Journalist
Yoo Na-hyun · Han Jun-gu
shooting@ajupress.com
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PHOTOS: Frontline vigilance — S. Korean troops brave extreme cold at border SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) — Amidst the bone-chilling winter at the North Korean border, South Korean military operations remain in constant motion, maintaining a 24-hour watch despite plummeting temperatures. At the heart of this defense is the General Outpost (GOP), a network of strategic surveillance positions situated approximately 2 kilometers south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). Tasked with monitoring the volatile frontier, GOP units manage a vast expanse of rugged terrain where accessibility is often restricted. The core mission involves relentless patrols and rigorous inspections of the barbed-wire fences that trace the border. To bolster these efforts, the military has integrated quadrupedal robots into its pilot programs. These "robot dogs" provide critical auxiliary surveillance in high-risk zones that are difficult for human soldiers to navigate. The intensity of the mission is underscored by the harsh climate. Pre-dawn patrols are conducted in temperatures averaging -10 degrees Celsius, though biting winds often push the perceived temperature down to -20 degrees Celsius. Despite these extreme conditions, the commitment to frontline security remains unwavering. 2025-12-29 17:56:18 -
PHOTOS: One year after deadly Jeju Air disaster SEOUL, Dec. 29 (AJP) — South Korea on Monday marked one year since a Jeju Air passenger jet crashed during an emergency landing, killing 179 people in one of the country’s deadliest aviation disasters. Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, a Boeing 737-800 traveling from Bangkok, struck a concrete localizer structure while attempting to land at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province at 9:03 a.m. on Dec. 29 last year. Of the 181 people on board, 179 were killed and two others were injured. On the first anniversary of the tragedy, bereaved families and members of the public left messages of remembrance at a digital memorial space set up at Seoul Station. Temporary memorial altars were also installed by local governments and at airports nationwide, where mourners gathered to pay tribute to the victims. The government and Jeju Air issued statements expressing condolences to the families of those killed and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening aviation safety measures to prevent similar accidents. 2025-12-29 17:41:07 -
PHOTOS: Merry Christmas, 1,004 Santas spread cheer across Seoul SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) - “Merry Christmas!” Bright and spirited voices rang out as volunteers dressed as Santa Claus gathered in the heart of Seoul. On Tuesday afternoon, volunteers in Santa costumes held a send-off ceremony along Yonsei-ro in Seodaemun District. Marking Christmas Eve, 1,004 Santas set out across the capital to visit underprivileged children, practicing year-end giving and social solidarity. Hosted by Korea Youth Foundation, the “2025 Season 20 Secret Santa Campaign” is a large-scale social contribution event in which 1,004 volunteers personally visit an equal number of underprivileged children’s households to deliver gifts and share the warmth of Christmas. Launched in 2006, the campaign marks its 20th anniversary this year. After the ceremony, participants sat along the street to write handwritten letters to the children they were assigned, before heading out to neighborhoods across Seoul. To take part as a Secret Santa, volunteers donate 20,000 won ($14) toward the children’s gifts and complete pre-event training, becoming “real Santas” for a day. The campaign’s defining feature is that participants combine personal donations with hands-on volunteer service. An official from the foundation said the campaign goes beyond gift-giving. “The Secret Santa Campaign symbolizes social solidarity, as members of the community come together to create Christmas for children,” the official said. “We hope this promise, carried on for 20 years, becomes a day the children will remember for a long time.” The Secret Santa Campaign is held nationwide every year and has established itself as a representative year-end volunteer initiative that promotes a culture of sharing and participation through the spirit of Christmas. 2025-12-25 09:47:05 -
Children's choir lights candles for Christmas SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - As the year-end Christmas season arrives, choirs across the country are spreading holiday joy and cheer. Among them, a children's choir at Light and Salt Church in northern Seoul lit candles last week, about a week ahead of Christmas. Through their carols, they prayed that small lights might come together to overcome the darkness, and that their small voices could swell into a thunderous chorus, bringing warmth to the cold winter night. 2025-12-24 14:55:32 -
PHOTOS: Seoul's iconic ice rink offers affordable winter fun The Seoul Plaza Ice Rink, Dec. 19, 2025/ AJP Yoo Na-hyun SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) – The outdoor ice rink at Seoul Plaza officially opened its doors to the public last week, marking the return of one of the city’s most beloved winter traditions. The rink is scheduled to operate for a total of 52 days, welcoming skaters through February 8. According to city officials, the facility is open from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sunday through Friday. On Saturdays and public holidays, operating hours are extended until 11 p.m. to accommodate larger weekend crowds. In an effort to keep the activity accessible, admission remains priced at only 1,000 won (approximately $0.75) per one-hour session. This entry fee includes the rental of both ice skates and a helmet. While essential safety gear, including helmets and knee pads, is provided free of charge, visitors should note that personal winter accessories and on-site storage lockers are available for an additional fee. 2025-12-23 13:43:23 -
K-Handmade Fair SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - South Korea’s largest handmade exhibition, K-Handmade Fair 2025, opened on Dec. 18 at COEX B Hall in southern Seoul. Held under the theme “Happy Pages,” the four-day event runs through Dec. 21. The fair features handmade works across a wide range of categories, including crafts, design, art, interior items, fashion, accessories and beauty products, with around 600 booths participating. Visitors can meet creators in person at booths showcasing knitting, woodworking and leather goods, and purchase handmade products. DIY experience programs and seminars on handmade business are also being held. 2025-12-19 22:17:11 -
PHOTOS: Narye, the grand royal year-end ritual SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - The National Gugak Center will stage its year-end performance Narye from December 18 to 21 at the Yeakdang Theater in Seocho District, Seoul. Narye is a traditional ritual that dates back to the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties. Held on the final night of the lunar year, it was performed in royal courts, government offices, and private homes to drive away lingering misfortune and malevolent spirits, while praying for peace and prosperity in the coming year. It was one of the largest year-end ceremonies of the court, bringing together royal performers and the most skilled folk entertainers of the time. The event is remembered as a rare royal celebration that temporarily set aside distinctions of rank and status. The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty note that on the day Narye was held, “even court historians were present but did not record the events,” suggesting that the occasion allowed an unusual degree of freedom. Various forms of popular entertainment of the era, including Yeonhwadaemu and other performances, were staged alongside the ritual. Building on this historical context, the upcoming production reimagines the courtly Narye through a contemporary lens. Storytellers and fictional spirit figures are introduced to guide the audience through the ritual sequence. What was once an all-night ceremony has been condensed into a 90-minute stage performance. The program is structured in four acts: Gocheonji, announcing the beginning of the ritual to heaven and earth; Seyeksin, appeasing the spirits; Gunahee, a series of performances meant to expel misfortune; and Gitaepyeong, offering prayers for a peaceful new year. Each act features musicians and dancers from the National Gugak Center’s Court Music Orchestra, Folk Music Orchestra, and Dance Company, presenting representative music and choreography associated with the royal rite. A defining feature of this production is its reinterpretation of the traditional Narye procedures through newly created choreography that remains rooted in ritual form while appealing to contemporary audiences. More than 130 performers from the National Gugak Center’s ensembles take part in the production. 2025-12-19 16:17:34 -
PHOTOS: Annual lantern festival lights up Seoul SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Seoul's annual lantern festival has arrived at the perfect time, illuminating the city for the holy, jolly holiday season. Now in its 17th year, the festival runs until the first week of the coming year, featuring around 500 lanterns, along with illuminating displays and other festive decorations. Visitors can explore various installations along the Cheonggye Stream, stretching from Gwanghwamun in central Seoul to Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) and parts of northern Seoul, under four different themes, showcasing the city's past, present and future. Among the highlights is a 73-meter-long installation featuring Magikarp, a piscine Pokémon with reddish-orange scales. A 15-meter-high, moon-themed installation can also be seen from bridges above the stream, accompanied by numerous structures and decorations inspired by animated characters. The nighttime festival, which kicked off on Dec. 12, runs until Jan. 4, transforming the capital into a magical winter wonderland with glittering lights and seasonal glows. 2025-12-19 14:24:10 -
PHOTOS: Annual winter festa lights up night of Seoul SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - The 2025 Seoul Winter Festa officially commenced on Dec. 12, marking the start of a city-wide celebration of light and culture. Hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and organized by the Seoul Tourism Organization, the festival aims to bridge the gap between local residents and international visitors. The event features a diverse lineup of programming that blends live performances and interactive experiences with the global appeal of K-culture. The festivities are spread across Seoul’s most iconic landmarks, including Gwanghwamun Square, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Uicheon Stream, and the Seoul Plaza Skating Rink. Visitors can expect a rotating schedule of media art shows and cultural performances designed to showcase the city's modern aesthetic. The Seoul Winter Festa is scheduled to run through early next year, positioning the capital as a premier winter destination. 2025-12-17 16:43:29 -
PHOTOS:$1 burger, Korea University honors priceless legacy SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Korea University students still stop by their favorite burger shop — even though its friendly owner is no longer there. Instead of ordering food, they leave flowers and handwritten thank-you notes, mourning Lee Young-chul (1968~2025), the beloved owner of Young Chul Burger, who passed away last week at the age of 57. For more than two decades, Lee sold 1,000-won burgers to hungry students near the university’s Anam campus. To many, he was not just a shopkeeper but an uncle-like mentor who quietly fed generations through hard times. Online condolence boards filled quickly, with more than 1,300 messages posted. Alumni — including graduates from the classes of 2005 and 2009 — returned to leave tributes. Around 40 mourners sent funeral wreaths, a rare sight for a small neighborhood eatery. Born in 1968 in Haenam, South Jeolla Province, Lee lost his father in elementary school and moved to Seoul to survive on odd jobs — from working at Chinese restaurants to day labor. Crushed by debt, he began selling burgers from a handcart in front of Korea University in 2000. His signature “street burger” — made with a hot-dog bun, grilled meat, cabbage and sauce — quickly gained a reputation for its taste and generosity. Even when ingredient prices rose and profits disappeared, Lee refused to raise the price. Beginning in 2004, he donated 20 million won annually to Korea University for scholarships, contributing more than 100 million won in total. When financial difficulties forced him to close the shop in 2015, students raised 68 million won to help him reopen. Lee died on December 13 after battling lung cancer. “Lee showed great kindness and love to Korea University students for decades,” said Kim Dong-one, president of Korea University, during a visit to the funeral parlor. “He fed students during difficult times with his 1,000-won burgers and gave back through scholarships year after year.” To honor his legacy, Korea University will establish a scholarship in his name and cover his funeral expenses. At the storefront where students once lined up for a warm, affordable meal, silence has replaced the sizzle — but gratitude remains, handwritten and laid gently at the door. 2025-12-16 11:09:47