BY: CHRIS BROUGHTON
I left Canada in 2015, in the middle of a blizzard. I left behind my family, dog, a budding relationship and job offers. My destination was South Korea, a country which may as well be an island. After 28 hours in transit, I arrived in Changwon where I would spend the next year of my life.
I chose to travel to South Korea to pursue my passion for photography and spent the next year taking my camera everywhere I went, capturing the new world around me. For money I taught English during the afternoon and evening to children. My photographic pursuits quickly fell into a steady routine of wandering the streets, and trying to document a complete picture of life in Korea; the good, the bad, and the in-between.
All of these photos are taken candidly, and I do not know the individuals beyond the moments shared in the lens. I studied history during university, and believe that photography plays a key role in how we interpret our past. These photos are an attempt to document a year in Korea, from an outside perspective.
A young Korean walks towards Sangnamdong, a district in central Changwon.
A young man reads manga as he walks along the street.
Two young men sit outside a corner store smoking cigarettes together.
A vendor at the market selling vegetables. 
Two children share a bicycle in front of the batting cages.
Two men smoking cigarettes outside of a building full of restaurants and bars.
Korean fashion at work.
A young woman gets on her Nubija bicycle, which are available all over the city for a small monthly fee.
A cobbler operates a small shoe repair business in a small shed near Dunkin’ Donuts.
A construction worker sorting garbage throws a bucket through the air near my home in Changwon.
A woman selling vegetables next to a Nubija bike station. 
A woman moving against the crowd, deep in thought. 
Two young boys wearing the same outfit, and sharing a bicycle speed past. 
A woman selling Gingko nuts at the market.
A child tries to help their mother tie her shoe at the market.
A family plays an outdoor piano in Seoul.
A vendor at the market smokes a cigarette. 
A man reads sermon at the KTX station in Seoul. 
An old man pushes his cart full of cardboard past the fire department. 
Collecting cardboard is one way for the elderly to make money in Korea if they don’t have enough family support. This is a common sight on the streets everywhere.
A buddhist monk wanders in the market collecting alms. 
A young boy shuffles down the street kicking garbage. 
Two vendors pass the time in the market.
To follow Chris’ adventures, follow him here.
