The squealing of tires, the wind rushing in my ears and the occasional loud report as my four cycle engine backfires are all I hear as I lean into the turn. I am tearing down the track at the maximum speed of 34km/hr in my little go-kart, steering around other drivers going a more pedestrian speed. Man, does it ever feel good to be in control of a motorised vehicle again!
Jeju has not earned its name as a tourist mecca for nothing. One can find almost any attraction – …

Pre-dive jitters were setting in as this intrepid reporter stepped off the bus in Seogwipo, but one look at Ralf Deutsch, the owner/operator of Big Blue33, quickly quelled those fears. Ralf’s calming, open manner instils trust – we would be safe under the water with this man. Ralf has run Big Blue33 (so named because Jeju lies on the 33rd parallel) for the past seven seasons; deciding after his contract as German professor at Jeju National University finished, to stay here. So he opened the dive shop.
Why …

One of Korea’s most unique festivals is a must see
Story by Joanna Burgess | Photo by Jim Saunders

An Oreum on fire | Credit: Jim Saunders
In the infamous words of Beavis— “fire, fire, fire!” This quote engulfs the primary theme of the Annual Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival. Beginning in 1997, this year marks the 13th year of the festival, with each year becoming bigger and brighter. While fire, fun, and festivities are the main attraction of the Fire Festival, it is important to understand why this festival came …

Mr. Hong is concentration personified, with his puckered brow and pursued lips. A “hmmm” escapes as he scans the seemingly endless field of black and white chips. Mere seconds pass before he firmly places his white chip down. To the untrained eye, the spot he picked appears just as good as any of the other vacant spots on the 19×19 board grid. Mr. Hong knows better. The spot he chose has a distinct tactical advantage – one which his opponent may not understand for several turns. Such is …