The coming of spring with YCC

As the weather continues to heat up in anticipation of summer, more people are taking the time to visit historical places in Seoul. Our students from YCC were at Namsan Hanok Village and Gyeongbokgung once again to help international visitors. The free tours that our students provide are an opportunity for people from abroad to learn about the history of Korea. Let's take a look at some of the pictures our employees were able to take. 

Here are some pictures of our students at Namsangol Hanok Village. Many of our students speak a second language, such as English or Chinese. Most of our students enjoy volunteering because it helps them develop their communication skills. 

The tourists we help are usually from diverse parts of Europe or southeast Asia. They get impressed by the level of knowledge that our students have. Most of them are also in Korea for the first time, which means our students play an important role in helping them adapt. 

This is a picture I took of our students with a pair of international tourists at Gyeongbokgung. During this weekend, the 2019 Royal Culture Festival was in procession. Many tourists were out and about to enjoy the various performances and programs that were happening at the Five Grand Palaces of Seoul. 

If you're in Seoul and you want a personalized tour with one of our volnteer tour guides, don't hesitate to contact us! We will be most honored to serve you. Visit our official website for the details on how to contact us. 

YCC at the palace grounds, 1st week of March, 2019

The Youth Cultural Corps are a group of dedicated Korean students who aspire to teach foreigners about the history and traditional culture of Korea. They volunteer as tour guides at many historical places in Seoul.

Even though it is still cold outside, many students from YCC were able to participate this weekend. Let's take a look at some of the places where the YCC were to help tourists from around the world. 

Gyeongbokgung Palace

There were five palaces during the Joseon Dynasty(1392-1910): Gyeongbokgung(‘Gung’ means a palace in Sino Korean), Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Gyeongungung (Deoksu) and Gyeonghui-gung. The capital of Joseon was Seoul, so all five palaces are in Seoul.

Gyeongbokgung was the main palace and the largest among the five.

Gyeongbok means “Great Fortune.” It is also the first palace in Joseon. King Taejo, the founder of Joseon, ordered a new palace built for the new dynasty.

There were mountains behind Gyeongbokgung and a stream in front; it was the perfect spot for the new palace. (According to feng shui, the theory of fortune-telling based on geographical features)

Deoksugung Palace

Close to City Hall Station, this small yet elegant palace serves as a reminder of Korea's  past. It once belonged to the older brother of King Seongjong, who was in power during the 15th century. Later on, it became a royal residence under the name of Gyeongungung Palace in 1611. Gojong, the last king of Joseon Dynasty, often spent his spare time here until his death in 1919. Many Western style buildings were constructed inside the palace to reflect the changing times. 

Namsan Hanok Village

Namsan Hanok Village was created by the government in an effort to preserve Korea's cultural heritage. Five hanoks were relocated from different parts of Seoul to the foot of the Namsan Mountain,where they were restored to their original state. The village was officially opened in 1998. Many performances and programs occur throughout the year at Namsan Hanok Village to help visitors learn more about Korean traditional culture.

Changdeokgung Palace

Among all of the palaces in Seoul, Changdeokgung Palace is regarded as the most well preserved. It served as the royal residence of many kings during Joseon Dynasty. Though the palace was once burned down by angry citizens in 1592, it was restored by Gwanghaegun in 1611. The rear garden of the palace is famous for its pavilions and fountains that encapsulate the beauty of Korean nature. 

Youth Cultural Corps Volunteer Guide Service

Place	Gyeongbokgung Palace	Namsan Hanok Village	Deoksugung Palace	Seoul Education Museum in Bukchon Hanok Village	Changdeokgung Palace	Seodaemun Prison History Museum	Amsa Prehistory Settlement Site
Time	10:00 ~ 11:50	10:00 ~ 11:50	10:00 ~ 11:50	10:00 ~ 13:00	10:00 ~ 12:00	10:00 ~ 12:00	10:00 ~ 13:00
	12:00 ~ 15:50	12:00 ~ 15:50	12:00 ~ 15:50	13:00 ~ 16:00	13:00 ~ 15:00	13:00 ~ 15:00	13:00 ~ 16:00
Date	-Every Sat. & Sun.			-2nd & 4th Sat. -Every Sun.	-2nd & 4th Sat.	-1st & 3rd Sat.	-Every Sun