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  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
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  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
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  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
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  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
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  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
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  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
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  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
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  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
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  PHOTOS: 'Korea Day' marked at Osaka Expo with arrival of historic ship SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - A celebration of Korean culture and history unfolded at the Osaka Expo on Tuesday with the observance of "Korea Day," a designated event by organizers to honor participating nations. The centerpiece of the commemoration was the arrival ceremony and performances highlighting the Joseon Tongsinsa vessel, a historical symbol of diplomatic exchange between Korea and Japan. The ship represents the official envoys dispatched by the Joseon Dynasty's monarch to Jap May 14, 2025
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  PHOTOS: Candidates court TK voters in crucial campaign stop SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - As the presidential race intensifies ahead of the June 3 election, candidates from major parties took their campaigns to the conservative heartland of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province (known as the TK area), Tuesday, the second day of official campaigning. Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, began a series of rallies in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, before proceeding to Daegu, Pohang, and Ulsan. Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party camp May 13, 2025