On the fourth day, our tour guide shared that Koreans love compliments and taught us a few basic Korean phrases—like how to say a woman is pretty, a man is handsome, or that the food is delicious. We were also warned to be careful with Korean soju, as it is easy to get heavily intoxicated. In Korea, drinking is a primary way to bond; companies across all departments have a deep-seated drinking culture. Heavily influenced by Confucian tradition, drinking with elders involves strict etiquette. Remarkably, people in Seoul consume an average of 87 bottles per person every year. Whether eating, singing, or having barbecue, Koreans can get drunk at night and still report to work normally the next morning. They stay functional by taking liver-protection products. It is said that Korea ranks fifth globally in life expectancy, which is attributed to regular exercise, favorable living conditions, healthy lifestyles, traditional herbal tonic routines for blood and qi, and liver detoxification. Many Asians turn red when drinking alcohol due to a missing enzyme—specifically, aldehyde dehydrogenase (often mistranslated locally as penicillin). Understanding this science, Koreans use targeted solutions to protect the liver. While most medicines carry side effects, Korean liver-care supplements claim to be non-toxic. Manufacturers even offer a full refund if clinical indicators for alcoholic or fatty liver conditions fail to improve after use. Taking them before drinking reportedly increases alcohol tolerance, though heavy drinking remains harmful to health. Being Monday morning, traffic was heavily congested. By 7:30 AM, the queue of cars was impressive, moving at a steady pace above 60 km/h. Our guide mentioned Jay Y. Lee, the head of Samsung Group, noting that local duty-free shops are owned by the Samsung family. Samsung holds massive wealth and ranks near the top globally. In education, Seoul National University ranks first in Korea and originated as a Confucian academy, while graduates from Sungkyunkwan University often secure jobs directly at Samsung. For dinner tonight, a special barbecue meal was arranged at 350 RMB per person. Extra food incurred an added cost, water was free, and alcohol was self-paid.

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.