Hidden attractions visited by Koreans

  🏃 Over 10 Years of Running Alone There was a time when frequent business trips and late-night drinks left me constantly sick, and even the slightest touch from a cardboard box made my skin flare up. In my mid-30s, I finally thought, “I need to do something.” So I started running around my kids’ elementary school track. The sense of accomplishment lasted only briefly. After a couple of months, the track felt unbearably boring. Then one evening, I ran along Hagui Stream for the first time — and that was when running became fun. The scenery changed, the wind felt different, and something inside me clicked. One day, my family came out for a walk while I was running on a dirt trail. My wife looked at me and said: “Why are you swinging your arms side to side like that? Are you even running? Why are we walking the same speed as you?” Looking back, it’s hilarious. Running alone meant my form, pace — everything — was completely off. ⏱️ The Day I Hit...

Summary: If you're preparing for the JTBC Marathon, Seoul Marathon, or any half/full marathon, this experience may help. I’m sharing my real 5-month struggle with IT Band Syndrome — when to rest, how to recover, and the mistakes that prolonged my injury. Key Message: IT Band Syndrome worsens when you rush back into running. Stop running until the pain fully disappears, and maintain strength through alternative exercises. 🩵 A Marathon Injury — and the Long Months Caused by “I’ll Be Fine” Standing at the finish line of a marathon, you often see runners stop and walk because of unexpected injuries. I’m sharing my story so you won’t make the same mistake of poor aftercare — the mistake that cost me over five months of recovery . During my first full marathon last year, I developed IT Band Syndrome (Runner’s Knee) . Both my doctor and therapist strongly advised, “You must rest at least 2–3 months.” But I ignored that advice because I “fe...

  ｜From My 20s to My 50s: Moments When Money Quietly Leaked Away｜ Money is not just a tool; it is the minimum shield that protects our freedom of choice. Looking back, I realize that at every stage of life I carelessly opened a “door that led straight to poverty.” That door often looked like comfort, or like the thought “Everyone else is doing it, so it must be fine.” From my university days to life in my 50s now, that door was always much closer than I thought. 🔹 In My 20s — “I’ll just work hard now. I can learn about money later.” I believed that once I got into university, everything would work out. After graduation I spent more than a year unemployed, obsessed with “building my résumé.” Getting a job was my only life goal. After I finally joined a company, I simply worked hard without thinking about anything else. But poverty actually began in this period. Not ...

🧠 Is Dementia Genetic? When I was in elementary school, I heard that my grandmother had dementia. Since then, a quiet worry followed me— “Could this be genetic? Will my mother, now nearing 80, face the same thing?” But according to Professor Sehee Jung from Seoul National University College of Medicine: “Dementia is not a genetic disease. The more research we do, the clearer it becomes that it is a lifestyle-related condition. How you live in midlife is especially important, and controlling risk factors can prevent dementia by up to 45%.” 🔟 Ten Factors That Influence Dementia The major risk factors are: Age (Risk increases after 65) Chronic diseases: hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia Lack of exercise Low mental stimulation Social isolation Poor sleep Smoking & excessive drinking Hearing loss Vision decline Traumatic brain injury Most of these, especially between the ages of 40 and 60, are lifestyle related. The hop...

Does Zone 2 Running Make You Faster? Zone 2 running alone will not dramatically increase your pace. However, it does steadily improve your endurance — your ability to run longer without fatigue. Today, I’ll summarize the core ideas of Zone 2 training explained by the YouTube channel Running Behind . Why You Should Train in Zone 2 If you're new to running, Zone 2 training is the best place to start. Pushing too hard early makes running feel burdensome — and eventually leads to quitting. Even slow running has powerful effects: increased mitochondrial density, more capillaries, heightened oxidative enzymes, and improved fat utilization. In short, Zone 2 turns your body into a more efficient “engine” built for endurance running. Understanding Zone 2 & Heart Rate Myths Many people say: “My heart rate shoots over 160 even when I jog…” Training zones (Zone 1–5) are simply a guideline. Zone 2 is often marked as 60–70% of max HR, but that’s only a loose ...

Phone Call With a Former Colleague About four months ago, I spoke on the phone with a former colleague who had been struggling for eight months after leaving his job and failing to find a new one. His voice was filled with a kind of exhaustion that’s hard to put into words. From time to time I wondered how he was doing, but I kept hesitating, not knowing what to say… and four months just slipped by. While I was still only thinking about calling, he called me first. His voice sounded much brighter this time, and as we were catching up, he suddenly said, “I’m thinking of opening a fried chicken place. After quitting… there isn’t really much else I can do…” From the way he talked, I could tell he had already looked into a lot of things and was in the middle of preparing for it. Skills That Don’t Help Much Anymore Both he and I used to work in overseas sales. Sometimes we even went on business trips together. Around the age of forty-five, he moved to another listed ...