South Korea Seoul (map, info, 2016, 1997).
Seoul Plaza |
Seoul Plaza from 26th floor
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City Hall
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Iconic City Hall building
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Seoul downtown
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Protestors outside City Hall
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View from Gwanghwamun Gate
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Queuing for a bus home
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Dressed up tourists
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Street scene
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Typical police station
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Restaurant alley (more)
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Admiral Yi Sun-sin (more)
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King Sejong the Great, Joseon dynasty (1, 2, 3)
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Gwanghwamun Plaza
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Gwanghwamun Gate
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Pedestrian-only shopping zone
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A local band performing in English
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"Skin food" shop (food that's good for the skin)
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Pedestrian-only shopping zone
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Seoul Plaza |
National museum of Korean contemporary history
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Dedicated bus lanes on major avenues
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Enclosure for smokers
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One Saturday in June, 2016, I came across an LGBT pride festival in Seoul. It was held in Seoul Plaza, an open lawn in front of City Hall. Sadly, the plaza had to be cordoned off with fences and hundreds of cops to keep the peace. A large contingent of Korean Christians had decided to rain on the festival with their nasty signs, loud protests, and Christian pop music. I came across a few LGBT activists addressing the press. I didn’t understand them but they seemed so calm and dignified yet so vulnerable surrounded by a sea of hostile Christians. I felt very moved by them. All I could do to express my solidarity was to walk up to and have myself photographed before a sign that said “Queer I am”. Below are some pics from the event. |
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An LGBT festival in Seoul Plaza
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Stalls on festival ground (more)
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Another stall, police keeping out protesters
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LGBT activists addressing the press
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Christians protesting the LGBT event
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Traditionally attired women against LGBTs (1, 2)
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Large Christain turnout against same-sex marriage
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Hundreds of police keeping the peace
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The will of Jesus?
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Protesters (more)
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Catching 'em young
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My way of expressing solidarity
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Underground market
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Built around metro stations
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Christian evangelists
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Evening smog
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Friday night bustle
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Guard at Deoksugung Palace entrance
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A shopping district
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Cheonggyecheon (stream)
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Myeongdong Cathedral
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Built in 1898, it's the seat of the Roman Catholic community in Korea
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Dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
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Cathedral interior
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Playing for alms
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A pedestrian-only shopping street
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Lost Christian soul, pretending otherwise
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Performance in a small plaza near Tapgol Park
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Such statues often appear outside buildings
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Downtown Seoul
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Pavilion in Tapgol Park
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Ten-storied stone pagoda in Tapgol Park
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Urban vista
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Bosingak Belfry
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Seggoul Plaza
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Seoul Plaza w/ City Hall
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| Gyeongbokgung Palace | |||
The royal palace of the Joseon dynasty
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Heungnyemun gate
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Dressed up for the visit (in attire rented on site)
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Posing by Heungnyemun gate
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Heungnyemun gate
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Girl requests and gets a photo with one of the visiting soldiers
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Soldiers are currently popular due to a local TV show in S. Korea
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The modern city beyond Gwanghwamun Gate
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Geunjeongjeon, the King's throne hall
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Inside Geunjeongjeon
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Inside Geunjeongjeon (1, 2, 3)
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Closeup of painted exterior
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Sajeongjeon Hall, the King's office (1, 2)
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Cheonchujeon Hall (more)
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Cheonchujeon Hall and Sajeongjeon Hall
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Manchunjeon Hall, part of the office complex
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Ancillary buildings
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Manchunjeon Hall
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Inside Sajeongjeon Hall
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All dressed up
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Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, used for banquets
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Joseon dynasty architecture
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Gangnyeongjeon, or the King's residence
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Gyotaejeon Hall, or the Queen's residence (1, 2)
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Wood and stone architecture (more)
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Jagyeongjeon Hall, or King's mother's residence
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Jagyeongjeon Hall, or King's mother's residence
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Royal roofs (more)
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Hyangwonjeong Pavilion in the middle of a pond (1, 2)
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Visitors in traditional dresses hired on site
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Visitors in traditional dresses hired on site
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Visitor at Hyangwonjeong Pavilion
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Photo shoot
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Geunjeongjeon Hall |
Geunjeongjeon Hall (more)
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Gwanghwamun Gate
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National Folk Museum (info1, info2, info3, info4, info5, info6, info7, info8, info9) |
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Main building
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Statues of the 12 zodiac animal signs (more)
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A traditional village home (1, 2)
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Storage jars for seeds
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Sandaenori, a traditional Korean folk performance with masks that fuses dance, pantomine, and comedy.
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Samples of Kimchi (more)
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Arranged marriage in Joseon society
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A board game called Ssangnyuk, with roots in India
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Exorcism for curing smallpox
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Table for 60th birthday feast for parents
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The bier, for conveying the dead on shoulders to the burial site
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Ritual mourning for dead parents for three years
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| Deoksugung Palace | |||
Daehanmun gate of the Deoksugung palace
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Gate leading to Junghwajeon Hall
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Junghwajeon Hall, with King's throne (more)
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Jeokjodang and Junmyeongdang
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Seokjojeon Hall, finished in 1910 and home of King Gojong (more)
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Now hosts the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (more)
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Western style neoclassical buildings and gardens of Korean royals (more)
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Angbuilgu, a hemispherical sundial from the 15th century
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Hamnyeongjeon Hall, King's sleeping quarters
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Deokhongjeon, place for meeting visiting envoys
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Jeonggwanheon, for rest and entertainment (more)
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An exhibition on master artist Lee Jung Soeb
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| Seoul 1997 | |||
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Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, used for banquets  |
Geunjeongjeon, the King's throne hall  |
Gyotaejeon Hall, or the Queen's residence  |
Watch your step  |
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Wedding shoot  |
Daehanmun gate, Deoksugung Palace complex  |
Escape from Seoul  |
Ten-storied stone pagoda and Buddha  |
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