At 126 Mansion, Hyunchung Lee, her two sisters and mother have redefined what it means to be a hotel guest in Korea. The bed and breakfast is my Korean home away from home.

Whether they benefit from visionary leaders, flourishing social enterprise, or commitment from community activists, the following 10 cities are well worth a visit to experience their transformation and resilience.

Called kaki in Japan and kam in Korea, persimmons are an under-appreciated fruit. At this time of year they offer gorgeous displays.

Polycarbonates, The Other Plastic Identification Code, or 7, are used for a bevy of purposes. And sometimes it is actually “pure.”

Walking around Seoul at night, the Christmas spirit was infectious. What were especially a feast for the eyes were the Christmas lights in north Seoul.

Timeless public markets like Seoul’s Namdaemun still thrive while Korea modernizes at a pace that is as inspiring as it is shocking.

Yong Hoon Choi is a designer originally from Busan who now lives in Seoul. Tired of the conventional formica kitchens that are typical of Korean kitchens, he decided to try something different for his family home in Busan.

Korean street food rules, and hotteok, sweek Korean pancakes, are among the many reasons why. Cinnamon and brown sugar never tasted so good.

Ggori gom-tang, a Korean version of oxtail soup that makes for the perfect lunch or dinner on a crisp fall day, is the perfect escape at Seoul’s Namdaemun Market.

A hub of technology, fashion, design, architecture and entertainment, Seoul is taking steps towards sustainability that will benefit everyone.