D 19 – Solo Korea Car Camping Trip: Seosan → Taean

2021.06.11(Fri)

Today, I traveled from Seosan to Padori Beach in Taean.

The West Sea beaches I had visited so far felt murky compared to those of the East and South Seas, likely because of the tidal flats, so they hadn’t really impressed me. But this place was different. Instead of sand, the beach was made up of large and small pebbles, which meant less mess sticking to me. The smooth stones, scattered like little gems, reflected the sunlight and shimmered so brightly—it was breathtakingly beautiful.

The seawater was so clear that I ended up spending quite a long time playing around in it.

With the ocean view in front of me, I enjoyed the seasoned fried chicken I had bought earlier while watching a movie. Even if it was just a cheap ten-dollar chicken, eating it by the sea made it taste as good as a Michelin three-star meal.

Holding my full stomach, I headed back to the sea once more. I drew for the first time in a while, read a book, and gazed at the ocean, lost in thought. It felt like I had only just left home a few days ago, yet with the time to return already approaching, my emotions grew deeply mixed and bittersweet.

Staring out at the foggy coastal cliffs, I was once again struck by the sheer greatness of nature. Just a little further into the secluded corners, there wasn’t a soul around—it almost felt as if I were alone on a deserted island, and that sensation was refreshingly different.

Back when I lived in Daejeon, I only ever went to Daecheon Beach on repeat, and I never imagined that such a stunning beach existed here in Chungcheong Province. For anyone living in this region who wants to experience a clean, quiet, and beautiful seaside, I’d highly recommend visiting this spot.

As I was about to wrap up my day, gazing out at the fog-covered sea, I got a surprise call from my friends in Australia. We ended up talking for quite a while. Just the fact that, even after more than a year since I left, I still have friends who miss me and reach out—it makes me feel like I’m truly living a successful life.

When you leave somewhere or come back after a long time away, having even just one person who genuinely greets you with a heartfelt hello or goodbye feels like such a blessing.

When I was 19, just before leaving for Australia, my high school friends gave me the warmest surprise farewell. They had collected money among themselves to buy me a small gift and wrote heartfelt letters, and together they sang 015B’s “Goodbye Now” as a chorus.

Looking back, I realize my school days were so much more radiant and precious because I had them by my side.

From moments like that, I’ve come to believe that wealth alone isn’t the ultimate measure of success or happiness. What good is money if you don’t have even one person to celebrate with you? Far more valuable than riches are the people around me—family, friends, and loved ones—who share in my joy, comfort me in sadness, and walk with me through life’s ups and downs.

The memory of that day is still vivid in my heart, something I’ll never forget for as long as I live. To all my friends who might one day read this, I want to take this chance to say thank you—truly—for coloring my life with such diverse and beautiful shades.

In the end, I think happiness and success aren’t found in some faraway place we must strive to reach, but rather they’ve always been right beside us—we just fail to notice them because of how familiar they feel.

I set out on this journey in search of happiness, but perhaps happiness was quietly walking with me all along—I just hadn’t realized it.

Day 19 of my journey, and the puzzle of happiness in my life is slowly beginning to take shape.

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19. Greetings are welcomed everywhere.

: Whether it’s a neighbor you meet in the elevator, a cashier at the supermarket, or the delivery driver dropping off a package—always greet them politely. In return, you’ll often receive something priceless that money can’t buy: a genuine smile.

For me, one of the biggest standards by which I judge a person’s character is their manners when it comes to greetings. A simple “hello” has the power to lift someone’s spirits and bring warmth to their day.

Recently, while chatting with a mother of a kindergartener, I heard something disheartening. She told me that because the world feels so dangerous these days, schools now teach children never to greet strangers. As a parent, of course she worries—who wouldn’t? And yet, I can’t help but feel that we, as a society, bear some responsibility for creating such an environment.

Still, speaking from my own experience, I’ve found that offering even a brief greeting to people I meet—whether neighbors, strangers, or anyone in passing—softens their guard and leaves a more positive impression. Even for me, whenever kids in the elevator greet me, my slouched shoulders straighten up on their own. I think greetings carry an unspoken energy of positivity.

The same goes for security guards, delivery drivers, and workers who labor tirelessly for us every day. A simple “thank you” or “hello” might be exactly the encouragement they need to get through their day.

So let’s make greetings a habit: “Thank you.” “Hello.”

Each small, casual exchange builds up, and maybe—just maybe—these greetings can help warm up the sometimes cold and harsh atmosphere of our society.

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