American flaneur turns Korea’s cities into poetry in book series

Flaneur and author Andy Knowlton / Courtesy of Andy Knowlton

American flaneur Andy Knowlton has captured his musings in a series of books documenting his wanderings in Korean cities.

With the first book spotlighting Daegu, he also has books planned for Busan, Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province and Jeonju in North Jeolla Province. His books, published by Pondicherry Books, an independent imprint he founded himself, blend observation, reflection and quiet storytelling, setting them apart from traditional travel writing.

Although he is American by nationality, Knowlton was born in Paris and spent part of his childhood in France, where people known as flaneurs have been practicing flanerie — basically strolling — since the 19th century. It’s said that flanerie is not just walker, but a way of being in the city, closely tied to modern urban life, poetry, philosophy and the art of observation.

As he explains, a flaneur is not simply someone who walks a lot, but who walks not to arrive somewhere, but to absorb modern life, faces, gestures, fashion, decay, beauty and boredom.

Knowlton’s books follow a similar format, presenting minimalist writing along with simple photographs taken on his phone. Over time, the books have become more personal. “At first, it was mostly observation,” he told The Korea Times. “Later, I felt more comfortable including my thoughts.”

Importantly, he does not walk in order to create content, just to experience. The writing comes later, naturally, without pressure. The flaneur’s aim is to be in the present moment first, and reflect second.

“I don’t feel like I need to be at that place by 3 p.m. to stand in line with all the other people. When you don’t have any plans at all, your whole day is just open to possibilities. And I like to let the city itself invite me in different directions. So, I really think it’s fun to walk this way. It’s interesting. I go to places without any expectations. I’m walking without a plan, without an itinerary, just being free to go wherever, you know, if something looks interesting this way, I’ll walk that way. And if something interesting is over in that direction, then I’ll walk in the other direction,” he said.

The cover of Andy Knowlton’s "Notes of a Flaneur in Korea: Book 1 / Daegu" / Courtesy of Andy Knowlton

“When I walk, I don’t listen to music. I don’t look at my phone. It’s a way of unplugging.”

More than travel writing, Knowlton’s work invites readers to reconsider how they move through their own cities — and their lives. To slow down. To notice. To wander.

In Korea, he finds cities full of sudden contrasts, old streets opening into modern districts, narrow alleys leading to unexpected communities.

“I think the cities in Korea are full of surprises. Around every corner, you could be walking down a very old street, and then suddenly you’re in an area that’s very new and very fancy. And then you go down the next street, and it’s old again. And there are little alleys. And so, I think Korea is exciting because it’s very unpredictable. It’s hard to know what’s coming around the corner. As part of the reason why I like to do it is that maybe I’ve traveled around Korea quite a bit.”

Unpredictability is the heart of the experience, and rather than seeing what the city wants to show tourists, a flaneur discovers what the city actually is.

“In my experiences traveling, I think most of the time what I like the most is not always the touristic sites or the historical places that you are supposed to visit or expected to see,” he said. “I’m always enjoying the everyday life of people and seeing just very normal things, average people living their lives. It doesn’t need to be a trendy place. The more I stay here, the less those places interest me. And so, I want to see the places that aren’t usually captured in articles, blogs or magazines. I want to capture something that you don’t typically see on paper or in the media.”

Knowlton’s relationship with poetry has always been unconventional. Before coming to Korea, he worked briefly at a newspaper and struggled, like many writers, to find a readership. His solution was radical simplicity: He left poems in public places — inside books, on cafe tables or benches — for strangers to find.

In Korea, faced with a language barrier, his poetry became more visual. One of his most interesting projects is called Drunken Poets, which are small dolls made from trash found on the street. Inside each doll is a poem sealed in a tiny bottle. He has placed these dolls throughout Korea and in more than 20 countries during a two-year backpacking journey with his wife. “It’s about surprise, finding poetry where you don’t expect it,” he said.

Knowlton has lived in Korea since 2007, residing in cities such as Daegu, Seoul and currently Busan. His long-term life in Korea, alongside his Korean wife and their daughter, has deeply shaped his artistic perspective. He hopes his walking books will eventually be translated into Korean. He believes the message resonates strongly today, at a time when travel is hyperplanned, attention is fragmented and phones dominate every moment.

Follow @andy_k_art on Instagram for more information,or visit lulu.com to order “Notes of a Flaneur in Korea: Book 1 / Daegu.”

Bereket Alemayehu is an Ethiopian photo artist, social activist and writer based in Seoul. He’s also the co-founder of Hanokers, a refugee-led social initiative, and freelance contributor for Pressenza Press Agency.