I have been to Seoul a few years ago when I transferred in Inchon Airport, a place famous for the U.S. army's landing in 1950. The airport was great. You could do shopping, see a show of Korean traditional culture or draw a Korean-style fan for free. I loved these thoughtful details just like that in Japan, while the behavior of the Korean staff were not also -- they were like Chinese more. Two stuffs talked with each other while walking. They were smiling and seemed relax and not saying something not about work. I've never seen that scene in Japan but China. At that moment, I recognized that a portion of this country was similar to China, while the other resembled Japan. Maybe many people who have been in China and Japan can find it easily and feel it too usual to worth thinking. But to me, it's huge.
I have known if I am looking for the differences of two issues, finding a point between them as a reference is likely a good idea. I thought China and Japan were similar to each other. The people look like almost the same. And Chinese elements such as Chinese characters, tea culture, and so on were accepted by Japan from Tang Period and continued until now. I have been told this SIMILAR theory since I was a child in China. But when I grow up and come to Japan, it makes me confused. At that time I met Korea, the reference point of China and Japan.
I learned Korea history roughly before the journey around South Korea, and found that the nationality is closely related to the geography. Korea Peninsula is between China and Japan, geographically, and socially or politically. As a peninsula, Korea has both Chinese-continental and Japanese-marine natural environment; As a small country, Korea was under the pressure of BIG China and STRONG Japan until 1945 or even now.
I visited three places in South Korea: Gyeongju, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla (57BC - 935AD), where a vast number of historical heritage remain, Seoul, the current capital, famous large metropolis and a city you must go to when you visit South Korea, and Panmunjon, a crack of Korea Peninsula, divides a whole country to two portions.
Now, I'd like to talk about my journey ~
I have known if I am looking for the differences of two issues, finding a point between them as a reference is likely a good idea. I thought China and Japan were similar to each other. The people look like almost the same. And Chinese elements such as Chinese characters, tea culture, and so on were accepted by Japan from Tang Period and continued until now. I have been told this SIMILAR theory since I was a child in China. But when I grow up and come to Japan, it makes me confused. At that time I met Korea, the reference point of China and Japan.
I learned Korea history roughly before the journey around South Korea, and found that the nationality is closely related to the geography. Korea Peninsula is between China and Japan, geographically, and socially or politically. As a peninsula, Korea has both Chinese-continental and Japanese-marine natural environment; As a small country, Korea was under the pressure of BIG China and STRONG Japan until 1945 or even now.
I visited three places in South Korea: Gyeongju, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla (57BC - 935AD), where a vast number of historical heritage remain, Seoul, the current capital, famous large metropolis and a city you must go to when you visit South Korea, and Panmunjon, a crack of Korea Peninsula, divides a whole country to two portions.
Now, I'd like to talk about my journey ~
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