JIRO Local, Now

 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...

  Here is a simple guide to the bus timetable at Gongju Station. You can easily check routes and schedules to travel to downtown and major attractions. Useful for first-time visitors to Korea. ※ Bus schedules may change depending on traffic conditions and operational circumstances.

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...