About

I am a Korean writer who has lived in South Korea for more than fifty years. Through writing and photography, I explore the quiet beauty, changing culture, and everyday realities of the country I call home.
Much of Korea’s international image is shaped by K-pop, television dramas, technology, and major tourist destinations. These are important parts of modern Korea, but they are not the whole story.
Real Korea Stories was created to share the Korea that is often overlooked—the warmth of an old neighborhood, the rhythm of an ordinary subway commute, people exercising beside a river late at night, the traditions hidden inside a modern apartment, and the memories that continue to shape Korean society.

The stories published here grow from personal experience, long observation, careful research, and conversations with people whose lives form part of Korea’s larger story. Rather than presenting Korea as either perfect or problematic, I try to portray it honestly, with affection, curiosity, and perspective.
I hope this site helps you understand not only what Koreans do, but also why they may think, feel, and live the way they do.