Tour Through Time: Stop 30: Jeju Island

68 miles later and we arrive in our final destination for our Tour Through Time on Jeju Island. It’s been a tough but fun 17 months; we have travelled a total of 2,458 miles and learnt a lot about the history behind our Tae Kwon-Do pattern meanings. We initially had planned to cover the distanceContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 30: Jeju Island”

Tour Through Time: Stop 29: Jindo

87 miles later and we arrive in Jindo to celebrate the most famous victory of Yi Soon-Sin’s career in the Battle of Myeongnyang. At our stop in Sachon Bay we discussed Yi Soon-Sin‘s career and how he was stripped of his rank for refusing to follow King Seonjo‘s orders. Yi didn’t trust the information providedContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 29: Jindo”

Tour Through Time: Stop 27: Sachon Bay

85 miles later and we arrive in Sachon Bay to celebrate the final battle of Yi Soon-Sin. Yi Soon-Sin was born on 28th April 1545 in Hanseong. From a young age he was proficient in reading and writing Chinese and making bows and arrows. At 31 he took his military exam, where he impressed theContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 27: Sachon Bay”

Tour Through Time: Stop 26: Daewangam Park

26 miles later and we arrive in Daewangam Park, the burial place of Moon Moo. Prince Kim Beom-Min (Moon Moo) was born in 626 AD the son of King Muyeol and Queen Mun-Myeong (the sister of Kim Yoo Sin). During King Muyeol’s reign, Prince Kim Beom-Min was responsible for Silla’s navy. We learnt at Nonsan-SiContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 26: Daewangam Park”

Tour Through Time: Stop 25: Bunhwangsa Temple

14 miles later and we arrive at the Bunhwangsa Temple in Gyeongju. Bunhwangsa means “Fragrant Emperor/Imperial Temple” and it was first established in 634 AD under Queen Seondeok of the Silla Dynasty. Buddhism had been adopted by the Silla Dynasty in 527 AD by King Beop-Heung, and the temple was originally several acres in size,Continue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 25: Bunhwangsa Temple”

Tour Through Time: Stop 24: Pohang

17 miles later and we arrive in Pohang. On 13th October 1940 Hee Il Cho was born here; the man who would become the very first Senior Grading Examiner for the T.A.G.B. He started his Martial Arts training when he was 10 and got his Black Belt at just 13 years old. In a laterContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 24: Pohang”

Tour Through Time: Stop 23: Chunghyo Ri

37 miles later and we arrive in Chunghyo Ri, originally Seokjeo Village, where Kim Duk Ryang was born into a peasant family in 1567. He became a student of Neo-Confucian scholar Seong-Hon, and later joined the army with his brother Kim Duk Hong when Hideyoshi Toyotomi led Japan to invade Korea in the Imjin War.Continue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 23: Chunghyo Ri”

Tour Through Time: Stop 22: Dosan Seowon

94 miles later and we arrive at the Confucian Academy of Dosan Seowon, Andong. Yi Hwang was born near here in On’gye-ri on 25th November 1501, the youngest of 8 children. His Uncle taught him the Analects of Confucius at just 12 years old. He then moved onto writing poetry after admiring the work ofContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 22: Dosan Seowon”

Tour Through Time: Stop 21: Nonsan Si

11 short miles later and we arrive at the battle site of Hwangsanbeol where Ge Baek fought Kim Yoo Sin. We discussed at our last stop how horrendously outnumbered the Baekje army were, and how Ge Baek knew it was a suicide battle. It is said that as their 5,000 troops assembled before the 50,000Continue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 21: Nonsan Si”

Tour Through Time: Stop 20: Buyeo Gun

40 miles later and we arrive in Buyeo County in South Chungcheong Province. Here we visit the statue of Ge Baek, a famous General from the 7th Century Baekje Dynasty, which stands on display in the county he was born in. Not a lot is known about Ge Baek’s early life, but plenty of storiesContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 20: Buyeo Gun”