PHOTOS: Remembering King Sejong the Great SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - King Sejong the Great, the fourth monarch of the Joseon Dynasty, whose reign saw the creation of Hangeul, the nation’s indigenous alphabet, and significant advancements across economic, social, cultural, and military spheres, was honored on Thursday in the first national commemoration of his birthday. May 15 was designated a national commemorative day last November. King Sejong is widely revered by South Koreans today, often mentioned alongside the famed Admiral Yi Sun-sin as one of the country's most esteemed historical figures. The government marked the occasion with a ceremony held at Gyeongbokgung Palace. The event featured performances, exhibitions, and interactive displays intended to highlight King Sejong’s enduring legacy and pay tribute to his guiding principles of public welfare, independence and pragmatism. 2025-05-16 15:27:30

PHOTOS: Teachers' Day SEOUL, May 15 (AJP) - South Korea observes May 15 as Teachers' Day, a nationally designated occasion intended to cultivate a societal ethos of respect for educators' authority and appreciation for their service. The annual commemoration aims to bolster morale among the teaching profession and elevate their social status. Across the nation's schools, it is customary for students to present their teachers with carnations as a tangible expression of their gratitude. 2025-05-15 15:46:44

PHOTOS: Presidential election posters to appear nationwide SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - The National Election Commission has released the official campaign posters of the candidates vying for the 21st presidential election on June 3. These posters are slated for display in prominent public spaces across the nation, beginning on May 15. 2025-05-14 16:39:40

PHOTOS: 'Korea Day' marked at Osaka Expo with arrival of historic ship SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - A celebration of Korean culture and history unfolded at the Osaka Expo on Tuesday with the observance of "Korea Day," a designated event by organizers to honor participating nations. The centerpiece of the commemoration was the arrival ceremony and performances highlighting the Joseon Tongsinsa vessel, a historical symbol of diplomatic exchange between Korea and Japan. The ship represents the official envoys dispatched by the Joseon Dynasty's monarch to Japan. The reconstructed Joseon Tongsinsa ship, a project of South Korea's National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage, sailed from Busan on April 28. Its journey included stops at Tsushima Island, Shimonoseki, and Fukuyama before its arrival in Osaka on Monday, culminating in Tuesday's port entry ceremony. The Korea Pavilion at the Osaka Expo is now hosting "Korea Week," a series of events running through May 17. In collaboration with government agencies and private enterprises, the week aims to present a multifaceted view of South Korea's cultural heritage, technological advancements, and industrial prowess to the international audience gathered at the exposition. 2025-05-14 14:46:26

PHOTOS: Candidates court TK voters in crucial campaign stop SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - As the presidential race intensifies ahead of the June 3 election, candidates from major parties took their campaigns to the conservative heartland of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province (known as the TK area), Tuesday, the second day of official campaigning. Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, began a series of rallies in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, before proceeding to Daegu, Pohang, and Ulsan. Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party campaigned in Ulsan and Busan, aiming to galvanize support in the Yeongnam region. Meanwhile, Lee Jun-seok, representing the Reform Party, campaigned in Daegu and later had lunch with students at Kyungpook National University. 2025-05-13 15:53:31

PHOTOS: Rice transplanting season brings life to countryside SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - By mid-May, the South Korean countryside awakens to the intensive rhythm of "monaegi," the season of rice transplanting. This labor-intensive process, where young rice seedlings are carefully transferred to prepared paddies, unfolds across the rural landscape from mid-May through mid-June. These transplanted shoots, nurtured in the flooded fields, will eventually yield the autumn harvest, beginning in October. 2025-05-13 15:15:46

PHOTOS: Presidential campaign starts for June 3 election SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - The official campaign for the June 3 snap presidential election, triggered by the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, began on May 12. Although seven candidates registered, the election is expected to be a three-way race among Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, and Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party. The presidential candidates will engage in official campaigning until June 2, the day before the election. 2025-05-12 14:38:48

PHOTOS: Exploring treasures of Gyeongbokgung Palace SEOUL, May 09 (AJP) - Once the resplendent heart of the Joseon Dynasty's royal lineage, Gyeongbokgung Palace stands as a testament to both the kingdom's foundational aspirations and its resilience through periods of upheaval. Erected in tandem with the dynasty's establishment, the palace met a devastating fate during the Japanese invasion in 1592, succumbing entirely to flames. The Gyeongbokgung that graces Seoul today bears the imprint of a later era, with sections rebuilt during the reign of King Gojong. Within its storied grounds, Geunjeongjeon Hall commands attention as the peninsula's most expansive extant wooden edifice. Nearby, the ethereal Gyeonghoeru Pavilion floats gracefully atop a tranquil pond. Both structures hold the distinguished designation of National Treasures, underscoring their cultural and historical significance. A concerted effort to reclaim Gyeongbokgung's former glory commenced with the 1968 restoration of its iconic Gwanghwamun Gate. This initial step galvanized broader public and official engagement, culminating in a comprehensive restoration initiative that gained momentum in the late 1980s. Landmark projects have included the symbolic dismantling of the former Japanese Government-General Building in 1995, the revitalization of the Heungnyemun Gate precinct in 2001 and the meticulous wooden reconstruction of Gwanghwamun Gate in 2010. Ambitious plans are underway to reinstate the palace's principal structures by the year 2045. The axial grandeur that unfolds from the imposing Gwanghwamun Gate, leading through Heungnyemun Gate to the majestic Geunjeongjeon Hall, speaks volumes of Joseon's royal authority. In contrast, the intimate charm of the rear garden, nestled behind Gyotaejeon Hall, offers a more serene perspective on the palace grounds. Together, these contrasting spaces evoke the layered history and architectural sophistication of Joseon's palatial design. For foreign tourists, Gyeongbokgung Palace has become an indispensable stop, offering a tangible connection to the nation's rich past. Currently, visitors have the added opportunity to experience the palace's illuminated beauty during special nighttime openings, which continue until June 15. 2025-05-12 11:28:05

TRAVEL: Across a narrow strait, Daemado reveals layers of history SEOUL, May 08 (AJP) - Though barely 30 miles from Busan, South Korea, the island of Tsushima, known to Koreans as Daemado, felt like a world away on my recent inaugural visit. A mere hour and forty minutes by ferry from Busan International Passenger Terminal on a placid sea, this Japanese outpost holds a unique position, geographically close to its neighbor yet steeped in a distinct history marked by centuries of intricate exchange. The island’s past is deeply intertwined with the Korean Peninsula, and scattered across its verdant landscape are remnants of this enduring connection. Perhaps the most compelling of these are the legacies of the Joseon Tongsinsa, the Korean emissaries dispatched to Japan at the behest of the Edo Shogunate. Between 1607 and 1811, 12 such missions journeyed across the sea. These grand delegations, comprising 300 to 500 individuals, traveled in a flotilla of four to six ships, navigating the route through Tsushima on an arduous voyage that could last from six months to a year before reaching Edo, present-day Tokyo. The lords of Tsushima played a crucial role in these diplomatic journeys, acting as guides for the Tongsinsa to the Japanese capital. Given the island’s limited natural resources, trade with Joseon was vital, fostering a culture of elaborate hospitality towards these visiting envoys. The newly opened Tsushima Joseon Tongsinsa History Museum, established in 2021, meticulously chronicles this era through a collection of historical materials. The records of these Joseon Tongsinsa missions were recognized for their historical significance in 2017 with their inscription on the UNESCO Memory of the World register. More poignantly, Princess Deokhye, the daughter of Korea’s last emperor, Gojong, married Count Sō Takeyuki, the lord of Tsushima, in 1931, a union commemorated by a monument near the Tsushima History and Folklore Museum. Beyond these prominent narratives, other historical markers whisper tales of cross-cultural encounters. In Waniura stands the monument honoring Wangin Haksa, a scholar from the ancient Korean kingdom of Baekje credited with introducing Chinese characters to Japan. Near the Korea Observatory, a somber memorial pays tribute to the 108 Joseon interpreters who perished in a shipwreck in 1703. The island itself is a tapestry of dense woodlands, dominated by Japanese cedar, cypress, and the glossy-leaved camellia. While the Shushi Maple Road is undoubtedly a spectacle of autumnal color, its tranquil paths offer excellent trekking opportunities in the verdant embrace of spring and summer. The Shiine district presents an intriguing architectural curiosity: "Ishiyane," stone-roofed warehouses built to safeguard grains and other valuables. These sturdy structures feature roofs layered with flat stone slabs, some weighing as much as 100 tons, necessitating robust pillars and walls crafted from durable Japanese yew. Approximately 50 of these unique warehouses still stand. In Itsuhara, Tsushima’s largest urban center, the eye is drawn to the impressive stone foundations and walls. The precise interlocking of stones, both large and small, evokes the ancient stonework of Inca sites in Peru. Along the coastline, Miuda Beach offers a rare expanse of sand, its waters shimmering in shades of emerald. Other notable sites include Saozaki Park, the closest point to Busan marked by a lighthouse; the Tsushima Wildlife Conservation Center, dedicated to the elusive Tsushima leopard cat; Manzeki-bashi Bridge, an artery spanning the canal that bisects the island; Ayumodoshi Nature Park, a dramatic ravine carved by ancient waters; the ruins of Ofunae, the Edo-era pier of the Tsushima lords; and Ajino Renkon, a geological curiosity showcasing fossilized ripple marks. Near the parking lot of the octagonal Korea Observatory, vendors sell a local delicacy: chewy glutinous rice bread shaped like a carp (Bungeoppang), a popular treat for visitors. In essence, Daemado offers a compelling glimpse into the intertwined history of Korea and Japan, a place where the legacies of both amicable exchange and periods of tension reside side by side, etched into the very fabric of the island. 2025-05-08 15:32:05

PHOTOS: Everyday life inside royal palaces SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - A unique performance unfolded at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul on April 28, offering a glimpse into the daily routines of the Joseon Dynasty's royal court as part of the "Spring Royal Culture Festival." This festival, a prominent showcase of South Korea's cultural heritage, continues until May 4, presenting a diverse array of traditional cultural programs across the five Joseon-era palaces — Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, and Gyeonghuigung — as well as the Jongmyo Shrine. 2025-04-29 14:27:10