From Busan to Yongin: History Breathes Between Laughter and Majesty

#Southern Smiles, Northern Sternness #Spring Arrives in Busan, Summer Returns to Yongin
Spring cherry blossoms travel south, summer returns north: a journey across 500 kilometers.
I originally came to Busan in spring to see the cherry blossoms, but unexpectedly found myself in a historical drama. It was the Yeonje Tomb Fantasy Festival that day. A crowd surged beneath the city gates, and kings and warriors appeared before the tombs. History was revived amid smiles and flashes of light. As I posed for a photo with the actors, the ancient city gates juxtaposed with modern skyscrapers behind me, like two eras conversing in the same frame.

Walking further, I was captivated by a performance of official torture. Actors exaggeratedly mimicked interrogations and escorts, generating laughter. Then, children participated in a "foot-pinching" exercise, transforming what was once a harsh punishment into an entertaining and educational experience. In that moment, I felt the ingenuity of Koreans in approaching history—not avoiding it, but reinterpreting it through humor and participation.

A few months later, in the height of summer, I journeyed north to the Yongin Korean Folk Village. I was greeted by arrest warrants bearing the prisoner's portrait. The handwriting was simple, its lines revealing the coldness of the rule of law. Further in, the main hall, with a plaque reading "Seundeok Hall," stood in the sunlight. This was where ancient magistrates held court to adjudicate cases. The wooden beams and tiled walls were silent, yet the echo of majesty seemed to resonate.

In a corner of the courtyard, I took a group photo by the scaffold. The same torture device, once a punishment, now symbolizes education and culture. The journey ended in the prison corridor, a warp of light and shadow, wooden bars and slanting sunlight forming the final scene. From Busan in the south to Yongin in the north, across 500 kilometers, history unfolded before my eyes—laughter and interaction on one side, silence and reflection on the other; majesty and humanity, thus conversing through time.

#BusanYeonjetumnFantasyFestival #Official Torture Performance #Children's Foot-Pinching Torture Experience #Educational #Korean Folk VillageSeondeokdang #Marine Arrest Documents #Punishment Platform #Prison Cell

Post by 有伴同旅其樂無窮 | Oct 10, 2025