AJU PRESS - ASIA NEWS HUB

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AJP jungu141298@ajupress.com

PHOTOS: One Dance, a modern reinterpretation of Joseon royal ritual dance (1) SEOUL, August 22 (AJP) - A media showcase for "One Dance", a contemporary Korean dance performance, was held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul. The performance reimagines Ilmu, the ritual dance from Jongmyo Jeryeak, which is inscribed on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Jongmyo Jeryeak refers to the music, song, and dance performed during ancestral rites at Jongmyo, a royal shrine honoring the spirit tablets of kings and queens from the Joseon Dynasty. Among them, the dance segment is called Ilmu, meaning “line dance,” as dancers move in coordinated rows. On stage, up to 49 performers present a powerful group choreography, allowing audiences to experience Korea’s cultural richness through synchronized visuals and sound. The performance runs for 70 minutes. 2025-08-22 15:05:09
[[K-Culture]] Action-hero TV series 'Twelve' to premiere this Saturday SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - The cast and crew of “Twelve,” a new action-hero series produced in part by the actor Ma Dong-seok, gathered for a news conference Wednesday in Seoul. The event, held at the Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel, was attended by Ma, along with co-stars Park Hyung-sik, Seo In-guk, Lee Joo-been, Kang Mi-na, Sung Yu-been, Ahn Ji-hye, and Regina Lei. The show's directors, Kang Dae-kyu and Han Yun-seon, were also present. Inspired by the Eastern zodiac’s twelve guardian animals, “Twelve” follows a group of angels living as humans who fight to protect humanity from forces of evil. The series marks Ma’s return to the fantasy hero genre, a move that has generated significant anticipation following his starring role in Marvel Studios’ “Eternals.” “Twelve” is scheduled to premiere on KBS 2TV on Saturday, Aug. 23, at 9:20 p.m. 2025-08-20 17:41:31
PHOTOS: A street where time stands still, Dongdaemun Stationery and Toy Market SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - The Dongdaemun Stationery and Toy Wholesale Market, with around 100 shops, is the largest of its kind in South Korea. Stretching across a 200-meter intersection in every direction, the market is lined with stores offering every imaginable type of stationery and toy, inviting visitors to browse, touch, and choose at leisure. Walking down the street feels like stepping into a time machine. Shop windows burst with color, filled with red fire trucks, yellow-haired dolls, and blue transforming robots neatly on display, evoking the atmosphere of a massive toy museum. Inside, shelves stacked to the ceiling hold rows of dolls ranging from teddy bears and princesses to superhero figures. Some stores still display spinning tops and pencil-case toys from the early 2000s, now covered in a layer of dust, while just next door, transparent tubs overflow with rainbow-colored building blocks. Old learning booklets for practicing Hangul, coloring books, and maps of Korea, their pages faded with time, add to the sense of nostalgia. Step inside a shop and the scent of plastic and cardboard greets you, unlocking childhood memories. Under the fluorescent lights, shiny figurines of the latest animation characters share space with walls full of crayons and colored pencils, while in the corners sit marbles and tops from the past. From Pororo and Power Rangers to Dragon Ball and Pokémon, toys beloved by different generations coexist side by side. The market’s biggest draw remains its prices. Many items sell at roughly 30 percent below retail, a reason families continue to visit. Yet the hustle and bustle is mostly confined to weekends or special days like Children’s Day. "There are fewer kids now, and online shopping has taken over. It’s not like before," one shop owner admitted with regret. Still, the market offers experiences that online shopping cannot. Parents and children can compare hundreds of toys at once, watch a child’s reaction firsthand, and receive recommendations from merchants who know every cartoon and character by heart. Their advice often feels more vivid and trustworthy than online reviews. Changsin-dong’s toy street continues to hold its ground against the tide of change. Though the crowds have thinned, it remains a place to relive old memories and create new ones. Nestled among Dongdaemun’s gleaming shopping malls, this modest but enduring market reveals another side of Seoul. Here, where time seems to pause, adults revisit their childhood while children dream of the future. 2025-08-20 11:11:25
PHOTOS: Event showcases beauty of hanbok SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - The beauty of hanbok, or traditional Korean dress, continues to capture global attention, fueled by the huge popularity of South Korean dramas and films overseas. Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation, a four-day event was held last week in southern Seoul to ride the wave of hanbok's rising popularity, showcasing a diverse range of hanbok from over 150 brands. The collection included elegant, classical styles as well as creative and practical designs with modern touches by young designers, along with bags featuring traditional quilting techniques. The annual event, which marked the eighth time this year, offered participants a chance to learn about hanbok, which represents the country's aesthetic tradition, evolving in contemporary fashion with its sophisticated lines, vibrant colors, and elegant silhouette. Visitors were able to try on and purchase hanbok along with traditional accessories while appreciating the various hanbok on display. Free admission was also offered to those wearing hanbok, encouraging more people to be spotted at the event in traditional dress. Even those who were unable to wear hanbok could explore the event with an affordable admission fee of 5,000 won (about US$3–4). A fashion show featuring various hanbok for children and adults, with themes based on the country’s four distinctive seasons, was also held on the first day of the event last Thursday. Many booths featured their own unique themes including one where visitors could experience ddakji, a traditional paper tile game that gained fame through Netflix's hit series "Squid Game." 2025-08-12 18:08:16
[[K-Food]] PHOTOS: Korea's summer stamina food SEOUL, August 06 (AJP) - As the summer heat grips the Korean Peninsula, many find themselves turning to food not just for nourishment but for revival. And while the instinct may be to cool down with icy treats or chilled dishes, Korean tradition takes a different path: when it gets hot, the food gets hotter. Contrary to expectations, Korea’s summer stamina foods — or boyangshik — are served steaming. Rooted in centuries of traditional medicine and culinary wisdom, these dishes are designed to replenish energy drained by heat and humidity, using hot broths and nutrient-rich ingredients to invigorate the body from within. Among the most iconic of these is samgyetang, a restorative ginseng chicken soup. Widely known even among international diners, the dish features a young chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, ginseng, jujubes, garlic, and herbal ingredients, all simmered to tender perfection in a rich, warming broth. Another classic is chueotang, a loach soup prized for its hearty, earthy flavor. Made by boiling and blending loach — a small freshwater fish — the dish is thickened into a deeply savory broth, often seasoned with soybean paste and red chili paste to mask any fishy odor. Radish greens and scallions are added to enhance its depth. The result is a rustic, comforting bowl with a nutty, spicy edge. High in protein and calcium, the dish is often recommended for bone health. Grilled eel, or jangeo-gui, rounds out the trio of summer staples. Long considered a luxury stamina food, eel is rich and buttery yet surprisingly clean in flavor. Typically paired with ginger and a slightly sweet soy-based glaze, it is not only a delicacy but also a nutritional powerhouse — high in protein, vitamins A and E for skin health, and unsaturated fats believed to help prevent chronic illnesses. While each dish carries its own history and flavor, what unites them is their purpose: to restore balance and strength when the body is under seasonal strain. With a range of variations tailored to different tastes and constitutions, Korea’s summer cuisine offers more than just relief — it offers resilience, one hot bowl at a time. 2025-08-06 15:22:04
[[K-Travel]] A muddy summer like no other in Boryeong BORYEONG, July 30 (AJP) - As an unforgiving heat wave grips the country, one of Korea’s most iconic summer events kicked off in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province. The Boryeong Mud Festival is famous for turning the seaside city into a playground of seawater-rich mud. Visitors throw, smear, and soak themselves in the mineral-packed silt near Daecheon Beach. People of all ages and backgrounds dive into the mud together, forgetting the heat as their sweat and sunburn disappear beneath thick, cool layers of earth. With vacation season in full swing, the festival drew crowds from across Korea and abroad. The joy of diving into mud Mud is known for its skin benefits, from anti-aging effects to deep cleansing. The entrance begins with a light spray of water and the sight of large mascots painted in mud. As soon as visitors pass under a sign reading “The 28th Boryeong Mud Festival,” a volley of mud hits them. Instead of dodging it, people laugh and lean into the chaos. Faces smeared in gray-brown sludge reveal grins more at home in a horror-comedy. Everyone moves closer to the mud, with few clean spaces to be found. Some apply the mud by hand, others smear it on each other. It is a shared ritual, part skincare and part celebration. In one of the main mud pools, about 20 to 30 people split into two teams. Games range from dance-offs and train relays to rock-paper-scissors and the challenging task of finding black stones buried deep in the mud. Faces inch closer to the ground as participants reach further, with some crawling flat-out in the thick pool. Each game ends with a winning and losing team. The losers sit in the center of the pool, covering their ears as the winners unleash a rapid mud bombardment. After about 20 seconds of flying mud, the losing team emerges fully coated in dark sludge. Just when the crowd lets its guard down, the emcee yells, “It’s payback time!” and a second wave of mud comes flying in from all directions. No one is spared. Beyond the games, other challenges test visitors' strength and balance, from one-legged wrestling over the pool to staying upright on a spinning disc or racing through muddy obstacle courses. A festival for the whole family For children, it is the ultimate playground. While sand used to be the norm, few beaches now offer the kind of hands-on fun this muddy ground provides. Kids roll, crawl, and splash with unfiltered joy, their curiosity and energy running wild. Rest zones are also available for those exhausted from play. From shaded tents and cabanas to snack corners under trees, there are plenty of places to catch a break. For those hesitant to enter restaurants while covered in mud, designated delivery zones provide meals directly to rest areas. Held every July in Boryeong, this year’s festival marks its 28th edition. Running from Jul. 25 to Aug. 10, it offers daytime mud fun and nighttime concerts and fireworks. Events change daily, including K-pop performances, talent shows, and drone light displays. For a fuller experience, visitors are encouraged to stay overnight to enjoy both day and evening events. Daecheon Beach, just a 5-minute walk from the festival grounds, is a perfect add-on for a summer swim. 2025-07-30 14:24:12
TRAVEL: General's Tomb and the Gwanggaeto Stele Ji'an, July 24 (AJP) - Located in Ji'an, Jilin Province, China, the General's Tomb is a Goguryeo-era stepped stone pyramid made of large, reddish-beige rectangular blocks stacked to the height of a five-story apartment building. With the exception of some blackened patches on the stone surface, it looked almost like a newly built structure. Only the topmost stones showed signs of slight damage or disalignment, a remarkable testament to the tomb’s endurance over the centuries. Its impressive height gives the illusion of the tomb reaching into the sky, with no trees visible behind it from any angle. Surrounding the tomb were massive rocks lying against it as if supporting the mound with their weight. Positioned in groups of three on each side, they appear to be gripping the tomb's base with giant fingers. These are known as ho-bun-seok, or protective boundary stones. In a mound-style stone tomb like this, the structure's weight is concentrated at the base, creating immense lateral pressure. The ho-bun stones prevent the bottom stones from being pushed outward. The entire tomb is constructed from granite, both inside and out. It is the only known example of a complete chukseokbun (stepped stone tomb) and follows a design style that cannot be found anywhere else in China. While many believe the General’s Tomb is that of King Jangsu of Goguryeo (394–491, reigned 412–491), differing views persist in South Korea and no definitive conclusion has been reached. About 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) from the General's Tomb stands the Gwanggaeto Stele, erected in 414 by King Jangsu in honor of his father King Gwanggaeto (374–412, reigned 391–412). Enclosed in a glass pavilion, the massive natural stone pillar stands approximately 6.39 meters tall. The width of its four sides varies from 1.38 to 2.00 meters, and its thickness ranges from 1.35 to 1.46 meters. Carved into its granite surfaces are 1,775 Chinese characters, though about 150 are difficult to decipher. The inscriptions primarily recount Goguryeo's history and the accomplishments of King Gwanggaeto, making the stele a crucial source for historical research. Standing in front of it, one is struck by its towering height and the overwhelming presence of a kingdom that once commanded the Manchurian plains. Roughly 300 meters from the stele lies the Gwanggaeto Tomb. From a distance, it appears to be a natural hill. Covered with thick greenery, the massive mound stands alone in the open plain. But as one approaches, it becomes clear that the formation is man-made. Beneath the earth, scattered stones of all sizes reveal its structure. White clover flowers spread across the fields in front of the tomb like snow. Their delicate bloom between the grasses created a quiet, serene beauty. Rising beyond this tranquil scene, the Gwanggaeto Tomb stands tall even after 1,600 years. Its sheer scale is not apparent from afar, but the people standing atop it appear tiny, like ants. Imagining the number of stones and manpower needed to construct it offers a glimpse into Goguryeo’s national strength and King Gwanggaeto's stature. These three sites offer tangible proof that Goguryeo was once a powerful force in Northeast Asia. Ji'an, where they are located, was home to Gungnae Fortress, Goguryeo’s second capital, and served as the kingdom’s political and cultural hub for around 400 years. Today, they are designated UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites, recognized for their global value but also at the center of complex historical debates between China and South Korea. 2025-07-24 16:37:11
PHOTOS: Webtoon hit 'My Daughter Is a Zombie' comes to screen July 30 SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - A press screening for the film "My Daughter Is a Zombie" was held Monday at Megabox COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, offering a glimpse into the cinematic adaptation of the popular webtoon. The movie, which is scheduled for release on July 30, stars Cho Jung-seok, Lee Jung-eun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Yoon Kyung-ho, and Choi Yu-ri, and is based on a webtoon that has garnered more than 500 million views globally. Set against a backdrop of a sudden, unidentified zombie virus outbreak, the narrative plunges into a world where military forces are mobilized and citizens are driven to mutual surveillance in the intensified effort to detect the infected. At its core, the film explores the desperate lengths of paternal love, following a father, played by Cho Jung-seok, as he secretly trains to protect and conceal his zombie-infected daughter, portrayed by Choi Yu-ri. 2025-07-22 15:00:58
TRAVEL: Exploring traditional markets in Pattaya Pattaya, July 17 (AJP) – Known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, and a wide range of marine leisure activities, Pattaya is one of Thailand’s most popular tourist and resort cities. It ranks second only to Bangkok in tourist visits. While sightseeing and enjoying local attractions are a major part of travel, experiencing how local people live can offer a refreshing and memorable perspective. Traditional markets in Southeast Asia’s densely populated cities are famous for their energy and bustle. At wholesale markets filled with local people trading colorful tropical fruits, vegetables, fresh meat, and fish, travelers can get an up-close look at daily life. Among these is Rattanakornwanasin Market and its adjacent wholesale-oriented Ratanakorn Market—Pattaya’s largest fruit markets. Markets in hot, tropical regions typically open at dawn and lose steam as the day heats up. Early morning is the best time to witness the market in full swing. When we arrived at Rattanakornwanasin Market just after sunrise, the vendors had already completed their setup and were welcoming customers. The semi-open building, covered only by a roof, was lined with neatly organized and immaculately clean stalls. Brightly colored tropical fruits were stacked like small mountains, and the air was filled with a dizzying mix of sweet and tangy aromas, as if dozens of perfumes had been sprayed at once. Piles of carefully arranged fruit, neatly trimmed vegetables, and fresh meat were all marked with hand-written price signs—simple but direct. It felt less like shopping and more like visiting an exhibition curated by the vendors. Sellers preparing food or handling fish wore tied-up hair and long aprons, while some male vendors went shirtless in the humid heat. Their lean, strong physiques seemed to enhance trust in the freshness of their produce. fruits on display ranged from familiar favorites like tangerines, watermelons, and mangoes to rare finds such as durians, dragon fruit, rose apples that resemble bell peppers, rambutans, and jackfruit. Pineapples, with their tough rinds, were stacked not just inside the truck beds but all around, piled as high as a small child. It was easily more pineapple than I had seen in my entire life. Vendors would peel and prepare them on the spot for customers. Prices varied by fruit, but mangoes, mangosteens, and watermelons—all familiar to Korean palates—were as cheap as half to a quarter of what they cost in Korea. Every fruit tasted as if it had been sprinkled with sugar, sweet and full of juice. In all my time in Thailand, I had never once been disappointed by the taste of fruit. The very first mango I tried there had a deep, rich sweetness I had never experienced before. It felt like a reminder of what it means to taste fruit where it is grown. Thailand has long had a “sai-thung” culture, where nearly everything is packaged in a plastic bag. Vegetables, fruits, side dishes, soups, sauces, beverages, and coffee were all sold in these bags. But in 2020, Thailand banned single-use plastic bags in department stores, large supermarkets, and some retail outlets. Now, this practice is mostly seen in markets. The tightly inflated bags, resembling those used to transport ornamental fish, looked cute and somehow fresher and more appealing than deflated ones. These food bags are thicker than regular ones, so there was little worry about them tearing or spilling. Butcher shops displayed their meats openly, rather than refrigerating them. Spread out generously, the meat looked freshly slaughtered and quite clean. In addition to fruits and meat, the market also included side dish stalls, fishmongers, and general goods vendors, offering the full experience of a traditional marketplace. Though I had arrived early, most visitors were local Thais. A few Westerners, likely expats living in Thailand, were the only other foreigners. I felt like I was the only traveler in the place. Locals, seeing me with a camera, began chatting in Thai. I didn’t understand what they were saying, but I could instinctively tell I was the subject. For a moment, I worried. What if they don’t like being photographed? But I soon realized there was nothing negative in their tone. After a short exchange, they began smiling at me. Some offered me a piece of fruit, others gave me a thumbs-up. Their gestures and expressions made it clear. They were welcoming me, and they were enjoying the moment just as much as I was. 2025-07-18 10:47:36
TRAVEL: Glimpse into daily life in North Korea from across the Amnok River Amnok River, July 09 (AJP) - North Korea was once one with South Korea and remains close, yet unreachable. Today, we can only catch glimpses of the country under limited circumstances and in specific places. We cannot talk to them, shake their hands, or interact freely. One of the few places we can view North Korea relatively closely is from the Chinese border. While South Korea and North Korea are separated by the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone, China and North Korea are separated mostly by the Amnok and Tuman rivers, making it possible to observe each other on clear days. I visited the Amnok River hoping to catch a closer look at North Korea. In this region, boat tours allow passengers to see across the river to North Korean territory. These boats pass under the broken section of a bridge, once a route used by Chinese troops during the Korean War. Known as the Broken Bridge at Jianghado, it was bombed by American forces and has never been restored. As our small boat approached the North Korean side, the figures of people came into focus. From afar, you might simply note that "there are people" or "those are soldiers," but as we drew nearer, we could see their postures, facial expressions, and clothing. They were plowing steep hillside fields with oxen. Two farmers guided a yoke as two oxen pulled a plow, a scene that looked frozen in the 1950s. Their brick houses were patched together with mismatched roof tiles, and the windows were irregularly shaped, seemingly incapable of withstanding harsh winters. Guard posts behind stone fences had peeling paint that no longer served any camouflage purpose. The only modern touch was a CCTV camera, but whether it worked was unclear. Wooden utility poles leaned dangerously and looked like they might snap in the wind. Across the Amnok River, the main mode of transportation appeared to be bicycles. A few motorcycles and cars were spotted, but they were rare. Most people carried goods on bicycles along a path fenced with netting toward the Chinese side, the only visible road on the North Korean side. A few people also moved by boat. These small, rusty motorboats, fitted with oars on both sides, carried two or three people fishing. Since they were closer to us than the people on land, we could hear their voices and exchange greetings. They looked no different from rural young men in South Korea—simple and familiar. Watching their faces, I often forgot I was looking at North Korea. It felt like I was looking at a countryside village in South Korea. But then I saw a sign on a deforested hill that read, "Let us go forward with communism!" That jolted me back to reality. The same language, but a sentence unimaginable in the South—it was jarring. After getting off the boat, I traveled by bus for about an hour with the Amnok River on my left. The first thing I noticed were construction workers in North Korea. Most of them were young, small-framed men, numbering easily in the hundreds. Wearing yellow safety helmets, they were building walls with piles of earth. About an hour and a half later, we arrived opposite Sinuiju. There, we saw apartment buildings, possibly up to 15 stories high, which brought to mind the phrase "for show." Though it was around sunset, only a few small lights flickered inside, and no people could be seen. The ground floors housed facilities like food distribution centers, "Hadan 1 Pharmacy," a library, and an IT distribution room, mirroring the style of South Korean mixed-use buildings. On one wall, a large slogan read, "Let us thoroughly carry out the decisions of the 12th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee." Our glimpse of the other side was soon obscured as fog rose across the width of the Amnok River. The fog swelled over the river like a pillow placed between North Korea and China, cutting off the view once again. 2025-07-15 11:05:45