[MORNING CALM TALES] Déjà vu and the 'Yakult ajumma'

On a recent morning, a reporter was strolling home from his apartment when he noticed something familiar. There, in the distance, was a woman navigating the sidewalk in a compact electric cart. Instantly, the reporter felt an urge to greet her, so he waved and encouraged her to come closer. As she drew near, memories of 1991 flooded back. That year, the reporter had arrived in Seoul as a new arrival, eager to explore the city's charms one unexpected delight at a time.

During his first weeks in Seoul, a peculiar sensation began to emerge. The reporter felt as though he was encountering the same woman repeatedly. She seemed to appear near his Jamsil apartment, then a short distance away, and finally, outside a subway station. Each time, he assumed it was the same person, captivated by her consistent appearance. She always donned a light beige winter jacket and matching cap, her breath visible in the crisp morning air as she pushed a small cart.

For the reporter, this experience felt uncannily similar to the phenomenon of déjà vu. Everywhere he went, there she was. Was this a case of seeing the same woman, or was his mind playing tricks on him? Back then, Korea still held many mysteries for him. Though he had learned Hangeul, the written language, he often struggled to comprehend what he read. Still, he navigated the bustling city with a sense of wonder.