Kyobo Bookstore History Travel, Departing for Seoul and Gyeongju with Historian Park Gwang-il

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] Kyobo Bookstore is launching historical travel products, ‘Walking through Seoul 100 Years Ago’ and ‘Exploring the Thousand-Year-Old City Gyeongju,’ traveling through Seoul and Gyeongju respectively, in collaboration with historian Park Kwang-il.

The Seoul trip (February 11) will explore Gyeongun Palace (Deoksugung), the imperial palace of the Korean Empire during the opening period when Western culture flourished, and the Jeongdong area, where various foreign legations were located. Additionally, participants will hear stories about historical events and figures from 100 years ago in Seoul, such as Gyeonggyojang, where Baekbeom Kim Gu stayed and used as his office after liberation in 1945, and Dilkusha, where Albert W. Taylor of the AP news agency, who publicized the Declaration of Independence overseas during the March 1st Movement, lived.

The Gyeongju trip (February 17?18) will start at the Jjoksaem District Archaeological Museum, visit the Noseo-dong and Nodo-dong tumulus clusters excavated during the Japanese colonial period with participation from a Swedish prince, the tomb of King Taejong Muyeol who laid the foundation for the unification of the Three Kingdoms, the National Gyeongju Museum filled with treasures from Silla’s thousand-year history, and Hwangnyongsa Temple Site, which once housed the largest wooden pagoda in East Asia.

Historian Park Kwang-il, who is leading the tours, has recently appeared on various media such as JTBC’s 'World Dark Tour,' MBC’s 'Together Funding,' SBS’s 'Heo Ji-woong Show - History World,' and EBS’s 'Korean History Exploration,' delivering history lectures. His publications include 'Korean History Beyond the Textbook' and 'The Road from Empire to Republic,' among others.