PHOTO ESSAY: A trip around Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

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It has been years since our show, “Wish Ko Lang,” produced an out of the country episode. 

 

This trip to South Korea, which was arranged through the partnership between Korea Tourism Organization and Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, was a first for everyone, including our host, Ms. Vicky Morales who was recently awarded by the PMPC Star Awards as Best Public Service Program Host.

 

After a four-hour flight via Korean Air, the “Wish Ko Lang” team touched down on the land of K-Pop and Korean dramas. 

 

As we hopped on and hopped off the tour bus for our coverage, we were introduced to a little bit of everything that this country had to offer.

 

Tourism in South Korea has been on the rise lately, which is evident with all the tour buses we saw going to and from the locations where we filmed our stories. From World Heritage Sites to adventure-filled theme parks, we were fortunate to see and experience them in this vast country. Weather-wise, we were also lucky to catch the last week of autumn, when the leaves are painted in all fiery shades of red and orange as if bursting with the same energy and warmth of our host country.

 

Below are some of the photographs I took in between trips and takes. Gyeonggi is a province worth exploring as it prides itself as a region where the past, present, and future come together.

Early morning groufie! The 'Wish ko Lang' staff with host Vicky Morales takes a group photo in Paju City, also known as Book City, where most of the publishing companies are located. The city is also home to South Korea’s one-stop shop for your beauty and facial care needs, Skin Anniversary Beauty Town.

Vicky Morales and the two bears. Our host cozies up to a giant bear dressed in traditional Korean garb at Hallyu Teddy Bear Museum. Teddy bears play dress up as K-Pop stars or characters from Koreanovelas.

 

Stopover at Jangdan Station. Located at the DMZ or Demilitarized Zone in Imjingak Park, this steam locomotive in Jangdan Station is considered a cultural property and a symbol of the South-North division of South Korea.
 

Water, water everywhere. This is just one of the 18 colorful pools in Onemount’s indoor waterpark where tourists and locals alike enjoy swimming even if temperatures drop below zero! 
 

Winter wonderland. For tourists who would like to get a feel of winter wonderland, Onemount’s indoor winter sports park is the place to be. Skate on their 300m-long ice road and ice lake or ride a sleigh while being pulled by Siberian huskies!
 

A reunion at Everland. Our cameraman, Marlon Martinez, follows Grace, a Filipina teacher who was just reunited with her former Korean students at Everland in Yongin, an amusement park listed as one of the four major theme parks in the world.

The magic comes alive at night. Everland at night is also a sight to behold. Our staff takes a group photo in front of one of the fairy tale castles that, when lit up, just looked truly spectacular.

Alien Robert. Segment producer Robert Oriondo strikes a pose at one of the most elaborate sets from the highly-rated Korean drama, "My Love from the Star.”

 

Autumn in South Korea. The “Wish Ko Lang” team was fortunate enough to visit South Korea while in autumn. The beauty of this country during the fall season cannot be denied as Vicky Morales takes this postcard-like photo in the complex of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. 

Royal details. In South Korea, only houses that were occupied or used by royalty were painted with the colorful flowers on the edges of the roof beams.

The colors of Korea. Colors burst at Gapyeong's Garden of Morning Calm, a sprawling paradise on a land of 33 hectares where variety of festivals and displays are held monthly.
 

Education in South Korea. Korean students on their way home after school. According to Teacher Grace, Korean students are very diligent in their academic pursuits.

A touch of France in South Korea? Petite France, a picturesque little French village, can provide a pleasant side trip for tourists who are on their way to visit the nearby Nami Island.

 

Korean culture through puppetry. A puppet show is one of the many attractions that draws in crowds to Petite France. The narration might be in the local language but the puppet's antics can still draw squeals of laughter from the crowd, especially children.
 

Shopaholic’s haven. Myeongdong is the central shopping district in Seoul, South Korea where, from morning to night, shop-lined streets burst with tourists and locals intent on finding the perfect winter coat, sports shoes, stylish clothes as well as their must-have BB creams.
 

Korean heroes. The statue of Admiral Yi, a Korean naval commander, towers above Gwanghwamun Square, as if guarding the country that has venerated him as a hero.
 

Modern structures. A spaceship in South Korea? Nope! That’s just Seoul’s newest landmark, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, which was designed by Iraqi-British Pritzker Prize winner Zaha Hadid.---BMS/ARP