Travel to Romania - The garden of Virgin Mary - Jeong O Park

The idea to publish this guidebook on Romania dates back to 1991, right after the Romanian Revolution. I had just arrived at the University of Bucharest to pursue Ph. D. studies in literature. Romania, after the revolution, was almost unknown to the Korean people, and I was one of the few individuals who learned about the country. Korean companies and broadcasting stations often approached me to introduce Romania, a land of wonder, to Korean audiences. This inspired me to dream of publishing this book. This ‘dream’ has finally come true after I spent 25 years working as a professor at the Department of Romanian Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in South Korea. Over more than two decades, I have visited every corner of Romania through over 40 trips. I’ve titled this book: “Travel to Romania: The Garden of the Virgin Mary.” This phrase was uttered by the Polish Pope, John Paul II (1978-2005), during his visit to the Romanian Orthodox Church in 1999. I hope this book will also enable you to appreciate all the captivating facets of Romania. Romania is undeniably one of the most captivating countries in Europe, brimming with immense potential. Nevertheless, until recently, many foreigners held negative perceptions about this nation, largely due to its communist past. However, with the swift surge of foreign tourists in recent years, the country’s international image is undergoing a remarkable improvement. Foreign visitors who explore Romania frequently express, “It’s a country that may not have sparked high expectations initially, but as the journey unfolds, the desire to prolong one’s stay intensifies.” Warm and welcoming locals, affordable prices, delicious cuisine, medieval fortifications, picturesque rural villages, and breathtaking natural landscapes collectively attract foreign tourists to discover Romania. (Jeong O Park)