengdwigul, a labyrinth-type cave whose structure is the most complex of any in the world. Other caves that are outstanding in terms of geological value are Yongcheondonggul and Dangcheomuldonggul on the southern coast of Jeju. While Dangcheomuldonggul Cave is quite small, it has a spectacular display of limestone formations. In addition, the limestone structures and geological features found in Yongcheondonggul are unmatched by any in the world.

Yongcheon Cave

*The Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes were judged on the merits of their outstanding universal value and met UNESCOs criteria that a natural site being considered as a World Natural Heritage must contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance and be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant ongoing geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features.

Jirisan Forest Trails

Long-distance walking trails totaling 300 kilometers  At 1,915 meters, Mount Jirisan (지리산) is the second highest mountain in Korea after Jeju’s Mount Hallasan (한라산, 1,950 meters). True to its name (jiri literally means ‘a place where the foolish become wise’), Mount Jirisan has long been a favorite locale for disciplining both the mind and the body.  Jirisan National Park (지리산국립공원), the largest national park in Korea, stretches across five cities and counties. Inside the park is the Jirisan Forest Trails, which run 300 km along the

mountain’s periphery and link a hundred villages. Local roads near the trails, which ring around slopes, forests, rice fields, and village roads, will be undergoing renovations until 2011. Jirisan Forest Trails is a project of the Korea Forest Service and is operated through the Green Fund established by the national lottery. To preserve the integrity of the forests, visitors are asked to please travel responsibly.

Pilgrimage of Self-discovery  Traveling along the Jirisan Forest Trails (지리산 숲길) not only means diving into the beauty of the nature; it also means a chance to directly experience the history and lifestyle of local villages and their inhabitants along the way. Before motorized vehicles became commonplace, villagers traveled these trails and rural roads on foot to make deliveries or visit friends in neighboring villages. Linking towns, fields, and the hearts of the villagers, every pebble on the trails bespeaks of the lives of the villagers, both past and present.  Barring one’s own footsteps, the only noise heard on the forest paths are the gentle sounds of nature. Signs of the outside world slip away and many visitors find themselves pondering their own pace of life as each bend in the road brings with it a new view of the beautiful scenery and people working hand-in-hand with nature. What often starts as a simple walk through the woods often ends in a refreshingly peaceful time of soul-searching and reflection.

Before the trip   Before starting your trip, be aware of your physical condition and the weather conditions. The trails are intended for slow walks, so plan to walk about 2.5 kilometers per hour—not including meals and rest stops.  Be sure to prepare comfortable, sturdy hiking shoes, a wind and waterproof long-sleeved jacket, socks, eco-friendly toiletries, a water bottle, a lantern or flashlight, a camera, and an emergency medical kit.