Journalist
Han Jun-gu · Kim Hee-su
jungu141298@ajupress.com
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PHOTOS: Royal ancestral Jongmyo Daeje ritual resumes after six-year pause SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - On May 4, the royal ancestral rite known as Jongmyo Daeje was held at Jongmyo Shrine in central Seoul. Recognized as the most significant and solemn ritual of its kind, Jongmyo Daeje was conducted for the first time in six years and unfolded in grand fashion beneath clear skies. Built in 1394 by King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty, Jongmyo is the official royal shrine where the spirits of past kings and queens are enshrined. Spanning 200,545 square meters, the complex consists of the Main Hall (Jeongjeon), Yeongnyeongjeon, Jeonsacheong, and Hyangdaecheong. More than a sacred space for rites, Jongmyo served as a powerful symbol of the Joseon dynasty’s religious and political identity. Today, 27 former kings are honored there. Jongmyo Daeje is a comprehensive ritual that fuses courtly elegance with traditional dance and music. Its cultural significance earned it a place on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2001. While the rite was historically performed five times a year—in spring, summer, fall, winter, and at year’s end—it is now held twice annually: on the first Sunday of May and the first Saturday of November. The Main Hall, where the ceremony is held, is accessed via two sets of stone steps. Upon ascending the first stairway and passing through the entrance, visitors are met with a vast ceremonial courtyard that evokes reverence and awe as they face the ancestral spirits of past monarchs. At the heart of the ritual is Jongmyo Jeryeak, a blend of instrumental music, song, and dance performed during the ceremony. Designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 1964, the performance on this day featured a visually striking ensemble: 64 dancers dressed in red performed the solemn Ilmu, accompanied by 80 court musicians and 320 ceremonial officials, making up a total of 464 participants. 2025-05-07 14:57:50 -
PHOTOS: 'Virus,' a tale of infection and irresistible love, set for May 7 release SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - The cast and crew of the upcoming film "Virus" convened for a press screening and conference on April 28 at CGV Yongsan ahead of its May 7 release. Director Kang Yi-kwan appeared alongside stars Bae Doo-na, Kim Yun-seok and Chang Ki-ha to discuss the film, which explores the unsettling spread of the fictional “Toxo Virus” — a pathogen that causes its victims to fall into irrational, fatal love. Virus centers on the journey of a protagonist who, after becoming infected, is swept into an unlikely alliance with three men: a novice researcher, a long-lost classmate, and a lone scientist with the expertise to develop a cure. Together, they navigate a harrowing path shaped by urgency, emotion and the specter of certain death. 2025-04-30 10:08:03 -
VISUALS: Lanterns, festivities herald Buddha's Birthday SEOUL, April 24 (AJP) - Jogyesa Temple, a prominent Buddhist center in the heart of Seoul, is abuzz with preparations for Buddha’s Birthday on May 5, 2025. The temple grounds are currently festooned with a multitude of colorful lanterns, each inscribed with the names of devotees, creating a vibrant canopy overhead. This spectacle has drawn an increased number of visitors and tourists, who come to offer prayers or simply find respite in the dappled shade cast by the illuminated decorations. A series of events commemorating Buddha’s birth is scheduled to take place from April 26 through May 5, encompassing lantern parades, traditional cultural performances, and solemn Buddhist rituals. Jogyesa Temple in Jongno, Seoul, May 4, 2025/ AJP Han Jun-gu 2025-04-24 14:32:51 -
PHOTOS: Cherry blossoms at Seoul's Seokchon Lake SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - A frothy canopy of pale pink and white has enveloped the walking paths encircling Seokchon Lake, transforming the popular Jamsil district into a springtime idyll. The full bloom of cherry blossoms has arrived, casting a delicate beauty over the waters and drawing throngs of visitors to the renowned scenic spot. 2025-04-15 14:44:19 -
PHOTOS: Tug-of-war ritual in Dangjin seeks unity, blessings SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - From April 10 to 13, Dangjin in South Chungcheong Province reverberated with the rhythmic chants and straining muscles of thousands gathered for the annual Gijisi tug-of-war festival, a vibrant tradition that transcends mere sport. Designated as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2015, the Gijisi tug-of-war is deeply rooted in agricultural ritual, a communal prayer for a bountiful harvest and protection against calamities. The scale of the Gijisi event is its most striking feature. Two immense ropes, each stretching 100 meters, are conjoined to create a 200-meter behemoth with a diameter exceeding one meter. So vast are these central cords that an adult seated atop would find their feet dangling above the ground. Numerous smaller ropes, like thick vines, sprout from the main cables, providing handholds for the throngs of participants representing different villages. Before the spirited contest commences on a broad expanse of open ground, a solemn rope ritual known as "Julgosa" unfolds. Ceremonial tables laden with offerings are arranged at the head of the massive rope. Here, prayers are offered for a safe and successful event. In a distinctive element of the ceremony, alcohol is reverently presented to the tug-of-war rope itself. Following the ritual, the coiled thinner ropes are unfurled and meticulously reattached to the main cable. Then, in a lively procession called "Gilnori," locals and visitors unite to transport the weighty rope from its place of creation to the competition grounds. Leaders, perched atop the colossal cords, wave flags and sound signaling devices, their calls of "euiyeocha" echoing through the crowd. The tug-of-war itself is more than a test of strength; it fosters a profound sense of unity and camaraderie, nurturing hometown pride and embodying both recreational joy and deep spiritual aspirations. An enduring belief associated with the Gijisi tug-of-war holds that the victor’s side foretells national peace, while the opposing triumph promises a prosperous harvest and abundance for all. The festival stands as a testament to the cooperative spirit and solidarity of traditional rural Korean society, seamlessly blending elements of Confucianism, Buddhism, and shamanism into a unique folk religious event. The Gijisi tug-of-war, with the enthusiastic participation of entire villages, is a living cultural heritage that vividly illustrates the enduring community spirit of Korea’s agricultural past. 2025-04-15 14:36:46