Taste of South Korea

  Hello, history dreamers and palace romance lovers! It’s Bitna. In our last crispy food adventure, we tasted the viral, sweet-and-savory short-rib flavored chicken from the movies at the bustling Suwon Fried Chicken Street . Today, we are heading right back inside the grand stone embrace of the fortress walls to explore a place filled with royal secrets, deep family love, and beautiful evening lights. Welcome to Hwaseong Haenggung Palace (화성행궁) ! While Seoul is famous for its "Five Grand Palaces," Hwaseong Haenggung is a completely different kind of royal treasure. It is a Haenggung —a temporary palace where the King and the royal family would stay when traveling outside the capital. Among all the temporary palaces built during the Joseon Dynasty, this is the absolute largest, most majestic, and beautifully designed complex in South Korea. Let's step through the front gates and uncover its magical story! filial-piety: The House of a King’s Deepest Love Built in 1789 by K...

  Hello, night stroll lovers and history romantics! It’s Bitna.  In our last twilight escape, we caught a breathtaking 360-degree sunset floating right in the middle of the Han River at Nodeul Island . Today, we are leaving the modern river behind to step into a completely different kind of evening romance—a nighttime time-travel journey into the royal world of the Joseon Dynasty. Welcome to the Changgyeonggung Palace Night Tour (창경궁 야간개장) ! While Seoul has several grand palaces, Changgyeonggung holds a very special place in Bitna's heart for night exploration . Unlike Gyeongbokgung Palace, which requires a highly competitive and stressful online ticket reservation for its night openings, Changgyeonggung is permanently open after dark! For just about $1 USD, you can walk through royal gates under the soft glow of traditional lanterns and moonlit shadow trees. Let's explore the highlights of this magical palace after the sun goes down! 🏮 Walking the Royal Paths Under Lantern L...