Hello, I am Roh Taeyeong. I will be guiding you on course 9 of Jongno Modern Trail, or ‘The Trail of Life.’ Oh, it’s been quite a while since the last time I climbed up Naksan Mountain. This is where I spent my 20s. I came to Seoul in 1987 with a dream to make my way into the fashion industry. I began as a sewer and made my dream come true. At that time, Naksam Mountain seemed like a towering mountain. But with high-rise buildings dominating the present-day Seoul, it looks more like a small hill.

But the neighborhood around Naksan Mountain still remains the same even after 30 years. There is one little difference in that it has many pretty cafes now. I used to hate the path along the fortress wall because climbing the hill was tiring. But now, I can enjoy the beautiful view of Jongno from one of the cafes with a great vantage point.

The theme of Jongno Modern Trail Course 9 is ’The Trail of Life’. People say that there are no right or wrong answers to living a life. Each of us takes part in our job, and that’s just how the society works. In this aspect, I think anyone who puts in the labor is living a great life. But the truth is, if someone asks me what it means to live a life, I don’t think I can answer the question.

Instead, I will guide you to show how people live their lives to the fullest at a slow yet steady pace. Perhaps you will find the meaning of life before I do.

Then, let’s begin our journey on the Trail of Life, the 9th course of Jongno Modern Trail, around the neighborhood where I used to live.

Naksan Mountain’s name during the Joseon Dynasty was Hanyangdoseong, meaning the Seoul City Wall. Inside the wall are Ihwa-dong and Chungsin-dong and Changsin-dong outside. We’re at Ihwa-dong, inside the fortress walls.