Journalist

Yoo Na-hyun · Kim Yeon-jae
  • KOSPI flirts with 5,000 landmark despite grim GDP
    KOSPI flirts with 5,000 landmark despite grim GDP SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI has touched the 5,000 mark for the first time in its history to cause euphoria on Thursday when the country reported a grim economic data, showing the gross domestic product contracting 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter. The KOSPI closed 0.9 percent up at 4,952.53 after rising as high as 5,019.54. The main index has cracked a new four-digit momentum in just two months since passing the 4,000 mark. 2026-01-22 16:33:20
  • Most powerful cold wave of winter hits South Korea
    Most powerful cold wave of winter hits South Korea SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - An intense cold wave gripped the Korean Peninsula on Tuesday, coinciding with Daehan, the final of the 24 traditional lunar terms marking the peak of winter. Temperatures plummeted below minus 10 degrees Celsius across the greater Seoul area and Gangwon Province, prompting authorities to issue cold wave advisories for most of the country. In the capital, the morning wind chill factor plunged to a staggering minus 18 degrees Celsius, marking the coldest day recorded so far this winter. The biting conditions forced commuters to bundle up in heavy layers as the city faced its most severe sub-zero stretch of the season. The Korea Meteorological Administration predicted that the frigid conditions will persist through the weekend. 2026-01-20 17:13:58
  • Korean won drifts toward 1,480 on global dollar strength
    Korean won drifts toward 1,480 on global dollar strength SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) -The Korean won edged back toward 1,480 per U.S. dollar, a level widely viewed as a government defense line, amid broad dollar strength fueled by rising U.S. tensions with the European Union over Greenland and escalating risks linked to Iran and Venezuela. 2026-01-19 16:51:19
  • Plum blossoms defy winter as Daehan approaches
    Plum blossoms defy winter as Daehan approaches Gangwon, January 18 (AJP) -Ahead of Daehan, the coldest period in the traditional Korean calendar, plum trees are already beginning to burst into bloom at Naksansa Temple on Korea’s east coast. Daehan, meaning “great cold,” is the 24th and final solar term, falling around Jan. 20 on the Gregorian calendar and marking the depths of winter in the lunar year. It is traditionally associated with biting winds, frozen ground and the harshest conditions of the season. Yet even as icy air lingers over the East Sea, the plum — long celebrated in East Asian culture as a symbol of resilience — pushes out its first buds. Unlike cherry blossoms that arrive with spring, plum trees bloom in late winter, often amid snow and frost, standing as quiet proof that renewal begins before the cold has fully loosened its grip. At Naksansa, where the temple’s stone pagodas overlook the winter sea, pale blossoms and tight buds contrast sharply with bare branches and muted winter tones — a fleeting moment when nature signals the turning of the season, even at its coldest. 2026-01-19 16:47:09
  • Few babies, big business: Baby Fair at COEX
    Few babies, big business: Baby Fair at COEX SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) -South Korea has one of the world’s lowest birth rates, but when it comes to babies, the country remains serious. The 2026 Momsholic Baby Fair, one of Korea’s largest exhibitions dedicated to pregnancy, childbirth and childcare, opened Thursday at COEX Hall A in southern Seoul. The fair runs through Jan. 18, bringing together about 500 booths operated by some 200 companies from Korea and overseas. Despite shrinking family sizes, the exhibition hall was filled with expectant parents, young couples and families browsing products that span the full arc of early life — from pregnancy care and delivery essentials to infant nutrition, early childhood education programs and children’s room interiors. One dedicated zone, dubbed the “Good Sleep Project,” focused on rest, recovery and healing for parents and babies alike. Organizers said the event is designed to offer practical, hands-on information for expectant and first-time parents, while also easing financial pressure by enabling direct transactions between companies and consumers, often at discounted prices. The fair unfolds against the stark demographic reality facing South Korea. The country’s total fertility rate — the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime — stood at about 0.80 from January to October last year, among the lowest in the world. Yet inside COEX, the mood was less about decline than determination: strollers rolling past crowded aisles, product demos drawing small audiences, and parents-to-be comparing notes on how to prepare for a future that, for them at least, is already on the way. 2026-01-16 17:51:57
  • Advance train tickets for Lunar New Year now on sale
    Advance train tickets for Lunar New Year now on sale SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - Sales of advance train tickets for the Lunar New Year break began this week. According to railway operator KORAIL, tickets are available online for about a week starting Thursday, about a month in advance, for trains running during the weeklong holiday from Feb. 13 to 18. The first two days of pre-booking will be reserved for senior citizens aged 65 and older, people with disabilities, and recipients of national merit honors. Ordinary citizens can book tickets from next Monday to Jan. 21. However, booking dates may vary by destination. 2026-01-16 11:09:37
  • Pictures from Nara
    Pictures from Nara SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) -Drumbeats, temple corridors and carefully choreographed cultural gestures took center stage during South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s brief two-day visit to Nara Prefecture, a trip that emphasized symbolism and atmosphere over contentious diplomatic files. Lee visited Nara at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, wrapping up his fifth overseas trip since taking office and his second summit with the Japanese leader before departing for Seoul on Tuesday. Formal talks reaffirmed familiar ground. The two leaders agreed to maintain shuttle diplomacy and pursue future-oriented cooperation, including launching working-level discussions on advanced industries such as artificial intelligence and strengthening joint responses to cross-border crimes. Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and trilateral cooperation among South Korea, Japan and China were also addressed — but without headline-making breakthroughs. Instead, the visit’s defining images came from its cultural itinerary. On Tuesday morning, Lee and Takaichi toured Horyu-ji Temple in Ikaruga, one of Japan’s most revered Buddhist sites. In a rare diplomatic courtesy, Japanese officials opened restricted storage areas and granted access to the original murals of the temple’s main hall, typically closed to the public. Founded in the early 7th century under the influence of Buddhism introduced by Prince Shotoku, Horyu-ji is widely regarded as a cornerstone of Japanese civilization. Home to some of the world’s oldest surviving wooden structures, it became Japan’s first UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1993. The carefully curated visit underscored a shared message: that bilateral ties should be framed not by unresolved historical sensitivities, but by a common cultural inheritance and a forward-looking narrative. In Nara, history was not debated — it was displayed, quietly and deliberately, as diplomacy moved to the rhythm of ceremony rather than confrontation. 2026-01-15 17:37:19
  • Buses back running in Seoul after strike ends
    Buses back running in Seoul after strike ends SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) -After two days of disruption, Seoul commuters were relieved to find buses back in service Thursday morning following an overnight wage deal. The Seoul City Bus Labor Union and the Seoul City Bus Transport Operators Association accepted a mediation proposal at around 11:50 p.m. during a second post-adjustment meeting hosted by the Seoul Labor Relations Commission. Under the agreement, wages for 2025 will rise by 2.9 percent, while the retirement age will be extended from 63 to 64 starting in July, and further raised to 65 in July 2027. Reform of the wage system to reflect ordinary wages was excluded from the deal. Following the agreement, the union called off the strike, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government lifted emergency transportation measures, restoring bus operations across the capital. 2026-01-15 11:04:21
  • Boot camp becomes winter break
    Boot camp becomes winter break SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) -What was once synonymous with hardship is increasingly being reimagined as a winter challenge experience. The 1st Marine Division on Jan. 12 opened the “2026 Winter Marine Corps Camp” at its training center in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, drawing participants eager to sample life inside Korea’s elite fighting force. About 230 people — including middle and high school students, university students and adults from across the country — signed up for the multi-day program. The division structured the camp around three themes: “Beginning,” “Challenge” and “Leap.” Day one: induction Participants began with an induction ceremony, followed by introductions to Marine Corps history, basic drill movements and traditional military songs — a first taste of discipline and esprit de corps. Training, winter edition From days two through four, the schedule shifted from classrooms to the field. Activities included mountain training, basic airborne exercises, inflatable boat (IBS) drills, hill training at Cheonja Peak and rides aboard the Korean Amphibious Assault Vehicle (KAAV). This year’s camp also introduced a new program on military drones, offering participants a demonstration of how unmanned systems are increasingly integrated into modern operations. Safety first The division said the training is being operated flexibly in response to severe winter weather, with enhanced safety protocols in place. Measures include advance risk assessments and the constant deployment of medical personnel throughout the program. For many participants, the camp offers not just a break from routine, but a hands-on glimpse into military life — turning winter vacation into a test of endurance, teamwork and resolve. 2026-01-14 15:44:58
  • PHOTOS:Tracking horse history in the Year of Horse
    PHOTOS:Tracking horse history in the Year of Horse SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - An exhibition titled “Year of the Horse, 2026: Galloping into Eternity,” planned by the Cultural Heritage Administration, opened on Jan. 9 at The Heritage of Shinsegae Department Store’s main branch in central Seoul, marking the Year of the Horse in 2026. The exhibition explores the cultural and historical significance of horses from ancient times to the present, examining how they have coexisted with humans and shaped life and society. The exhibition is co-hosted by the Cultural Heritage Administration, the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and the Gyeongju National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage. It brings together a wide range of artifacts and works, including ancient clay figurines, horse armor, decorative crafts, photographs, sculptures and artificial intelligence (AI) videos, illustrating how horses have symbolized mobility, survival, authority, belief and hope throughout history. The exhibition runs from Jan. 9 to Jan. 25. The exhibition consists of a prologue, four thematic sections and an epilogue. The prologue presents an AI-generated video of galloping horses, visually conveying the enduring presence of horses across time and space. Section 1, “The Horse, Holding Hope,” explores the symbolic meanings of horses through Silla-era clay figurines and pottery. The clay figurines, crafted with expressive faces and dynamic postures, reflect the lives and aspirations of people of the time. Also on display is a long-necked jar engraved with a procession of mounted figures, illustrating how horses were perceived as symbols of movement, protection and authority. Section 2, “The Horse, Forged in Strength,” focuses on the role of horses on the battlefield, centered on a reproduction of Gaya-era horse armor. The armor was constructed by linking iron plates into a flexible structure, divided into sections protecting the horse’s forelegs, saddle area, hind legs and head. The design highlights how mobility and protection were balanced, underscoring the strategic importance of horses in warfare. Section 3, “The Horse, Attired with Dignity,” presents decorative crafts including an ornate horse ornament excavated from Tomb No. 44 in the Cheonmachong cluster in Gyeongju. Horse ornaments were used to adorn horses and symbolized both the animal’s stature and the status of its owner. Intricate decorations and luxurious materials, such as jewel beetle wings, reveal the elevated status and aesthetic value of horses in ancient society. Section 4, “The Horse, Companion for the Future,” features works by contemporary sculptor Jake Lee, depicting the evolving relationship between humans and horses in modern and future contexts. Sculptures of a mare and her foal convey themes of care, connection and coexistence, symbolizing the continuity of the human-horse bond. The epilogue showcases photographs of Jeju horses taken by National Geographic photographers, portraying the enduring coexistence of horses, humans and nature. The exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of the historical and cultural significance of horses from the past to the present, framed within the symbolism of the Year of the Horse. 2026-01-13 17:58:13