Highway rest areas were originally simple places where weary bus travelers could rest a bit, grab a bite to eat and use the bathroom. With the rise of Korea’s car culture, however, rest areas have evolved into extraordinary culinary and retail spaces, if not destinations in their own right. Indeed, one of the joys of travel in Korea is sampling the many unique snacks for sale at the countless rest areas that line the nation’s highways.

In this issue of KOREA, we take a deeper dive into Korea’s highway rest areas, including the spectacular rest area at scenic Hwangmaesan Mountain in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, the winner of one of Korea’s most prestigious architecture awards. We also talk with a rising star in the flute world, explore the themes of the award winning film “Broker,” and even test our taste buds with some notoriously spicy noodles.