Blog 4: Family, History, and Another K-pop Concert

This week was another eventful one here in Seoul—filled with meaningful connections, quality time with my sister, and yet another unforgettable concert experience.

Meeting My Grandpa’s Friend

One of the most special moments this week was meeting a friend of my grandfather’s. My grandpa had spent a few years living in Korea while working for the Navy, and through that connection, I was able to meet someone he worked closely with. His friend, a native Korean, kindly took the time to show me around Seoul and shared stories about both the country’s history and his time working with my grandfather. Hearing about Korea

from someone with such a personal connection to my family made the experience so much more meaningful. It was a rare opportunity to see the city through a local lens while also learning more about my grandpa’s life abroad—something I’ll always cherish.

My Sister Visits Korea

This week was also special because my sister came to Korea for spring break with her school. Even though her schedule was busy, I was able to take her out a few times to explore the city. One of our stops was Dongdaemun, where we visited Hyundai Department Store and Doota Mall, which stays open later than most shops in the area. We browsed everything from clothes to skincare and even grabbed a bite to eat. One of the highlights was when my sister got a new pair of glasses—Korea’s eyewear service is so efficient that she was able to choose frames, get her eyes tested, and walk out with prescription glasses, all in about 30 minutes. It was fun showing her around the city I’ve been calling home and getting to share this part of my experience with her.

Ateez Concert 

To wrap up the week, I attended an ATEEZ concert, and it offered a very different atmosphere compared to the TXT show earlier this month. ATEEZ is known for their powerful performances and high energy, and they definitely delivered on that front. The group’s dynamic choreography and strong vocals captivated everyone throughout the concert.

One interesting part of the experience was renting a Samsung phone to record the performance. Since cameras and phones with large lenses weren’t allowed, many fans—including myself—rented these phones onsite, which are designed for capturing high-quality video from a distance. Renting the Samsung phone was a great choice because it made filming easy and unobtrusive, allowing me to capture memorable moments without worrying about bulky equipment or restrictions.