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~~ This is JIRO~^^ On the 8th, I attended the 2026 Global Festival Attractiveness Index Conference hosted by Yanolja Research. This conference was held in the International Conference Room on the 9th floor of the Seoul Global Center, and the atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm, to the point where all the seats were completely filled. It is said that this study conducted a survey targeting 1,436 global festivals. Then, specifically, in what way was the survey conducted?? ​ The survey method was conducted by collecting and analyzing positive/negative buzz volumes by festival keywords and buzz volumes by language across various communities such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, and X (Twitter). ​ In the case of languages, due to access restrictions on Chinese SNS data, 14 languages with a large number of users and suitable for analysis, such as English, Spanish, Arabic, and Japanese, were selected, excluding Chinese. ​ So, what were the results??

​Hello everyone! This is JIRO. Today, we’re excited to introduce the Eumseong Pumba Festival, which is happening right now in Eumseong County! We’ll be diving deep into the heartwarming history and origins of this unique festival. Curious to know the story? Let’s jump right in! Eumseong Pumba Festival: The Inspiring Story of Grandpa Choi Gwi-dong Born into a wealthy family, he was cherished and named "Gwi-dong" (meaning "precious child"). However, his life changed forever when he was forced into wartime labor in Japan, where he endured brutal torture. Upon returning home, he found his family ruined and his home gone. With nowhere else to turn, he had no choice but to live under the Mugeukcheon Bridge. The Awakening of Sharing Under the Mugeukcheon Bridge, he encountered other helpless beggars who had nowhere else to turn. Despite his own suffering, Grandpa Choi gathered leftover food to feed those who couldn't move, and with deepest respect, he buried the deceas...

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...