29 days and counting.

잠수 bridge.

Sometimes referred to as the the 반포대교 (Banpo Bridge) due to it's proximity, the 잠수교 (Jamsu Bridge) is the bottom span in the structure which crosses the Han River between 용산구 (Yongsan-gu) and 서초구 (Seocho-gu). The unique separation of the two bridges stems from the way they came to be. The 잠수교 (Jamsu Bridge) was not always the bottom span; before 1982, the 잠수교 (Jamsu Bridge) was the only span.

Today, half of the 잠수교 (Jamsu Bridge) is dedicated to bicycle and pedestrian use; while the 반포대교 (Banpo Bridge) is solely purposed for the heavy automobile traffic. In the rainy summer months, the 잠수교 (Jamsu Bridge) is occasionally submerged when the river swells. Perhaps for this reason, the 반포대교 (Banpo Bridge) was built on top.

30 days and counting.

세종대왕 the Great.

The small region of Korea has a long, often violent, history. Much of the violence and strife the country has experienced came from external forces. Yet, the difficulties which mare its history have also provided many opportunities for individuals to do great things for in the name of their country. One such individual is 세종대왕 (King Sejong the Great) who maintained a heavy emphasis in technological discovery; his most prominent success was the creation of Hangul, the alphabet of the Korean language. Before Hangul, the Korean language was written using Chinese characters. Due to the complexity of Chinese characters, the literacy rate of Korea (대조선국, Joseon Dynasty) was very low. To increase the literacy rate of the people, 세종대왕 set out to develop a phonetic alphabet, which his people could learn easily. Hangul is one of the easiest alphabets to learn in the world. This proves a boon to foreigners, who over a few weeks of practice, can learn to read Korean.

31 days and counting.

Creative utilization.

Desperate times call for desperate measures; or creative utilization. In studio apartment (officetel) living, one room must have multiple functions; if not, failure is inevitable. In Bizwell Officetel, there are technically two rooms, and both serve many purposes in the process of survival. The main room is segmented into regions, whose functions are similar to the those of rooms in a house. The regions of the main room include; foyer, kitchen, laundry area, dining area, library, closet, garage/stable, and bed. The adjacent room, most commonly referred to as the bathroom, doesn't have regions because that would be physically impossible in such a small space. Instead, the 'bathroom' has many functions bundled into one space. Within these confines, the user can; shower, use the toilet, cut hair, and wash a bicycle.

32 days and counting.

Slope style.

The Korean peninsula is mountainous and rugged. There isn't a defining mountain range similar to the Rockies, Himalayas, or Alps; instead, it seems the country is littered with many low lying peaks, all about the same size. The geological conditions of the peninsula provide plenty of steep terrain, perfect for skiing. Unfortunately the meteorological conditions usually don't provide enough snow fall. The frigid winter temperatures of Korea can maintain a consistent snow base, but lacking the needed snow pack, Korean ski resorts must generate their own snowfall using water, pipes, and fans. With the man made snow, snow recreationalists are able to enjoy a full winter of fun, provided they stay within reach of a snow blower.

33 days and counting. Addendum.

Candlestick 2.

Candlestick 3.

Candlestick 4.

33 days and counting.

Candlestick 1.

In 1988, as a sign of its advancement into the modern world, South Korea hosted the Summer Olympic Games. As every city and country does prior to hosting such an event, the government made substantial improvements to Seoul's infrastructure. In southeast Seoul, the city built an Olympic village--now an apartment complex--and a multi-stadium complex for baseball, track and field, soccer, basketball, and more. Perhaps equally impressive are the Olympic expressway, and the Olympic bridge. The expressway traverses the city east to west along the southern bank of the Han river. Congestion twenty two years later proves the need for this additional artery. Olympic bridge stands out as an architecturally unique fixture compared to the many which cross the Han river. The cement grey facade combined with the steel suspension cables makes for a very simple and modern appearance. At night, the cables shine in bands of Olympic colored spotlights, which lead to the pinnacle; a steel Olympic flame glowing bright.

34 days and counting.

Timeless design.

삼청동 (Samcheong-dong) is a neighborhood everyone visiting Seoul should, at a minimum, stroll through. As a seasoned Seoul tourist, the allure of the delicious food is enough motivation for regular visits. Among the many delicious traditional Korean options, 삼청동 houses tasty and cheap 라면 (ramen), 만두 (mandu, a.k.a. dumplings), and 수제비 (Sujebi, flour flaked soup). Also, not so traditionally Korean, but excellent no less, are the Chinese and Italian restaurants. Beyond full fledged meals, 삼청동 has quite possibly the highest concentration of cafes in any Seoul neighborhood, serving up artisan treats and gourmet coffee. It's no wonder the nation's president lives there.

While the draw of the cuisine in 삼청동 is enough for anyone to take a look, the architecture is also something to notice. Most of the shops and houses in the area are built with traditional Korean architecture. The government has gone as far as placing building restrictions on a residential area within the neighborhood. Dwellings in this area can be owned--for a high price--but all renovations must adhere to the Korean traditional architecture theme.