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The Korea Times

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SCMP
Asia

The Korea Times

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Korean Traditions

Mon, December 11, 2023 | 15:15

Did you know that (49) Show me the money

Did you know that (49) Show me the money

It was reported in December 1906 that a gang of “clever Japanese thieves” had made their way to Seoul. These were not your ordinary thieves. While they may have packed knives and guns they did not use them to extort money ― instead they used hypnotism! It isn’t clear how successful ― if at all ― they were but some high Japanese officials felt it prudent to warn their Korean...

Kwon Mee-yoo | 2011-12-16 17:05

Did you know that ....(43) Chinese ginseng smugglers

Did you know that ....(43) Chinese ginseng smugglers

One of Korea’s most valuable trade products during the late Joseon era was ginseng. “Hongsam” (red ginseng) was especially valued by the Chinese. Hongsam was considered the personal property of the Korean monarch, and unauthorized possession by Koreans was punished with summary execution. “But in spite of the death penalty for its private disposal large quantities are smug...

Kwon Mee-yoo | 2011-12-13 17:03

Did you know that… (42) The Siamese shipwreck

Did you know that… (42) The Siamese shipwreck

On Oct. 27, 1880, a Siamese barge, the Kim Yuen Tae, departed the Chinese northeastern port of Newchwang (modern Yingkou) bound for Hong Kong.

Lee Hyo-won | 2011-12-09 16:58

Did you know that ... (41) Dark side of marriage

Did you know that ... (41) Dark side of marriage

During the Joseon era, to be young and single was considered strange. No matter how old a male was, unless he was married, he was considered to be nothing more than a boy. Celibacy, especially in men, was abhorred. Marriages between children were not unheard of and, in fact, were encouraged. Often these marriages were political or financial in nature and, naturally enough...

Kwon Mee-yoo | 2011-12-02 19:11

Did you know that ... (40) A room for the night

Did you know that ... (40) A room for the night

During the late Joseon period, Westerners traveling in Korea’s interior were faced with many hardships including obtaining passports, porters, food and of course, housing. There were no hotels and the traveler was often faced with the prospect of camping outside — a dangerous prospect considering the number of tigers that haunted Korea’s wilderness — or sleeping i...

Kwon Mee-yoo | 2011-11-29 18:55

Did you know that ... (39) The Ford comes to Korea

Did you know that ... (39) The Ford comes to Korea

Prior to the construction of the railroad from Fusan (modern Busan) to Seoul, travel between the two cities was usually by ship (a voyage of one or two days depending on the weather) or by the notorious ornery Korean pony, a patience-trying journey of twelve days. But things changed with the introduction of the automobile.

2011-11-25 17:55

Didn you know that ... (29) Joseon Korea’s Joseon Korea’s Seven Great Wonders

Didn you know that ... (29) Joseon Korea’s Joseon Korea’s Seven Great Wonders

Up until the late 19th century, very little was known about Korea other than it was an ancient kingdom. Much of the information that made its way into the Western press came primarily from Chinese and Japanese sources which were often exaggerated or outright manufactured to make Korea seem more mystical and foreboding.

2011-11-22 18:33

One man’s loss is another’s gain

One man’s loss is another’s gain

In Joseon Korea, finding money or other small treasures wasn’t always a lucky thing — sometimes it was a ploy by the original owner to transfer his bad luck onto the lucky finder. Often the target of this ploy was young children or desperate beggars.

Do Je-hae | 2011-11-18 16:49

Did you that ... (36) David E. Hahn: Korea’s first Western dentist

David E. Hahn, an American, is credited as being the first Western dentist to reside in Korea. He arrived in Seoul on Jan. 18, 1906 and received an “enthusiastic welcome from the foreign residents who (hoped) that he (would) long continue to make (Seoul) his home.”

Kwon Mee-yoo | 2011-11-15 17:34

Did you know that ... (35) Felix Bijno: Seoul’s first Western hotelier

Did you know that ... (35) Felix Bijno: Seoul’s first Western hotelier

Sontag Hotel is often said to be the first Western hotel in Seoul but there were others before it, including the Seoul Hotel owned by Felix Bijno.

Lee Hyo-won | 2011-11-11 16:29

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