Journalist
Yoo Na-hyun유나현
shooting@ajupress.com
PhotographerGeopolitics, Culture, History, People & Photo Journalist
Photojournalist, AJU PRESS (AJP) Covering news, culture and society in South Korea through an Asian perspective.
"Every moment is worth documenting."
Latest by Yoo Na-hyun
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Seoul zoo's special meal for a hungry monkey A monkey eats a special summer meal prepared by zookeepers at Seoul Grand Park in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Aug. 7, 2026, as scorching heat continues across the country on Ipchu, which traditionally marks the beginning of autumn on the Korean calendar. 2026-08-07 14:05:13 -
Seoul zoo's tiger gets special summer treat A tiger eats a special summer meal prepared by zookeepers at Seoul Grand Park in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Aug. 7, 2026, as scorching heat continues across the country on Ipchu, which traditionally marks the beginning of autumn on the Korean calendar. 2026-08-07 14:02:50 -
When Seoul melts, its children splash back SEOUL, Aug. 6 (AJP) — South Koreans have joined Europeans and Americans in sweating through one of the world's hottest summers. But to borrow an old saying, if you can't beat the heat, join it. Across Seoul, children have declared war on the thermometer. Instead of hiding indoors as temperatures flirted with 40 degrees, they cannonballed into pools, sprinted through fountains and chased water jets across the city. Under a relentless sun, the season that often feels unbearable became something to celebrate. At Gwanghwamun Square, where office workers usually weave through crowds beneath the watchful gaze of King Sejong, summer arrived carrying buckets of water instead of briefcases. The 2026 Seoul Summer Beach transformed the heart of the capital into an oversized playground complete with an eight-meter water slide, swimming pools, fountains and a stretch of imported sand. Children raced barefoot between splashes, leaving wet footprints across stone plazas better known for protests and parades. Office towers shimmered in the heat while squeals of laughter briefly drowned out traffic. For a few hours, downtown Seoul traded its suits for swimsuits. Further east, at Gwangnaru Hangang Park, the city's famous river did what it has done for generations — offered Seoul a place to breathe. Children darted through shallow pools beneath wide blue skies while parents stretched out in the riverside breeze. Cyclists rolled past, joggers slowed to watch, and water drifted through the air with every gust of wind. Unlike Gwanghwamun's urban beach, Gwangnaru lets the river become part of the scenery. The skyline still towers in the distance, but the water makes the city feel miles away. In northern Seoul, Hwarangdae Railway Park swapped trains for torrents. The former rail yard now echoes with children racing down a 50-meter inflatable slide, floating along a lazy river and scrambling through climbing pools. Each splash at the bottom was followed by the same routine: a sprint back to the top for another turn. Tracks that once carried passengers now carry the soundtrack of summer vacation. Not every summer memory needs a tropical island or an expensive resort. Sometimes it is a temporary pool in a city square. Sometimes it is a fountain beside a river. Sometimes it is an inflatable slide built where trains once ran. The pop-up playgrounds remain open through August, with the Seoul Summer Beach at Gwanghwamun operating through Aug. 9, the Honey Jam Water Park at Hwarangdae Railway Park through Aug. 16, and the Gwangnaru Hangang Park water playground through Aug. 30. As another sweltering day settles over Seoul, the city keeps finding new ways to cool itself. Water rises between skyscrapers, drifts across the Han River and splashes through old railway tracks. For a few precious hours, the hottest city in the country becomes its biggest water park. 2026-08-06 19:00:19 -
Seoul's heatwave sparks highest alert People enjoy the water at the Gwangnaru Hangang Park swimming pool in Seoul on Aug. 5, 2026. Seoul issued its highest-level extreme heat warning across the entire city amid sweltering temperatures. 2026-08-05 17:15:50 -
Gwangnaru pool offers respite from heat People enjoy the water at the Gwangnaru Hangang Park swimming pool in Seoul on Aug. 5, 2026. Seoul issued its highest-level extreme heat warning across the entire city amid sweltering temperatures. 2026-08-05 17:14:20 -
Seoul Sizzles as Heat Wave Hits 37°C Heat haze shimmers above a road near a bus transfer center in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, as heat wave warnings were issued across most parts of South Korea on Aug. 3, 2026. The daytime high in Seoul soared to 37 degrees Celsius. 2026-08-03 17:01:47 -
Seoul Station Crowds Peak in Holiday Season Passengers wait for trains in the concourse of Seoul Station in central Seoul during the peak summer holiday season on the afternoon of Aug. 3, 2026. 2026-08-03 16:44:36 -
Namdaemun Market Announces Summer Break A notice informing visitors of summer vacation dates is posted at Namdaemun Market in central Seoul as the peak summer holiday season gets underway on Aug. 3, 2026. Vacation schedules for individual stores are available on the official website of Namdaemun Market, part of the Namdaemun Special Tourist Zone. 2026-08-03 16:25:52 -
Yeongdeungpo District Faces Scorching Heat Heat haze shimmers above a road near a bus transfer center in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, as heat wave warnings were issued across most parts of South Korea on Aug. 3, 2026. The daytime high in Seoul soared to 37 degrees Celsius. 2026-08-03 15:57:55 -
South Korea braces for prolonged heat as Yangsan nears 40 C SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) - South Korea's record-breaking heat wave is expected to persist through the first week of August, with the southeastern city of Yangsan forecast to approach 40 degrees Celsius again on Friday after two consecutive days above the mark. The Korea Meteorological Administration on Friday forecast daytime highs of 32-37 C nationwide, with mostly sunny skies across the southern regions and Jeju Island and partly cloudy conditions over central areas. Most of the country will continue to experience heat-wave conditions and tropical nights, with overnight temperatures remaining above 25 C in many areas. Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, is expected to reach 40 C, following highs of 40.3 C on both Tuesday and Wednesday. If temperatures top 40 C for a third straight day, it would mark the first such streak since the historic summer of 2018, widely regarded as South Korea's worst heat wave this century. Including observations from automated weather stations, South Korea has recorded only two previous instances since 1973 in which temperatures exceeded 40 C for at least three consecutive days. One occurred in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, from Aug. 1-3, 2018, while another lasted four consecutive days in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, during the same month. Elsewhere on Friday, Busan, Changwon and Gimhae are expected to reach 39 C, while Daegu will climb to 36 C, Gwangju 35 C, Seoul and Daejeon 34 C, and Incheon 32 C. The weather agency said little relief is in sight. Weekend temperatures are forecast to range between 21-27 C in the morning and 32-38 C during the day, while similar conditions are expected to continue into next week. Its medium-range outlook projects morning lows of 24-27 C and daytime highs of 33-38 C from Aug. 4-10, indicating the current heat wave will remain largely unchanged. Strong sunshine is also expected to push ozone concentrations to "bad" levels Friday afternoon across the Seoul metropolitan area, Chungcheong, Jeolla, Busan, Ulsan, and much of North and South Gyeongsang provinces. Authorities advised vulnerable groups to limit outdoor activities because elevated ozone can aggravate respiratory and skin conditions. 2026-07-31 09:19:33