SNAPS

Rekindling love in South Korea

We didn’t just feel like young lovers again; we also rediscovered the very reason why we continue to stay together despite the odds stacked against us — love.

Julius Manicad · Nov 9, 2026, 3:48 AM

DRESSED in traditional hanbok, Jackie and I stepped into the majestic Gyeongbokgung Palace and lived out our own romantic K-drama. Safe to say, we nailed it perfectly.

I have an confession to make: Things were not perfectly okay between me and my wife, Jackie.

With the demanding pace of work, our crowded schedules and the constant needs of our family, staying on the same page was a real challenge. At one point, we hardly saw or spoke to each other for weeks, leaving us feeling less like a married couple and more like mere housemates.

That’s why, for our 15th wedding anniversary, we made a promise to go abroad and to find a space where we could reconnect and rekindle our love for each other.

JACKIE says ‘hi’ to her fuzzy new friend during our visit to Alpaca World in Gangwon-do.

THE iconic Namsan Seoul Tower creates a romantic backdrop for lovers locking in their vows of eternal love.

THE Gamaksang Suspension Bridge offers a panoramic view of Mount Gamak, making it popular for couples who want to profess their love for each other

ONCE connecting North and South Korea, this rusty railway now stands as a quiet reminder of a nation divided by ideology and politics.

Our destination: Seoul.

From the loud, vibrant streets of Myeongdong to the quiet serenity of Bongeunsa Temple, the historic majestic walls of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the towering Starfield Library in Suwon, the charming alleys of Ikseon-dong Hanok Village, and even the tension-filled Korean border, we held hands as we took a sweet stroll down memory lane, recalling those simple, happy moments from a time when life was still a little less complicated.

We splurged on K-BBQ and spicy dakgalbi, descended into a dark, scary 350-meter North Korean infiltration tunnel, and shared quiet kisses and tight warm hugs on Nami Island beneath a canopy of golden autumn leaves. We also drank the night away at a Halloween party in Hongdae, and braved a five-kilometer walk back to our hotel, shivering together in five-degree weather.

THE Bukchon Hanok Village serves as a beautiful reminder of what life used to be before modernity took over.

UNDER a canopy of golden autumn leaves on Nami Island, Jackie and I vow that we will forever love and take care of each other.

DELICIOUS street food makes navigating the lively, buzzing energy of Myeongdong truly worth it.

BRONZE statues honoring comfort women preserve the memory of Korea’s painful history for generations to come

Our Seoul expedition was nothing short of unforgettable. We didn’t just feel like young lovers again; we also rediscovered the very reason why we continue to stay together despite the odds stacked against us — love.

After seven unforgettable days, reality was waiting for us at home: a depleted bank account, a mountain of laundry, exhausted bodies, demanding work deadlines and two kids nagging us for their pasalubong.

But we simply brushed it all off, looked each other in the eye, and smiled.

We had found our souls in Seoul.