Canola flowers in full bloom in Jeju SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - While the mainland is a world of snow and ice with freezing temperatures, a park in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, is blanketed in yellow with canola flowers in full bloom. 2025-12-17 10:34:29

TRAVEL: Pohang, perfect place to catch New Year's first sunrise along with winter delicacy SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - South Korea's southeastern port city of Pohang is known as an industrial hub, but it also boasts scenic spots that attracts attract hordes of visitors at this time of year to witness the country's earliest and most stunning sunrises. About a 40-minute journey from the industrial city's KTX bullet train station takes visitors to Homigot at the easternmost tip of the Korean Peninsula. Famous for its iconic hand-shaped sculpture, the site draws large crowds on New Year's Day, eager to catch the year's first sunrise. The port city is also known for "gwamegi," a winter delicacy made from saury or herring that is semi-dried in the area's cold sea breeze, giving it a chewy texture and rich flavor. Every winter open-air markets near the small town of Guryongpo bustle with vendors selling stacks of this seasonal specialty, a culinary tradition handed down through generations. Some are neatly packaged for sale, while others hang in bundles tied with straw, catching the eyes of visitors. For locals, this signals the changing of seasons, while for food lovers, it marks the arrival of a winter delicacy, making gwamegi more than just food, but living cultural heritage. Gwamegi dates back to the Joseon Dynasty, when fishermen in Guryongpo began preserving the fish by hanging them to dry on wooden racks called "deokjang." As time passed, saury gradually replaced herring as the preferred fish. The area's frigid coastal winds during the winter help remove fishy odors while intensifying the flavor. this traditional process has become a vital winter industry that supports the local economy. With local catches dwindling, most gwamegi now comes from offshore sources. The frozen saury or herring is thawed, cleaned, split lengthwise, and hung on outdoor racks, where the sun and sea breeze dry it over several days to create the perfect gwamegi. Dried saury turns a deep black, while herring develops a golden hue. Gwamegi is often enjoyed wrapped in fresh vegetables and paired with other seafood, offering a savory flavor. With over 150 manufacturers producing more than 2,000 tons annually, Guryongpo now accounts for over 80 percent of the country's gwamegi supply. Another local favorite is "moriguksu," a hearty noodle soup made with seasonal fish and vegetables like bean sprouts, traditionally eaten by fishermen returning from the sea. Seasonal seafood such as snow crab or pufferfish adds freshness and depth to this comforting dish. A visit to Pohang in the final month of the year, enjoying local delicacies and watching the sunrise at Homigot, would leave a lasting memory, making it the perfect blend of natural beauty and culinary heritage. 2025-12-16 14:10:08

Snowfall delights winter sports enthusiasts SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Heavy snowfall blanketed the mountainous regions of Gyeonggi and Gangwon in South Korea over the weekend, drawing crowds of citizens to local ski resorts. Visitors capitalized on the fresh powder, engaging in popular winter sports like skiing and snowboarding to fully embrace the season. 2025-12-15 16:58:00

PHOTOS: Korean-born diplomat represents Ghana SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Ghana's newly appointed Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Kojo Choi, officially commenced his diplomatic mission on Dec. 11, presenting his credentials to President Lee Jae Myung. Ambassador Choi, whose birth name is reported as Choi Seung Eub, is a naturalized Ghanaian citizen and a successful businessman, marking a significant first as the first Korean-born diplomat to serve as an African nation's ambassador to South Korea. The ambassador moved to Ghana as a middle school student with his missionary father. He subsequently completed his education and settled there, where he built a successful career in business before his appointment. 2025-12-15 10:44:22

PHOTOS: 400 bowls of warmth SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Volunteers tied to the Korean Red Cross held a charity event on Dec. 11 in Daegu, serving 400 servings of patjuk (red bean porridge) to local elderly residents. The event precedes the traditional Korean observance of Dongji, marking the year's longest night, which falls on Dec. 22 this year. A widespread custom in Korea dictates the consumption of patjuk around this date, rooted in the ancient belief that the red color of the beans effectively wards off evil spirits. Patjuk is a traditional Korean porridge prepared with rice and incorporates a substantial quantity of boiled and thoroughly mashed red beans. The dish is typically completed with the addition of saealsim, small, round rice cake balls made from glutinous rice flour. 2025-12-12 11:13:44

PHOTOS: National Museum of Korea sets all-time visitor record SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - The National Museum of Korea's annual visitor count has surpassed 6 million for the first time in its history. The achievement underscores the growing interest in Korean history and culture both domestically and internationally, the museum said. The museum held a commemorative ceremony on Thursday to celebrate the record-breaking achievement, which was attended by Yu Hong-jun, the Director of the National Museum of Korea. This year’s record of over 6 million visitors is the highest annual attendance recorded since the museum first opened its doors on Dec. 3, 1945. 2025-12-11 16:57:24

TRAVEL: Six centuries of history anchor Salgoji Bridge in Seoul's urban sprawl SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - The intersection of ancient history and modern city planning defines this crossing. As the bicycle path widens from the Cheonggyecheon Ecological School in Maja-dong, Seoul, and continues without a traffic signal toward the Han River, a sense of enduring history crosses the stream near Hanyang University. This is the Seoul Salgoji Bridge, designated a Treasure and nearly 600 years old. Among the bridges constructed over the Cheonggyecheon during the Joseon era, only the Gwangtonggyo, Supyo Bridge, and this structure remain standing today. Salgoji Bridge was, in its time, the largest stone bridge within Hanyang, the Joseon capital, and served as a critical gateway connecting the city to the southeastern provinces. The structure connects Sageun-dong and Seongsu-dong where the Cheonggyecheon converges with the Jungnangcheon. Measuring 75.75 meters in length and 6 meters wide, the construction utilized 64 stone pillars. The engineering employed specific techniques to ensure longevity. The structure was built with four main piers, but for stability, the central two were designed to be slightly lower than the outer two, subtly directing the bridge’s weight inward. Furthermore, the stone pillars adopted a diamond shape, an efficient design implemented to reduce hydrological resistance from the flowing water. Compared to the more ornate Gwangtonggyo or Supyo Bridge, the structure maintains a stoic, unadorned aesthetic, notably lacking railings. The bridge's form today carries the visible scars of time and intervention. A major flood in the 1920s washed away part of the original structure. While it was repaired and rebuilt in the 1970s, the restoration introduced a concrete line along the right side, somewhat diminishing its original architectural integrity. The very name of the crossing, Salgoji, is steeped in two royal legends. One account suggests King Taejo favored this field for hunting, the name marking where his arrows frequently landed. The other, more poignant legend, details the rift between King Taejo and his son, Taejong: King Taejo, estranged and angry, fired an arrow at his waiting son upon returning to Hanyang, the shaft lodging dramatically in a nearby shade structure's pillar. The placement of the bridge is directly tied to the reign of King Taejong. After relinquishing the throne to Sejong, Taejong settled at Nakcheonjeong pavilion on the Salgoji Plain east of Hanyang. King Sejong was obliged to pay respects daily, and officials constantly needed to cross the water to meet the former, yet still powerful, king. To alleviate this inconvenience, King Sejong initiated construction in 1420. However, the project halted upon Taejong’s death two years later. Driven by the persistent need of the common people using the route, construction was eventually resumed under King Seongjong and finally completed in 1483—63 years after the first stone was laid. Observing pedestrians cross as if walking on flat ground, King Seongjong ultimately christened the bridge Je-ban-gyo, the Bridge of Equal Crossing. 2025-12-09 15:30:44

PHOTOS: College admissions rush SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - Following the release of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) scores, a fierce and highly competitive strategic maneuver is unfolding in South Korea. Students and parents are intensely calculating their optimal university and major applications based on their results. The high-stakes nature of this post-exam period was dramatically illustrated on the afternoon of Dec. 7 when a massive crowd descended upon an admissions briefing session hosted by a private academy at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul. The event saw overwhelming attendance. A long queue of hopeful attendees stretched far beyond the entrance, continuing long after the official start of the session. Indoor seating quickly became exhausted. Students and parents unable to secure a spot inside were forced to sit on chairs arranged in the university lobby or even on outdoor steps, relying on large monitors to follow the critical advice being given. The reach of the event extended digitally, with the number of applicants registering for the online live broadcast surpassing 10,000, highlighting the widespread anxiety and demand for guidance in South Korea's competitive university admission cycle. 2025-12-08 14:22:41

PHOTOS: Snow-covered Hallasan SEOUL, December 05 (AJP) - Snowfall that began in the mountainous areas of Jeju on December 4 left Baengnokdam and the 1,100-meter plateau covered in white by the morning of December 5. 2025-12-05 15:48:32

TRAVEL: Historic private academy in Nonsan NONSAN, December 04 (AJP) - Nine Confucian academies, known as seowon, from Korea's Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897), were officially inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, cementing their status as crucial institutions in East Asian history and education. The seowon were private, residential academies established by respected Confucian scholars. They served two primary functions: as a place for scholarly worship of revered sages and as an educational institution to prepare the next generation of civil servants and intellectual leaders. This system stood in contrast to the hyanggyo, which were the public, state-run schools of the era. The seowon’s blend of academic rigor and moral cultivation made them vital centers for Neo-Confucianism, the Joseon Dynasty's ruling ideology. Among the nine recognized sites is Donam Seowon, located in the city of Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province. The academy traces its origins back to the influential scholar Sagye Kim Jang-saeng (1548–1631). Kim dedicated over three decades to teaching his disciples at this location, beginning in 1602. Following his passing, his devoted students established the academy in 1634 to honor his life and continuing legacy. Donam Seowon, with its tranquil architecture and deep historical roots, now serves as a tangible link to Korea's rich intellectual past. 2025-12-04 15:18:09