INTERVIEW: How Kazakhstan's Korean Cultural Center fosters bilateral relations

SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - In the central Eurasian steppe, there is a place that has been at the forefront of promoting Korean culture and heritage for over 15 years. Located in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) there has played a pivotal role in introducing Korean culture across Central Asia since 2010. As the region's first and only such center, it has provided locals with a wide range of programs that raise awareness of the northeastern Asian cou

June 24, 2025

INTERVIEW: How one gamer turned his passion into global console hit

SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - For Lee Jun-ho, it all began with tears. He was a middle school student, clutching a controller as the final scene of Shining Force, a turn-based tactical role-playing game, played out on the screen. "I remember tears streaming down my face as the ending unfolded," he recalled. That moment of revelation would eventually lead Lee to the heart of South Korea's gaming industry. Today, he serves as the creative director behind The First Berserker:

June 11, 2025

INTERVIEW: Taman Safari Indonesia introduces attractive tours for Korean tourists as bilateral tourism flourishes

SEOUL, June 7 (AJP) - At the bustling Seoul International Travel Fair (SITF) this week, a booth showcasing lush jungles, exotic wildlife, and vibrant imagery stood out. At the center of this was Alexander Zulkarnain, Chief Marketing Officer of Taman Safari Indonesia, eager to introduce South Korean visitors to Indonesia's hidden travel gems. "Indonesia and South Korea have enjoyed strong diplomatic ties for 52 years," Zulkarnain said in an interview with AJP.

June 7, 2025

INTERVIEW: Outgoing chief reflects on how Tokyo's Korean Cultural Center builds bridges between neighboring countries

SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - At the heart of Tokyo, Japan, there's a dedicated space where locals can explore and immerse themselves in South Korea's history and culture. Located at the corner of Shinjuku, a bustling district in the capital known for its characteristic alleys lined with shops, clubs and restaurants, the Korean Cultural Center was founded in 1979 as the first of its kind overseas. Since then, it has served as a major hub for raising awareness of South Korea

May 16, 2025

INTERVIEW: SNU professor explains why Pansori resonates beyond words

SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - When Anna Yates-Lu first sat down for a live Pansori performance, she barely understood a word. At the time, she had studied Korean for just six months and couldn’t keep up with the subtitles and the stage at the same time. But that didn’t matter. “The sound alone completely captivated me,” she said in an interview with Aju Press on May 9. “I didn’t need to understand the words. The voice, the gestures, the rhythm. All of i

May 13, 2025

INTERVIEW : Korean Cultural Center in Abu Dhabi to celebrate 10 years of building bridges with UAE

SEOUL, May 8 (AJP) - Nestled at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country where Islamic culture coexists with modern architecture and cutting-edge global trends. Surrounded by an exotic landscape where deserts meet futuristic skylines, the Korean Cultural Center in Abu Dhabi serves as a cultural bridge between the two countries. Established in 2016, it was the first of its kind in the Middle East, venturing into this uncharted, un

May 8, 2025

INTERVIEW: Pastor calls for dialogue and compassion toward LGBTQ community

SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - Even when minds do not change, Pastor Lee Dong-hwan believes dialogue can move hearts. “If we can at least open a conversation and listen to each other, even without changing our opinions, that itself is meaningful,” he said during an interview with AJP at his office in central Seoul. Lee recalled a three-hour phone call he had with a conservative media figure. “We didn’t end up changing each other’s minds, but we respected

April 29, 2025

INTERVIEW: Farmtastica CEO brings smart farming vision to Latin America's urban centers

SEOUL, April 24 (AJP) - For Maricruz Larrea, CEO of Chilean smart farm Startup Farmtastica, farming does not involve long stretches of countryside. With the startup’s technology, crops can be grown inside closets, rooms, and small spaces. “We’re not just growing leafy greens, We’re building a more sustainable, localized food supply chain,” Larrea, the CEO and co-founder of Farmtastica, a Chilean startup focused on controlled environment agriculture, t

April 24, 2025

INTERVIEW: Start-Up Chile CEO says real startups solve real problems through technology

Javiera Araneda, CEO of Start-Up Chile, speaks during an interview with AJP at the Global Startup Center on Apr. 23. AJP Han Jun-gu SEOUL, April 24 (AJP) - To Javiera Araneda, CEO of Start-Up Chile, a startup isn't just a trendy business idea or a sleek new app. At its core, she says, a real startup is about purpose—and that purpose starts with solving a problem. “In our view, a startup should be tech-based,” Araneda said in an interview with AJP at a startup pit

April 24, 2025

INTERVIEW: Seoul-based music agency connects K-pop with global market through creative works

SEOUL, April 10 (AJP) - Amid the rising global popularity of K-pop, AMPLIFIED, an agency that helps artists and songwriters connect with music labels while managing their copyrights and other related matters, is expanding its reach. With a small but skilled team of around 20 international specialists with a keen ear for potential chart-toppers and global hits, it boasts its expertise in the music industry. Among them is London-based renowned team LDN Noise, which collaborated wit

April 10, 2025