#traveldiaries

Welcome to Arirang Travel Diaries. This week, we’re heading to Namhansanseong, the mountain fortress where stone walls and winter air still carry history. We’ll revisit the gripping story behind the film The Fortress and trace the real footsteps of 1636 along the ramparts. Then we’ll finish the day the best way possible: one easy scenic trail and the coziest post-hike eats and cafés.

Welcome to Arirang Travel Diaries—your weekly guide to Korea, one neighborhood and story at a time. Today, we’re turning New Year’s resolutions into something you can actually walk to: a sunrise hike on Achasan and a peaceful reset at Bongeunsa Temple. If you’re craving a fresh start, stay with us—your new year begins right here.

Heads to Seodaemun where a vanished West Gate still leaves its mark, and the city shows you how it remembers. We'll follow a path of independence, then exhale on a quiet winter walk-ready to step into Seoul's living history?

This week on Arirang Travel Diaries, we explore New Year’s in Korea as a season of resets—public, private, and deeply symbolic. From the midnight bell at Bosingak to Seollal traditions and the Year of the Horse, we trace how Korea welcomes time with history and heart. And of course, we end with the most comforting ritual of all: a warm bowl of tteokguk or mandu-guk to begin 2026 on a hopeful note.

This week on Arirang Travel Diaries, we’re unwrapping Christmas in Korea—from church bells and city lights to K-pop carols and quiet living-room feasts. Behind the sparkle, we’ll talk about how Christmas arrived here, and how joy and tragedy sometimes share the same winter streets. Bundle up, grab a piece of Christmas cake, and join us for a very Korean holiday journey.

Today on Arirang Travel Diaries, we head to Dongdaemun–where fortress walls hide under futuristic curves, and shopping streets glow long after midnight. From the “Great East Gate” to DDP’s neon winter lights, come walk the side of Seoul that never sleeps.

This week on Arirang Travel Diaries, we step through Namdaemun – Seoul’s south gate and a living symbol of the city’s moral and historical blueprint. From the 2008 fire to the 2013 restoration, we explore what “authenticity” really means when a nation rebuilds its heritage. Then we dive into the heartbeat next door: Namdaemun Market’s alleys, legends, and unforgettable comfort food.

This week on Arirang Travel Diaries, we’re heading to Gwanghwamun, the front gate of a dynasty in the very heart of Seoul. From royal palaces and political drama to winter lights and late-night hangover soup, we’ll peel back the many layers of this iconic square. Lace up your walking shoes, grab a warm drink, and join us at the Gate of Illuminating Transformation.

Welcome to Arirang Travel Diaries, where we explore everyday Seoul behind the headlines. Today, we’re stepping out of the studio and into our own backyard: Seocho-gu, Nambu Bus Terminal, and the Arirang Tower. From K-dramas and concert halls to hidden royal tombs and late-night noodles, this is the Seoul we actually live and work in.

Changgyeonggung may be the "Quiet" eastern palace, but in autumn it glows in red and gold, wrapping Seoul in history and color. In today's episode, we'll walk its courtyards and ponds, trace its surprising past as a zoo and park, and connect it to modern K-dramas and films. Whether you're planning a trip or traveling through your headphones, let's step through Honghwamun...

It’s Suneung day—the morning Korea holds its breath. We trace the exam’s shifting rules and rituals, from grounded flights and police escorts to sticky rice-cake superstitions and cheering squads. Then exhale with post-test hangouts and a watchlist that explains Korea’s education fever.

Autumn has painted Seoul gold, and we're heading into Changdeokgung-Joseon's most poetic palace-just in time for peak foliage. We'll walk the Secret Garden't storybook paths, trace court rituals rhrough Injeongdeon, and prime your imagination with film-and-drama scenes shot on-site. Then we'll slip out to Seosulla-gil for cozy cafes and snack stops that keep the palace mood goi...

Folklore, urban legends, and where to feel the chills after dark. From dream visitations to school-bathroom myths, shaman streets, and Seoul’s “Gate of the Dead.” Pack curiosity, not bravado: this episode is part travel plan, part cultural decoder.

Ginkgo runway, hanok rooftops, and enough cafés to justify “just one more.” We’re walking Samcheong-dong—gallery alleys by day, City Wall glow by dusk. Bring comfy shoes and an appetite: today’s itinerary is carbs, culture, cardio.

From Seoul Olympic Stadium to Myeongdong and Jeju’s mythic spots. Concert lore, food stops, and fan-route tips in one bite-size replay.

World Calligraphy Biennale, “Resonance in Silence.” From the Hanok Village, Gyeonggijeon, and Jeondong Cathedral to Nambu Night Market & the makgeolli alley. Walk Jeonju’s plates and places with us—now on the podcast.