Published by the Gwangju International Center since 2001
Among the ample little peaks studding Korea’s west, one that’s recently left me lovestruck is Jindo Island’s Dongseok-san. It’s about as far southwest as you can drive in Korea and a solid 2.5 hours from Gwangju.
enter this new season. Grab some friends, water, and sunscreen and get outside to enjoy the green. There’s a whole lot to uncover here in Gwangju, and you’ll never know what you’ll learn. Where will your next adventure be?
Ahhh, good old Shinan. Characterized by farmland, tidal flats, and all-around nice people, the 1,004 islands of the region are spread out, isolated, and beautiful.
Ask any Gwangju citizen and it is almost certain that they know about “the fountain” (분수대). Located at the May 18 Democratic Plaza in Dong-gu, it is a significant landmark for the city. In 1980, this was the very place where citizens gathered, exchanging words of support to win over the military dictatorship. The area has now become the May 18 Democracy Plaza, and the fountain together with the clock tower nearby are a testament to the very history of the city. To further its function as a city landmark, a new project has transformed the fountain into a new tourist hotspot in Gwangju through the Fountain of Light (빛의 분수대) installation. It is expected to be unveiled some time in June this year.
Mokpo is such a great little city. Its geography alone is impressive, with rocky Yudal-san bookending the city’s peninsular core and shielding residents from the yearly barrage of typhoons. The city also sits at the mouth of the massive Yeongsan River, which originates in Damyang-gun, passes through Gwangju and Naju, and disgorges on either side of Goha-do.
I would first like to introduce you to my hometown of Grimbergen. Grimbergen is a municipality in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant, 10 kilometers north of the capital, Brussels. Grimbergen is the brand name of a variety of Belgian abbey beers. Originally made by Norbertine monks in the Belgian town of Grimbergen, it is now brewed by different breweries in Belgium, France, Poland, and Italy, and is even imported to Korea.
There’s an island in Jeollanam-do, just off the southwest coast of Goheung, that I love so much I almost bought a second home there despite not having a first.
My involvement with the “Lost” column began this month back in 2018, and as much as I’d like to have a single, significant topic to cover, this fourth anniversary has fallen during a creative slump. As per tradition, whenever this happens, I’m left to cobble together a few half-baked ideas with little rhyme or reason to them. And so, here it is – an underwhelming medley of odds and (dead) ends that have been crowding my workspace these past few months.
