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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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 -
Annual beauty trade fair opens in Seoul with over 800 booths SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - A trade fair for cosmetics and beauty products kicked off at COEX in southern Seoul on Wednesday. Organized by Korea International Exhibition, the three-day expo, dubbed "CosmoBeauty Seoul" and now in its 40th year, brought together hundreds of companies and industry professionals as well as buyers around the world, with around 800 booths showcasing a diverse range of cosmetics from haircare and nail products to spa services, inner beauty products, and smart beauty devices. Foreign buyers and international visitors crowded the booths as soon as the fair opened, while companies demonstrated innovative products and beauty technologies. Among the highlights is a pavilion featuring products from small and medium-sized companies seeking to expand into overseas markets, supported by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. According to organizers, about 180 overseas buyers were invited to the fair, where export consultations and business matching programs will be available, along with various events including seminars and lectures on industry trends and marketing strategies. 2026-05-27 17:21:55 -
Lanterns adorn temples nationwide as South Korea celebrates Buddha's Birthday SEOUL, May 24 (AJP) - Buddhist temples across South Korea held celebrations on Sunday for Buddha's Birthday, one of the country's major religious holidays, as lantern-lit temple grounds drew worshippers, locals and foreign tourists. The day commemorating the birth of Buddha falls on the eighth day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar and has been observed as a national holiday in South Korea since 1975. At Bongeunsa in southern Seoul, colorful traditional lanterns and large ceremonial displays adorned the temple grounds during the annual celebration. Visitors participated in various events and programs as they explored the temple beneath rows of glowing lanterns. 2026-05-24 17:36:45 -
AMCHAM invites former White House acting chief of staff Mulvaney SEOUL, May 21 (AJP) - The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea hosted a special luncheon seminar at Grand Hyatt Seoul on Wednesday, inviting former White House Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney to discuss the future direction of U.S. policy under a possible second Donald Trump administration. The event, titled “The Return of America First: What Trump 2.0 Means for Business and Geopolitics,” focused on shifting U.S. policy priorities, global trade realignment and the broader implications for international business and South Korea-U.S. economic relations. During the luncheon session, Mulvaney shared insights into policymaking processes inside the Trump administration and discussed strategic priorities expected to shape the evolving geopolitical and economic landscape. The discussion also explored potential impacts of “America First” policies on global supply chains, trade and investment, and the changing regulatory environment affecting multinational businesses. 2026-05-21 14:33:28 -
South Korea Prepares for Local Election Campaign Season as Posters Fill Seoul Streets SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) -Stacks of campaign posters wait to be sorted as election officials inspect candidate materials at the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission in Seoul on May 20, on the eve of South Korea’s official campaign season for the June 3 local elections. Beginning May 21, the country’s streets, subway exits and neighborhood intersections will transform into a sea of banners, loudspeakers and campaign trucks as candidates fan out nationwide for 13 days of rallies and public speeches. Election posters will begin appearing at designated sites across Seoul and other cities by May 22, while households are set to receive campaign booklets introducing candidates and policy pledges by May 24. Under election rules, candidates may campaign in public from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., though amplified broadcasts are restricted after 9 p.m. Social media, text messaging and online campaigning remain permitted throughout the election period, reflecting how digital platforms have become as central to Korean elections as street corners and traditional stump speeches. The National Election Commission also warned against the spread of AI-generated deepfake videos and false online information, both prohibited under election law ahead of the vote. 2026-05-21 09:01:33 -
Rain drenches Seoul and cools off unseasonable heat wave SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - Rain drenched Seoul and surrounding areas on Wednesday, offering some relief from the unseasonable heat wave in May. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the rain that began overnight in central and southern regions is forecast to spread across most parts of the country, with up to 80 millimeters of rainfall expected in Seoul, Incheon and other areas of Gyeonggi Province. The much-needed rain to end a late-spring drought sharply lowered temperatures, with morning lows ranging from 15 to 19 degrees Celsius and daytime highs between 18 and 23 degrees Celsius, easing recent unseasonably hot weather. Strong winds are also forecast across many regions later in the day, with the KMA urging caution over facility safety and outdoor activities. 2026-05-20 14:37:36 -
Months-long exhibition in Seoul showcases over 170 works by abstract art pioneer SEOUL, May 19 (AJP) - A retrospective exhibition honoring Yoo Youngkuk, a pioneer of South Korea's experimental abstract art, opened in Seoul on Tuesday, offering a rare opportunity to appreciate his works over his six-decade career. Marking the 110th anniversary of Yoo's birth, the exhibition at the Seoul Museum of Art in central Seoul runs until late October as part of the museum's first series featuring major South Korean modern artists. The exhibition features more than 170 works including 115 oil paintings, drawings, sculptures, and photographs, spanning Yoo's life from 1916 to 2002. Fifteen previously unreleased works are also on display. It traces Yoo's artistic journey from his early study of abstract art in Japan in 1937 to his final paintings in 1999. It includes his bold geometric works from the 1960s through the 1980s as well as his later pieces, where sharp angles give way to softer, more lyrical interpretations of nature. Widely regarded as the country's pioneer of abstract painting, Yoo drew inspiration from the mountains and other natural landscapes of his hometown of Uljin in North Gyeongsang Province. Using vivid colors and bold, simplified geometric forms, he developed a distinctive visual language rooted in nature. In particular, mountains became a major theme in Yoo's work, but he never painted them as they appeared. Instead, he used abstract shapes and colors to convey the feeling and energy of the natural landscape. The exhibition, which runs until Oct. 25, also includes works reportedly collected by RM, the leader of K-pop group BTS. 2026-05-19 16:15:48