Journalist

Yoo Na-hyun
  • Trendy living ideas from Seoul
    Trendy living ideas from Seoul SEOUL, February 26 (AJP) -The 2026 Seoul Living Design Fair opened Wednesday at COEX in southern Seoul, transforming the cavernous exhibition halls into a playground of textures, light and ideas. Now in its 31st year, the country’s largest interior and lifestyle showcase returns under the theme “Sustainable Living and Design.” Organizers say around 450 domestic and international brands have joined this year’s edition — the biggest lineup yet. For five days through March 1, COEX becomes a walk-through mood board of modern living. From sculptural sofas and modular shelving to mood lighting, tactile textiles and next-generation home appliances, every aisle offers a snapshot of how Koreans are reimagining their homes. This year, sustainability is not just a buzzword — it’s the backbone. Recycled woods, bio-based fabrics, low-energy lighting and smart energy systems take center stage. Brands are leaning into warmer palettes, natural finishes and compact, multifunctional designs that reflect urban living realities. Visitors move from minimalist studio setups to cozy, plant-filled living rooms and tech-forward kitchens, exploring spaces that feel both practical and aspirational. The fair captures a shift: homes are no longer just places to live, but carefully curated reflections of values — wellness, efficiency and environmental awareness. Since its launch, the annual fair has evolved into a barometer of Korea’s design culture, where industry insiders scout emerging brands and everyday consumers gather inspiration for their next renovation — or simply their next idea. 2026-02-26 14:04:50
  • Drone exhibiition DSK 2026 kicks off in Busan
    Drone exhibiition "DSK 2026" kicks off in Busan Busan, February 25 (AJP) - Asia’s leading drone exhibition and conference, DSK 2026 (Drone Show Korea), kicked off Wednesday at BEXCO in Busan, running through Feb. 27. Co-hosted by Busan Metropolitan City, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of National Defense and the Korea AeroSpace Administration, the event marks its largest edition to date. This year’s exhibition features 318 companies from 23 countries across 1,200 booths, covering 26,508 square meters. An international conference will bring together 48 speakers from 13 countries to discuss emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, defense, future mobility and the New Space industry. Organizers said the event aims to serve as a global platform for industry networking and business opportunities, alongside interactive programs for visitors. 2026-02-25 17:18:31
  • Welcome to the Coffee Republic of Korea
    Welcome to the Coffee Republic of Korea SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) -South Korea’s passion for coffee was on full display this week as the 2026 Seoul Cafe & Bakery Fair Season 1 opened at SETEC in southern Seoul. The four-day exhibition runs from Feb. 25 to 28. The fair brings together the full spectrum of the cafe and bakery industry — from specialty coffee and artisanal bread to desserts, beverages and franchise services. Visitors can also attend consulting programs on startup planning and store operations. The venue is organized into themed halls, including “Roastery B” for specialty coffee and roasting brands, “Tea Village” for traditional and blended teas, “Zero Planet” for eco-friendly food and beverage products, and “Korea Spirit Festa” for alcoholic beverage brands. Korea’s deepening coffee culture is reflected in trade data. According to Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp., citing figures from the Korea Customs Service, coffee imports reached about 2.65 trillion won in 2025 — a record high and more than 40 percent higher than a year earlier. Import volume totaled roughly 215,000 tons. Adding to the atmosphere, the Korea Latte Art Championship is being held alongside the fair, drawing skilled baristas and enthusiastic crowds. The exhibition continues through Feb. 28 at SETEC in Seoul’s Gangnam District — a fitting stage for a country that has firmly established itself as one of the world’s most devoted coffee cultures. 2026-02-25 16:54:10
  • KOSPI hits record high as Samsung and SK hynix fly
    KOSPI hits record high as Samsung and SK hynix fly SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Seoul's benchmark KOSPI closed Tuesday, just shy of 6,000 milestone, less than a month after the break above 5,000. Shares of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix also hit historic heights - 200,000 won, up 7,000 won from the previous close and 1,005,000 won, up 54,000 won respectively 2026-02-24 16:59:31
  • Lee-Lula summit: a warm embrace and strategic partnership
    Lee-Lula summit: a warm embrace and strategic partnership SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) -Cordiality defined the meeting between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during Lula’s three-day state visit to Seoul — his first in 21 years since 2005. Lula was the first state guest welcomed by Lee since the presidential office returned to Cheong Wa Dae in December last year, adding symbolic weight to the visit. The two leaders held formal talks at Cheong Wa Dae on Feb. 23, followed by a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony and a joint press conference. But beyond the official program, it was their personal chemistry that stood out. Both leaders, who rose from working-class backgrounds to their nations’ highest offices, shared a warm embrace — a gesture that underscored both political alignment and personal affinity. Seoul and Brasília agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a “strategic partnership,” signaling a deeper institutional framework for cooperation. Brazil — Latin America’s largest economy with a population exceeding 200 million — is a major agricultural and resource powerhouse and an influential voice of the Global South. The country maintains active engagement with China, India and Japan, positioning itself as a pivotal partner in emerging-market diplomacy. Lula departed on Tuesday after concluding his three-day state visit. 2026-02-24 15:49:22
  • South Korea ends 17-day campaign across ice and snow as Winter Olympics close
    South Korea ends 17-day campaign across ice and snow as Winter Olympics close SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) - The 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics concluded Sunday (KST), bringing down the curtain on a 17-day celebration of winter sports across northern Italy. The Games officially ended with a closing ceremony held at the Verona Arena early Sunday morning Korea time. South Korea, which sent a 130-member delegation including 71 athletes, collected a total of 10 medals — three gold, four silver and three bronze — to finish 13th overall. The team achieved its target of winning at least three gold medals, one more than at the 2022 Beijing Games, but fell short of its other goal of breaking into the top 10 in the medal standings. Short track speed skating once again proved to be the backbone of Korea’s medal haul. Two-time gold medalist Kim Gil-li led the charge, helping the team secure two golds, three silvers and two bronzes in the sport. Snowboarding, long considered a weak point for Korea, delivered one of the Games' most notable breakthroughs. Choi Ga-on captured gold in the women’s halfpipe, marking a milestone for the country’s snow events. In men’s snowboard competitions, Yoo Seung-eun earned a medal in big air, while Kim Sang-gyeom added another in parallel giant slalom, underscoring Korea’s growing competitiveness on snow. Overall, snowboarders claimed one gold, one silver and one bronze, exceeding expectations. Built on the traditional strength of ice events and bolstered by emerging success on snow, the Milan-Cortina Games signaled an expanding horizon for Korean winter sports. The next Winter Olympics will be held in the French Alps in 2030. 2026-02-23 16:51:04
  • Caps, flowers, and farewells in February commencement
    Caps, flowers, and farewells in February commencement SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) -Commencement season has returned. On Sunday, a degree conferment ceremony for February 2026 graduates was held at the open-air amphitheater on the Sinchon campus of Yonsei University. A total of 5,597 students received degrees, including 2,839 undergraduates, 2,252 master’s students and 506 doctoral candidates. Wearing academic gowns and caps, graduates gathered under clear winter skies, marking the formal end of their academic journey. Family members and friends filled the surrounding seats, offering applause, cheers and words of encouragement. Across the venue, crowds paused for photographs. Bouquets were exchanged, and small groups formed around graduates posing in front of campus landmarks. Some parents adjusted gowns and collars, while classmates compared schedules and future plans. The ceremony combined formality with personal moments. As names were called and degrees awarded, students stepped forward one by one, crossing from years of study into professional and personal independence. For many, the event marked both a conclusion and a transition — the end of campus life and the beginning of new careers, further studies or overseas opportunities. 2026-02-23 15:42:05
  • Robot royal guard patrol around Seoul palace through pilot operation
    Robot royal guard patrol around Seoul palace through pilot operation SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - South Korea is expanding the use of artificial intelligence in heritage protection, as a patrol robot began a pilot operation at Changdeokgung Palace in central Seoul on Friday. The robot, named “Sunra-bot,” conducted a demonstration patrol near Yeonghwajeong Pavilion inside the UNESCO-listed palace complex. The name “Sunra” comes from the Joseon Dynasty-era sunragun, royal patrol guards who monitored the palace and surrounding areas of the capital. Equipped with sensors capable of detecting fire hazards and abnormal sounds in real time, the AI-powered robot moves autonomously around the palace grounds. In case of an emergency, it transmits alerts to the Changdeokgung management office and an integrated control center. Officials say the system is designed to supplement human patrols, particularly in low-traffic areas and during nighttime hours when continuous monitoring is more challenging. Sunra-bot operates two patrols during the day and seven at night, each lasting about 40 minutes. The Korea Heritage Service introduced one unit under a lottery-funded pilot program, marking a step toward integrating smart technologies into the management of national cultural assets. Authorities plan to assess the robot’s performance over a month before deciding whether to deploy additional units. As South Korea explores digital transformation across public sectors, cultural heritage sites are increasingly incorporating AI-based surveillance and safety systems aimed at preventing fire damage and improving rapid response capabilities. 2026-02-20 15:00:30
  • Lingering chill gives way to spring
    Lingering chill gives way to spring SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - Morning temperatures still remained low across most parts of the country on Thursday, which marks "Woosoo" on the lunar calendar, a seasonal term that literally means the time when snow melts and turns to rain. Despite the lingering winter chill, the first harbingers of spring have begun to appear on the southern resort island of Jeju, with canola flowers coming into bloom. The sweeping fields of canola in Seogwipo are heralding the arrival of spring. 2026-02-19 17:35:34
  • Seollal hangover lingers as business returns to normal
    Seollal hangover lingers as business returns to normal SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) -Business resumed across the country following the long-weekend Lunar New Year holiday, as scenes from a traditional festival in central Seoul offered a final glimpse of the season’s festive mood. The 2026 Namsangol Seollal Festival, themed “Welcoming the Year with Blessings of the Horse,” was held from Feb. 16 to 18 at Namsangol Hanok Village in Jung District, Seoul. On Feb. 17, the day of the Lunar New Year, organizers hosted a rice cake soup sharing event, marking one of the holiday’s most symbolic moments. A total of 600 servings of tteokguk were offered free of charge to visitors. Tteokguk, the representative New Year’s dish made by simmering thinly sliced rice cakes in rich beef broth, symbolizes the gaining of a year in age and wishes for prosperity. Participants shared warm bowls of soup while reflecting on the meaning of the holiday. Throughout the festival, traditional cultural programs were operated, including Seollal-themed quizzes and explanations of ancestral rite tables. Performances blending yeonhui (traditional folk performance), b-boy dance, pansori and taekwondo demonstrations drew crowds, offering a modern reinterpretation of Korean heritage. Hands-on activities — such as making horse-shaped soap, mother-of-pearl crafts, rice cakes and practicing traditional New Year bows — attracted families to the venue. Visitors also enjoyed folk games set up across the hanok village, embracing the festive atmosphere as the new year began. As offices reopened and daily routines resumed after the holiday break, the festival served as a quiet bridge between tradition and the return to normal life — a final reminder of Seollal’s spirit before the pace of the city fully picked up again. 2026-02-19 11:06:34