Aju Press - Asia News Hub

Journalist

Yoo Na-hyun유나현

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

Protesters rally with alpaca in Seoul SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - A protester walks with an alpaca during a blockade demonstration outside the Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's Olympic Park on June 17, where protesters have continued rallies over ballot shortages reported during South Korea's June 3 local elections. AJP Yoo Na-hyun 2026-06-17 15:12:27
Occupation Jamsil turns into political battleground SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - South Korean and American flags fluttered in the scorching summer heat, handmade signs covered the sidewalks and hundreds of protesters occupied entrances to Seoul's Olympic Park on Tuesday as the Jamsil demonstrations entered their 12th day, turning a dispute over ballot shortages into a broader political confrontation over democratic legitimacy. What began as a protest over ballot shortages reported during the June 3 local elections has evolved into one of South Korea's most visible post-election flashpoints, drawing in police, sports authorities, rival political parties and the presidential office. The Olympic Handball Gymnasium, a venue usually associated with athletes and international competitions, has become the unlikely center of a national debate over voting rights, election administration and the limits of civil resistance. From Olympic Park Station to the vote-counting center, demonstrators lined the roads carrying handwritten placards calling for revotes, same-day voting and manual ballot counting. Many waved large national flags while others sat on portable chairs under makeshift tents. Every few minutes, groups spontaneously broke into the national anthem before chants resumed. Dozens of photographers rotated through the site throughout the day, documenting a scene that increasingly resembled a semi-permanent encampment rather than a temporary rally. The atmosphere alternated between calm and tense. Police officers maintained a perimeter around the Handball Gymnasium and controlled access points to the building, occasionally engaging in verbal exchanges with demonstrators seeking to block entry. Earlier in the day, senior members of the conservative People Power Party, including Jang Dong-hyeok, visited the site and met protesters gathered outside the venue. The party has since filed election petitions in six regions, including parts of Seoul, seeking partial revotes in areas affected by ballot shortages. Demonstrators argue that the shortages warrant a broader investigation into election management and have called for greater transparency in ballot-counting procedures. Election authorities, however, insist that voting and counting were conducted in accordance with existing regulations and have rejected allegations of systemic wrongdoing. The prolonged occupation has also produced unintended consequences. Nine sports federations housed inside the Handball Gymnasium have reported disruptions to daily operations and preparations for international competitions. South Korea's national fencing team departed for the Asian Championships in New Delhi this week without access to equipment stored inside federation offices, forcing athletes to borrow gear before departure. What began as a technical dispute over election administration has now become something larger: a contest over who gets to define democratic legitimacy in South Korea. At the center of Olympic Park, between rows of national flags and stacks of handwritten placards, protesters insist they are defending voting rights, while authorities argue the demonstrations have crossed into unlawful obstruction. As the occupation enters its second week, neither side appears willing to back down, leaving Jamsil to stand as an increasingly potent symbol of a country still debating where peaceful protest ends and institutional paralysis begins. 2026-06-16 17:39:32
Occupation Jamsil moves to political forefront in Korea SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - What began as a citizen-led protest over ballot shortages has become one of South Korea's most contentious political flashpoints after the opposition leveraged the Jamsil demonstrations to advance a revote campaign. The 12-day demonstration outside the Handball Stadium at Seoul's Olympic Park escalated Tuesday when police and Korea Sport & Olympic Committee officials failed to enter the building after protesters blocked access. The protests gained additional political momentum after the People Power Party formally filed election petitions in six regions, seeking partial revotes in areas affected by ballot shortages. The move drew sharp criticism from the ruling Democratic Party, which accused conservatives of exploiting a legitimate voting-rights issue to advance broader election challenges. At around 9 a.m., police officers and Korea Sport & Olympic Committee personnel attempted to enter the Handball Stadium, which had served as a vote-counting center during the local elections, to retrieve equipment needed for daily operations. Protesters blocked entrances and refused to move despite repeated warnings. Police stressed that the operation was not intended to forcibly disperse demonstrators but to facilitate access for authorized personnel. Songpa police issued three separate warnings, saying obstructing officials carrying out their duties could constitute interference with official business. Participants gathered in front of the entrances waving South Korean flags, chanting, "No election fraud, revote, same-day voting and manual counting," and occasionally singing the national anthem. Numerous placards criticizing election authorities lined the area, while photojournalists rotated through the site documenting developments. "I've joined the protest for three days. We've all been peaceful. I cannot understand why the police are here," said a woman in her 60s. The prolonged blockade has increasingly disrupted the operations of nine sports federations housed inside the facility. The national fencing team departed Monday for the Asian Championships in New Delhi without being able to retrieve equipment stored in its offices, forcing athletes to borrow personal gear before leaving for India. The Korea Underwater & Fin Swimming Federation has also reported difficulties retrieving training materials needed to prepare for the upcoming World Fin Swimming Championships in Incheon. On Sunday, Korea Sport & Olympic Committee President Yoo Seung-min called for police intervention, warning that financial losses had reached 6 billion won and preparations for next year's Asian Games were being jeopardized. "While we respect the constitutional right to assembly and protest, no right should be exercised in a manner that infringes upon the rights of others or impairs public functions," Yoo said. The issue escalated further after PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok arrived at the scene and condemned the attempted police entry. "The authorities have crossed the line, and crossed it severely," Jang wrote earlier on social media before heading to Olympic Park. Calling on supporters to gather, he said, "I am going there now. Citizens, please join us. Let us protect our freedom and democracy together." The ruling camp responded forcefully. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok denounced the blockade as "a serious illegal act that can never be tolerated under any circumstances." Speaking at a cabinet meeting Monday, Kim said the government respected citizens' right to raise concerns over infringements on voting rights but rejected actions that infringed upon the rights of others. "It is impossible to justify privately controlling access for people who are legally authorized to enter their workplaces," Kim said. "If I am going to my own office, why should I be subject to inspections by private individuals? It is no surprise that the sports chief had to request public authority intervention." He instructed police to immediately act against illegal activities, collect evidence and ensure sports officials could safely access their workplaces. President Lee Jae Myung, who is on a European tour, also ordered a strict response. "Protests are a legitimate means of expressing opinions, but they must not infringe on the rights of others," Lee wrote on social media Sunday. He instructed police to thoroughly investigate not only those directly involved in obstructing operations but also anyone suspected of coordinating such activities. What appeared to be a breakthrough brokered by Jang to allow sports federation employees back into their offices collapsed when a woman in her 20s refused to budge, clinging to a tape-bound gate and single-handedly blocking access to the Jamsil vote-counting center. Jang told reporters at around 4 p.m. that he had instructed sports federation employees to withdraw because entry was no longer possible, ending mediation efforts just two hours after he had announced a compromise. Under the proposal, two staff members from each sports organization would have been allowed to enter their offices in stages to retrieve work materials, accompanied by People Power Party lawmakers and television cameras broadcasting the process live. Many protesters initially appeared to accept the arrangement, and preparations for entry had been completed before the woman began resisting at the gate. Lawmakers and several protesters spent nearly two hours attempting to persuade her, but she refused to move, forcing Jang to abandon the effort altogether. The collapse of the deal quickly triggered infighting among demonstrators, with shouting matches and profanity erupting between protesters over whether the blockade should continue. Police later arrested a man in his 40s on suspicion of aggravated assault after he allegedly attacked another protester with a stone. The woman blocking the entrance was not charged. At the end of the day, employees of sports federations and Yoo Seung-min, who had hoped to retrieve documents and resume work after 12 days of disruption, left the scene visibly disappointed. Protesters have blocked access to the facility, insisting that ballot boxes used in the June 3 local elections should not be removed until their concerns over ballot shortages and election procedures are fully addressed. 2026-06-16 13:41:52
Jang Dong-hyeok visits vote-counting center SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, visits the vote-counting center at the Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's Olympic Park on June 16, where protests over the June 3 local election have continued. AJP Yoo Na-hyun 2026-06-16 12:31:56
Protesters demand probe into ballot shortages SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - Participants chant slogans during a protest outside the Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's Olympic Park on June 16, calling for an investigation into ballot shortages reported during South Korea's June 3 local elections and continuing their "vote-counting center blockade" demonstration. AJP Yoo Na-hyun 2026-06-16 12:29:38
Police withdraw after forced entry to Jamsil vote venue fail SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) -Police withdrew Tuenday after an unsuccessful attempt to help employees of sports organizations re-enter Seoul's Olympic Handball Gymnasium, where protesters have blocked access to workplaces for 12 straight days since demonstrations over ballot shortages during the June 3 local elections began. Employees affiliated with the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee arrived at the venue in Seoul's Songpa district shortly after 9 a.m. and tried to negotiate entry through Gate 2-1 with demonstrators occupying the facility. A compromise proposal, under which equal numbers of protesters, police officers and employees would monitor activities inside the building, briefly gained support among some demonstrators but collapsed after others strongly objected. The employees were again denied access, and police later withdrew from the scene. Songpa Police issued two warnings during the morning, saying that preventing employees from entering their workplace could constitute obstruction of business under criminal law. Police also asked demonstrators to cooperate so staff members could return to their offices, but the occupation continued. The Olympic Handball Gymnasium has been occupied since June 5 by protesters seeking to block the removal of ballot boxes used during vote counting, following widespread public anger over ballot paper shortages during the June 3 local elections. The facility houses offices used by multiple sports organizations under the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, leaving dozens of employees unable to access their workplaces. Last week, employees publicly appealed for a return to normal operations. "We respect your right to protest. But we ask that you also respect our workplace. We want to return to our jobs," a group representing the workers said in a statement. The employees described themselves as "ordinary office workers who have diligently carried out their duties every day and supported Korean sports." Some said colleagues trapped inside during the early stages of the occupation had to climb out through windows to leave the building, while others attempting to enter were subjected to identification checks, bag inspections and verbal abuse. Workers also said they had been prevented from retrieving essential administrative items such as one-time password devices used for banking transactions, corporate credit cards and official seals, even when they offered to collect them under protesters' supervision. Sports organizations warned that disruptions are beginning to affect national certification examinations, preparations for international competitions and training support for athletes ahead of the 2026 Asian Games. The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee said it respects citizens' right to peaceful assembly but stressed that minimum access to workplaces and administrative functions must be guaranteed to prevent further disruption to national sports programs. The prolonged occupation is also presenting authorities with a growing dilemma: how to balance freedom of expression with the rights of unrelated workers and organizations caught in the middle of a political protest. For the employees still waiting outside their offices, however, the issue has become more immediate. "Why do we have to be the ones paying the price?" one worker said during last week's appeal. 2026-06-16 11:35:29
KOSPI refueled on U.S.-Iran preliminary deal SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI posted sharp gains on Monday, buoyed by investor optimism following news of a ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States. The KOSPI opened 402.50 points, or 4.95 percent, higher at 8,526.12 and extended its rally in early trading. The rapid advance triggered a buy-side sidecar six minutes after the market opened. The volatility control measure is activated when KOSPI 200 futures rise more than 5 percent from the reference price and maintain the gain for at least one minute, temporarily suspending program buy orders for five minutes. It marked the second consecutive trading session in which a buy-side sidecar was triggered, following a similar measure on June 12. The rally reflected improved investor sentiment as geopolitical tensions eased after the Iran-U.S. ceasefire agreement, boosting risk appetite across financial markets. 2026-06-16 08:21:45
Korea joins Pride Month SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) - South Korea's celebration of Pride Month is relatively young by global standards. The Seoul Queer Parade, now in its 27th year, is still modest in size compared with some of the world's largest Pride events that attract hundreds of thousands, and in some cases millions, of participants. Yet its growth has been striking. What began as a small gathering of about 2,000 people in 2000 has evolved into an event drawing tens of thousands each year, illustrating both growing visibility for South Korea's LGBTQ community and the persistent social debate surrounding it. This year's parade took place in central Seoul on Saturday, with organizers estimating attendance at about 50,000 people. Nearby, conservative Christian groups staged separate counterprotests that organizers said drew around 30,000 participants. Held under the slogan "Intersection, Connecting Differences," the event brought together LGBTQ community members alongside disability rights advocates, farmers' organizations and military human rights groups. Participants marched through Jongno and Jung districts carrying rainbow flags and banners promoting diversity and inclusion. Despite temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, downtown Seoul was filled with rainbow-colored capes, clothing and flags as participants walked from Jonggak Station past Myeongdong Cathedral and Seoul Plaza to Euljiro 1-ga Station. About 600 meters away, conservative Christian group Holy Breakwater held a separate rally opposing homosexuality and anti-discrimination legislation, marching toward Sungnyemun Gate. The simultaneous gatherings underscored the continuing divide over LGBTQ rights in South Korea, where public acceptance has expanded over the past two decades but remains more conservative than in many Western countries. Globally, Pride Month traces its origins to the Stonewall Riots of June 1969 in New York City, a watershed moment that transformed LGBTQ rights into an international civil rights movement. The first Pride march took place in New York in 1970, and June was officially designated as Pride Month in the United States in 2000. Today, Pride celebrations in cities such as São Paulo, Madrid, New York, Toronto, Sydney and Taipei attract hundreds of thousands to several million participants annually. While Seoul's event remains considerably smaller, its expansion from roughly 2,000 participants at the turn of the century to 50,000 today reflects a significant cultural shift in a country where discussions surrounding sexuality and identity remain deeply intertwined with broader social and political debates. 2026-06-16 08:20:43
CORTIS rocks Gwanghwamun before World Cup match SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - Boy group Cortis performs on stage before South Korea's Group A match against the Czech Republic at a public viewing event for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on June 12, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyun 2026-06-12 17:35:46
Bicycle band boosts spirits at World Cup 2026 SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - Dongmi Bicycle Music Band performs during a street cheering event for South Korea's Group A match against the Czech Republic at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on June 12, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyun 2026-06-12 17:33:33