SOUTH KOREA

Korean War Memorial

This sculpture shows two brothers who were forced to fight against each other during the war. The sphere represents the Korean peninsula and the crack running through the center shows the unfortunate division of the two countries.

B52 Bomber

Korean War Memorial

Memorial Hall

Korean War Memorial - This entire corridor is dedicated to the South Korean soldiers who died during the war.

Junghwajeon Hall

Deoksugung Palace

Sungnyemun Gate

Jogyesa Temple

This lacebark pine tree, a very rare species, in front of Jogyesa Temple is 520 years old. It has been designated a national monument of Korea.

Injeongjeon Hall

Changdeokgung Palace

Dinner Time

Namdaemun Market

DMZ - Bridge Of No Return

DMZ - Road to the North

Binyangmun Gate

Changgyeonggung Palace

Munjeongjeon Hall Ceiling

Changgyeonggung Palace

Heungnyemun Gate

Gyeongbokgung Palace

Geunjeongjeon Hall

Gyeongbokgung Palace - Geunjeongjeon Hall was first built in 1394. It burned down during the Japanese invasion of 1592. It was reconstructed at tremendous expense in 1867.

Geunjeongjeon Hall

Gyeongbokgung Palace

Olympic Park

Southwest Entrance

Peace Gate

The Olympic Park covers an area of 1.4 million square meters. It was completed in 1986 to host the 1988 Summer Olympics. The 24th Olympic Games have long been over, but the park is still one of the more popular spots in Seoul. The sports facilities are still in regular use, and the outdoor stage is still a popular venue for various concerts and performances, including a visit from Metallica in 1998.

N. Korean Mountains

Seen from a safe distance.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza

If a 90-degree angle is what you're looking for, then I'm afraid you've come to the wrong place! The undulating Dongdaemun Design Plaza houses museums, galleries, and studios showcasing Korean and international modern art and design.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza

Archeological remains of the old city wall were uncovered as construction of the plaza got underway. Rather than remove the artifacts, the architects figured out a way to incorporate the excavated field into the surrounding complex.

Outdoor Sculpture

Dongdaemun Design Plaza

Outdoor Sculpture

Dongdaemun Design Plaza

Outdoor Sculpture

Dongdaemun Design Plaza

Dongdaemun Design Plaza

Dongdaemun Design Plaza

Dongdaemun Gate

Seoul was once completely surrounded by an impressive stone wall. The only ways in and out of the city were through four large gates; Dongdaemun was one of them. Its name means "Great Eastern Gate".

Dongdaemun Gate

Parts of the original city wall are still standing, but much of it has been either lost to history or eaten up by the modern-day buildings that shape Seoul's unique skyline. This particular gate is a restored version of the original structure.

Dongdaemun Gate

Seoul City Hall

Junghwajeon Throne Hall

Deoksugung Palace - The smallest of Seoul's five main Palaces, Deoksugung mostly played a supporting role to its much larger counterparts throughout most of its history.

Jeukjodang Hall

Deoksugung Palace - The name Jeukjodang means "house where kings ascended the throne". Indeed, this is where two kings were crowned in the early 1600's.

Junmyeongdang Hall

Deoksugung Palace - I can't imagine having the patience to paint nearly every square inch of the eaves and trim of these old buildings, but I'm sure glad someone did!

Junghwajeon Throne Hall

Deoksugung Palace

Junghwajeon Throne Hall

Deoksugung Palace

Junghwajeon Throne Hall

Deoksugung Palace

Junghwamun Gate

Deoksugung Palace

Dorasan Train Station

It doesn't matter which site you visit in the DMZ, the ROK (Republic of Korea) soldiers are never far off. They make it abundantly clear where you are and aren't allowed to wander!

Dorasan Train Station

This is the end of the line for the South Korean rail network. The tracks themselves cross the border and link up with the North, but no trains are currently making the journey.

Dorasan Train Station

This station was built so that functioning infrastructure to link the two Koreas would already be in place if reunification can ever be achieved. Until that day comes, though, it sits eerily vacant a few kilometers away from the border.

Berlin Wall

Dorasan Train Station - The mayor of Berlin, a city with its own tragic history of division, recently paid a visit to the DMZ. He brought with him this piece of the Berlin Wall to remind the people of Korea that, however unlikely it may seem now, anything is possible.

DMZ

Southern edge of the demilitarized zone.

Dorasan Observatory

Slip a few coins into these binoculars and you can gaze into North Korea for about a minute. This is the second time I've been to this observatory, but I've never seen a single person through the binoculars. The small towns appear to be empty. However, you can definitely hear the propoganda and patriotic music that streams endlessly through a system of loudspeakers aimed at the south!

Joint Security Area

ROK soldiers keep watch as we continue our tour right up to the military demarcation line that separates the two armies.

Joint Security Area

Here's what's going on in this picture: 1) The soldier in the foreground is with the U.S. army and serves as tour guide whenever groups pass through the DMZ. 2) The four guys in dark green coats are South Korean military. They stand guard in what is apparently a taekwondo "readiness" position throughout the duration of the tour. 3) The light blue buildings are UN facilities. The building on the left is the one we're about to enter. 4) The dark slab of concrete in roughly the center of the photo marks the military demarcation line. Everything "below" the concrete slab is part of South Korea, and everything "above" it is North Korean territory.

Joint Security Area

According to our guide, there's almost always one North Korean guard who makes his presence known during tours. He's easy to miss at first, but he's standing in a brown uniform at the top of the stair case.

Door to North Korea

The two sides use this UN facility from time to time for joint meetings. This S. Korean soldier keeps visitors away from the door that literally opens up into North Korea.