Hello, nice to meet you. I am Mary Lynley Tailor, and I will guide you to the Ginkgo Trail of Strangers, course 3 of Jongno Modern Street. Perhaps you recognize me by my voice. I was one of the British residents living in the house named Dilkusha. I’ve heard that Dilkusha is quite famous in Jongno.

'Ginkgo Trail of Strangers' is a tour route that passes through the sites where foreigners like me lived more than 100 years ago. They have experienced the Joseon society like no other foreigner during their time in this country. Some of them have made great achievements, so it would be more fitting for them to guide you to this street. But I am honored to serve in their stead.

Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I was born and raised in Great Britain. While pursuing a career as an actress, despite my family's opposition, I met Albert, an American entrepreneur, while we were in Japan, and married him. And in 1917, I came to Joseon, the land of the morning calm. We lived in Joseon from 1917 to 1942, but we were deported from the country after the outbreak of the Pacific War.

My husband and I loved Joseon very much. In particular, Albert had been pursuing his career in mining and trade businesses in Joseon since 1896, after he came to the country with his father. For him, Joseon was a special place because it’s where he lived most of his life. That is why the forced deportation by Imperial Japan was such a tragedy to us, and it was much more than just losing our home.

Albert was even imprisoned for 6 months at Seodaemun Prison for refusing to leave the country. I was under house arrest for the same period. It was a terrible ordeal for us. In the end, Albert had to sell his mine at a giveaway price and go back to the United States. Hmm, in some ways, America felt more foreign than Joseon to both Albert and I.

When Albert died after a heart attack in 1948 in the States, I brought Albert's remains to the foreigners' cemetery in Yanghwajin. I buried him next to his father because he asked me to before he passed away. It saddens my heart to recall our leaving Joseon and bringing my husband's remains back to Korea.

We were so happy for the 26 years we were in Joseon. We befriended many people from diverse countries that lived around the legation street. People of Joseon may have considered us foreigners, but Joseon was our home.

Let us go to the places where we had the happiest moments.