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

Nvidia CEO meets SNU students before wrapping up whirlwind Seoul trip SEOUL, June 8 (AJP) - Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who has become the talk of the town due to his high-profile visit to Seoul, met with students at Seoul National University on Monday. Huang attended an on-campus event at the country's top university in southwestern Seoul, where participants were introduced to an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted platform called "OpenClaw." He also delivered a 15-minute lecture on AI technology and its impact on future industries. Huang woke early in the morning to visit key business partners including SK Group and LG Group. Later in the day, he is also scheduled to visit automaker Hyundai Motor Group’s headquarters in Yangjae, southern Seoul, and online portal Naver's headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Since his arrival in Seoul last Friday, Huang has kept a busy schedule, mingling with business leaders at informal gatherings that began with grilled pork belly and a mix of soju and beer at a barbecue restaurant, before moving to a nearby fried chicken restaurant for a late-night second round. He also threw the ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game and joined another gathering over fried chicken and beer. He is set to wrap up his stay here later in the day or early Tuesday. 2026-06-08 16:30:45
Election officials make final preparations ahead of local elections SEOUL, June 2 (AJP) - Election officials were making final preparations across the country on Tuesday, just a day ahead of this year's local elections. They inspected polling stations while testing ballot machines and conducting simulations to ensure smooth vote counting. According to the National Election Commission (NEC), polling stations nationwide will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Voters will be allowed to cast their ballots at designated polling stations based on their registered residential address and must present a valid photo ID such as a resident registration card, driver's license or passport. After voting concludes, ballot boxes will be sent to counting centers across the country for machine sorting and manual checks to tally the results. The elections, held every four years, will choose about 4,000 officials this time including metropolitan mayors, provincial governors, local government heads and education superintendents, and fill other vacancies. 2026-06-02 17:08:36
Thousands enjoy Seoul in early summer vibe through palace walking event SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - Foreign residents, international students and tourists explored Seoul's historic palaces and cultural landmarks during the 2026 Seoul Foreign Palace Walking Event held in central Seoul on Sunday. Hosted by Aju Economic Daily, the event brought together participants from various countries, including China, Japan, the United States, France, India, Vietnam and Mexico, as well as Korean citizens. Participants followed a roughly 7-kilometer route starting from Gwanghwamun Square and passing through Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon, Changdeokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace and Jogyesa Temple, offering a unique opportunity to experience Korea's history and traditional culture in the heart of the capital. Many foreign participants stopped to take photographs and admire the scenery around the historic palaces and Bukchon Hanok Village, experiencing firsthand the blend of traditional heritage and modern urban life that characterizes Seoul. The event was held as part of the Cheong Wa Dae-Seoul Five Grand Palaces Trekking Festival, the nation's only palace-themed walking festival. Organizers expanded the program to twice a year, in spring and autumn, beginning last year. In addition to the walking course, visitors enjoyed cultural performances and K-culture photo zones featuring royal costumes, royal physicians and palace guards. Participants dressed in traditional attire and posed for commemorative photos throughout the venue. The opening ceremony was attended by Lim Kwu-jin, president of Aju Economic Daily; Gil Gi-yeon, chief executive officer of the Seoul Tourism Organization; Cho Tae-sook, chairperson of the Seoul Tourism Association; Jacques Flies, the Ambassador of Luxembourg to South Korea; and Wray Mulendema Hamweene, minister counsellor at the Embassy of Zambia to South Korea. The event provided foreign visitors with an opportunity to experience Seoul's cultural heritage while promoting the city's historic palaces and traditional attractions to an international audience. 2026-06-02 15:26:00
National cemeteries see surge of visitors as South Korea commemorates Korean War SEOUL, June 1 (AJP) - Visitors have been flocking to national cemeteries across the country to pay tribute to fallen soldiers and war heroes, as June is observed as the month commemorating the Korean War (1950~1953). Many visitors paid tribute with flowers and moments of silence at the Seoul National Cemetery in southern Seoul, where soldiers and others who died for the nation are laid to rest. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs plans to hold various events, programs, and memorial services for veterans and their families across the country as part of efforts to raise awareness of the sacrifices and contributions of war veterans, independence fighters, and national merit recipients. 2026-06-01 17:43:44
New York–inspired fashion brand opens flagship store in Seoul's Yeonnam-dong SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - Contemporary designer brand CARLYN held the grand opening of its new flagship store in Seoul's trendy neighborhood of Yeonnam-dong on Friday. Known for its New York–inspired modern aesthetic, CARLYN has built a following among young consumers in South Korea and across Asia for its handbags and accessories. The new four-story store features an exterior inspired by the brand's signature quilting design, with spaces divided into four themes — "volume," "freedom," "lightness," and "colorways" —offering visitors an immersive experience of the brand's collections. Located in Seoul's hip district near Hongik University areas, a popular destination for young people and international tourists, the store is expected to attract plenty of visitors and raise the brand's profile. The opening event was attended by Wendy of K-pop girl group Red Velvet, Yook Sung-jae of boy group BTOB, Leeseo of girl group IVE, as well as Thai actors EMI, BONNIE and MIK. 2026-05-29 16:01:27
Nexon's 'MapleStory' brings fantasy world to life in southern Seoul SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - Game developer Nexon's iconic game "MapleStory" has taken over southern Seoul with giant monster installations and themed attractions as part of a large-scale event marking its 23rd anniversary. The monthlong event, in collaboration with the Lotte Group, runs until June 21 around Lotte World Tower and Seokchon Lake in Jamsil, bringing the world of the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) to life. At the lawn of Lotte World Tower, visitors can explore a themed exhibition inspired by Henesys, one of the most recognizable towns in "MapleStory." Giant sculptures of iconic monsters including "Orange Mushroom" and "Slime" are also on display. At nearby Seokchon Lake, game-themed art balloons have drawn crowds of residents, tourists and "MapleStory" fans. The oversized installations stand out against Seoul's urban skyline and have become popular photo spots. Visitors can take commemorative photos, explore interactive exhibition spaces and experience the game's fantasy world in real life, along with augmented reality mini-games, a stamp rally and a pop-up store. 2026-05-29 15:32:29
Early voting begins nationwide for June 3 local elections SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - Voters on Friday began casting ballots in early voting for the June 3 local elections at 3,571 polling stations across the country. Eligible voters may cast their ballots at any polling station nationwide from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, regardless of their registered address. A valid photo ID, such as a resident registration card, passport or driver's license, is required to cast a ballot. The elections next week will choose about 4,000 officials including metropolitan mayors, provincial governors, local government heads and education superintendents, and fill other vacancies. Details on polling stations and voting information are available on the National Election Commission's website or through its hotline at 1390. 2026-05-29 15:26:12
Campus dips into May festival mood SEOUL, May 28 (AJP) - Students and visitors filled the campus of Yonsei University in western Seoul on Wednesday as university festival season continued across South Korea. Club band performances and student-run booths took place throughout the Sinchon campus near central Seoul, while students wearing school uniforms and varsity jackets moved between food stalls and performance areas, enjoying the festive atmosphere. International students were also seen joining the celebrations and experiencing South Korea’s distinctive campus festival culture. Yonsei University is holding its four-day Muak Daedongje festival, titled “UNIT:Y,” to mark the school’s 141st anniversary. The festival began on May 26 with the “Blue Run” event organized with the student council’s athletics department. On May 27, the university’s international campus in Songdo, Incheon, hosted water slide attractions, performances and food events. Events at the Sinchon campus in Seoul continue through May 29, featuring student booths, live performances and celebrity appearances along Baekyang-ro. Crowds gathered across the campus as students waited for celebrity performances and enjoyed live music by campus bands, adding to the lively atmosphere of the annual university festival. 2026-05-28 18:59:39
KOSPI 8,000 mark under threat in first week on rate hike warning SEOUL, May 28 (AJP) -Foreign and institutional investors rattled by escalating U.S.-Iran tensions and the Bank of Korea’s strongest-yet signal of aggressive tightening hammered South Korean equities Thursday, threatening to drag the KOSPI back below the 8,000 mark first breached earlier this week. The benchmark index plunged as low as 7,841 before paring losses to close at 8,114.01, as retail investors rushed in late to scoop up semiconductor heavyweights dumped by institutions. Samsung Electronics fell around 3 percent after sliding as much as 5 percent intraday, while SK hynix erased steep early losses to rebound into positive territory. The chipmaker, which tumbled to as low as 2,151,000 won, recovered to 2,260,000 won by late trading, up 0.76 percent on aggressive retail buying. The selloff accelerated after new Bank of Korea Governor Shin Hyun-song, presiding over his first rate-setting meeting, delivered the clearest warning yet that borrowing costs may rise sharply in the months ahead. “All the signs — price pressure, the growth trajectory, the exchange rate and the real estate market — point in one clear direction,” Shin said, describing the rate outlook as “exceptionally clear.” Shin framed the policy debate around three questions — “when,” “how fast” and “how far” rates may rise — while the central bank’s latest dot plot suggested the benchmark rate could climb as high as 3.25 percent within the year. The remarks sent fresh shockwaves through a retail-driven market rally increasingly fueled by leveraged bets, raising fears that higher borrowing costs could quickly unwind the stock frenzy that has propelled the KOSPI to record territory. 2026-05-28 15:18:13
Love affair with Chanel goes both ways for South Korea SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - South Koreans love Chanel, and the fashion house loses Korean right back. For a few hours on Tuesday, the streets of Yeouido in western Seoul felt less like a business district and more like the center of the global fashion world. Long before the show began, the venue for Chanel’s 2026 Métiers d’Art Collection in Seoul was already overflowing with cameras, flashing lights and tightly packed photographers lining the photo wall. Every new arrival triggered a fresh wave of shutter clicks as celebrities stepped briefly into the spotlight before disappearing inside. The event unfolded in two sessions, but the rhythm remained the same throughout the evening — black cars pulling in one after another, security teams moving quickly, photographers shouting names in unison and celebrities pausing for only seconds beneath the barrage of flashes. Among those drawing the loudest reactions were Kim Go-eun, Park Seo-joon, Ko Youn-jung and Lee Jung-jae, alongside Kazuha of LE SSERAFIM. International guests added to the global scale of the evening. Japanese artist CHANMINA, Taiwanese actress Gwei Lun-mei, longtime Chanel ambassador Tilda Swinton and French actress Marion Cotillard each took their turn before the cameras, dressed in sharply tailored Chanel looks that blended classic silhouettes with theatrical detail. The photo calls themselves lasted only moments. Celebrities posed briefly for full-body shots and close-ups before staff quickly guided them inside. Photographers continued firing nonstop, racing to capture expressions, gestures and head-to-toe looks within a narrow time window before the next arrival appeared. The Métiers d’Art Collection occupies a special place within Chanel’s calendar. First launched in 2002, the project highlights the craftsmanship of the house’s artisan ateliers — the embroidery studios, feather makers, jewelers and textile specialists that preserve traditional couture techniques behind the scenes. Each year, the collection travels to a different global city, merging Chanel’s heritage with local cultural inspiration. This year’s Seoul presentation carried additional attention as it marked the Asian unveiling of the first Métiers d’Art collection by creative director Matthieu Blazy, first shown in New York last December. The choice of Seoul reflected a broader shift already visible across the luxury industry. As K-pop, Korean dramas and Korean celebrity culture continue expanding their global reach, Seoul has increasingly become a major stop for luxury houses staging large-scale runway shows, exhibitions and ambassador events. International celebrities now regularly fly into the city for campaigns and fashion presentations that spread instantly across social media platforms worldwide. By the time the final guests disappeared inside, the pace outside never fully slowed. Photographers remained in position, cameras raised, waiting for one more arrival beneath the flood of lights. For one night, Seoul moved to the sound of camera shutters — another global fashion spectacle added to the city’s rapidly growing luxury stage. 2026-05-27 17:51:01