A Korean proverb says, ‘A place under an oil-lamp is dark,’ meaning people tend to be ignorant of something nearby them. Another proverb, ‘Other’s rice cakes look bigger, conveys the idea that ‘the neighbor’s grass is greener.’
Seoul was such a place for me. I was born elsewhere, but I moved to Seoul at a very young age. It is the city where I spent most of my time and making most of connections with people. However, my interest always went beyond Seoul. I traveled around the around whenever time allowed.

Yet, rather than diminishing, my admiration for the outside Seoul grew bigger, eventually leading me to start a new life in China. After 8 years of good times and tough times in Shanghai, it felt more comfortable than life in Korea. So, I never thought of returning to Seoul. Seoul became a mundane place where I would visit once or twice a year during holidays to spend time with family and friends. It was nothing more or less than that.
However, the seemingly unbreakable confidence of mine easily shattered in the face of unexpected external changes. COVID-19 forced me to wrap up my life in Shanghai and return to Seoul.

I had to live in the boring city again…but Seoul seemed somewhat different after an absence of 8 years. Once again, I had to adjust to a new life in the old yet ‘new’ city.
Seoul was no longer a familiar space to me. Despite Inwangsan and Ansan mountains standing in my neighborhood for millions of years, I was only able to sense their beauty as I hiked up and down the mountains almost every day during the first few months after my return to Seoul.
Stolling around Gwanghwamun, Gyeongbokgung areas and the narrow alleyways in the towns, just a 20-minute walk from home, I wondered why I haven’t visited these wonderful places. No, actually I must have been there, but at that time I was completely ignorant of their beauty.
People often fail to appreciate the value of something until they are separated from it. It’s a cliché I’ve heard dozens of times, but only now I can truly feel its meaning.

So here I am, writing about rediscovering Seoul and reconnecting with Seoul. It’s at least something I can do now to express my gratitude to this city.