PHOTOS: One year since martial law crisis SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - South Korea on Wednesday marked the first anniversary of the martial law decree imposed by former President Yoon Suk Yeol. President Lee Jae Myung used his address to the nation to reflect on the unprecedented crisis and highlight the role of citizens in defending the constitutional order. "The fact that our citizens peacefully defeated the illegal martial law and expelled the unjust power is a monumental event that will be eternally remembered in the history of world democracy," President Lee said. He added that the attempted coup "paradoxically served as an opportunity to announce the remarkable resilience of South Korean democracy to the entire world." To commemorate the anniversary and the powerful display of civic action, the National Assembly is hosting a three-day series of events titled "Democracy of Light, An Unfading Memory." The commemorative activities, which run from Dec. 3 to 5, include guided tours of key sites within the Assembly compound related to the crisis. These locations include the main gate where citizens confronted martial law troops and the Assembly field where a military helicopter landed. 2025-12-03 11:30:16

PHOTOS: Korea's year-end tradition of sharing warmth through kimchi SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - As the calendar year draws to a close, a heartwarming tradition is unfolding across South Korea: mass kimchi-making events, known locally as gimjang. The time-honored custom sees communities, volunteers, and local organizations gather to prepare large quantities of the fermented cabbage. While gimjang is traditionally a family affair, these widespread annual events focus on collecting and distributing the kimchi to those in need — particularly the elderly, low-income families, and isolated individuals. 2025-12-02 16:30:11

PHOTOS: Salvation Army starts year-end charity campaign SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - The iconic sound of charity bells has returned to the streets of South Korea, but this year, the tradition comes with a modern upgrade. The Salvation Army Korea signaled the start of its fundraising season on Nov. 28 at Gwanghwamun Square. The launch event featured a ceremonial bell-ringing attended by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Salvation Army Commander Kim Byung-yoon. Now in its 97th year, the year-end Red Kettle campaign will operate at approximately 300 locations across the country. Adapting to a cashless society, the organization has introduced an NFC-based "One-Tag Smart Donation" system this year, allowing passersby to make donations instantly via smartphone. 2025-11-28 14:29:11

PHOTOS: Farewell to actor Lee Soon-jae SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - The funeral for beloved South Korean actor Lee Soon-jae was held Thursday morning at the Asan Medical Center in Seoul. Younger colleagues shed tears as they bade a final farewell to Lee, a veteran who maintained an undying passion for acting throughout a lifetime spanning theater, television, and film. In her eulogy, actress Ha Ji-won paid tribute to his legacy. "He was not only an iconic actor representing Korea, but a true artist who never lost his humility before his craft and never ceased to question himself," she said. 2025-11-27 15:13:27

TRAVEL: A walk over royal revenge — The dark secret of Seoul's Cheonggyecheon SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - Strolling along the Cheonggyecheon Stream in downtown Seoul, it is easy to be lulled by the gentle flow of water and the hum of the city fading into the background. Once buried beneath suffocating asphalt and elevated highways, this eco-friendly waterway was miraculously restored in the mid-2000s. Today, it serves as a serene urban sanctuary for office workers seeking a lunch-hour escape and tourists soaking in the city's vibe. But beneath the stream's largest stone bridge lies a story that is anything but peaceful. It is a tale of a dynasty’s bloody birth, a stepson’s cold-blooded grudge, and a literal pathway paved with revenge. To the casual observer, the Gwangtonggyo Bridge is simply a marvel of Joseon Dynasty engineering. Originally constructed in 1412 by King Taejong to tame the flood-prone waters, it was the widest bridge in the capital, spanning 15 meters. Yet, if you venture beneath the bridge and look closely at the stone embankments, you will find something unsettling: upside-down carvings of intricate floral designs and solemn guardian deities. These are not ordinary construction materials. They are tombstones. The story dates back to the founding of the Joseon Dynasty in the late 14th century. King Taejo, the dynastic founder, had a beloved second wife, Queen Sindeok. A fierce political operator, Sindeok managed to maneuver her own son into the position of Crown Prince, bypassing Taejo’s older, battle-hardened sons from his first marriage. The most ambitious of those sidelined sons was Yi Bang-won (who would later become King Taejong). Following Queen Sindeok’s death in 1396, a heartbroken King Taejo built a magnificent tomb for her within the city walls — on the site of the current British Embassy near Deoksugung Palace — so he could be near her spirit. However, peace did not last. Yi Bang-won launched a bloody coup, killing his half-brothers and seizing the throne. But taking the crown wasn't enough; he wanted to erase his stepmother’s legacy. Once King Taejo passed away, Taejong exacted his posthumous revenge. He stripped Queen Sindeok of her royal title and dug up her grave, exiling her remains to a remote site outside the city walls. In a final act of spite, Taejong took the heavy stone slabs and statues from her tomb — sacred objects meant to guard her soul — and dumped them into the Cheonggyecheon. He ordered them to be used as the foundation stones for Gwangtonggyo Bridge. His intent was clear and cruel: he wanted the citizens of Seoul to trample over his stepmother’s grave for eternity. History is often ironic. During the Joseon era, Gwangtonggyo became the center of a popular folk tradition. On the first full moon of the lunar year, citizens believed that crossing the bridge as many times as their age would ward off leg ailments and bad luck. For centuries, thousands of people flocked here to wish for health, unwittingly participating in a king’s centuries-old vendetta as they marched over the Queen’s desecrated tomb stones. When Cheonggyecheon was restored in 2005, the bridge was reconstructed, and the stones were revealed to the public once more. Today, visitors can walk under the Gwangtonggyo and touch the cold, granite history. You can clearly spot the Sinjangseok (guardian stones) and the Geumgangjeo (a Buddhist symbol of indestructible truth) carved into the blocks. Some are inverted, others broken — silent witnesses to a family feud that shaped a nation. Above the bridge, the city of Seoul rushes forward into the future. But below, in the cool shadows of the Cheonggyecheon, the stones of Gwangtonggyo remain, reminding us that even in the most serene landscapes, history is often waiting to be discovered — and stepped upon. 2025-11-27 13:45:30

PHOTOS: South Korea's homegrown rocket successfully puts satellites into orbit SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - South Korea's homegrown Nuri rocket was successfully launched overnight, carrying its main satellite along with a dozen smaller satellites into their planned orbit, the Ministry of Science and ICT said on Thursday. Speaking at a press briefing at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, Science Minister Baek Jeong-hoon said the rocket, dubbed KSLV-II, received a signal from its next-generation medium-sized satellite about 40 minutes after liftoff at 1:13 a.m. Thursday's launch, the fourth of its kind, is considered to have special significance, as it marks the first civilian-led mission, with Hanwha Aerospace taking the lead in the rocket's production and assembly in collaboration with the state-run Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). It was also the first nighttime launch to observe the planet's magnetic field and auroras. A minor glitch with the rocket's umbilical pressure sensor delayed the launch by about 18 minutes from the originally scheduled 12:55 a.m., but liftoff and other procedures proceeded smoothly. The rocket followed its planned trajectory, beginning with the successful separation of the first-stage engine about 122.3 seconds after liftoff, followed by the ignition and separation of the second-stage engine. After reaching the target altitude of 600 km, Nuri deployed its main satellite along with 12 microsatellites for their respective missions. 2025-11-27 10:35:29

PHOTOS: Gangwon's ski season officially opens SEOUL, November 24 (AJP) - With the early cold settling in this year, two major resorts in Gangwon Province — Yongpyong Ski Resort and Phoenix Park in Pyeongchang — opened their slopes on November 21 to mark the start of the 2025–2026 winter season. During the first weekend after opening, November 22–23, the two resorts drew an estimated 5,500 visitors at Yongpyong and about 4,100 at Phoenix Park. Skiers and snowboarders who had been waiting for winter crowded the lift lines, their anticipation visible even as they waited for their turn. 2025-11-24 14:25:34

TRAVEL: Tracing Korea's ancient roots in Boeun BOEUN, November 20 (AJP) - While relatively small, the county of Boeun in North Chungcheong Province has long served as a critical transport hub, imbuing it with significant strategic and cultural importance since ancient times. This rich past is preserved in a remarkable concentration of historic cultural assets, including the revered Beopjusa Temple on Songnisan Mountain, the formidable Sannyeonsanseong Fortress, and the grand Udang traditional house. Beopjusa Temple, a serene site founded in 553, stands as a profound testament to Korean Buddhism, boasting a history spanning 15 centuries. Once a sprawling complex with over 60 halls, the temple is historically significant as a crucible of the Maitreya (Future Buddha) belief. This utopian Buddhist philosophy holds that in times of global crisis, the Maitreya Buddha will emerge to guide humanity, offering a potent message of hope and refuge to the suffering. The temple is instantly recognized by its towering 25-meter-high Maitreya Buddha statue, which holds the distinction of being the world's largest single bronze Buddha statue, constructed using a staggering 116 tons of bronze. Another architectural marvel is Palsangjeon, the sole surviving five-story wooden pagoda in South Korea. Although the current structure was rebuilt after the Japanese invasions of Korea in 1592 and underwent major repairs in 1968, its significance is undiminished. Its name is derived from the Palsangdo — eight mural paintings depicting the life of the Buddha — adorning its interior walls. Beopjusa is also home to three National Treasures: the Palsangjeon itself; the magnificent Ssangssaja Seokdeung (twin lion stone lantern) from the ancient Silla Kingdom, celebrated for its artistic excellence; and the ingeniously designed Seokyeonji (stone lotus pond) pagoda. A visit offers a tangible connection to the sweep of Korean history and culture. Reflecting its immense value, Beopjusa was inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 2018. Tracing the ridge of Ojeongsan Mountain, 325 meters above sea level, is the imposing Sannyeonsanseong Fortress. This stone-piled citadel was constructed in 470. Its name, which translates to "3-year mountain fortress," is attributed to the fact that its construction took exactly three years, as recorded in the Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms). The fortress walls extend for 1,640 meters, reaching heights of 12 to 20 meters and widths of 8 to 10 meters. The scale of the undertaking is staggering; estimates suggest over 10 million stones were used, leading to the local legend that the stones of Boeun were exhausted during its construction. A rewarding hike along the walls from the main gate typically takes about an hour and a half. Completing the historical tour is the Udang Gotaek, a monumental hanok (traditional Korean house) belonging to the Seon family, built between 1919 and 1921. Comprising 134 rooms, it is recognized as the largest private residence in South Korea built in the traditional style. The house is situated amidst a tranquil pine forest on a wide delta where streams converge, creating an idyllic setting where the grand architecture harmonizes perfectly with the natural landscape. 2025-11-20 14:18:49

PHOTOS: Cold snap delivers early winter in South Korea SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - South Korea experienced an abrupt onset of winter conditions this week, as temperatures across the nation plunged sharply, bringing unseasonably early snowfall to major mountain ranges. Jeju Island's Mt. Halla and the mainland's Mt. Jiri were blanketed in white, creating picturesque, albeit premature, winter landscapes. Despite only being mid-November, the intense cold snap evoked scenes typical of deep winter. Citizens on city streets were observed heavily bundled up, donning thick padding jackets and scarves as protection against the severe chill. 2025-11-19 17:15:45

PHOTOS: Exam season SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - For South Korean families, November is the month of the national university entrance exams. Far from being a mere academic hurdle, it is a period that consumes the nation, climaxing in the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), or Suneung, and the subsequent, high-stakes essay examinations. While the students bear the immediate, exhausting burden of preparation, the weight of the moment extends deeply into the lives of their parents. They, too, are thrust into a relentless schedule of administrative tasks and emotional labor. 2025-11-17 13:34:43