By Lorena Binisol
SEOUL – When the Jubilee Year of Hope was proclaimed opened, almost every Catholics all over the globe set a wish to go on pilgrimage trip, locally or abroad. For the trip, some may go as religious tourists or they may go purely driven by spiritual purpose, or taking advantage of the trip, some may want to get as much as possible from both aspects of the trip.
For Lorena Binisol, a Sabahan Catholic journalist, recent trip to Korea was an enriching experience, culturally and spiritually. Here is her sharing.
“Jessie Chang and I often talked about traveling the world together: France, England, Korea, so many places I had once only seen in books and social media. But for Jessie, it was different. She had spent years working overseas on missions and had already seen much more of the world than I had.
After months of planning, we finally chose Korea, a land where the old and the new dance hand-in-hand.
Landing in Seoul, I never expected the trip to unfold the way it did. Korea, with its gleaming skyscrapers and deep-rooted traditions, opened not just my eyes but also my mind and soul.
We purposely timed our visit to coincide with Holy Week, hoping to experience the sacred atmosphere in a new cultural and spiritual setting. We began with Palm Sunday, and over the following days, immersed ourselves in the full stretch of Holy Week observances; from the solemn Good Friday services to the quiet reflection of Holy Saturday, and finally, the joyful celebration of Easter Sunday.
It was a deeply meaningful and enriching experience to attend Mass and witness how the spirit of the season was expressed in a different country.
During those times, we had the privilege of meeting several important figures in the religious community, from devoted priests and tireless church volunteers to inspiring missionaries.
At Incheon Airport, a kind welcome awaited us. Fr Ezekiel Lee, a priest from the Most Holy Trinity of Mirinae, greeted us warmly, together with Brother Walter Martin, a fellow Sabahan who had dedicated his life to the same mission.
Our journey continued to the heart of Seoul, where we attended Palm Sunday Mass at Myeongdong Church on Apr 13. There, we met Joseph Kim, a volunteer from the church’s Soup Kitchen, who shared about their mission, the only one of its kind in the area, serving hot meals with dignity and love to the homeless.
Fr Peter, from the Seoul Diocese and coordinator of the programme, echoed the sentiment: simple acts of kindness can change lives.
On different occasion, at Kimchi-Kan, a museum celebrating Korea’s most iconic dish, a cheerful guide named Bo Young welcomed us and shared the story of how humble vegetables became a cultural treasure through generations of preservation – kimchi.
In Hanok Village, we wandered through beautifully preserved traditional houses. Inside one, we visited an art gallery and spoke with Pae Kab Sook, a rattan artist. She passionately shared her journey, explaining that using rattan, imported from Indonesia was still quite new in Korea, and that she herself had only started five years ago.
One crisp afternoon at Gyeongbokgung Palace, now transformed into a grand and majestic museum, I crossed paths with Bernadine Cabuanes, an Australian nurse of Filipino descent. She stood out in her vibrant Hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, joyfully as she explored the palace grounds with her family. It was her first visit to Korea, and like me, she was soaking in the beauty and history of the place with wide-eyed wonder.
As we chatted, I felt an instant connection with her adventurous spirit, kindred souls brought together by curiosity, culture, and the serendipity of travel.
Small eateries often hold the best surprises. Near our hotel, we met Lim Byung Kyu, the warm-hearted owner of Maru shop, and his wife, Ko Sungme. Upon learning we were Malaysians, their faces lit up, they were planning a trip to Sabah! After some laughs, photos, and shared stories, we felt like old friends.
Traveling to Jeju Island brought its own drama. We were stranded at Gimpo Airport for more than two hours due to stormy skies. Beside me (inside flight) sat Rossa Kwon, a local resident determined to get home. Despite shared frustrations, we exchanged stories and later contact numbers.
Rossa shared that her mother-in-law had once been a ‘haenyeo’, a traditional woman diver who harvested scallops and seafood. Once looked down upon, haenyeos are now recognized as cultural icons. As a passionate writer, I knew I had stumbled upon a story worth telling.
In Jeju, a reunion awaited. Alexious Park, a former missionary and Jessie’s old friend, became our guide. Although language barriers existed, smiles and a trusty translator app helped us bridge the gap.
Together, we explored sacred sites, including the Kim Ki-ryang martyrdom and memorial shrine, where we met Cecelia and Michael, a young family seeking peace and a fresh start in Jeju.
Fr Hyon Yo-an, another priest patiently waited to celebrate Mass with us. Later, through Alexious, he treated us to a delicious lunch featuring Jeju’s famous octopus dishes, a meal woven with kindness and generosity.
Back in Seoul, our adventures were far from over. This time, we stayed in the lively Dongdaemun area, full of vibrant streets and colorful shops. Our accommodation was a hostel-style place, offering a perfect mix of privacy and international camaraderie.
We visited Myeongdong Church once again, attending Holy Week services from Good Friday to Holy Saturday and the Easter Vigil.
There, we had the privilege of meeting Bishop Paul Lee Kyung Sang and Fr Peter Yang, moments of grace and peace amid the bustling city.
On another day, Jessie led me to visit her former mission group, the ICPE community at Mopu-go. There, Titus Choi welcomed us with open arms, as did Fr Gerard Yang, a Mexican priest who had made Korea his heart’s home.
On a separate trip, we met up with another of Jessie’s mission friends, Christina’s mother and older sister, as Christina was now working in the USA. Despite the distance, Christina had remained in close contact with Jessie over the phone.
Christina kindly arranged for us to meet her mother, an 85-year-old woman who, despite her age, still looked fit and lively. Jessie shared how Christina’s mother had been very kind to her during her mission years, even giving her homemade baechon (Korean side dishes), a sweet and cherished memory she holds close to her heart.
Every meeting, every smile, every story, they stitched themselves into the fabric of my journey, turning a simple trip across the River Han into a journey across hearts and lives.
Korea gave me more than memories. It gifted me connections and no matter where we come from, we are never truly strangers.”
