Journalist
Han Jun-gu and Kim Dong-woo
jungu141298@ajupress.com
-
K-Art: Contemporary art in display at SETEC SEOUL, May 15 (AJP) -The '5th Seoul Art Fair (SAF),' diagnosing the present and envisioning the future of Korean contemporary art, opened at SETEC in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The event features 160 gallery and individual exhibition booths with approximately 1,200 artists participating. Beyond a simple exhibition, it presents a new type of art market based on a clear direction of being 'artist-centered.' This year, artists from China, France, Germany, Japan, and other countries have joined to showcase diverse artworks, and a 'K-Art' exhibition promoting the globalization of Korean art is also being held. Visitors can directly communicate with artists, exchange information, and purchase desired works. The fair runs for four days from Thursday, May 14 through Sunday, May 17 at SETEC near Hakdong Station in Daechi-dong, Seoul. 2026-05-16 12:03:08 -
Largest media expo underway in southern Seoul SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - The Korea International Broadcasting, Media, Audio & Lighting Show (KOBA), which kicked off on Wednesday, runs until Friday. Under the theme of "The AI-Awakened Media Era: Content Connects, Creation Evolves, Convergence Opens," the four-day expo reflects the rapid spread of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven technologies in the broadcasting and media industry, such as OpenAI's "Sora," Google's "Veo" and Meta's "Emu Video." About 220 domestic and international companies are participating, setting up about 1,000 booths. Organizers expect more than 40,000 visitors. Major Korean broadcasters and global equipment manufacturers, including Blackmagic Design, Canon, Nikon Imaging Korea, Panasonic and Sony are among the participants. 2026-05-14 16:52:35 -
Clean protest rolls through Seoul as climate activists bicycle to National Assembly SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - Civic group members staged a bicycle protest on Tuesday urging the National Assembly to promptly revise the Carbon Neutrality Act. The Climate Constitutional Petition Group held a press conference in front of the Constitutional Court in Seoul announcing a 'Climate Bicycle March from the Constitutional Court to the National Assembly' before beginning the march. In August 2024, the Constitutional Court ruled that the Carbon Neutrality Act violated the principle against insufficient protection by failing to include specific carbon reduction plans for 2031~2049, ordering the National Assembly to revise it by February 2026. However, the National Assembly has still not completed the revision despite exceeding the deadline. Civic groups criticized the National Assembly for prioritizing political logic over protecting citizens' basic rights, urging prompt implementation of revisions in line with the Constitutional Court's decision. 2026-05-13 17:16:17 -
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