In addition, Insa-dong, one of Seoul’s favorite destinations for foreign visitors, well demonstrated Korean art and culture, as well as the Korean sense of beauty and values.

A wide variety of carefully crafted s displayed in numerous shops along the street were real eye-catchers for foreigners. Traditional handcrafted items there reveal Korea’s time-honored arts and traditions to people from around the world.

In Gyeongju, the ancient capital of Silla, we could take in picturesque natural landscapes and learn about the history of the Silla Dynasty. Cheomseongdae, the oldest astronomical observatory in Asia, looked rather simple but we could feel the wisdom of ancient Koreans who built the structure. Since we had to visit so many places in a short period of time, the schedule was a bit tight, but the trip gave us an opportunity to get even closer to Korea through delicious food and interesting experiences shared with new friends.

There were two things I liked the most during my stay in Korea. One was the visit to Donggung (Eastern Palace) and Anapji Pond, also called Wolji, in Gyeongju. In Uzbekistan, we don’t have a tradition of praying with a lantern in our hands, so the practice looked somewhat strange to me at first. But immersed in the beautiful night scenery, I felt light-headed and left the place with an unforgettable memory.

The other thing was our visit to Hahoe Village in Andong. During my earlier visit to Korea two years ago, I visited Yangdong Village in Gyeongju, which is also designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. However, Hahoe Village had quite a different image from Yangdong Village. I don’t know why but I felt so familiar with Hahoe Village, which has a mountain in the back and a river in the front. Beautiful landscapes, clean streets and houses, attractive trees and flowers all gave me good impressions. With its 600-year history, Hahoe Village is widely known as a place that Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II had visited. Built under the traditional principle of baesan imsu (mountains in the back and water in the front), the hanok houses amazed us with their unique architectural structures. Hanok is designed to offer a comfortable living space through Korea’s four seasons with ondol (underfloor heating system) rooms and wooden-floored halls. Especially in summer, they lift up the doors of the daecheong (main wooden-floored hall), creating a pavilion-like space. I enjoyed looking out at the beautiful landscape outside while lying in this open space.

Anyone who visits Hahoe Village should not miss the Hahoe Mask Dance. In the olden days, they say, commoners danced and sang, with masks on their faces, to forget the toughness of everyday life, even momentarily, and make fun of the hypocrisy of the yangban noblemen. I knew about the Hahoe Mask Dance through a book, but I was deeply impressed to watch a live performance.

Through various cultural experiences, I could personally learn about Korea’s past, traditions, family culture, fine arts, foods, and performing arts, and gain a deeper and broader understanding of Korean culture. Gyeongbok Palace, N Seoul Tower, Seokguram Grotto, folk villages, Dosan Confucian Academy, and Anapji Pond ― all told us stories about the history and culture that Koreans have inherited from their ancestors through the ages and preserved until now. My memories of these fascinating experiences are well kept in the many photographs I took with my friends who came from the around world to participate in “Quiz on Korea.”