JIRO Local, Now

Hello, this is JIRO! As we welcome June, we're back with the second post in our Korean Seasonal Customs Series. This time, we're introducing Dano, a traditional Korean holiday celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. This year, Dano falls on June 19 (Friday) on the solar calendar, so it's just around the corner! Let's take a look at how people in Korea have celebrated this special day throughout history. Driving Away Misfortune and Welcoming Abundance  Dano  (Korea’s High-Energy Summer Festival) The Most Energetic Day of the Year! This year, Dano falls on June 19 (Fri). Dano falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, when the yang number five is doubled.  It is also called Suritnal, meaning “ the High Day ” or “ the Joyful Day. ” Dano was one of the three most important holidays during the Joseon Dynasty! Dano is a holiday when people celebrate and rest after harvesting barley and finishing rice planting . It also carries the meaning of a farming ritual to pr...

 Hello~~ This is JIRO. The May 2026 edition of JIRO Letter featuring Yeongdeok County has been released! With this issue, JIRO Letter has already reached its 5th edition. Thank you always for your continued support and for following JIRO Letter. In this issue, we explore the story of the famous Yeongdeok snow crab loved by King Taejo Wang Geon, local legends surrounding snow crabs, and stories of local businesses that bring Yeongdeok’s charm to life. Now, let’s dive right in~~ The following story is recorded in Yangchonjip, written by Gwon Geun: “When Taejo of Goryeo (Wang Geon) fought against Gyeon Hwon’s forces near Hahoe Village in Andong, he achieved victory with the help of the Yeonghae Park family in Andong. As a gesture of gratitude, Wang Geon later visited Yeongdeok and ate snow crab with them in Chayu Village, where he was deeply impressed by its taste.” From that point on, Yeongdeok snow crab is said to have become a delicacy offered to the king. Although this is not a s...

​Hello everyone, this is JIRO  It’s been a while since our last post — how has everyone been doing? Earlier this month, JIRO had the chance to visit Daegu. By a wonderful coincidence, we joined a Daegu Alley Tour , and today we’d love to share that experience with you!  We signed up for the evening tour, and before it began, each of us received a Cheongsachorong (traditional Korean lantern) ! Walking around the city with it in hand made the whole experience feel a little more special. The tour began with the story of the Daegu Eupseong Fortress . We learned that an earthen fortress originally built during the reign of King Seonjo to defend against Japanese invasions was later reinforced during the reign of King Yeongjo, eventually becoming what was known as the Daegu Eupseong Fortress. However... During the period of the Japanese Residency-General, Japanese merchants continuously pushed for the fortress to be removed in order to expand their commercial influence. It is said t...

Hi there~~ This is JIRO! JIRO Letter has already reached its 4th issue. The star of our April 2026 edition is Gongju-City in Chungcheongnam-do! From stories about Gongju-City to JIRO’s favorite local eats and handy travel tips, come take a look right now~~   Gongju-City , once Ungjin—the second capital of the Baekje Kingdom ! After King Munju moved the capital to Ungjin in 475, it remained the capital of Baekje for 63 years, until King Seong relocated it to Sabi in 538. Gongsanseong Fortress -The royal palace of the Baekje Ungjin period (475–538) Gongsanseong Fortress wraps around two rugged peaks—one to the east at 110 meters above sea level and another to the west at 85 meters—giving the area a naturally steep and defensive terrain. With the Geumgang River flowing to the north and the city of Gongju-City stretching out to the south, it stands as a strategic hub! Stories of Gongsanseong Fortress Through History When the Silla–Tang allied forces attacked Sabi, King Uija fled h...