PHOTOS: A fruit paradise born from Bangkok's dawn market SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - The Thai Market was already alive with energy. The first impression upon entering was the sheer scale. The space stretched across what felt like several football fields, with a ceiling as high as a five-story building. Yet even that vastness was filled with the scent of fruit. The air was thick with the sweet, heavy fragrance of mangoes, durians, bananas, dragon fruit, and pineapples. Located about an hour’s drive from Su October 14, 2025

PHOTOS: Parade marks National Foundation Day SEOUL, October 03 (AJP) - On Oct. 3, Kukhakwon members held a commemorative parade from Anguk-dong Rotary to Jonggak in Seoul’s Jongno District, followed by a ceremony to mark National Foundation Day. The holiday, known as “the day the sky opened,” commemorates the founding of Gojoseon, the first Korean state established by Dangun Wanggeom, and celebrates the beginning of Korean history. October 3, 2025

PHOTOS: Kindergarteners show off skills at jump rope competition SUWON, October 02 (AJP) - Over 1,500 young students from private kindergartens across Suwon participated in a jump rope competition, Thursday. The event, hosted by the Suwon Kindergarten Association, took place at the Suwon Sports Complex Gymnasium. The competition served as a platform for the children to showcase the jump rope skills they had been practicing. Enthusiastic parents and family members filled the stands, providing loud cheers for the young athletes. Jump rope i October 2, 2025

TRAVEL: Walking through the independence history of Malaysia, diverse ethnicities working as one KUALA LUMPUR, October 02 (AJP) - On Aug. 31, 1957, Malaysia peacefully liberated itself from British colonization. Its first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, raised his fists and declared the full independence of the nation. Today, the once British site for colonial officers stands as Independence Square, also known as Merdeka Square. While not particularly large, the square has the highest flagpole in all of Malaysia, with the country's flag standing upright sur October 2, 2025

PHOTOS: October brings burst of color to Korea's landscapes SEOUL, October 01 (AJP) - The Korean Peninsula is undergoing a dramatic seasonal transition, as October ushers in the full splendor of autumn. Across South Korea, the landscapes are beginning to transform, with mountains and fields now donning the brilliant, kaleidoscopic hues of fall foliage and late-season flowers. This annual display of natural beauty coincides with a palpable sense of anticipation among the public. Excitement is building nationwide as people prepare for the October 1, 2025

TRAVEL: A trip to Banguris Homestay, an authentic Malaysian experience to the core KUALA LUMPUR, October 1 (AJP) - Located in Selangor, one of Malaysia's largest states, the Sepang District is known as the Silicon Valley of Malaysia. Deeper within the district lies Banguris Homestay, a village dedicated to showing guests how real Malay people live. With around 20 government-certified houses available for homestays, visitors can enjoy naturally ventilated rooms and authentic Malaysian food. The town boasts near-zero crime rates, and most households October 1, 2025

PHOTOS: Hometown bonds revitalize local market SANGJU, September 30 (AJP) - The platform at Sangju Station is usually quiet, with a sparse handful of travelers passing through. But on a recent Saturday morning on Sept. 27, the scene was one of jubilant chaos. At 11 a.m., a dedicated train rolled in, and 600 passengers — Sangju natives now living in the bustling Seoul metropolitan area — poured out, instantly filling the normally tranquil space. Their mission was simple, yet profound: a collective shopping trip t September 30, 2025

TRAVEL: Putrajaya – where modern Malaysia's administrative heart beats KUALA LUMPUR, September 30 (AJP) - Rising from what were once rubber and oil palm plantations, Putrajaya stands as a testament to Malaysia's ambitious modernization. The 4,931-hectare garden city, transformed from former plantations, became Malaysia's federal administrative capital after officially established in 1999. Now just 26 years young, the city prepares to host ASEAN meetings throughout 2025 under Malaysia's chairmanship. Named after Malaysia's f September 30, 2025

PHOTOS: In memory of Japan's forced mobilization victims SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - South Korea held simultaneous memorial services in Seoul and Busan to honor Koreans who were conscripted into forced labor under Japanese colonial rule. At the ceremonies, religious leaders from Buddhism, Catholicism and Protestant Christianity offered rites of comfort to the victims and their families. Officials, civic leaders and ordinary citizens laid flowers and burned incense, while a student choir and traditional musician Oh Jung-hae p September 29, 2025

PHOTOS: Highland harvest in full swing SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - The hills of Daegwallyeong, South Korea's largest production base for prized highland vegetables, are typically a scene of bustling harvest activity as the nation prepares for the major fall holiday, Chuseok. The annual harvest of goraengji baechu (highland cabbage) and goraengji mu (highland radish) is in full swing. These vegetables are distinct because they are exclusively grown in regions situated 1,000 meters or more above sea level, giving the September 25, 2025