Change is an inevitable part of who we are. It helps us to grow, stay motivated, and learn from our mistakes. Yet, because it is so prevalent in our everyday lives, it is easy to miss those precious moments of change in our lives. For the March issue, the Photo Division of The Granite Tower (GT) captured what “change” means for them, and the result is a combination of wonderfully eclectic moments of transformation.

Yoon Sunho

For this month’s photo essay, I remembered that Cheong Wa Dae, Korea’s presidential office and residence for more than seven decades, opened its doors to the public for the first time in 74 years. Also known as the Blue House, it has become one of the newest attractions in Seoul since last year. 

As I made my visit during the Lunar New Year holidays, I was lucky enough to stumble upon a Seollal-special traditional performance. Overall, inspired by the March issue’s theme, I wanted to show Korea’s own winds of change in the nation’s history and presidency through pictures of the architecture unique to the Blue House. I also aimed to capture special moments of the enthralling performance put on by the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation Arts Troupe at the heliport.

Jeon Hye Seo
While preparing for this month’s photo essay, I asked myself: what sparks the winds of change for a new aspiration? Traveling through various countries of Europe during vacation, I concluded that it is the hope of light that brings people to step forward and achieve their dreams. So, I traced symbols of light that followed my motto, “We are the change we have been waiting for.” For Korea University (KU) students who wish to plan goals for the new semester or who are already failing some of their New Year resolutions, I hope these photos may inspire a restart for everyone with the wake of spring.

Naama Benamy Schoneveld
Much like Petite France or the ostriches on Nami Island, I too have been transplanted into a foreign place, sticking out like a sore thumb. But over the years, as I spend longer and longer in Seoul, I feel that the “winds of change” pushed me in the right direction. I learned from my father, an avid birdwatcher, that winds only allow birds to smoothly migrate somewhere new when blowing in the right direction, and I still feel lucky that similarly, my immigration to South Korea has also changed my life positively. For this photo essay, I explored the wind as I see it everywhere, from my own collarbones to the Korean countryside, as well as the changes it represents.