PHOTOS: People visit poll booths to vote for new president SEOUL, June 03 (AJP) - The day has come for South Koreans to choose a new leader to steer the nation through crisis. Voting for the 21st presidential election began at 6 a.m. on Jun. 3 at 14,295 polling stations nationwide. The incoming president will face the daunting task of navigating economic and security challenges both at home and abroad, while also addressing a deepening crisis in democracy and growing social divisions that followed the Dec. 3 martial law declaration and the impeachment of the former president. 2025-06-03 16:55:16

PHOTOS: Decision Day SEOUL, June 02 (AJP) - South Korea is poised for the presidential election June 3, with polls opening at 6 a.m. across 14,295 voting stations nationwide. Voting will continue until 8 p.m., after which the process of counting ballots will commence. Political observers anticipate that results will become clear as early as midnight. The next president will immediately take office for a five-year term. 2025-06-02 16:57:28

PHOTOS: Hidden treasures of Mount Daedeok highlands SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - On a May morning, under an overcast sky, I began an ascent toward Bunburyeong Peak on Mount Daedeok in Taebaek, Gangwon Province. The air at Dumundongjae, my starting point, felt sharply cold, reminiscent of late autumn. Layering a windbreaker over my rain gear provided a necessary warmth. As the trail commenced, bright yellow wild celandine emerged, blanketing the ground. While the trees above were still tentatively unfurling lime-green shoots, the undergrowth below was already a vibrant tapestry of various plants. The wild celandine, in particular, dominated the landscape, transforming stretches of the mountain into a brilliant yellow expanse. Its rain-kissed petals glowed against the dim, drizzly light, their individual delicacy overshadowed by the sheer abundance that created what could only be described as a celestial garden. The yellow fields soon gave way to swathes of small white flowers. These small blooms, like their yellow counterparts, formed dense clusters, their collective whiteness strikingly evident. The route through Mt. Taebaek National Park, spanning Dumundongjae, Geumdaebong, Bunburyeong Peak and concluding at the Geomnyongso parking area, is a moderate four-and-a-half-hour walk. Designated a conservation area, access is managed through a reservation system, limiting daily visitors to 500 to preserve its delicate environment. Despite reaching altitudes exceeding 1,000 meters, the trail offers a gentle experience. Beginning at Dumundongjae, at 1,268 meters (approximately 4,160 feet), the entire path descends gradually, with an overall elevation change of only about 100 meters. Though setting out on a rainy day might seem unappealing, the experience of a wet mountain trail, short of a downpour, often surpasses a clear day. The mist and crisp air impart a profound sense of exhilaration. As a photographer, opportunities to capture such atmospheric scenes are rare. While moisture on the lens or fogging presents an inconvenience, the stunning vistas invariably compensate for the minor discomforts. After a walk amidst the wildflowers, I paused at a quiet clearing to enjoy a pre-ordered, three-tiered lunchbox, picked up from the visitor center, which proved satisfyingly substantial. The trail was characterized by numerous tall trees. Beneath their imposing canopies, the wildflowers, enveloped in mist, provided compelling subjects for photography. Near the conclusion of the descent, a cold spring named Geomnyongso emerges. This cold spring, where approximately 2,000 tons of groundwater surge daily through limestone bedrock, maintains a consistent temperature of about 9 degrees Celsius throughout the year. The water from the spring forms a series of cascade-like waterfalls, dropping about 20 meters. Below, centuries of continuous flow have deeply eroded the bedrock, creating channels that appear to writhe like a dragon. From this point, the water flows into the Han River, traveling more than 500 kilometers before finally emptying into the West Sea near Incheon. 2025-05-29 16:19:01

PHOTOS: Panda twins at Everland SEOUL, May 28 (AJP) - Panda World in the Everland amusement park is currently home to a charming septet of ursine residents: four giant pandas and three red pandas. Among the star attractions are the giant panda twins, Ruibao and Huibao. Born in July 2023, these playful siblings have quickly become the zoo's undeniable darlings, drawing crowds with their endearing antics and undeniable cuteness. 2025-05-28 14:36:44

PHOTOS: New Zealand's 'Kapa Haka' brings vibrant tradition to Korea SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - The plaza of the National Museum of Korea buzzed with energy on May 26 as the museum, in collaboration with the New Zealand Embassy in Seoul, presented a vibrant "Maori Kapa Haka" performance. The event, held at 3 p.m., offered a dynamic glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of New Zealand's indigenous Maori people. Kapa Haka, a comprehensive performing art form that intertwines song, instrumental music and dance, serves as a powerful expression of Maori identity. The 30-minute presentation was delivered by Hiwa, a group dedicated to sharing Maori culture with global audiences. The performance included various traditional forms: "waiata-a-ringa," songs accompanied by intricate hand movements; "poi," a mesmerizing group dance featuring performers twirling tethered balls; and the "haka," the renowned Maori ceremonial war dance, famously adopted by New Zealand's national rugby team. Dawn Bennet, New Zealand's Ambassador to South Korea, was among the more than 2,000 spectators who gathered to witness the cultural spectacle. In conjunction with the performance, the museum offered free admission on the day to its special exhibition, "Mana Moana - Art of the Sacred Ocean, Oceania." This exhibition, a joint initiative between the National Museum of Korea and the Musée du Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac in France, traces the artistic traditions of Oceania from the 18th century to the present day. It features a diverse collection of artifacts, including canoes, sculptures, masks, musical instruments, stone figures, ornaments and textiles, all of which aim to vividly portray the lives and philosophies of the peoples of Oceania. In Polynesian languages, "mana" denotes the sacred power inherent in all beings, while "moana" refers to the vast ocean. For the communities that consider the sacred ocean as their home and a vital space for connection, "mana" is understood as the bedrock of their reverence for life, nature and their ancestors, and the fundamental force that animates the world. The special exhibition will continue through Sept. 14. 2025-05-27 15:20:43

PHOTOS: Hands-on K-food experience SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) - Students from the University of Georgia recently got a taste of Korean cuisine, literally, participating in a hands-on cooking program at Sempio's headquarters in central Seoul. On May 22, the students delved into making popular dishes like Geotjeori, a fresh kimchi, and Bulgogi, the classic marinated beef. Sempio, a Korean food company, organized the event to introduce the visitors to the country's rich food culture and provide them with a direct experience of cooking. 2025-05-23 10:01:51

PHOTOS: Traditional way of rice planting SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - The staple food for Koreans is rice, a grain deeply interwoven with the nation's history and culture. Each May, the paddies across the country come alive as farmers begin the arduous process of cultivating this essential crop. Traditionally, this involved flooding the fields, meticulously preparing the soil, and hand-planting delicate rice seedlings, known as "mo." While modern machinery now dominates most of these tasks, allowing for efficient preparation and planting, the image of oxen tilling the land and farmers meticulously placing each seedling by hand is increasingly rare. These traditional methods, once the backbone of Korean agriculture, are slowly fading from view. Yet, a recent surge of events aims to preserve and showcase these forgotten traditions. These gatherings offer a poignant glimpse into the past, highlighting the immense effort and communal spirit that once defined the rice harvest. We've gathered some photos from these occasions, capturing the enduring spirit of Korea's agricultural heritage. 2025-05-22 14:45:45

PHOTOS: Exhibition traces Joseon envoys' cultural legacy in Japan SEOUL, May 21 (AJP) - To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Japan, the Seoul Museum of History is presenting a special exhibition on Joseon Tongsinsa, which will continue until June 29. The Joseon Tongsinsa, or diplomatic envoys, trace their origins to the 15th century, but their role dramatically expanded after Japan’s invasion of Korea in 1592. Seeking to mend ties, the Edo Shogunate in Japan initiated diplomatic overtures that led to the formal dispatch of Joseon’s official diplomatic missions to Japan. Between 1607 and 1811, 12 such delegations embarked on lengthy journeys, each typically comprising 300 to 500 individuals. Their voyages, which often took between six months and a year, began in Busan, proceeded via Tsushima Island to Osaka by ship, and then continued overland to Edo, present-day Tokyo. Much of the documentation relating to these activities is preserved in Japan, reflecting where the envoys’ primary engagement took place. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to examine the profound influence of the Joseon Tongsinsa on Japanese society, showcasing a wealth of materials not only from South Korean archives but also significant loans from Japanese museums and institutions. In the later period of the Joseon Dynasty, while the Tongsinsa missions were primarily intended to maintain peace between the two nations, their cultural function as conduits for advanced learning and customs increasingly came to the fore. The envoys traveled with royal diplomatic documents and carried an array of gifts, including ginseng, tiger pelts, ramie and hemp textiles, writing brushes, ink sticks, silver-decorated daggers, and Cheongsimwon, a traditional herbal medicine. In Japan, the Tongsinsa were met with widespread festivity and elaborate welcoming ceremonies. Crowds flocked to their lodgings, eager to receive poems or samples of calligraphy from the accompanying retinue. Japanese artists captured the envoys' activities in numerous works, including large folding screens, woodblock prints and scrolls, many of which survive to this day. Even minor gifts presented by the Tongsinsa were often cherished and, remarkably, many have since been designated as cultural properties. Each visit by the envoys sparked a "Joseon boom" in Japan, significantly influencing the development of Japanese culture and even altering prevailing trends. Among the lasting legacies left by the Joseon Tongsinsa in Japan are the Dangin dance, the Joseon palanquin, and the tradition of Pildamchanghwa (poetic exchanges through written communication). In return, elements like sweet potatoes, chili peppers, tomatoes, copper, folding fans, parasols, ink stones, and Mino paper were introduced to Joseon from Japan. From 1636 onward, at the shogunate’s request, the missions included two acrobats, known as Masangjae, who performed equestrian feats for the shogun. Their performances were immensely popular, leading to a widespread vogue among the nobility for intricately lacquered pouches decorated with equestrian acrobatics and depictions of the Tongsinsa procession. 2025-05-21 15:23:43

PHOTOS: Overseas voting begins for presidential election SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - South Korean citizens living abroad began casting their ballots on Tuesday for the country's presidential election. The National Election Commission said that the overseas voting period will run until Sunday, May 25, at noon (KST). Polling stations have been set up in 223 locations across 118 countries, including 182 diplomatic missions and 41 additional sites. For the first time, overseas polling stations have been established in four countries where South Korea recently opened new diplomatic missions: Cuba, Luxembourg, Lithuania, and Estonia. Among the additional polling stations, 39 were designated for diplomatic missions serving more than 30,000 South Koreans. Separate polling stations were also set up for military personnel in the Dongmyeong Unit in Lebanon and the Hanbit Unit in Uganda. 2025-05-20 15:50:31

PHOTOS: Coming-of-Age Day SEOUL, May 19 (AJP) - May 19 is South Korea's Coming-of-Age Day, observed annually on the third Monday of May. Under the nation's civil code, individuals attain adulthood at the age of 19. Historically, the transition to adulthood was marked by traditional ceremonies. For young men, this involved styling their hair in a topknot and donning a gat, a traditional Korean hat. Young women would put their hair up in a chignon and adorn it with a binyeo, an ornamental hairpin. Contemporary observances often see families offering congratulations and small tokens to their newly adult children. Among peers, it is common to exchange desired items as gifts. 2025-05-19 14:04:23