JIRO Local, Now

Hello, this is JIRO! It's been a while since our last post. We hope you've been doing well. Today, we'd like to introduce Chuncheon through one of Korea's most beloved literary classics, Camellias by Kim You-jeong. Let's discover the real flower behind the story and explore the places that inspired it! Did you know? The flower in Kim You-jeong's Korean classic Camellias is actually a Korean spicebush flower? Why is the story called Camellias? In the Gangwon region,  people once called the Korean spicebush ,  which blooms with small yellow flowers  in early spring, " mountain camellia. " Because true camellias were rare there, Kim You-jeong used this local name as the title of his story. One of the Most Famous Scenes in the Story "Bet you don't have this at your house!" Jeomsuni teases the boy almost every day. She starts chicken fights, throws potatoes at him, and picks on him whenever she can. Yet behind her playful teasing, the author ...

Hello, this is JIRO~~ This month marks the 6th edition of the JIRO Letter! The star of this issue is none other than Wando County in Jeollanam-do, South Korea. From the Milky Way and the Slow Trail to the legacy of Jang Bogo and Wando's famous abalone, we've packed this edition with the unique charms that can only be found in Wando. Let's dive in and explore! The Milky Way over Cheongsando Surrounded by blue mountains, blue seas,  and blue skies, the island was named Cheongsan (青山), meaning "Blue Mountain." If Cheongsando by day is an island of emerald seas and stone-walled paths,  then Cheongsando by night belongs to the stars. The Milky Way offers a different kind of beauty in every season, making Cheongsando worth visiting year-round. Asia’s First Cittaslow! Recognized by Cittaslow International as the world's first Slow Trail. Cittaslow is a movement that began in Italy. It is a movement in which local residents takIt encourages local residents to preserve...

​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 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...