Gwangju

"The Museum at the House of Sharing During World War II, it is estimated that nearly 200,000 women, most of them Korean, were used as sex slaves to the Japanese army. This sad legacy is still a controversial topic, but it doesn't change the fact that the victims remain. About 45 minutes south of Seoul lies the House of Sharing, a group home established in 1995 for these former “comfort women.” The Museum of Sexual Slavery by the Japanese Military is located on the property, and includes displays of wartime photographs and documents, artwork painted by survivors and artifacts as a remembrance of times past. Be sure to call or email in advance to schedule a tour in English."

"There’s a new Korean barbecue restaurant in town that invites diners to cook their own meats table-side while sipping soju. Handam BBQ claims to be one of Texas’s only KBBQ joints equipped with smokeless charcoal grills. The popular Korean cooking method sears meat fast to produce a crusty, caramelized exterior and smoky flavor. The 4,500-square-foot newcomer in the Bellaire area comes from co-owners and local franchise guys David Lee and Jae Kwon. Chef Byung Oh and others in the kitchen hail from Gwangju, Jullanamdo, which is considered the culinary capital of South Korea. The communal dining experience offers 10 beef and seven pork cuts to choose from. Grills sport a downdraft system, which means customers can exit without smelling like their meaty meal. The 145-seat eatery dries its meats in-house, notes the Houston Business Journal. The suggested pairing is a bottle of soju, a Korean favorite in flavors like grape, peach, or plum. Drinks and light bites are also available on a patio area, notes HBJ. Diners can warm up to the main event over pan-fried dumplings or traditional spicy rice cakes called dukkbokki. Other non-KBBQ offerings include cold noodles made on-site and kimchi stews. Hours are 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and until 11:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday." - Tierney Plumb