The Economist's charts trace 2,000 years: Dangun's bear-born founding (2333 BCE), Three Kingdoms' rivalries, Silla unification, Joseon glory under Sejong, Japanese rule, 1945 split at 38th parallel, Korean War fury (Incheon to armistice), and DMZ scars. South thrives (GDP $35k+, K-wave hub); North isolates. For UK K-fans: hanok-Seoul magic awaits.

The Secret Vessels Behind Korea’s Deep Flavours If you’ve ever wondered why Korean gochujang tastes deeper than your average supermarket chilli paste, the answer lies not in a factory, but in a quiet courtyard filled with breathing earthenware jars( onggi ). Long before the rise of stainless-steel kitchens and glass spice jars, Korean households kept their essential seasonings— gochujang (red chilli paste), doenjang (fermented soybean paste), and ganjang (soy sauce)—in large earthenware...

Long ago in Silla, people must have built houses with smiling roof tiles and lived in houses that smiled. One tile has fallen from under the eaves, one side of its face cracked and broken, yet its smile remains unbroken, smiling like a crescent moon hidden behind leaves. I too want to leave behind a smile that lasts a thousand years for someone, so I try imitating the smiling roof tile. Poet Yi Bong-jik, "Smiling Roof Tile" Face-Patterned Water Eave Tile: "Silla's Smile," Treasure No. 2010 ...