We have completed our 102 mile run along the North-South Divide and have reached the Westernmost checkpoint at Kaesong. General Choi always dreamt of seeing his country reunited; despite being born in North Korea he always saw himself simply as “Korean” and deeply hoped that the Tae Kwon-Do he developed would play a part inContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 11: Kaesong Checkpoint”
Tag Archives: Running
Tour Through Time: Stop 10: Mount Kumgang Checkpoint
It’s been a delightful 154 miles; the weather has been lovely (mostly) and Rich has finally found his trainers! We now arrive at the Eastern side of the North-South Divide, at the Mount Kumgang Checkpoint. When Japan withdrew from Korea in 1945 following their surrender at the end of World War II, the USA, SovietContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 10: Mount Kumgang Checkpoint”
Tour Through Time: Stop 9: Kangso-Kun County
33 miles later we arrive in Kangso-Kun County, Pyongyang, now part of North Korea. On 1st February 1883 Cho Man-Sik was born here. Cho Man-Sik, also known by his penname Ko Dang, was an activist within Korean’s Christian movement and an elder in the Presbyterian Church he attended in Pyongyang. From June 1908 to 1919Continue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 9: Kangso-Kun County”
Tour Through Time: Stop 8: Mausoleum of Dan Gun
43 miles of running and we arrive in Kangdong at the site of the Mausoleum of Dan Gun on the slopes of Mount Taebak. The story of Dan Gun starts with the God Hwanin who sent his son Hwang-Ung to build a new country. Hwang-Ung settled on the slopes of the Paektu Mountain and oneContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 8: Mausoleum of Dan Gun”
Tour Through Time: Stop 7: Chongchon River
Well that was a long stint! 230 miles of solely running since our last stop at the Lui Shung prison. A few of us have slowed due to injury but we are still going! We have now arrived at the Chongchon River and the site of the Battle of Salsu in 612AD. It began whenContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 7: Chongchon River”
Tour Through Time: Stop 6: Lushunkou District
We have travelled 122 miles to the coast and the Lushunkou District (formerly known as Port Arthur) where Ahn Joong Gun was imprisoned for the assassination of Hiro Bumi Ito. Ahn claimed he was a Lieutenant General in the Korean Resistance Army and demanded to be treated by the Japanese as a prisoner of warContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 6: Lushunkou District”
Tour Through Time: Stop 5: Gaizhou
So after travelling 314 miles along the Cheolli Jangseong (Thousand Unit Wall) we have now arrived at Geonan, one of the major military garrisons, in present day Gaizhou. The Cheolli Jangseong was a formidable defence built at a time of relative peace between the Goguryo Dynasty and Tang Empire. Some believe that the building ofContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 5: Gaizhou”
Tour Through Time: Stop 4: Nong’an County
After travelling 116 miles we arrive at the start of a great wall situated in present day China, but no it isn’t the great wall of China! This lesser known wall was built in 631AD by Governor Yong-Gae and is known as the “Cheolli Jangseong”, or Thousand Unit Wall, being a thousand “Li” (Chinese miles)Continue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 4: Nong’an County”
Tour Through Time: Stop 3: Harbin Railway Station
In March 1909 12 patriots including Ahn Joong-Gun swore an oath to sacrifice themselves for “the restoration of independence and preservation of peace in the East” forming the Donguidanjihoe society. As part of this they all cut off the first joint of their ring finger to show their faith in the cause. When the Resident-GeneralContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 3: Harbin Railway Station”
Tour Through Time: Stop 2: Paektu Mountain
109 miles later and we are tired, soggy, and Rich is a little broken, but we are here at the highest peak in Korea; the Paektu (white-headed) Mountain. Atop this extinct volcano lies Lake Chon Ji, the “Heavenly Lake”, where the water is so clear and calm that you can literally see the heaven meetingContinue reading “Tour Through Time: Stop 2: Paektu Mountain”
Newman Martial Arts 