21h • Miscellaneous Posting
Day three in Seoul
On the third day, our first stop was Namsan Mountain in Seoul. We set off at 8:30 AM by charter bus and transferred to a public bus to reach the top of the mountain. The weather was lovely👌—cooler and much more comfortable than yesterday’s scorching heat. From the mountain, we had a view of almost the entire Seoul cityscape. I didn't go up the Namsan Seoul Tower, but if you do, you can get a full panoramic view of the whole city. Plenty of young people and middle-aged women were exercising on the mountain, and the air was very fresh.
There were many tourists, and we took photos all over the place. What’s particularly worth mentioning is a long stretch of railings completely covered with love locks, inscribed with endless love stories and wishes. I really wanted to strike up a conversation with some locals, but I don't speak Korean and didn't have the courage to approach them. I wasn't sure if they would be open to chatting with a visitor from China like me. My spoken English isn't very fluent either—I can handle basic phrases, but I run out of words when trying to have a deeper conversation.
After about an hour or so, we headed down the mountain and passed by a statue of the historical figure featured on the 1,000-won banknote. We snapped a photo and then took a bus to the Hanok Village. There, we explored ancient architecture—these were homes where ancient Korean nobles used to live, showcasing their unique ethnic heritage. Looking at the historic houses and imagining life back then made me appreciate how wonderful modern civilization truly is, whereas life in ancient times was quite tough and simple.
Korea lacks underground natural resources, so its economy couldn't rely on raw materials; instead, it had to depend on advancements in science and technology. Despite starting from a underdeveloped position with scarce resources, the Korean people worked hard to learn new technologies and sciences from developed Western capitalist nations. Through years of practical effort and growth, Korea developed into a major advanced economy in Asia, accompanied by a rising level of social civic awareness.
At the same time, they haven't lost their valuable cultural traditions, such as their approach to education. Along the way, our tour guide shared a few insights: the guide has two daughters who started walking to school on their own as early as first grade, without needing parents to drive them. Competition ramps up starting in middle school—if students want to get into a top university, they have to work extremely hard. However, in elementary school, kids are dismissed at 2:00 PM and mostly just play. If they want to learn piano, they sign up for after-school tutoring classes. The 12 years of education from kindergarten through high school are fully free, including meals, school trips, and backpacks—everyone gets the same backpack. Elementary school students here have a very different experience compared to those in China; here, it's all about enjoying childhood.
In terms of infrastructure, a middle school is built for every 4,000 households, and a high school for every 5,000 households, with class sizes kept at around 25 students. Korea's educational philosophy differs from ours; it heavily emphasizes Confucian moral values such as filial piety, brotherly affection, loyalty, trustworthiness, etiquette, righteousness, integrity, and honor. During a parent-teacher meeting, a principal once asked a question: "If your child gave you allowance money, would you accept it?" Accepting it is believed to cultivate blessings and good fortune for the child. If you refuse it the first time, they won't buy things for you in the future, depriving them of the opportunity to build that merit. Parents are encouraged to give money or buy gifts for the elderly, and to let their children wash their feet—in fact, a common assignment for kids is to wash their parents' feet. Love needs to be demonstrated through actions, not just kept in your head, as simply thinking about it isn't enough. Furthermore, harmony between siblings and couples is strongly emphasized; arguments are discouraged because strained relationships harm everyone involved—a clear continuation of Confucian thought.
By high school, students are streamed according to their talents—some focus on academics, others on special skills, though those taking college entrance exams make up the majority, with many studying past midnight. The "SKY" universities represent the top three higher education institutions that cultivate key talent. High school lets out at 4:00 PM. As a side note, immigrating to Korea requires having valid legal credentials. Korea also follows a five-day workweek, and on Friday nights, you can see many young people getting quite drunk. Traffic during morning commute hours can get a bit congested, but the roads are well-built—manhole covers, for instance, are paved completely flush with the road.
Taking the bus up Namsan Park, I noticed there were plenty of "stop requested" buttons inside. As for the Hanok Village, no one actually lives there anymore, but couples sometimes hold traditional weddings there on weekends.
Since Korea lacks natural underground resources, in the past, women went to work in Germany to learn technical skills, bringing back knowledge from abroad to lay the foundation for domestic industries. I also learned that Seoul’s housing prices average around 60,000 RMB per square meter, while average monthly salaries range from 15,000 to over 20,000 RMB, though there are also areas with lower house prices around 10,000 RMB. When citizens want to hold demonstrations or rallies, they only need to file a notification with the authorities rather than wait for approval. Filing simply informs the government, and police officers actually come out to protect the demonstrators—such as during rallies advocating for higher wages. The process for filing a notification is quite different from seeking formal approval.
In terms of traffic, the distances between traffic lights are very short; making drivers wait through multiple red lights helps curb the habit of jaywalking or running lights. Also, the National Tax Service building is surprisingly modest—just big enough to be functional.
In the afternoon, we visited Ikseon-dong to have coffee, which seems to be where everyone gathers. Korea invests heavily in cosmetic R&D for export, tailoring products specifically for Asian women's skin. They are notably the only ones to incorporate stem cell technology into cosmetics. The price range is broad depending on the ingredients and functions. Almost every Korean woman uses at least two different skincare routines, switching them up to keep the skin active rather than letting it adapt and become "lazy."
Then there's Korean ginseng (Goryeo ginseng). In international trade, Korea doesn't have a vast array of unique native goods, but its Goryeo ginseng and ceramics are famous worldwide. ("Goryeo" is where the Korean name and the English word "Korea" originate.) Why is Goryeo ginseng considered so superior? Growing environments vary greatly by region. Historically, Emperor Qianlong of China consumed two slices of Goryeo ginseng every day, which was presented as tribute by Korean monarchs. Western ginseng tends to have a "cooling" property in traditional terms, making it suitable for men, whereas the saponins in Korean ginseng help boost metabolism and immunity. The highest grade of Goryeo ginseng is processed into "black ginseng." Black ginseng aged over one year can be taken widely, whereas red ginseng requires a pulse diagnosis before use due to its potent nature.
After finishing our trip to the Hanok Village, our group went to have hot pot. It tasted quite good, and the ingredients were fresh. Afterward, we went to watch the Painters (Graffiti Show), which was exceptionally engaging and entertaining. Six or seven handsome young guys performed a seamless blend of dancing and live painting. The integration of art and dance felt very natural, with innovative choreography, great creativity, and fantastic audience interaction that energized everyone in the crowd. It was definitely worth watching! Afterward, many audience members queued up to take photos with the performing oppas.
Our next stop was wandering through the narrow alleys of Ikseon-dong. A crowd of young people had gathered here, sipping coffee and drinks, enjoying desserts, and chatting happily. I paused to enjoy a cup of hot latte myself.
Finally, we headed to a famous local food street to try some street food. The stalls were packed with mung bean pancakes, rice cakes, gimbap (sushi rolls), live octopus, raw beef (yukhoe), various noodle dishes, fried chicken, and boiled delicacies, along with many other dishes whose names escape me. The atmosphere was vibrant and full of the lively spirit of everyday local life. After eating our fill, we returned to the hotel to rest.
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Day three in Seoul
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