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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Glowing lanterns greet Buddha's Birthday SEOUL, May 19 (AJP) - On an early summer night, thousands of colorful lanterns lit up the streets of Seoul as small lights gathered into a massive procession. The glowing lanterns reflected not only a long-standing tradition, but also a sense of community and shared hope. Ahead of Buddha's Birthday, the annual Yeondeunghoe took place on May 16 across central Seoul. Citizens and foreign visitors gathered along the route stretching from Heunginjimun Gate through Jongno to Jogyesa Temple, where the lantern parade slowly moved through the city under the night sky. As lanterns filled the streets with vivid colors, many spectators paused to photograph the scene with their phones, capturing one of Seoul’s most iconic spring traditions. Yeondeunghoe, also known as the Lotus Lantern Festival, is held to celebrate the birth of Buddha. The tradition of lighting lanterns ahead of Buddha’s Birthday has evolved over centuries into one of Korea’s best-known cultural festivals. In Buddhism, lanterns symbolize wisdom and compassion that illuminate darkness, while the act of lighting them represents prayers for peace, hope and the well-being of others. Korea’s lantern tradition dates back more than a thousand years. Historical records in the Samguk Sagi mention Silla kings viewing lantern displays at Hwangnyongsa Temple, while during the Goryeo Dynasty, the lantern festival developed into a nationwide state event with lanterns decorating palaces and streets alike. Even after the Joseon Dynasty, the custom survived as a folk tradition and continues today. Recognized for its historical and communal value, Yeondeunghoe was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020. Today, the festival has expanded beyond a religious ceremony into a large-scale public cultural event. Programs featuring child monk characters, traditional cultural performances and interactive street festivals encouraged both citizens and tourists to participate rather than simply observe. The lantern parade began at 7 p.m. near Heunginjimun Gate and continued for about three hours through downtown Seoul. About 50,000 participants from Buddhist temples and organizations across the country carried nearly 100,000 handmade lanterns through Jongno, sharing what organizers described as the light of wisdom and compassion with the public. The streets featured a wide range of lanterns, from traditional lotus-shaped lanterns to giant dragon and child monk displays. Foreign tourists, children and Buddhist monks walked side by side beneath the glowing lights as the lanterns swayed between the neon signs of Jongno. This year’s festival also drew attention for the participation of a robot monk and North Korean defectors, highlighting the festival’s message of inclusion beyond religion, nationality and generation. Jinwoo, head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, said during the lantern ceremony, “May our minds find peace, and may the world find harmony,” emphasizing the importance of lighting “lanterns of unity” to overcome division and hardship. Even after the procession ended, lantern lights continued to glow across Jongno late into the night. Swaying gently in the warm breeze, the small lights quietly illuminated the fast-moving city around them. 2026-05-19 16:11:19 -
Young adults mark Coming-of-Age Day with campus festivities SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - Coming-of-Age Day celebrations were held across the country on Monday, with universities marking the occasion for students turning 19 this year. Observed every third Monday of May, the day encourages young adults to embrace their new responsibilities as members of society. It has long been a tradition to give roses and perfume to those reaching adulthood, while universities and local communities have increasingly hosted events celebrating young people entering a new stage of life. 2026-05-18 15:43:59 -
Seoul sizzles as early summer heat pushes temperatures above 30C SEOUL, May 15 (AJP) -An unusually early summer heat spell swept across South Korea on Friday as temperatures in Seoul climbed above 30 degrees Celsius, driving citizens and foreign tourists toward fountains and shaded public spaces to escape the scorching weather. At Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, visitors crowded around fountain facilities and water features as children splashed through streams of water under clear blue skies. The scene reflected the growing popularity of outdoor urban cooling spots during Korea’s increasingly hotter and longer warm seasons. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, daytime highs nationwide were forecast to range between 22C and 32C, significantly above seasonal averages for mid-May. Morning lows ranged from 10C to 17C. Meteorologists said the hot and dry conditions arrived earlier than usual this year, fueled by warm southwesterly winds and strong daytime sunshine. Air quality across most regions was expected to remain at “good” to “moderate” levels, creating favorable conditions for outdoor activities and tourism despite the heat. Authorities also issued maritime visibility warnings as fog developed over parts of the West Sea and East Sea. Some island areas were expected to see visibility drop below 200 meters alongside light drizzle, raising concerns over maritime safety and ferry operations. Wave heights were forecast at 0.5 to 1 meter along the eastern and southern coasts, while offshore waves in parts of the South Sea could rise to around 2 meters. 2026-05-15 16:48:13 -
S. Korea celebrates birthday of Hangeul inventor King Sejong the Great SEOUL, May 15 (AJP) - South Korea has celebrated the 629th birthday of King Sejong the Great, the creator of the Korean alphabet Hangeul, with cultural programs and hands-on experiences at Gyeongbokgung Palace in central Seoul on May 15. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said commemorative events took place at Heungnyemun Square inside Gyeongbokgung Palace, offering visitors a chance to experience the Korean language and traditional culture through interactive programs. Visitors participated in activities including ink-rubbing prints of the Hunminjeongeum preface, making the traditional Korean sundial “Angbuilgu,” multimedia Hangeul experiences, and crafting the traditional Korean bamboo flute “danso.” King Sejong, one of Korea’s most respected historical figures, created Hangeul in the 15th century to improve literacy among ordinary people. Hangeul is widely recognized for its scientific and easy-to-learn writing system and remains a key symbol of Korean cultural identity. Traditional performances including the royal military music “Daechwita” and court music piece “Yeominrak” will also be held later in the day. 2026-05-15 16:09:22 -
Firefighters flex for burn victims in Seoul charity bodybuilding contest SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - Muscles, rescue gear and stage lights filled a Seoul fire academy on Thursday as firefighters stepped briefly away from emergency calls to compete for a place in one of the city’s most unusual charity campaigns. The Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters held its 15th annual “Bodybuilder Firefighter Contest” at the Seoul Fire Academy in northwestern Seoul, where 29 firefighters — including 25 men and four women — competed in mandatory posing and freestyle performance rounds. The competition serves a purpose beyond fitness and trophies. Winners are selected as models for the annual “Bodybuilder Firefighter Hope Sharing Calendar,” a charity project that raises funds for severely burned patients struggling with medical expenses. Contestants were judged on muscular balance, conditioning and stage presentation, while freestyle performances incorporated firefighting helmets, hoses and rescue equipment to reflect the realities of emergency work. Lee Sung-woo of the Special Rescue Team won the grand prize and received the Seoul mayor’s award, while Park Sung-hyuk of Jongno Fire Station took the top excellence award. Twelve firefighters in total were selected for this year’s calendar project. The chosen participants will take part in an official photo shoot on May 15, ahead of the calendar’s release on Nov. 9. Proceeds from sales and donations will go toward treatment costs for burn victims. According to Seoul fire authorities, the charity calendar campaign has continued since 2015 and has become one of the department’s signature public outreach projects. Over the past 12 years, it has raised about 1.25 billion won ($900,000) and helped support 302 severely burned patients facing financial hardship. 2026-05-14 19:08:50 -
Annual rose festival set to open in Seoul this week SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - A flower festival featuring roses in full bloom is set to open in Seoul's northeastern district of Jungnang this week. According to district officials, the annual rose festival, famous for its 5.45-kilometer flower tunnel, will begin with a walking event on Friday taking a strool along riverside trails and run through May 23. This year's event, now in its 18th year, features some 320,000 roses across 232 varieties, lining walking trails along the Jungnangcheon Stream, one of Seoul's most popular seasonal photo spots. The festival also offers a parade, street performances, flea markets, food booths, and hands-on activities for all ages, with newly-added programs for this year specially tailored to children, youngsters, and older visitors. Rose trails and paths lit up at night are also expected to draw visitors with stunning evening scenery. 2026-05-14 18:36:49 -
Campaign season kicks off ahead of June local elections SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - Ahead of South Korea’s ninth nationwide local elections on June 3, the country’s election authority rolled out a public voting campaign installation in central Seoul on Wednesday, turning a busy downtown plaza into a civic awareness site. The sculpture, installed by the National Election Commission in front of the Korea Press Center in Seoul’s Jung District, features the commission’s mascot character “Cham Cham” alongside the slogan: “We create the region we want to live in through voting.” South Korea’s National Election Commission (NEC) installed a public voting campaign sculpture in central Seoul on Wednesday ahead of the country’s 9th nationwide local elections scheduled for June 3. The promotional installation, unveiled at the plaza in front of the Korea Press Center in Seoul’s Jung District, features the NEC’s mascot character “Cham Cham” alongside the slogan, “We create the region we want to live in through voting.” The campaign comes as South Korea prepares for local elections that will select mayors, governors, local council members and education superintendents across the country. Election authorities are also promoting early voting schedules and procedures through outdoor displays and public messaging campaigns concentrated in high-traffic urban areas. Under South Korean election law, voting on June 3 will run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at designated polling stations nationwide. Citizens aged 18 or older as of election day — including those born on or before June 4, 2008 — are eligible to vote. Early voting is scheduled for May 29-30. 2026-05-13 17:54:07 -
Gyeongbokgung Palace opens historic royal library to public through fall SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - Seoul's historic Gyeongbokgung Palace has opened its doors to a hidden gem, Jibokjae, a former royal library that was once off-limits to the public. Starting Wednesday, visitors can explore the storied space as part of a special program running through the end of October. Used by King Gojong as his study and office, Jibokjae also served as a reception space for foreign envoys during the Joseon Dynasty. Since 2016, Jibokjae has opened seasonally as a small library, where visitors can browse historical records and books in a peaceful setting. Its distinctive architecture also sets it apart from the other palace buildings. Visitors can also take a stroll around its adjoining pavilions. The library is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. excluding Mondays and Tuesdays as well as certain public holidays. It will also be closed during the hot summer months from June to August. 2026-05-13 17:34:14 -
A rollercoaster day for KOSPI before testing new 8,000 peak SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) -South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI swung violently on May 12 after briefly nearing the symbolic 8,000-point threshold before tumbling into its first decline in six sessions, underscoring the heightened volatility gripping one of the world’s hottest equity rallies. The KOSPI opened at a record 7,953.41, up 1.68 percent from the previous session, and climbed as high as 7,999.67 in early trading — just shy of the historic 8,000 level — before abruptly reversing course. Selling pressure intensified through the session, dragging the index to an intraday low of 7,421.71 before it closed at 7,643.15, down 2.29 percent on the day. The reversal came less than a week after the KOSPI first broke above the 7,000-point mark on May 6, extending a blistering rally fueled by semiconductor and AI-related stocks. 2026-05-12 17:41:06 -
Another round of cash vouchers for lower-income households to begin next week SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - Another round of cash handouts to help ease the burden on households hit hardest by soaring fuel prices is set to be available to those in the bottom 70 percent of the income bracket starting next week. Those eligible can sign up for cash vouchers from May 18 to July 3 through mobile apps or by visiting banks or local community centers, and will receive between 100,000 won (US$70) and 250,000 won, with larger households and those in certain rural and provincial areas entitled to higher support. During its first round, which was completed last month, some 2.94 million people signed up and received a combined total of 1.67 trillion won. Single-parent families and other vulnerable groups who missed the initial sign-up period will also be able to apply this time. The vouchers will be valid through the end of August and should be spent locally to help support small businesses. 2026-05-12 17:34:24