Riding the Seoul Train

[ASSESSED] Stop 1 – The Most Succulent of Symbols

Korean BBQ (KBBQ) has always been the sworn mortal foe of my desires for a healthy and active lifestyle. After all, who could turn down perfectly marinated sliced pork, tempestuously tender chicken, and the irresistibly delectable kimchi sides? Definitely not me. Even in pre-COVID Melbourne, many thousands of miles away from South Korea, people would…

by lachlaniape October 19, 2020October 19, 2020

[ASSESSED] Stop 6 – The Northern Threat

In December 2018, a South Korean train entered North Korea. The reconnection of their railways was a momentous occasion, symbolic of the desire to further unite the neighbouring nations, and normalise future collaboration. The South/North Korean split is something of particular historic relevance. Symptomatic of the Cold War, the Korean peninsula emerged from Japanese occupation,…

by lachlaniape October 19, 2020October 19, 2020

[ASSESSED] Stop 5 – Alighting into the Future

South Korea has always had a reputation as a very modern city; in fact, the subtle intertwining between the traditional and the modern is one of the reasons Seoul is at the top of my travel wish list. However, I definitely underestimated just how futuristic the normal of South Korea can be. At home in…

by lachlaniape September 29, 2020October 19, 2020

Stop 4 – Engaging with Class Divide

With developing nations, it can often be easy to highlight the social and economic issues affecting the nation and its people. Yet, for developed nations like South Korea, the complexity and nuance of these problems makes them not only harder to identify, but also address. South Korea provides an interesting case study for analysis. As…

by lachlaniape September 15, 2020October 19, 2020

Stop 3 – The Perfect Commute?

One key aspect of South Korea that I have heard plenty about – and something, in fact that drove me to select it as my country of choice – is its world class public transportation network. Consisting of 23 lines, the Seoul Metropolitan Subway carries approximately 7 million passengers a day across Seoul and some…

by lachlaniape September 8, 2020October 19, 2020

[ASSESSED] Stop 2 – A ticket to a place renewed

From the centre of Seoul, we take the Blue Subway Line 4, and alight at Hyehwa (Exit 2). After a decent uphill stroll, we find ourselves at the next stop on the Seoul Train. Street art might be a train station’s worst fear – but can it breathe new life into the old? And what…

by lachlaniape August 25, 2020October 19, 2020

[DISCARDED] Stop 1 – Hopping on the Train to Busan

Korean cinema is something that I’ve always had a familiar connection with. My first explorations into foreign cinema were Korean classics such as Oldboy and Tae Guk Ki – movies which encouraged me to broaden my media consumption beyond just what was in English. Train to Busan is another South Korean film that has enjoyed…

by lachlaniape August 18, 2020October 19, 2020

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