JIRO Local, Now

Hello, this is JIRO! It’s been a while since our last post—hope you’ve been doing well. The weather has been especially cold in Korea recently, and we hope you’re staying warm and healthy wherever you are. In today’s post, we explore Korean food culture shaped by U.S. flour aid after the Korean War. Our focus is on two iconic dishes: tteokbokki, and Busan’s beloved milmyeon. Let’s take a closer look.

Hello, this is JIRO! Recently, we attended the “Locale Conference – The Alleyways We Live In” held in Daejeon. While we were there, we got around the city using Daejeon’s city buses. Based on what we noticed during those rides, we’ve put together a short quiz for you. Give it a try! Daejeon city buses are all about __. 1. First-aid kit At the back of a Daejeon city bus, we spotted a first-aid kit. There’s no law that requires it— yet it’s there, placed purely for safety. 2. Driver AM / PM shifts In Daejeon, most routes run on AM–PM shifts with fixed bus assignments. Compared to irregular schedules, this reduces driver fatigue and helps improve safety. 3. “Do not stand up until a full stop.” Standing up before arrival has become the norm. That bold message says it all— Daejeon city buses take safety seriously. Daejeon city buses truly care about safety. That’s all for our look at Daejeon’s city buses. Isn’t it impressive how seriously they take safety? If you ever visit Daejeon, take a ...

Hello, this is JIRO! 😊 As mentioned in our previous post, JIRO visited Iksan last week to conduct an interview with CEO Aelim Kim of BeMike. During the trip, we came across a great local eatery in Iksan. Today, we’d like to introduce that spot to you—so let’s take a look!

Hello! This is JIRO 🙂 On the 15th, we visited the Locale Conference: “The Alley Where I Live,” held at the Social Economy Innovation Town in Daejeon. Arriving in Daejeon We took the train and got off at Seodaejeon Station, then headed toward the Social Economy Innovation Town. Lunch: Jajangmyeon After that little detour, it was finally time to dive into the conference.

 Hello, this is JIRO. On the 13th, JIRO traveled to Iksan to meet Kim Aerim, CEO of BeMike. From publishing a local magazine to organizing a fully self-funded festival, and even operating Miji, a select shop in the old downtown area— we’d like to share the story told by Kim Aerim, who continues to demonstrate the possibilities of “local.” Miji is located just a four-minute walk from Iksan Station. We met Kim Aerim in a space filled with products closely connected to Iksan. Stepping Away from Familiarity Discovering what makes a place special begins with stepping away from familiarity. Kim Aerim emphasized the importance of not assuming we already know a place simply because it feels familiar. The more familiar a place is—especially one we grew up in—the easier it is to say, “There’s nothing here,” or “I already know everything.” She explained that this mindset is one of the biggest reasons people end up leaving their hometowns. Just as we often ignore advice from those closest to u...

​ Hello, this is Jiro. Have you ever heard of Hendrick Hamel? He was a Dutch sailor who, during the Joseon Dynasty, was shipwrecked while sailing in East Asia and eventually arrived in Korea. Through the record he later wrote—known today as Hamel’s Journal—Joseon Korea was introduced to the Western world for the first time. Today, I’d like to explore the story of Gangjin County in Jeollanam-do, where Hamel spent nearly seven years of his life.

​Hello, this is Jiro. Today, I’d like to introduce the story of Gangjin, a county in Jeollanam-do, South Korea, once known as a place of exile during the Joseon Dynasty. One of Korea’s most influential scholars, Jeong Yak-yong—better known by his pen name Dasan—was sent into exile here. Yet rather than fading into silence, his years in Gangjin became a period of profound intellectual growth. Let’s take a closer look.