I Wrote Two Poems in Seoul

Seoul is by far the largest city in South Korea. Since everything is mostly within walking distance, people can't get enough of this convenient lifestyle and never want to leave. What's unique about the city is that many condos have been built here. It is thought that because there is so little land available and so many people living here, this is how the city was designed to accommodate them all. The upper part of Seoul was first developed, and the lower part was developed about 50 years ago.

In Seoul, there is Namsan Mountain, about 270 meters above sea level. Nam means South, and san means mountain. So this is a mountain in the southern part. The origin of the name comes from the fact that when we look at it from Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsan Mountain can be seen directly in front of us. You can walk up the mountain, but it might make you feel a bit frazzled, so most people just take a one-way bus to get there. If you finally get to the top of Namsan Mountain, you'll be surprised to see the 'Love Lock Wire Netting,' where couples tie locks to the mesh to pledge their eternal love. To give you an idea of how much there are those things, you won't find a place to put any more locks. Plus, most of the visitors are family members or lovers. It's hard to see which letter they have on the locks, and the ones that were put there a few to ten years ago are rusted and hard to read.

It has been said that the locks will be cut off and discarded when the space is full, but this is just a rumor, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government regularly picks up the old locks. The number of people who come to Namsan and put up locks is several thousand people a day, and if it weren't for the regular collection, there would have been no space for locks at all.

Anyway, I wrote two poems about it, and I hope you enjoy them. They are quite short.

Thanks to my forefathers! - By Changyong Im

In a sea of condos, I sat in the heart of Seoul.
Looking at the Han River,
I feel its enthusiasm surge through me,
immersed in the electronic music I chose
that goes straight to my ears.
We Koreans cherish the blossoming of our nation's wealth,
Gifted to us by our forefathers.
Oh, what a great city in this world!

Namsan - By Changyong Im

Namsan Mountain, to the right of Seoul Station,
A gathering spot for diverse souls.
Lovers secure their cherished lock,
Whispering promises of an azure and rosy future.
A young married couple, blessed with two cherubs,
Their little ones, the apples of their eyes,
Dream of an everlasting, blissful life.
From my bird's-eye view, bathed in a faint light
That truly resembles the glow of a firefly,
I reflect on days gone by,
Both of us yearn for the lotus flower's bloom.