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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South Korea swelters through hottest vacation weekend SEOUL, July 26 (AJP) — South Korea's peak summer vacation season opened under suffocating heat on Sunday, with the heat index approaching 38 degrees Celsius across parts of the country's south, prompting heat-related deaths, livestock losses and a mass exodus to beaches and water parks. The Korea Meteorological Administration maintained its highest-level heat warnings across parts of North Gyeongsang, South Gyeongsang, South Jeolla and Daegu, where apparent temperatures climbed to around 38C. Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, recorded an afternoon high of 39.3C, surpassing the previous day's 39.1C and marking one of the hottest temperatures of the summer. Seoul, the greater capital region, Gangwon, Chungcheong and Jeju also endured heat indices near 36C. The prolonged heat wave has begun taking a growing human toll. A Thai farm worker in his 30s collapsed while working in a field in Haenam, South Jeolla Province, on Friday and later died after being taken to hospital in what authorities suspect was heatstroke. Earlier this month, an octogenarian woman in Jeju also died after suffering heat-related illness. Several other workers required emergency treatment over the weekend, including a fisherman who collapsed while hauling fishing nets off Yeosu. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 1,232 people had been treated for heat-related illnesses nationwide this year as of July 23, with five fatalities reported. The heat has also devastated livestock farms. Nearly 20,000 animals, including chickens, ducks and pigs, had died from heat stress in North Chungcheong Province alone by July 24, forcing farmers to operate cooling pads, ventilation systems and ice supplies around the clock. The heat offered little relief overnight. Most regions recorded tropical nights between Saturday evening and Sunday morning, with temperatures remaining above 25C, while Busan experienced its seventh consecutive tropical night. Despite the dangerous conditions, beaches, rivers and water parks were packed as families sought relief during the busiest holiday period of the year. Major beaches including Haeundae, Gwangalli and Songjeong in Busan remained crowded after attracting more than 366,000 visitors on Saturday. Jeju's Hamdeok, Hyeopjae and Jungmun beaches also saw large crowds, while surfers filled Songjeong Beach and tourists flocked to Gangneung's Gyeongpo Beach and Sokcho on the east coast. The Boryeong Mud Festival, which opened Friday, also drew large numbers of visitors to Daecheon Beach. In contrast, downtown streets in Daegu, Pohang and Gyeongju were noticeably quieter as residents avoided the blistering afternoon sun, opting instead for shopping malls, department stores and indoor cultural venues. Forecasters expect the intense heat to persist into the coming week, with tropical nights likely to continue across much of the country. 2026-07-26 16:57:46 -
Sanhwabi brings Korea's living heritage to Busan stage BUSAN, July 25 (AJP) - A special performance titled "Sanhwabi" filled BEXCO Auditorium in Busan, presented as part of the Intangible Heritage Festival in Busan celebrating the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. South Korea is hosting the committee for the first time since joining the World Heritage Convention in 1988. The 11-day session opened on July 19 and runs through July 29 at BEXCO, bringing together delegates from around the world to decide World Heritage inscriptions and set conservation and management policy. Directed and conceived by Nam In-woo, Sanhwabi explored the roots and future of Korea's intangible heritage, presenting tradition not as a relic but as a living cultural asset that continues to evolve. The production traced how traditional culture weathered the colonial period and rapid modernization, then reached for what comes next, layering media art, electronic music and contemporary stage design over traditional performing arts. The auditorium was nearly full with citizens and committee participants, and applause carried through the evening. Participation was built into the show rather than added to it. In the "Pan" segment, a traditional lion dance pulled audience members in among the performers, and in the closing "Ye" segment, people of all ages climbed on stage to perform alongside the cast. Korea Heritage Service administrator Heo Min joined them to deliver closing remarks, ending the night as a celebration of community and shared heritage. Sanhwabi was staged as one of the signature cultural events of the committee session. 2026-07-25 13:41:19 -
Korea Pavilion shows nation's heritage to world SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - The Republic of Korea Pavilion, the official host country exhibition for the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, is introducing Korea's cultural heritage to visitors from around the world at BEXCO in Busan. South Korea is hosting the committee for the first time since joining the World Heritage Convention in 1988. The 11-day session opened on July 19 and runs through July 29, bringing together delegates and heritage experts to decide which sites join the World Heritage List and how existing ones are conserved and managed. The committee is reviewing 30 new nominations and three proposals to expand or modify existing listings, and assessing the conservation status of 147 properties already on the list. For the host country, the biggest items on the agenda are the expansion of Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats, which added the tidal flats of Yeosu, Goheung, Muan and Seosan on Saturday, and follow-up measures on Japan's Sado mine complex, where Koreans were forced to work during Japan's colonial rule. Inside the pavilion, 35 organizations, including government agencies, local governments, religious orders and foundations, present Korea's World Heritage, Intangible Cultural Heritage and Memory of the World inscriptions alongside national heritage policy and international cooperation programs. Delegates and visitors moved through the halls, listening to guides, posing for photographs, and trying hands-on programs, with displays pairing traditional heritage and digital technology that drew some of the largest crowds. The pavilion is open through July 29, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in Halls 2B, 3A and 3B of BEXCO's Exhibition Hall 1. Admission is free for committee participants and the general public alike. 2026-07-25 12:26:48 -
One ordinary workday, one task at a time SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) - At 10 a.m., an hour before the first customers arrive, the lights flick on inside a modest Kimchi stew restaurant tucked into Hyehwa neighborhood, southwestern district on Seoul. Three aprons are tied almost simultaneously. One employee wipes tables. Another arranges bowls into neat stacks. In the kitchen, vegetables are trimmed and ingredients portioned for the lunchtime rush. Before opening, everyone gathers around one table to eat together — breakfast and lunch folded into a single quiet meal. There is little conversation. Everyone already knows what comes next. By 11 a.m., silence gives way to routine. "Welcome." The greeting repeats each time the entrance door swings open. One worker patiently guides first-time customers through the self-order kiosk. Another clears dishes before new diners sit down. Behind the counter, Kimchi stew bubbles while bowls of rice disappear almost as quickly as they are prepared. No one waits to be told. Each task naturally leads to another. Nothing about the restaurant immediately sets it apart from thousands of neighborhood eateries across Seoul. Only after spending time here does the difference emerge. The staff are young adults with borderline intellectual functioning, employed through Youth Mungan's "Slow Store" program. People with borderline intellectual functioning generally score between 71 and 84 on IQ tests. Though estimated to make up more than one in ten South Koreans, they fall outside the legal definition of intellectual disability and often receive little structured support after leaving school. Inside this restaurant, however, labels matter less than routines. Every movement has been practiced. Opening the store. Preparing vegetables. Serving customers. Cleaning tables. Closing the register. The work has been broken into small steps, repeated until they become familiar. The manuals remain nearby. Most days, they are no longer needed. Youth Mungan did not begin with employment. Catholic priest Lee Moon-soo opened the restaurant years ago after learning that a young man had died alone from hunger in a tiny rented room. His answer was simple: affordable Kimchi stew for struggling young people. Later came another request. Parents asked whether their children—young adults with borderline intellectual functioning—might simply be given a chance to work. Today there are five Youth Mungan restaurants across Seoul. Four operate as Slow Stores. The lunch rush eventually fades. Steam no longer rises from the kitchen. The dining room grows quiet again. Several kilometers away at another Slow Store in Nakseongdae, 27-year-old Kim Ji-woo begins preparing for closing. Portable gas burners are disinfected one by one. Tables are wiped. The self-service station is cleaned. Nearby, Kim Min-seong washes dishes while Jang Min-gyu organizes ingredients for tomorrow. Ji-woo checks each item on the closing list. Turn off the kiosk. Portion the rice. Clean the coffee machine. The checklist sits beside him, though his hands rarely need to look at it anymore. At 4 p.m., the aprons come off. They are folded carefully. Quiet goodbyes are exchanged. The workers leave for home. Customers stop noticing them long before that moment. Perhaps that is the point. Nothing about the day feels extraordinary. The restaurant simply opens, serves lunch and closes again. The story of Youth Mungan's Slow Stores is not about overcoming disability. It is about what happens when enough time is given to learn. Patience replaces urgency. Repetition becomes confidence. A checklist becomes memory. And another ordinary working day comes to an end—one task, one customer and one shift at a time. 2026-07-23 17:54:52 -
Job fair in Seoul helps young people discover career paths SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - Many job seekers and recent graduates have been flocking to an annual job fair in Seoul this week. The four-day fair, organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOC), kicked off at aT Center in Yangjae, southern Seoul earlier this week and runs through Friday, featuring more than 150 booths. Held under the slogan "Discover Yourself, Open Your Future," the fair offers a wide range of career-related programs including job counseling, mentoring, consultations and lectures to help young people discover their interests and prepare for their future careers. Visitors can also take part in interactive activities and receive expert guidance to learn more about different occupations across various industries. They can also explore an exhibition showcasing 73 award-winning student projects from career-themed competitions. The fair is free and open to all including elementary, middle, and high school students, parents, and teachers, though they must make reservations in advance. Expecting around 40,000 visitors, the SMOC has arranged charter buses for group visitors and strengthened safety measures in cooperation with police and fire authorities. 2026-07-16 18:05:59 -
2026 Korea Drone Expo hosts thrilling match INCHEON, July 15 (AJP) - A drone soccer match takes place during the Drone Soccer Grand Prix at the 2026 Korea Drone & UAM Expo at Songdo Convensia in Yeonsu District, Incheon, on July 15, 2026. 2026-07-15 15:50:43 -
Drone soccer grand prix thrills in Incheon INCHEON, July 15 (AJP) - A Taiwanese player inspects a drone after a match against Hong Kong during the Drone Soccer Grand Prix at the 2026 Korea Drone & UAM Expo at Songdo Convensia in Yeonsu District, Incheon, on July 15, 2026. 2026-07-15 15:48:09 -
Korea drone expo hosts thrilling match INCHEON, July 15 (AJP) - A Taiwanese player inspects a drone after a match against Hong Kong during the Drone Soccer Grand Prix at the 2026 Korea Drone & UAM Expo at Songdo Convensia in Yeonsu District, Incheon, on July 15, 2026. 2026-07-15 15:46:25 -
Incheon hosts thrilling drone soccer match INCHEON, July 15 (AJP) - Hong Kong players compete against Taiwan during the Drone Soccer Grand Prix at the 2026 Korea Drone & UAM Expo at Songdo Convensia in Yeonsu District, Incheon, on July 15, 2026. 2026-07-15 15:44:12 -
Grounded by silence: Waiting for Korea's flying future INCHEON, July 15 (AJP) - The future of Korean aviation spent Wednesday sitting quietly on a launch pad. It was supposed to rise above Songdo's skyline at 10 a.m. Instead, it never left the ground. Long before the scheduled demonstration, spectators, engineers, investors and journalists gathered outside the INU Innovation Center at the University of Incheon. A steady drizzle swept across the flight zone as umbrellas dotted the viewing area, prompting quiet speculation over whether the weather would spoil South Korea's first public flight demonstration of a privately developed urban air mobility aircraft. Then came an unexpected twist. Just before 10 a.m., the rain stopped. The clouds remained low, but the air grew still. Umbrellas disappeared almost simultaneously as camera lenses replaced them. Television crews adjusted tripods. Photographers crouched along the safety barriers searching for the perfect takeoff angle. Smartphones rose above the crowd. At the center of every lens stood a sleek white aircraft developed by Sambo Motors Group, its multiple rotors poised for vertical flight. Nothing happened. Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. Then forty. The aircraft remained perfectly still, its propellers silent against a grey sky. Around it, however, the scene never stopped moving. Engineers repeatedly approached the aircraft, checking instruments before stepping back. Event staff hurried between control stations speaking into radios. Organizers periodically addressed the waiting crowd, promising another update in a few minutes. The audience developed its own rhythm of patience. Some checked weather apps. Others refreshed social media. Several university students who had slipped out between classes lingered for as long as they could before reluctantly returning to campus buildings overlooking the flight site. Professional photographers kept their long lenses trained on the aircraft, unwilling to risk lowering them in case the rotors suddenly sprang to life. They never did. Eventually came the announcement. The demonstration would be postponed until Thursday after radio signal interference prevented a safe flight. Sambo Motors officials said the aircraft had successfully completed earlier demonstration flights in Taean and had flown without incident during rehearsals only a day before. Engineers will analyze flight data before attempting another public flight. Disappointment rippled through the crowd. But few people left immediately. Instead, many walked closer to the aircraft, photographing details that would have disappeared into the sky had the demonstration gone ahead. Children pointed toward the rotors. Engineers answered questions. Visitors circled the aircraft from every angle, examining a machine designed to one day rise above city traffic. Perhaps that was fitting. Urban air mobility is still an industry waiting for liftoff. The technology promises electric aircraft carrying passengers and cargo across cities, supported by vertiports, digital traffic management systems and autonomous flight software. South Korea hopes to begin public UAM services in 2028, following years of government-backed demonstrations. Wednesday's aircraft represented another milestone—the first public appearance of a UAM aircraft developed by a South Korean private company. Nearby, the 2026 Korea Drone & UAM Expo at Songdo Convensia buzzed with optimism. More than 130 companies showcased autonomous drones, AI flight systems, delivery technologies and future mobility platforms. Inside the exhibition halls, the future appeared almost inevitable. Outside, it proved considerably more fragile. A burst of radio interference was enough to keep an aircraft firmly planted on the ground. For one long morning, Korea's flying future never actually flew. Yet hundreds of eyes remained fixed on a motionless aircraft until the very end, as if simply seeing it there—waiting—was enough to remind everyone that every new era of transportation begins not with a routine flight, but with a first attempt. Sometimes, even the waiting becomes part of the journey. 2026-07-15 15:32:26