Please make an appointment to appear at the Embassy with your valid, unexpired U.S. driver’s license, your passport for identification, and money for the $50 notarial fee.

For more information on how to obtain a Korean driver’s license, please visit the Korean Driver’s License Agency’s Website:http://dl.koroad.or.kr/english/index.jsp. For a sample affidavit, please click here:http://photos.state.gov/libraries/korea/187344/ACS/Driver_s_License_Affidavit_SAMPLE.pdf.

Anmyeon-do is an island off the west coast about three hours from Gwangju. It’s known for it’s convenient bridge allowing easy access from the mainland, great seafood, and over 14 beaches.  Our friends Yura and Jina decided this would be a great place to visit and decided to invite their recently-returned-from-Canada friend “Shannon” (I don’t know her Korean name) who conveniently has both a driver’s license and access to a car! Yea! So Shannon graciously drove us all there in her brother’s (really nice) SUV so we didn’t have to take a bus. I felt like a royalty, really. After all the traveling we’ve done by bus the simple act of leaving our backpack in the car was just too luxurious.

We left Gwangju promptly at 9:00 am in order to get to the island by 1:00. Shannon drove really slow and we actually got there around 12:20, so I think we had allowed more than enough time. We were early for our 1:00 appointment for…. ATVing! Yes, we went 4-wheeling, whoo hoo! This was made even more fun by the fact that all “our Koreans” had never ridden a 4-wheeler. So they were pretty scared and that was entertaining.

When we showed up early the laid-back guys running the place were okay with us starting early, so we grabbed a helmet from the huge pile of options (I noticed later in all the pictures that mine was too big and was tilted to one side the entire time. Gangsta.) and ran to choose our ride. Then, lined up one after another we were led on a trail through a pine forest and on the beach by a tour guide.

Sorry, it’s a little fuzzy… I was trying to drive!

The first part was pretty slow-going as the first-timers among us got accustomed to the machinery, and the tour guide gauged our skill. We stopped along the beach to take some photos, and then the second leg of the trail was definitely more fun and less like a hayride. There were a couple dips and hills, along with a pretty steep drop with a twist that had some of us (not me!) looking for other options. We ended the ride with an open field great for freestyle donuts, and were back down the trail and to the starting spot before I even realized we were out of time.

Since we started ATVing early, we ended early and so had extra time. We headed right down the road to the Anmyeondo National Forest, which is famous for some pretty impressive pines, the oldest of which is 120 years old.

The forest was just beautiful, and offers lodging for anyone who wants to stay overnight. The little cabins were super cute and reasonable! (The prices are here for anyone who is making the trip and wants to stay.)

Cabins in the background!

Across the highway from the cabins is a full arboretum and flower garden. Since we were visiting in the fall, most of the flowers were out of bloom, but we did get to see the Asian flower garden and pond.

After a thorough exploring of the park we were starving and went in search of the highly regarded seafood. We got recommendations from the ATV guys on a restaurant, but once we got to the seafood restaurant area, I’m sure we could have ate at any one of them and been satisfied. There was a small seafood market that you had to snake through to get to the restaurants, which were just wooden-floored, plastic table joints with huge fish tanks taking up the entire front porch.

Yura, Jina, and Shannon negoiated with the restuarantier until they had determined exactly what was best for us all. What followed was certainly the freshest seafood dining experience I’ve ever had.

The first “course” was steamed shrimp. Like most restaurants in Korea, all the cooking is done right at your table, so they brought over a large pan with a lid to put over a small gas range. After a minute or so we started to hear a thumping and realized that it was the shrimp that were being cooked alive. And they were jumping. On our table.

But after they stopped all that jumping, the waitress came over and clipped off their heads with the ever-present set of kitchen scissors, and they were delicious! It was just simply steamed shrimp with salt, and I could have eaten a whole basket full and still not have gotten enough. They were really good.

After we had cleaned out all the shrimp, they opened up our table so they could set a fire pit inside and a grate on top. Then they did bring out an entire basket of clams, muscles, and scallops, which we cooked over the fire and ate right out of the shells. Of these there were too many, and after we’d had our fill there seemed to still be an entire meal left. We kept eating until we finally could do no more and put down our chopsticks.

To end the day we raced back to Kkotji beach to try to catch the sunset. What we found was an eerie bright red globe radiating over the sea. It was beautiful, and also one fast little setting sun. By the time we got close enough to frame it in the rocks, the glowing ball had already set.

The tiny sliver of brilliant orange was all that was left!

The legend of the two rocks on this island is quite romantic. It is said that Admiral Seung-eon of the Unified Silla dynasty had a lovely wife named Mido. Mido would keep watch for her husband to return from sea on a large boulder on the beach. One time he never returned, and Mido kept watch for decades until she finally died on the beach. After her death a terrible storm swept the island, and a huge rock was deposited alongside the look-out rock of Mido, representing the return of her beloved husband.

The last site we saw before driving home in darkness was the Kkotdari Bridge, which is a lighted bridge over Bangpo Port, not far from Grandmother and Grandfather rock.

December in Korea means Christmas, cold weather (think cute hats and scarves), and last but not least—plenty of winter festivals. Among the December festivals, there are winter events celebrating everything from international design to fruit. As the festival-packed month comes to an end and the year draws to a close, people gather at sunrise festival locations across the nation to welcome in the first sunrise of the 2012.

Why fight the cold? Embrace it! January and February are the perfect time to revel in the chilly weather and visit any one of the snow and ice festivals across the nation. Popular festivals include Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, Pyeongchang Trout Festival, Mt. Taebaek Snow Festival, Inje Icefish Festival, and many more. Don’t be tempted to skip the Jeju-do Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival or the Jeju Ipchun Gut Nori Shamanistic Dance (two of the most representative traditional Korean festivals) just because of the frosty weather!

Seoul Design Festival
When: December 14 – 18, 2011
Where: Hall B, COEX, Samseong-dong, Seoul
Since its inception in 2002, the Seoul Design Festival has been widely attended by well-known designers from both home and abroad and has served as a showcase for promising new artists. This year, the festival will be held under the theme of ‘Designer Promotion.’ During the festival, creative pieces will cover each corner of the hall, providing visitors with a veritable feast for the eyes. Make sure to check out ‘Trend Now’ for works that combine design with major industry and the ‘Designers’ Lab’ full of experimental works.

Yeongdong Dried Persimmons Festival
When: December 16 – 18, 2011
Where: Nangye Hall of Korean Classical Music & Youth Training Center, Yeongdong-eup, Yeongdong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do Province Yeongdong is affectionately called the ‘Holy Land of Fruit’ since it is the biggest fruit producer in Korea. Each year during the festival, to celebrate this unique town and its agriculture heritage, local produce including persimmons, pyogo mushrooms, walnuts and chestnuts are on sale at 10% off wholesale prices. In addition to the local produce market, there are a variety of interactive experience programs such as “making persimmon jam” or “peeling and slicing persimmons.”

Boseong Green Tea Plantation and Light Festival
When: December 09, 2011 – February 29, 2012
Where: Boseong Green Tea Fields, Hoecheon-myeon, Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do Province
The magical allure of the Boseong Green Tea Fields grows tenfold this winter as Christmas light displays cast a cheery glow over the expansive fields. Christmas lights and an enormous Christmas tree as well as a number of themed exhibits (the Love Galaxy Light Tunnel, Green Tea Themed Street, etc.) bring a whole new meaning to the words “Christmas decorations.”

Ulsan Ganjeolgot Sunrise Festival
When: New Years Eve/Day
Where: Ganjeolgot Lighthouse, Daesong-ri, Seosaeng-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan
Ganjeolgot is one of the seaside locations where people all across the nation gather to celebrate and watch the first sunrise of the New Year. This New Year’s Sunrise Festival includes interactive events such as stargazing programs and mosaic making. Visitors can also learn about the Ganjeolgot Lighthouse and the city of Ulsan through a series of 3D video clips. New Year’s celebrations also include a wide array of events such as fireworks, eating tteokguk (an important New Year’s tradition), and a diverse range of performances.

Maryang-ri Sunset & Sunrise Festival

When: New Years Eve/Day
Where: Maryang Port, Maryang-ri, Seo-myeon, Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do Province
Why spend New Year’s Eve in a bar when you can spend it at this beautiful beach on Korea’s west coast! One of the few places that offer a stunning view of both the sunset and the sunrise, this sunrise festival venue has it all: a great location and lots of celebratory events such as a local specialty market and seaside bonfires.

Homigot Sunrise Festival

When: New Years Eve/Day
Where: Homigot Sunrise Plaza, Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province
Catch the first sunrise of 2012 on the dawn of New Years Day at the Homigot National Sunrise Plaza, located on Homigot Beach. This is the first beach in Korea to catch the rays of the sunrise and is one of the most famous places to gather on New Years. Say goodbye to 2011 while watching performances and fireworks and welcome in the New Year with a steaming bowl of Tteokguk, a Korean New Year’s Day tradition.

Seongsan Sunrise Festival

When: New Years Eve/Day
Where: Ilchulbong Peak area, Seogwipo-si, Jeju Island
Join the countdown and welcome in the New Year at Jeju’s premier sunrise attraction, Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak (also known as “Sunrise Peak”). Fishermen from every port will turn on their boat lights and blow their whistles in unison to mark the occasion. With the port town down below and a view of the sun coming up over the ocean, it is truly a spectacular sight to see.

Jeongdongjin Sunrise Festival

When: New Years Eve/Day
Where: Hourglass Park District, Jeongdongjin Beach, Gangneung, Gangwon-do Province
Get off of the train in Jeongdongjin and walk only a few meters to the beautiful beach and its large hourglass. The beach’s hourglass is so big that it takes one full year for the sand in the top to fall to the bottom. At 12am on New Year’s Eve, the last grains trickle down and the hourglass is turned over once again as part of a grand ceremony, kicking off the brand-new year.

Gyeongpo Sunrise Festival

When: New Years Eve/Day
Where: Gyeongpo Beach, Jeo-dong, Gangneung, Gangwon-do Province
Gyeongpo Beach is one of the biggest beaches on the east coast and is well-known for its beauty, which shows itself in a different light throughout the year. On New Year’s Day, people gather in a huge celebration of the New Year, watching fireworks and participating in an array of programs.

The New Year Festival, Yangyang

When: New Years Eve/Day
Where: Naksan Beach, Hangyeryeong Peak, Hajodae Beach, Gangwon-do Province
Legend has it that any wish made from atop Naksan Mountain during the first sunrise of the year is sure to come true! Head to Yangyang to make your wish in the mountains before coming back down to the beach to join in festivities.

Pyeongchang Trout Festival

When: December 22, 2011 – February 05, 2012
Where: Odaecheon Stream, Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do Province
Cut a hole through the ice and try your hand at ice fishing at this unique winter fish festival. The trout festival is also packed with winter folk games like sledding, kite flying, and more!

Hwacheon Sancheoneo (Mount Trout) Ice Festival

When: January 07 – 29, 2011
Where: Surrounding areas of Hwacheoncheon Stream and five villages of Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do Province
The Hwacheon Stream and the surrounding area is the natural habitat of mountain trout and otters. It is here, in this pristine natural environment, that the Sancheoneo Ice Festival is held every year in celebration of fish and wintertime fun. One of the most popular programs at the Mountain Trout Ice Festival is ice fishing, where people cut a hole through the 40cm of ice on the lake and try their luck at catching the mountain trout. If you’re really brave, you can go to a different section of the lake and try catching fish barehanded! Helpful staff is available to ensure that even first-timers get a catch. After fishing, enjoy your bounty right on site as sashimi or on the grill.

Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival

When: January 27 – February 05, 2012
Where: Taebaeksan National Park and Downtown District, Taebaek-si, Gangwon-do Province
Taebaek Snow Festival offers guests an array of events and activities sure to amuse and entertain. In addition to a number of performances and exquisite snow sculptors, visitors can participate in the Polar Bear Run, ice climbing competition, Snowman Festival, and even snow sledding.

Inje Icefish Festival

When: January 28 – February 05, 2012
Where: Soyangho Lake area, Nam-myeon, Inje-gun, Gangwon-do Province
The icy streams of Inje sweep down the snow-covered Seoraksan and Bangtaesan mountains to Soyangho Lake, the site of the Inje Icefish Festival. Visitors to this stunning frozen snowscape can sample raw icefish and fried foods, and participate in ice bowling or ice soccer. There are even special hands-on activities for international visitors.

Tamnaguk Ipchun Gut Nori

When: February 02 – 04, 2012
Where: Jeju-do City Hall Plaza, Gwandeokjeong Plaza, Jeju Mokgwana, etc.
As spring approaches Jeju’s public officials and shamans gather to perform “gut,” a shamanistic ritual held to pray for a year of abundant harvest. At this festival visitors can enjoy a variety of performances and experience traditional hands-on programs.

Jeju Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival

When: February 02 – 04, 2012
Where: Saebyeol Oreum area, Bongseong-ri Aewol-eup, Jeju-siOn the first full moon of the year, which falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month, the Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival is held in order to pray for a healthy year and good fortune. Long ago, Jeju farmers would set fire to their fields, so that the harmful bugs would be chased away and their cows could safely eat the grass. This tradition continues as an entire side of the mountain (“oreum”) is set on fire. At the base of the mountain fire, festivalgoers can experience the traditional lifestyle and practices of Korea’s farmers, including a traditional wedding ceremony and the annual tradition of setting the pheasants free.

Let’s face it. Skiing in Korea doesn’t compare to skiing in the Rockies, or Mt. Ruapehu. The conditions are mediocre at best and the skiers are mostly inexperienced. Most weekends you’ll be skiing on a sheet of ice among people who have a true gift for tunnel vision(e.g. ajummas crossing the street). For a skier used to nice conditions and gigantic hills, what’s the point?

Hold on to your ski boots for a second. Imagine a line of ajosshis barreling out-of-control down the mountain in formation in top-of-the-line ski gear. Or the cute Korean girls, in their cute ski outfits, trying their hardest to stay off their bums to no avail. Or the Korean kids in their giant white tiger tuques with gloves attached by strings to their earmuffs going from one side of the hill to the other in a panic.

Korean slopes may not have steep drop-offs, moguls or tree skiing, but what they do have is an obstacle course of people. Maybe you’ve skied the chutes of Jackson Hole, but have your ever skied through scores of people whose next move is anyone’s guess?

There is also the convenience of getting to the mountains here. Getting out on theslope can be one of the most difficult things you do all day, but in Korea it is made easy. Canadian skier Ryan Sullivan said this of his experience, “It was really, really good.Lots of good slopes for different levels.” Like most ski areas, Korean ski areas provide rental equipment such as skis and poles. It is also possible to rent jackets, goggles and ski pants at the resort. Sullivan also said, “We made a reservation with the pension and took a bus there. The pension has all the rental stuff, and sells lift tickets, and has a bus to take you to the actual hill.”

Korean slopes may not be what you skied on back home, but I guarantee you will havea great time. K-pop blaring from speakers on the lift chairs, good-spirited Koreans, an après-ski complete with soju and karaoke and most importantly slopes with the white stuff on them. Go as you go anywhere in Korea, with an open mind.

For the first time skier, Korean slopes might be scary places to learn. But truth be told, learning to ski anywhere is scary. So what if your instructor doesn’t speak English? Skiing sometimes feels like learning a foreign language from a native speaker. Just do what they do. But be sure to grow eyes on the back of your head for that out of control ajosshi in a bright pink ski jacket.

Life in Korea’s website has a breakdown of all the ski resorts in the country complete with lift ticket prices and hours of operation. http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Travel2/skiing

You know you are no longer in the western world when hearing “macaroni and cheese,” “oatmeal,” and even “Crest toothpaste” starts to make both your mouth water and your eyes mist up. For me, it took about three months before I had explored all the food options available in Korea and really started craving some edible comfort from home. A couple more months were enough for me to go on a search (cash at the hand) for the few items I thought could curb the cravings.

After facing some pretty crushing disappointment at the Lotte Mart foreign food section(not really an entire aisle) and not wanting to spend the cash across town only to have my cheese melt in the sweltering humidity, I was resigned to eat samgyupsal and kimbap forthe rest of my Korean days.

Then a friend suggested I check out the online grocery store at nicemarket.com (formerly nicedeli.com). Operated out of Busan, and started by one guy delivering deli meats to good people far from home, this e-commerce grocery store has been up and running since 2009.Not only does it have a large variety of food, electronics, and kitchen and home ware, but the best part is it is all delivered right to your door (or desk).
After my first exploratory order, I was pleased to find a free hand-sanitizer along with my salsa and black beans. But it was just how darn easy it was that really sold me. The site is a breeze to navigate and has items cross-listed so you’ll find them no matter what category you choose. There is a search function, which ain’t no Google, but was sufficient for my needs. The convenience comes to play after the first order when you can simply click “re-order” to have all your most-used items already in the cart. The site stores your addresses and you can add new addresses if you want it shipped elsewhere.

You do need to be at home when the delivery is made, so I had my order delivered to my school. Depending on where you live, all orders paid for by 10am Friday will be delivered the following Wednesday. As for paying, they accept Pay-Pal (so easy) or bank transfer,which is what I opt for. The day after making the transfer placing the order, they send an email with confirmation. When your order is shipped you get another email with a tracker so you can cyber-stalk it the entire way.

What tiny bit of maneuvering required (making a username and password, making the bank transfer, worrying about delivery to your Korean address) is all worth it when you see the shiny Styrofoam box keeping all your valuable eats nice and cold. Don’t besurprised to find yourself celebrating by cracking open an ice cold can of Dr. Pepper or pigging out on a giant Hersey’s chocolate bar. There’s absolutely no shame in it.

Tips:

• Be sure to submit your entire address in Korean. Also, all the fields in the billing address have to be filled in or it will give you an error and not let you proceed. I put my info in both Korean and English just to be sure.

• Make sure you give them your correct phone number and have your phone charged and with you on delivery day. If you’re in a rural or hard to find location, the delivery service may call to clarify. If you don’t speak Korean, it would be a good idea to have a Korean speaker close by on delivery day on your first order, since they use Korean delivery services. My order was delivered without a hitch.If making a bank transfer, bring your bank book to update, or check your receipt to make sure there wasn’t an error. Bank transfer errors are common and if you get one your order will not be delivered

• If there’s something you’d like that you can’t find on the site, you can make a suggestion on their site or on their facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_100547145055. (I’ve requested Cheez-its. Feel free to back me up on that one!)

• Also, according to their facebook site the first five orders made (and paid for) each day from now to December 12th will be entered into a drawing for a FREE pre-cooked turkey delivered for Christmas! So if you’re on the fence about trying it, now’s the time!

I stumbled upon this one at the base of Mt. Mudeung in Gwangju while I was walking around with a friend of mine. To get here, take a bus to “Jeongsimsa” – 증심사; you can take the 51, 09, 76, 35, 50, 54, 49 or the 12. Then instead of heading up to the mountain, head back down and look to your left and you’ll see a white Buddha statue on a hill, head toward that and you’ll find this temple.

Temples are great to visit as they are a great look back into how life was. This one in particular was pretty unique as it has one of few seated faceless Buddha statues – it has been around for 1000s of years. I’ve been to a couple of temples here in Gwangju, but this one takes the cake as it is one with a variety of Buddhas along with the timeless one and is one that still operates. Next time you are around Mt. Mudeung, you should definitely check it out!  Enjoy!

Do you like listening to the radio?  Do you find the radio these days is full of the same 10 songs over and over again, catering to the current pop charts?  Want to listen to something different, and learn cultural things in the process?

Why not check out Gwangju’s very own Foreign Radio Network, broadcasting 24/7 on 98.7FM in Gwangju, 93.7FM in Yeosu.  It doesn’t matter if you’re in Korea or not, you can check out their current broadcasts and access past ones here.  You can listen online at that website or on your smartphone through a free application called TuneIn Radio.

The app is available for iPhone (iPod touch), Android, and Blackberry, among a few other platforms.  They also have a website where you can listen to virtually any radio station you want.

A few of my friends are hosts on GFN, and they can always use more listeners!  Plus, Gwangju residents can also win some cool prizes for participating in their contests (vouchers for local businesses).  Check out the links to listen today!

I’m beginning to really hate typhoons. Not because they’re scary or dangerous or unusual. But because they are always messin’ with our plans. Karl and I made a last-minute decision to go to Jeju Island for our Chuseok Holiday. It gave us four days to spend on the “Hawaii of Korea” and I was so looking forward to some beach and sun. But our first night on the island Typhoon Kulap made his ugly appearance, bringing three days of torrential rain and wind. That closed the mountain trails (what, no hiking in sideways rain?) and made a day at the beach sound about as fun as a layover.

On our third day we woke early to cloudy skies but no rain! So we dressed in hiking gear, packed a day bag and asked the concierge for directions to Mt. Halla, the large dormant volcano in the center of the island. He politely gave us transit information, then walked us to the front door and communicated in his broken English, “No hike. Big rain.”

Maybe he was just being conservative. We’d check out the trail before deciding whether or not to do the all-day hike. But halfway up the mountain by taxi it started raining. With a mile to go we saw horses standing knee deep in their flooded fields. When we started to see waterfalls of rainwater careening off the mountain onto the road we decided maybe the concierge was right. We turned the taxi around and made for the Jeju Local Bus Terminal, thinking we’d go do something else instead.

That ended up being a 40 minute bus ride through mother nature’s car wash, only to be let off in the middle of nowhere in torrential rain. My umbrella immediately turned inside out. Crossing the highway from one bus shelter to another made me look like I had just taken a shower fully clothed. Fail. Bus ride back to Jeju City.

But then, the sun came out. It was only 10am and we already felt like we had lived an entire day, but it was perfect walking weather. So we started walking (to view the route we took, click here).

We saw a rock shaped like a dragon.

Called Dragon Head Rock, the legend is this dragon lived in the Dragon Kingdom under the sea. While trying to come up to Heaven, he stole the Elixir of Life from a guardian of Mt. Halla. So he was shot with an arrow and turned to stone.

Called Dragon Head Rock, the legend is this dragon lived in the Dragon Kingdom under the sea. While trying to come up to Heaven, he stole the Elixir of Life from a guardian of Mt. Halla. So he was shot with an arrow and turned to stone.

We saw beautiful volcanic rock coastlines.

We saw glimpses of nature hidden between the buildings.

This suspension bridge crossed over this little stream making its way to the sea.

We saw a real Korean neighborhood, with gardens encircling rundown traditional homes and apartment buildings.

We saw the biggest buddha at the smallest temple we’ve ever seen.

We saw the city.

Hidden graffiti underneath a bridge. I think it’s funny that it’s pretty much the only writing in the entire city in English.

We saw a bunch of trees, and then a city view at the Arboretum.

We saw our second temple of the day, the most beautifully tranquil campus I’ve ever felt.

Saenrimsa Temple was nestled in the woods behind the Arboretum, and had a lotus pond, a scenic walkway and a beautiful view of the city and the sea.

We saw an enormous spider.

There were two other baby spiders in this same web!

When we finally walked back to the hotel it was dark. We had spent an entire day exploring the city by foot, walking over 10 miles in the process!

View from our hotel room on the 15th floor.

See Jeju for yourself! Get information and ideas on how to plan your next visit at http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=309385.

You probably have heard of this place..the Thai restaurant somewhere on the outskirts of town near the Gwangju Airport. Some have ventured out there, some have even found it, but everyone who tries it loves it.

My husband and I ventured out on a recent Friday night to find the place. Bad idea, it turned out, as we were in our car, and the best directions we could find was, “it’s near a pink castle hogwan and says ‘Thai Food’ on the green sign out front.” We got close but we eventually gave up in the midst of Friday night traffic and went back on a Sunday afternoon.

Once we finally found the place we were in heaven: green curry, pad thai, and lots of great options for cheap. The menu is easy to read and offers photos of everything, just in case you’re not sure what to order.

The owners are kind (even holding our baby while we ate) and the small restaurant offers a small selection of Thai ingredients in back (including the very delicious green curry mix).

I definitely recommend this restaurant if you’re looking for something other than kimchi for your next meal. It really brought me back to my visit to Thailand (and if the food doesn’t, the sparsely placed kitschy decor definitely will).

How to get there: Take the subway out to Songjeongri Train station (송정리역). If you come out at the train station, you want to be across the road from the train station, walking along the main road back toward Gwangju.You will turn right after about two blocks and cross over a pedestrian-looking shopping street (though, of course, there are cars). Stay straight over this intersection and the Thai Food restaurant will be on your right with a green sign. (Yes, across from a pink hogwan.)