Korea's East Coast — Sea, Mountains & Local Life

Hi, I’m Steve (Sang Gil Lee), a licensed private guide and storyteller in Korea. I was born in the late 1950s, when South Korea was still recovering from the Korean War. I grew up watching the country transform from a struggling postwar society into the dynamic, modern Korea you see today. Later, as a young military officer, I served near the DMZ—the border that still symbolizes Korea’s division. So when I talk about modern Korean history, I’m not simply explaining something I learned from books. I lived through much of that transformation myself. My career has also given me a unique window into Korea’s cultural development. I worked as a television producer and later served as the CEO of a local government cultural agency. I also spent time in Los Angeles as a Visiting Scholar at UCLA and worked with international media professionals through NATPE. These experiences helped me understand both Korean and Western perspectives—and how differently visitors sometimes see Korea. But Korea is much more than its modern success story. As a graduate of Sungkyunkwan University, a university deeply rooted in Korea’s Confucian tradition, and a certified educator in Korean Buddhist temple culture, I enjoy explaining the ideas behind what you see: why Korean palaces were designed the way they were, how Confucianism shaped family and society, why Buddhism became such an important part of Korean culture, and how food, fermentation, markets, and everyday customs tell their own stories about Korean life. Most importantly, I believe a private tour should feel like a conversation, not a lecture. We can slow down, change our plans, stop for coffee or local food, and spend more time on the subjects that interest you. Whether we are standing at the DMZ, walking through a royal palace, visiting a Buddhist temple, or exploring a traditional market, I want you to leave with something more valuable than photographs. I want you to understand the Korea behind what you see. If that sounds like the kind of journey you are looking for, I would be delighted to explore Korea with you. Credentials & Background Licensed National Tour Guide (English) Former Television Producer Former CEO of a Local Government Cultural Agency Former Visiting Scholar at UCLA Certified Educator in Korean Buddhist Temple Culture Former Military Officer with DMZ Service