AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

Yoo Na-hyun
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
  • Sunglasses reflect World Cup fever in Seoul
    Sunglasses reflect World Cup fever in Seoul SEOUL, June 25 (AJP) - A World Cup match is reflected in the sunglasses of a spectator during the Group A match between South Korea and South Africa at a public viewing event for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on June 25, 2026. 2026-06-25 19:51:44
  • Cheers turn into groans at Gwanghwamun after World Cup defeat
    Cheers turn into groans at Gwanghwamun after World Cup defeat SEOUL, June 25 (AJP) -Disbelief, disappointment and frustration filled the air at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, where thousands gathered at the much-loved open space for the make-or-break Group A match against South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday morning, Korean time. All 11,000 seats prepared for the official public viewing were filled before 10 a.m., prompting Seoul city officials to block a traffic lane to accommodate the sprawling cheering squad. Fans dressed in red waved Taegeukgi flags, beat drums and chanted "Daehan Minguk" as anticipation built ahead of kickoff. Before the match, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and South African Ambassador Cindy Mkhize exchanged their national team jerseys in a symbolic gesture of friendship and sportsmanship, drawing warm applause from the crowd. With South Korea's hopes of advancing to the Round of 32 hanging in the balance, every touch of the ball drew cheers or anxious gasps from the packed square. Head coach Hong Myung-bo started Oh Hyeon-gyu as the lone striker, but South Africa gradually took control with relentless pressing and swift counterattacks. The breakthrough came in the 63rd minute. Taphelo Maseko met a low cross from the left flank and fired a left-footed shot into the net to give South Africa a decisive 1-0 lead. The transformation in Gwanghwamun was immediate. The chants stopped. Many supporters held their heads in disbelief. Others stared silently at the giant screen as sighs spread through the crowd. Only the Red Devils, South Korea's official supporters' group, kept their drums beating and voices ringing across the plaza until the final whistle. Despite several late chances, South Korea failed to find an equalizer. When the match ended in a 1-0 defeat, television commentators described it as an "unbelievable defeat." A heavy silence settled over Gwanghwamun Square. Many supporters lingered long after the final whistle, consoling one another while some wiped away tears. The chants of "Daehan Minguk" that had echoed through the plaza before kickoff had faded into silence, but the Red Devils continued applauding and singing for the national team until the very end. 2026-06-25 19:46:47
  • The luxury of reading in the AI age
    The luxury of reading in the AI age SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - In an age of short-form videos and instant answers, reading a book may gradually become a rarity — and perhaps even a luxury, something admired and increasingly envied. That may explain the crowds. The 2026 Seoul International Book Fair opened on June 24 for its 68th edition, bringing together 538 publishers, literary agencies and publishing-related organizations from 18 countries. As in recent years, tickets sold out in advance and visitors lined up before the doors opened. Books themselves no longer seem to be the sole attraction. People came to meet writers, collect merchandise, browse independent publishers and participate in a broader ecosystem surrounding reading. Throughout the exhibition halls, visitors moved among art books, bookmarks, stickers, postcards and notebooks, turning reading from a private activity into a collective cultural experience. The phenomenon is often described as "Text Hip" — a generation treating books not merely as a hobby but as an extension of identity and lifestyle. The irony is striking. Generative AI can now summarize books, answer questions and organize information within seconds. From a purely utilitarian perspective, books have become one of the least efficient ways to consume information. Yet people continue to flock to book fairs. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's 2025 National Reading Survey, South Korea's annual comprehensive reading rate among adults stood at 38.5 percent, while the average number of books read per year was just 2.4. Reading is becoming less common, but book culture appears more visible than ever. Perhaps books are no longer competing against AI on information. They are competing on humanity. This year's theme, "Declaration of Humanity: Homo Duduri," reflects that shift. Homo Duduri refers to a human being who continues to ask questions and explore possibilities in an age when artificial intelligence supplies instant answers. Derived from an archaic Korean term for a blacksmith, Duduri represents someone who confronts uncertainty and forges new tools rather than retreating from it. Throughout the fair, novelists, actors, scientists and artists are exploring a similar question: What remains uniquely human when machines can increasingly think, write and answer for us? Perhaps that is why the long lines feel significant. People may no longer gather around books because they are the fastest way to learn something. They gather because books are becoming one of the few places where slowness itself carries value. In the short-form and AI age, reading may become an increasingly rare act of resistance — a deliberate decision to linger rather than scroll, to contemplate rather than consume. The long lines at the Seoul International Book Fair may not be a search for answers at all. They may be a search for better questions. 2026-06-24 17:44:52
  • Han River pool opens as heat wave arrives early
    Han River pool opens as heat wave arrives early SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) -Seoul's outdoor swimming season has arrived unseasonably early, together with the early arrival of heat wave. The Seoul Metropolitan Government opened the facilities simultaneously on June 19, including swimming pools at Yeouido and Ttukseom and water play areas at Jamsil, Gwangnaru, Nanji and Yanghwa Han River parks. The Han River outdoor pools and water playgrounds are one of Seoul's most popular seasonal attractions. According to city data, the facilities drew a combined 552,003 visitors last year, up 77 percent from 311,370 a year earlier. On strong public response to pilot nighttime operations over the past two years, Seoul will expand evening hours this summer. From July 3 through Aug. 30, the Yeouido and Ttukseom swimming pools and the Jamsil and Nanji water play areas will remain open until 10 p.m., allowing visitors to cool off after sunset. During the extended operating period, the four venues will operate daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., while the Gwangnaru and Yanghwa facilities will maintain regular operating hours. Admission remains relatively affordable, with swimming pool entry set at 5,000 won for adults, 4,000 won for teenagers and 3,000 won for children. Water play facilities cost 3,000 won for adults, 2,000 won for teenagers and 1,000 won for children, while children under six enter free of charge. The city also offers a 50 percent discount for big families, senior citizens aged 65 and older, people with disabilities and one accompanying guardian, as well as national merit recipients. 2026-06-23 18:04:49
  • Seoul demonstrators demand election fairness
    Seoul demonstrators demand election fairness SEOUL, June 22 (AJP) - Protest placards cover the ticket box area of the Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's Olympic Park during an ongoing demonstration protesting ballot shortages reported in the June 3 local elections, June 22, 2026. 2026-06-23 13:20:20
  • Protesters rally against ballot shortages in Seoul
    Protesters rally against ballot shortages in Seoul SEOUL, June 21 (AJP) - Protesters wave South Korean flags outside the Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's Olympic Park during an ongoing demonstration protesting ballot shortages reported in the June 3 local elections, on the evening of June 21, 2026. 2026-06-23 13:17:33
  • Ballot shortage sparks outcry in Olympic park
    Ballot shortage sparks outcry in Olympic park SEOUL, June 21 (AJP) - Protesters chant slogans outside the Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's Olympic Park during an ongoing demonstration protesting ballot shortages reported in the June 3 local elections, on the evening of June 21, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyun 2026-06-23 13:15:44
  • A self-imposed Teach You a Lesson at Starbucks Korea
    A self-imposed 'Teach You a Lesson' at Starbucks Korea SEOUL, June 22 (AJP) -For three hours on Monday afternoon, South Korea's busiest coffee shops stopped serving lattes and became temporary classrooms. At 3 p.m., Starbucks Korea simultaneously closed more than 2,160 stores nationwide, marking its first nationwide early closure since opening its first Korean outlet near Ewha Womans University in 1999. The unprecedented shutdown and self-imposed business suspension was not caused by a labor strike, a natural disaster or a system outage. Instead, employees were asked to study contemporary South Korean history. The mandatory training, conducted in the wake of last month's "Tank Day" controversy, focused on historical awareness, social sensitivity and ethical decision-making. Workers on leave will be required to complete the courses online at a later date. The move followed intense criticism over a May 18 promotional campaign that offered discounts on tumblers branded as "tanks" under the slogan "Tank Day." The timing coincided with the 46th anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju Democratization Movement, during which military tanks and armed forces were deployed against pro-democracy demonstrators. Critics also took issue with the phrase "Bang on the desk!" ("Chaeksange Tak!"), saying it evoked not only the Gwangju crackdown but also the notorious phrase associated with the military regime's attempt to cover up the 1987 torture death of student activist Park Jong-chul. Public backlash spread rapidly across social media, with civic groups accusing the company of displaying a profound lack of historical awareness. Starbucks Korea subsequently canceled the campaign and issued a public apology. But rather than treating the episode as a one-off marketing mistake, the company has turned it into a case study in corporate governance. Starbucks Korea said it will overhaul its marketing decision-making process by introducing mandatory social-sensitivity checklists and a multi-stage review system designed to prevent similar incidents. What emerged Monday was an unusual image: coffee shops transformed into spaces of collective reflection. Employees gathered not to learn how to sell more coffee but to revisit events that shaped modern South Korea, from military rule and democratic uprisings to the social responsibilities expected of companies operating in the country today. The exercise underscores a broader lesson that has extended beyond Starbucks itself. In South Korea, where the memory of democratization remains deeply intertwined with national identity, historical literacy is increasingly becoming a form of corporate risk management. 2026-06-22 17:23:32
  • Hearts2Hearts dazzles with Lemon Tang showcase
    Hearts2Hearts dazzles with 'Lemon Tang' showcase SEOUL, June 22 (AJP) - Members of K-pop girl group Hearts2Hearts perform a new track during a media showcase for their second mini album “Lemon Tang” at Blue Square Woori WON Banking Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on June 22, 2026. 2026-06-22 15:23:57
  • Hearts2Hearts unveils Lemon Tang album
    Hearts2Hearts unveils 'Lemon Tang' album SEOUL, June 22 (AJP) - Members of K-pop girl group Hearts2Hearts pose for a photo during a media showcase for their second mini album “Lemon Tang” at Blue Square Woori WON Banking Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on June 22, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyun. 2026-06-22 15:22:02