PHOTOS: Hands-on K-food experience

SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) - Students from the University of Georgia recently got a taste of Korean cuisine, literally, participating in a hands-on cooking program at Sempio's headquarters in central Seoul. On May 22, the students delved into making popular dishes like Geotjeori, a fresh kimchi, and Bulgogi, the classic marinated beef. Sempio, a Korean food company, organized the event to introduce the visitors to the country's rich food culture and provide them with a direct experience of c

May 23, 2025

PHOTOS: Inside high-speed delivery culture of Dongdaemun fashion district

SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - In the warren-like alleys of Dongdaemun Shopping Complex, Seoul’s sprawling wholesale fashion hub, a unique culture built on speed has quietly defined the rhythm of commerce for decades. Here, the hum of motorcycles and the shuffle of small delivery trucks are as much a part of the landscape as bolts of fabric and sequins glinting in warehouse light. For more than 40 years, Dongdaemun has operated not just as a wholesale marketplace, but as a vital a

May 22, 2025

PHOTOS: Traditional way of rice planting

SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - The staple food for Koreans is rice, a grain deeply interwoven with the nation's history and culture. Each May, the paddies across the country come alive as farmers begin the arduous process of cultivating this essential crop. Traditionally, this involved flooding the fields, meticulously preparing the soil, and hand-planting delicate rice seedlings, known as "mo." While modern machinery now dominates most of these tasks, allowing for efficient preparati

May 22, 2025

PHOTOS: Exhibition traces Joseon envoys' cultural legacy in Japan

SEOUL, May 21 (AJP) - To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Japan, the Seoul Museum of History is presenting a special exhibition on Joseon Tongsinsa, which will continue until June 29. The Joseon Tongsinsa, or diplomatic envoys, trace their origins to the 15th century, but their role dramatically expanded after Japan’s invasion of Korea in 1592. Seeking to mend ties, the Edo Shogunate in Japan initiated d

May 21, 2025

PHOTOS: Overseas voting begins for presidential election

SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - South Korean citizens living abroad began casting their ballots on Tuesday for the country's presidential election. The National Election Commission said that the overseas voting period will run until Sunday, May 25, at noon (KST). Polling stations have been set up in 223 locations across 118 countries, including 182 diplomatic missions and 41 additional sites. For the first time, overseas polling stations have been established in four countries where South Korea

May 20, 2025

PHOTOS: Coming-of-Age Day

SEOUL, May 19 (AJP) - May 19 is South Korea's Coming-of-Age Day, observed annually on the third Monday of May. Under the nation's civil code, individuals attain adulthood at the age of 19. Historically, the transition to adulthood was marked by traditional ceremonies. For young men, this involved styling their hair in a topknot and donning a gat, a traditional Korean hat. Young women would put their hair up in a chignon and adorn it with a binyeo, an ornamental hairpin. Contempo

May 19, 2025

PHOTOS: Remembering King Sejong the Great

SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - King Sejong the Great, the fourth monarch of the Joseon Dynasty, whose reign saw the creation of Hangeul, the nation’s indigenous alphabet, and significant advancements across economic, social, cultural, and military spheres, was honored on Thursday in the first national commemoration of his birthday. May 15 was designated a national commemorative day last November. King Sejong is widely revered by South Koreans today, often mentioned alongside the famed Admiral

May 16, 2025

PHOTOS: Steam, spice and history in Namdaemun Market's Galchi Golmok

SEOUL, May 15 (AJP) - On a warm weekday afternoon in late spring, the labyrinthine corridors of Namdaemun Market remain as lively as ever. Tucked amid its maze of narrow passageways and densely packed storefronts lies a culinary enclave devoted to a single dish: braised hairtail fish. The cluster of small restaurants is devoted entirely to the preparation of spicy hairtail stew. The roots of Galchi Golmok (Hairtail Alley) stretch back to the late 1980s, when a handful of mercha

May 15, 2025

PHOTOS: Teachers' Day

SEOUL, May 15 (AJP) - South Korea observes May 15 as Teachers' Day, a nationally designated occasion intended to cultivate a societal ethos of respect for educators' authority and appreciation for their service. The annual commemoration aims to bolster morale among the teaching profession and elevate their social status. Across the nation's schools, it is customary for students to present their teachers with carnations as a tangible expression of their gratitude.

May 15, 2025

PHOTOS: Presidential election posters to appear nationwide

SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - The National Election Commission has released the official campaign posters of the candidates vying for the 21st presidential election on June 3. These posters are slated for display in prominent public spaces across the nation, beginning on May 15.

May 14, 2025