Calling all drama nerds! Did you know that there is a thriving expat community theatre presence in Changwon? Most recently, this past June saw the smash-hit performance of Ken Ludwig’s Leading Ladies, directed by Sunil Mahtani with technical direction by Nadia Ronan and featuring local actors Jeremy Bryan, Jordan Marett, Jake Clark, …

For foreigners who want to get involved in a Christian religious community in Changwon, there are a few options. As of July 2014, Smyrna Church in Sapa-dong has closed its English worship service, but in its place, a branch of Redeemer Church (based in Busan) will open in Sangnam-dong. This …

Garosoo-gil in Korean (가로수길) means a tree-lined street. The most famous avenue with this moniker is in the ritzy Sinsa-dong in Seoul, but Changwon has its own Garosoo-gil in Yongji-dong, near Yongji Lake. The official name of the street is 용지로239번길 (Yongji-ro 239 beon-gil), but it’s more commonly known to …

Jjajangmyeon (짜장면), or noodles in black bean sauce, is Korea’s answer to General Tso’s Chicken or sweet and sour pork, in that the dish in its current iteration is what most Koreans think of when you say, “Chinese food” even though it’s anything but authentic. As far as Koreanized Chinese …

If you’ve been looking for a fun and active way to get some exercise, learn a new skill, and engage in part of Korean culture, now is as good a time as any to pick up martial arts! Korea is well-known for taekwondo, of course, but there are many other …

As promised, I went back to Greenhouse (그린하우스), Dogye-dong’s prized cafe and bakery, to see if their lunch options were as spectacular as their selection of bread and pastries. Unsurprisingly, lunch was delicious. Greenhouse did not disappoint. On a weekday around noon, the second floor cafe is spacious, quiet, and …

Some current updated links for information on the 2019 Festival: Official Tourism Website JinHae Cherry Blossom Festival on Twitter Changwon City Official Blog Korea’s largest and most famous cherry blossom festival is only one week away! From April 1-10, make your way down south to Jinhae not only to see …

Happy spring! It is no longer too cold outside to commute by bike, so now is a great time to take advantage of Changwon’s public bike rental system, Nubija! You can buy a yearly pass for 20,000 won or a one-day (24-hour) pass for 1,000 won. In order to check …

Photos and text by Coby Zeifman For most foreigners living in Changwon, less is more. That is to say, having fewer possessions is better. This is because when it eventually comes time to move back to our home countries, it means we have less stuff to move, throw away, or …

Photos and text by Joanna Tambakis Looking for a good spot to have a coffee, hang out, and meet friendly locals? Interested in learning more about coffee, from the roasting process to how to make an espresso, latte, or cappuccino? Want a place to do art, write your next novel, …

Here are some pictures to accompany Better Know a  Dong: Palyong Dong courtesy of Andrew Cheng. By hovering over the picture you will see the name of what is pictured. Use these pictures to plan your next Palyong adventure but be warned; these pictures were taken in February, 2014. We …

Palyong-dong (팔용동, sometimes spelled 팔룡동), is a large, boot-shaped neighborhood located at the northernmost end of Changwon. At its heel are the main bus terminal, Homeplus, and Changwon Stream, which is currently being developed into a beautiful park. Most of the boot’s shaft, running up Changwon-daero (창원대로), is comprised of …

Excited about the upcoming Winter Olympics? Korean star Kim Yuna will probably dominate the figure skating competition, and if you fall in love with her like the rest of the country has, perhaps you will be inspired to try your hand (or foot) at ice skating. Changwon doesn’t get much …

Do you miss bread? I’m not talking about 빵. I mean baguettes and ciabattas, whole wheat and rye? Stop settling for the overly-sweet, limp and insubstantial breads and pastries of [insert conglomerate-owned bakery franchise here] and check out Greenhouse (그린하우스) in Dogye-dong. Under the skilled hand of an award-winning member of …

It may be the middle of winter, but that isn’t stopping people from getting their fix of traditional Korean shaved ice at Sulbing. Every branch of this cafe chain is always packed, and with two locations in Changwon, you’ve got to see (and taste) what all the hype is about. …