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Glowing lanterns greet Buddhas Birthday
Glowing lanterns greet Buddha's Birthday SEOUL, May 19 (AJP) - On an early summer night, thousands of colorful lanterns lit up the streets of Seoul as small lights gathered into a massive procession. The glowing lanterns reflected not only a long-standing tradition, but also a sense of community and shared hope. Ahead of Buddha's Birthday, the annual Yeondeunghoe took place on May 16 across central Seoul. Citizens and foreign visitors gathered along the route stretching from Heunginjimun May 19, 2026
  • First India Day transforms Seoul riverfront into Mini India
    First 'India Day' transforms Seoul riverfront into 'Mini India' SEOUL, May 17 (AJP) - On Saturday, May 16, the weekend breeze off the Han River carried the heavy scents of cumin, masala, and roasting curries. Under a cloudless early-summer sky, Mulbit Square at Yeouido Hangang Park was temporarily remade into a "Mini India." More than 1,500 people navigated the sprawling outdoor festival, where visitors in bright saris mingled alongside families setting up pop-up tents and picnic mats under the trees. Hosted by the Embas May 17, 2026
  • Following the tracks, following the taste: Jeonju in cinematic experience
    Following the tracks, following the taste: Jeonju in cinematic experience *Editors’ Note: This is part of AJP’s photo essay series exploring railway journeys across South Korea in search of local food and regional culture. This installment travels to Jeonju during the Jeonju International Film Festival, where cinema, traditional streets and local cuisine came together beneath the spring sky. SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - The 27th edition of the Jeonju International Film Festival transformed Jeonju into more than a destination for cinema. Under the May 12, 2026
  • Jo Sumi marks 40th anniversary debut with vision for young artists
    Jo Sumi marks 40th anniversary debut with vision for young artists SEOUL, May 06 (AJP) - World-renowned soprano Jo Sumi marked the 40th anniversary of her international debut Wednesday, outlining a forward-looking vision focused on nurturing young artists while expanding her musical scope through new collaborations. The milestone signals a strategic shift for South Korea's most iconic classical figure as she integrates her legacy with modern entertainment structures. "What I can do now is share what I have with as many people as possibl May 6, 2026
  • Even sound sleep becomes a competition — and fashion show — in Korea
    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 gat May 3, 2026
  • Scent of soil and legacy at the 40th Icheon ceramic festival
    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. April 30, 2026
  • Text-hispters indulge in reading trend in Seoul
    Text-hispters indulge in reading trend in Seoul SEOUL, April 23 (AJP) - In an era dominated by short videos and rapidly consumed content, young people in South Korea are turning back to books and written text. Reading books, copying favorite passages by hand, and visiting bookstores and libraries have become part of a growing lifestyle trend known as “text-hip,” where reading is seen not as an act of studying or self-improvement, but as a way to express personal taste and emotion. April 23, 2026
  • Following the tracks, following the taste (Gangneung) -2
    Following the tracks, following the taste (Gangneung) -2 In quiet courtyards once lived Heo Gyun and Heo Nanseolheon, siblings whose words outlived their time. His Hong Gildong — often called Korea's first novel written in Hangul— still echoes in the air. Here, Gangneung reveals another layer: not just a place to visit, but a place that remembers. The past does not interrupt the present; it settles into it, like a quiet undertone. By the time you reach April 15, 2026
  • Following the tracks, following the taste (Gangneung) -1
    Following the tracks, following the taste (Gangneung) -1 SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - The journey begins before the sea comes into view.Steel rails draw a quiet line from Seoul to the East Coast, and along that line, time seems to fold. Since the opening of the KTX Gangneung Line in 2017 ahead of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the city has moved closer (two hours) —not just in distance, but in rhythm. What once required a night’s stay now fits within a single day. The train does not merely carry passengers April 13, 2026
  • I tried outdoor yoga — it was freezing, but strangely refreshing
    I tried outdoor yoga — it was freezing, but strangely refreshing SEOUL, April 07 (AJP) - The latest global trend to land in a traditional Korean setting — after BTS turned Gwanghwamun into a stage — is yoga. I had imagined something serene: quiet breathing, sun-drenched calm, flowers in bloom, and that cinematic kind of spring healing. So I signed up for an outdoor yoga session at Namsangol Hanok Village in downtown Seoul on Tuesday morning. Instead, I got windburn. A stubborn cold snap had dragged April 7, 2026