November ushers in the fall harvest and chilly temperatures as creatures big and small prepare for the long winter hibernation. In Korea, autumn is at its peak late October into early November. Koreans usually refer to autumn as a lonely and depressing time, but for those of us who have…

Living overseas taught me that there are always two sides to a coin. In particular, residing in North Korea gave me a broader perspective of the people and a deeper understanding of the country (from Discovering Joy: Ten Years in North Korea). In fact, my experiences in both North and…

On October 2nd, Ignis Community began training for the 5th cohort of mothers raising children with special needs. Ten new families have joined another eleven returning families for this 5th cohort making a total of 21 families participating in the program. We began the training by introducing ourselves. Two of…

On September 16th, my husband and I were invited to speak at the 7th Special Forum to support Korean students in Japan. …

Changes are on the horizon. North Koreans have resumed traveling in and out of the country. For the first time since the onset of COVID in January 2020, the country’s borders seem to be opening for routine travelers. Only North Koreans are traveling at the moment, but multiple recent events…

Summer is drawing to a close. Already a cool breeze is sweeping through the air even though the mid-day sun still shines bright. In the northeast region of Korea, seasons seem to start shifting just after mid-August. At times, it feels like weather can change overnight. Summer is drawing to…

Fear. Anger. Judgement. These are the sentiments I usually hear from Americans and South Koreans when I bring up the subject of North Korea. Negative sentiments towards both the country and its communist regime run deep within our society. …

This Thursday, July 27, 2023, marks the 70th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Agreement. When the armistice was signed in 1953, it was designed to “ensure a complete cessation of hostilities and of all acts of armed force in Korea until a final peaceful settlement is achieved” (from the…

73 years ago, the Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950. It was a conflict that was rooted in ideological clashes and led to division on the Korean Peninsula. The reality of this conflict cannot be escaped even today. …