Journalist
Han Jun-gu · Yoo-Na hyun
jungu141298@ajupress.com
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Arnault family tours Seoul luxury landmarks as Korea cements status as key LVMH market SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) -Bernard Arnault, chairman of luxury conglomerate LVMH, toured South Korea’s leading department stores Monday in his first visit to the country in three years, underscoring Korea’s growing importance to the global luxury industry even as demand slows elsewhere. The billionaire chairman began his Seoul itinerary at Shinsegae Department Store Main Branch, where he briefly spoke with executives and Louis Vuitton officials before entering “The Reserve,” home to “Louis Vuitton Visionary Journey Seoul,” the brand’s largest such space worldwide. Accompanying him was Delphine Arnault, daughter of Bernard Arnault and chief executive of Christian Dior, along with other senior LVMH executives. The delegation later toured Lotte Department Store Main Branch, Lotte Department Store Jamsil Branch and Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam Branch, inspecting flagship boutiques including Louis Vuitton, Dior, Loro Piana and Bulgari. Industry observers viewed the trip as a high-level inspection of one of the world’s most resilient luxury markets. South Korea has emerged as a crucial growth driver for global luxury houses, powered by younger consumers and strong spending among affluent Gen Z and millennial shoppers despite a broader slowdown in China and other major markets. 2026-05-12 15:08:14 -
Nami Island turns into an island of fairytales SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) -Under canopies of fresh spring leaves and tree-lined paths washed in soft May sunlight, families wandered through Nami Island this weekend as the 2026 Nami Island International Children’s Book Festival transformed the popular riverside retreat into a sprawling storybook playground. Held under the theme “Romance,” NAMBOOK 2026 opened on May 1 and runs through May 17, blending literature, art and performance across the island’s open-air stages and wooded walkways. The 17-day festival has drawn children clutching picture books, parents pushing strollers and young readers sprawled across lawns with books in hand. At the Eco Stage and Free Stage, the rhythmic sounds of percussion troupe Mulove echoed through the island as children gathered around performers, some swaying to the music while others sat cross-legged on the grass. Nearby, children’s choirs filled the spring air with songs as visitors paused beneath towering metasequoia trees to watch. Inside the UNICEF Lounge, pages of world literature came alive during multilingual reading sessions featuring illustrated books from around the globe. Children listened intently as presenters introduced stories from different cultures before joining hands-on activities inspired by the readings. At the Daloreum Art Playground, one of the festival’s busiest corners, children crowded around a massive community banner for the “Draw a Face—Together, We Connect” program, carefully sketching self-portraits into blank oval spaces. The growing collage of colorful faces stretched across the canvas like a collective portrait of the festival itself. Elsewhere, mime artists entertained passersby along winding footpaths while outdoor reading spaces offered quieter moments away from the crowds. Children leafed through books beneath the shade of trees as ferry arrivals continued to bring waves of visitors onto the island throughout the day. The Nami Book Fair, titled “Some Bookstore,” also featured domestic and overseas publishers showcasing illustrated children’s books, independent titles and art publications, adding to the festival’s atmosphere of literary exploration. Already one of South Korea’s most popular family spring destinations, Nami Island takes on a particularly festive atmosphere during NAMBOOK, where literature blends with performance, nature and play. Admission to the festival is included with regular island entry, while most programs remain free for visitors. 2026-05-11 17:08:48 -
Flower market bustles with shoppers on Parents' day SEOUL, May 08 (AJP) -In South Korea, spring does not fully arrive until the carnations appear. Every year on May 8, families across the country celebrate Parents' Day, a national observance dedicated to honoring both mothers and fathers. Streets fill with bouquets wrapped in pink paper, flower stalls spill over with red carnations, and schoolchildren clutch handmade pins and handwritten letters on their way home. The carnation has become the defining symbol of the holiday — a flower associated with gratitude, sacrifice and respect. Red carnations are traditionally given to living parents. The tradition reflects South Korea’s deep-rooted Confucian culture, where filial duty remains one of society’s strongest values even as family structures rapidly change. Unlike many Western countries that separate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, South Korea merged the celebrations into one holiday in the 1970s to emphasize family unity. In the days leading up to May 8, flower markets in Seoul become some of the busiest corners of the city. Vendors work through the night assembling corsages and bouquets as office workers and students rush to buy gifts before trains and highways fill with holiday travelers heading to their hometowns. 2026-05-08 15:55:49 -
Gyeonggi fire services demonstrates unmanned firefighting robot 'FIRO' YONGIN, May 07 (AJP) - The Gyeonggi Fire Service's headquarters has conducted a demonstration of an unmanned firefighting robot called 'FIRO' at the Gyeonggi Fire Service Academy's live fire training facility in Yongin, south of Seoul, on Wednesday. The demonstration event included remote driving, water spraying, and search & rescue operations. According to the emergency headquarters, the unmanned firefighting robot will be deployed in dangerous environments involving buildings vulnerable to collapse, hard-to-reach areas, and areas exposed to high temperatures, explosions, toxic gases, and other hazards. 2026-05-07 17:34:00 -
Circus casts a little magic over Children's Day on Nodeul Island SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - A little magic settled over Nodeul Island this Children’s Day as the Seoul Circus Festival turned the riverside island into a world of acrobats, laughter and wide-eyed wonder. From Monday through Tuesday, circus performers tumbled across grassy fields, balanced high above cheering crowds and invited children to step into the spotlight themselves. What began as a performance quickly became a playground where children were no longer spectators, but part of the show. Now in its ninth year since launching in 2018, the festival adopted the theme “Circus Land,” welcoming every visitor as a member of the circus troupe the moment they arrived. Before settling in to watch performances, families tried their hand at circus acts and activities scattered across the venue. Children climbed jungle gyms, rode small carousels, and navigated obstacle courses under clear skies. This wasn't a festival about sitting and watching. Audiences clapped, cheered, and became part of the show as acrobatics and music filled the air. The festival turned spectators into participants, making everyone part of the circus. or one holiday, the circus offered something beyond entertainment — a small world where imagination felt real and Children’s Day carried just a little more magic. 2026-05-05 08:12:58 -
Even sound sleep becomes a competition — and fashion show — in Korea SEOUL, May 03 (AJP) -The ability to fall sound asleep — and stay that way no matter what — has quietly become a modern superpower in a world vibrating nonstop with alarms, scrolling feeds, office chats and late-night anxiety. So when a giant banner reading “Don’t wake me unless you’re a prince” fluttered above rows of sleeping bags along the Han River on Saturday afternoon, few in Seoul found it strange. At exactly 3 p.m., 170 contestants gathered at Mulbit Plaza in Yeouido Hangang Park for the third annual “2026 Han River Napping Championship,” a competition where the goal was neither speed nor strength, but the rarest luxury of all: deep, uninterrupted sleep. Some arrived in pajamas. Others came armed with plush toys, neck pillows and blankets. One contestant wore a full Winnie the Pooh costume. Another drifted toward the starting line dressed as Snow White. By the time the opening announcements ended, the riverside looked less like a competition venue than a giant outdoor bedroom assembled by an exhausted civilization. Hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the championship has grown into one of the city’s quirkiest and most unexpectedly relatable events since debuting in 2024, tapping into a national epidemic of fatigue in one of the world’s most sleep-deprived societies. This year’s applicants included a nurse surviving on fragmented sleep after high-stress shifts, a man in his 30s worn down from helping his insomnia-stricken wife sleep each night, and an engaged couple whose wedding preparations had apparently become a form of endurance training. But sleeping peacefully beside the Han River was only the beginning. Contestants were judged on “sleep concentration” — the ability to remain in deep sleep despite increasingly annoying disruptions engineered by organizers. Officials crept among the sleepers armed with feathers, delicately tickling exposed hands and faces. Mosquito buzzing sounds echoed across the venue like a humid summer nightmare. Hosts wandered through the rows deliberately talking loudly, attempting to provoke reactions from competitors pretending to be asleep. Some twitched. Others rolled over defensively. A few appeared so deeply unconscious they seemed to transcend earthly concerns altogether. Heart-rate monitors tracked sleep quality and deep-sleep duration in real time, turning naps into biometric competition. Before the event began, contestants stretched through pre-sleep yoga sessions aimed at releasing tension from overworked shoulders and stiff office backs. Nearby, spectators quietly watched the bizarre serenity unfold, occasionally applauding particularly committed sleepers. The championship also doubled as an impromptu fashion show for the chronically tired. A “Best Dresser” contest rewarded the most creative pajama styling, with citizens voting for favorites among contestants dressed in cartoon onesies, fairy-tale outfits and elaborate sleepwear ensembles that looked more prepared for a costume parade than a nap. Yet beneath the humor and absurdity, the event carried an unmistakably modern undertone. In a hyperconnected country where people routinely sacrifice rest to work, commute, study and endlessly remain online, the act of truly switching off — phone silenced, eyes closed, mind blank — has become both rebellion and aspiration. For a few hours beside the Han River, at least, exhaustion itself became a shared performance. And perhaps the only competition where losing consciousness was the ultimate sign of victory. 2026-05-03 13:23:22 -
Scent of soil and legacy at the 40th Icheon ceramic festival SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - The air at the festival entrance is thick with the scent of wet soil and fresh grass. Families, elderly couples, and travelers with cameras walk together along a 900-meter stretch of workshops. The most significant change to the Icheon ceramic festival this year is the expansion of space. The three villages of Ye’s Park are now connected into a single route. Visitors wander through the entire village as part of a stay-and-experience cultural model. Approximately 300 workshops occupy 120,000 pyeong of land. Artists are present at each site to explain their work. The village has transformed from a marketplace into a living platform for ceramic art. While the Sagimakgol pottery village represents tradition, Ye’s Park showcases modern expansion. In the masters' exhibition hall, renowned artisans stay at their posts to engage with visitors. Guests can watch the entire production process, from spinning the wheel to carving intricate patterns. The space highlights the educational value of the craft. One wall features student works from Korea Ceramic High School alongside pieces by masters with decades of experience. National master Choi In-kyu and Icheon master Yu Yong-cheol previously served as civilian diplomats. They spent years traveling to Canada, France, and the United States to demonstrate Korean pottery. They often used their own funds to promote the craft. The pandemic halted this momentum as travel stopped and international events were canceled. Both masters now highlight the limitations of individual effort. They believe the state must lead systematic promotion to sustain the global reputation of Korean culture. Despite these difficulties, the masters continue to teach. They refuse to charge fees for children who come to handle the clay. They share their knowledge on spinning wheels and reading kiln temperatures without hesitation. "I hope they will think of ceramics just one more time in the future," the masters said. This commitment to the next generation explains why the festival has continued for 40 years. 2026-04-30 15:12:22 -
Boy band NEXZ showcase new album in Seoul SEOUL, April 27 (AJP) - Boy band NEXZ, made up mostly of Japanese-born members, held an event in Yongsan, Seoul on Monday to promote their new album. According to their management agency JYP Entertainment, "Mmchk," an onomatopoeic word coined to reflect the rhythmic sound of their music, is the septet's second album, following their debut in May 2024 after being formed through a global audition. The album contains three tracks, which are set to be available on major streaming sites later in the day. 2026-04-27 17:44:29 -
A ceiling of wishes: Jogyesa fills with lantern light ahead of Buddha's Birthday SEOUL, April 24 (AJP) -At Jogyesa Temple in downtown Seoul, the sky has begun to lower — not with clouds, but with color. A month ahead of Buddha's Birthday on May 24, preparations are in full swing. Lanterns gather overhead in long, patient rows, stretching across the temple grounds like a suspended tapestry. From a distance, they resemble a soft ceiling; up close, each one carries a name, a wish, a quiet intention. Near the entrance, a modest registration booth hums with steady activity. Believers and visitors stop to sponsor lanterns, their handwritten tags accumulating one by one — small slips of paper that will soon rise into the canopy above. The act is simple, almost routine, yet deliberate: a wish written, a string tied, a place secured among thousands. Elsewhere, the work continues in quiet coordination. Workers move methodically beneath the lines, lifting, fastening, adjusting. Long strings of lanterns are raised overhead, inch by inch, transforming open air into something more intimate. In some sections, the installation is complete — lanterns already catching sunlight, their reds, yellows and blues softly glowing against the spring sky. In others, hands remain busy, carefully attaching name tags to rows of white lanterns waiting to be filled with meaning. In the center of Seoul, amid traffic and routine, Jogyesa Temple becomes a place where tradition and faith briefly take visible form — not in grand gestures, but in repetition: lantern after lantern, wish after wish, rising together to fill the air. 2026-04-24 15:26:18 -
Forget SPA, enter experience: new K-fashion megastore lands in Seongsu SEOUL, April 24 (AJP) -For a shop lover, the ambience matters. This warehouse-like space hums with a hip energy that makes you feel instantly on trend. Musinsa's massive 66,000-square-foot offline store in Seongsu-dong that opened on Friday brings together about 1,000 brands across fashion, beauty and F&B under one roof to showcase the company’s retail essence. Musinsa Mega Store Seongsu, spanning one basement level and four above-ground floors, is the largest multi-brand shop in Korea housed within a single store. The space unfolds by theme rather than function. The basement floor houses Musinsa Young, work and formal wear, as well as casual and leather shoes. The first and second floors feature girls’ fashion, bags and caps club, eyewear and beauty. The third floor brings together Musinsa Standard Men, Women, Home and Beauty, while the fourth floor is dedicated to sports, running, next outdoor and a food garden. The beauty hall opens wide — a dense yet airy field of color and glass where shoppers test, compare, and consult. Products are grouped by function, not brand, encouraging discovery over familiarity. It feels less transactional, more exploratory. Ah, then there are the shoes. Neatly lined rows give way to bursts of color and texture — sneakers, loafers, leather classics — each pair waiting to be picked up, tried on, and walked out into the city. A “Girls” zone bursts in soft tones and textured fabrics, while just steps away, a “Sports” section shifts the mood with bold silhouettes and global labels. There is no single path. Visitors drift, double back, linger — browsing as if navigating an exhibition rather than a store. 2026-04-24 15:22:19