Over the past few years, I’ve chastised my friend for being obsessed with Korean culture without understanding what Korean culture really is. I was angry because I thought her interaction with Korea, one many others I know share, only extended to winking k-pop stars and sickeningly cheesy Korean dramas. Liking the concept of chimaek (fried chicken and beer) because you saw it in a televised romance didn’t count as appreciating Korean food and culture, I thought, and I had no respect for someone who knew more about Korean celebrities than Korean politics and history.
Yet in believing this, I became a hypocrite, too. A few months later, I found myself eating dakgalbi with my dad and two second cousins I’d only met in my childhood and didn’t remember, discussing the upcoming Korean presidential election, and I didn’t know was happening. It was only then that I realized how I was in no place to be proud of it or defend it as my own. I knew nothing about it.
In hindsight, this disconnect has existed for longer than I remember. On my first day of kindergarten, I threw a tantrum because my name tag had my Korean name, Jeewon, on it, instead of Angelica. I felt uncomfortable in my name, in what might as well have been my own skin. Over the years, I started speaking English at home instead of Korean. I only kept in touch with my heritage in my annual trips to Korea to see my family, and spurned everything else that connected me to it.
Each time I arrive at the Seoul-Incheon International Airport, I bring with me a smaller vocabulary and a worse grasp of my first language. But this spring, I went to Korea determined to close the rift between me and my homeland in whatever way possible.
So I met family members I never knew existed, receiving their handshakes and hugs and memories from when I was too young to remember. We sat on traditional thin embroidered cushions in the living room, eating mandarin oranges, with the TV on to a typical Korean variety show.
I went to Jeju-do, flying to a rural tourist paradise and admiring the beautiful ocean scenery I didn’t know Korea even had. I learned how to play a traditional card game, Go Stop, in one of my five great-aunts’ living room, carefully learning the rules and laughing with my grandmother when I didn’t understand what was going on. I tried makgeoli (a traditional Korean rice beverage) for the first time with my dad, tasting the different flavours the restaurant offered. I walked around an old Korean fortress, admiring the country’s pre-colonial strength and taking in its rich history. During that trip, I immersed myself in the act of being Korean.
And suddenly, Seoul shifted in my heart from being the city I was ashamed of to being the city I love. I know, now, that no matter how far I stray from my hometown, I will always be able to come back to its loving arms. In that trip I found myself still rooted in the culture that will never erode from my veins. I’ve found solace in going to the place that used to give me anxiety.
Now, I jump around with my friend as we watch kpop music videos, because while my childhood was in Vancouver and my future awaits me in Providence, my heart will always be in Korea.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
0 Replies to “Seoul-searching”
Comment on this article
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
ok it was funny not like a formal article
Very informative blog.Much thanks again. Much obliged.
Wow, great article.Thanks Again. Great.
I’m extremely pleased to find this web site. I wanted to thank you for your time just for this fantastic read!! I definitely enjoyed every part of it and I have you saved to fav to check out new stuff in your website.
Really interesting post!
Thanks for sharing the article with the information we are actually looking for.
Well, I tend to be a very critical person with a critical bent of mind who always comments on others post emphasizing on the missed-out points. However, your writer seems to have done a great job as there’s nothing much that I can think of saying. It is an amazing write-up that is extremely useful for your concerned target audience. I’m definitely going to share this on Twitter.
Enjoyed looking at this, very good stuff, thanks.
Great info. Lucky me I found your blog by chance (stumbleupon).
I have bookmarked it for later!
Some truly great posts on this site, regards for contribution.
Very great post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I’ve truly loved browsing your weblog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I am hoping you write once more soon!
Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for your provided information.
Wonderful blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News.
Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
Thank you
Rent a professional limousine service in Dubai with safety equipments
I believe you have observed some very interesting points, thanks for the post.
I pay a visit everyday some sites and websites to read content,
but this website gives quality based articles.
very useful topic
And very important
This is great,
I hope to do something like this
very useful topic
And very important
Please Fwd to author:
Your wallet has been found at IC Ranger station JTNP
Good day! Would you mind if I share your blog with my zynga group?
There’s a lot of people that I think would really appreciate your content.
Please let me know. Thank you
Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I find
It truly helpful & it helped me out a lot. I’m hoping to offer
one thing back and aid others such as you helped me.
Excuse for that I interfere … To me this situation is familiar. Let’s discuss. Write here or in PM.
This excellent phrase is necessary just by the way
I join. It was and with me. We can communicate on this theme. Here or in PM.
So many amazing selections! I wasn’t familiar with many of them. We just did Grapevine last week, which never disappoints. Christmas capital of Texas. ??????
Is it alright to reference some of this on my page if I include a backlink to
this site?
Thanks , I’ve recently been looking for information about this topic for a long time and yours is the best I have discovered so far. But, what concerning the bottom line? Are you certain about the source?
Thank you for your post.Really thank you! Cool.
wonderful blog !! love reading your post.
Greetings from Colorado! I’m bored to tears at
work so I decided to check out your site on my iphone during lunch break.
I love the info you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home.
I’m shocked at how fast your blog loaded on my cell phone ..
I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, great site!
Every weekend i used to pay a visit this web page, because i wish for enjoyment, for the reason that this this
site conations genuinely pleasant funny material too.
Eco-therapy or nature therapy, sometimes comprehensively called family-centred nature therapy or outdoor therapy entails using the environment of nature and its various elements to become involved in the autism therapy process for persons on the spectrum.
We love your offering these details for folks hoping to get more information about topics like this. Your blog page was well-written and well investigated, that is certainly considerably liked. I am generally seeking for new sites to follow and browse on a regular basis.
Thank you so much for sharing this blog with us. Really Informative blog.