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Hello! This is JIRO! 😊 A general dressed in red, whose fearless tactics struck fear into the invading army. Follow the story of Gwak Jae-woo, the Red-Robed General who led Korea's first Righteous Army, and discover the history of Uiryeong. The story of the Red-Robed General, which was even adapted into a film! Why was he called the Red-Robed General? He always wore red robes and called himself the Red-Robed General (Hongui Janggun, 紅衣將軍). He charged through enemy lines with incredible speed, striking and retreating as if he were flying. Although the enemy unleashed volleys of bullets and arrows, they could never hit him. The 25th Year of King Seonjo... Before the war, General Gwak Jae-woo lived a peaceful life as a scholar in the mountains. But when the Imjin War broke out, he stood up, saying, "We cannot leave the defense of our country to the government alone." He hung a drum from a zelkova tree at the entrance of the village and beat it to gather the people. Thus, he ...

​Hello~~~ This is JIRO~~~!! 👋 Last Saturday (June 13), JIRO visited the 27th Eumseong Pumba Festival. A few days ago, we shared the story behind the Eumseong Pumba Festival and its origins here on the blog. Today, we'd like to take you on a tour of the festival and share what we experienced on-site! If you'd like to learn more about the history of the festival, be sure to check out the article below. Related Article Link:  https://blog.en.localnow.kr/2026/06/eumseong-pumba-festival-choi-gwidong-2026.html

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 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...

Hello~ this is JIRO~^^! On March 25, JIRO attended the “Conference on Enhancing Metropolitan Governance for Sustainable Urban Models” held in Daejeon. Mokwon University Concert Hall, where the conference was held. Enhancing Metropolitan Governance for Sustainable Urban Models Date & Time | March 25, 2026 (Wed) 13:30–17:00 Venue | Mokwon University Concert Hall, Daejeon Hosts | Daejeon Metropolitan City, Daejeon Urban Regeneration Support Center, Mokwon University, Korea Urban Regeneration Society At the conference, discussions focused on what changes are needed for Korea’s urban regeneration projects— which have grown significantly in scale over the past few years— to become truly sustainable. Rather than focusing solely on physical redevelopment, the sessions explored broader perspectives on the long-term sustainability of cities, featuring both presentations and in-depth discussions. While the conference offered valuable insights overall, there were also a few aspects that fe...