news highlight

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  Winter Olympics to kick off in Milan this week SEOUL, February 3 (AJP) - This year's Winter Olympics will kick off in Cortina d'Ampezzo and Milan later this week, bringing together around 3,500 athletes from over 90 countries to compete for 116 medals across 16 disciplines. The opening ceremony of the quadrennial sporting event is slated for Friday in Milan, marking a return to the European country for the first time in about two decades since the 2006 Turin Games. Italy has opted to use existing venues rather than February 3, 2026
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  Barefoot, in spite of the cold SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) -In the depth of winter, Anyang has offered residents an unexpected refuge: a barefoot walking path inside a working greenhouse. Opened last month inside a former flower nursery, the 160-meter trail lets visitors shed their shoes and feel the ground underfoot while outside temperatures dip below freezing. Inside, the greenhouse holds steady at around 10 degrees Celsius, creating a mild, earthy contrast to the cold beyond the glass. The path is equipped February 2, 2026
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  Winter's last stand, caught on a wave SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) -With just two days left until Ipchun, the traditional marker of spring, winter is refusing a quiet exit. Along the coast, biting winds rake the shoreline and whip the sea into whitecaps, turning the water steel-blue and restless. The cold sharpens everything — the air, the waves, the resolve of those who come to watch and those who come to dive in. Some stand bundled at the water’s edge, hands in pockets, eyes fixed on the surf as it crashes February 2, 2026
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  From aisle to android: robots go on sale at E-mart in Korea SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) -Shopping carts aren’t the only things rolling through E-mart anymore. South Korea’s largest retailer has become the first in the country to sell humanoid robots as off-the-shelf products, signaling a moment when robots move from showroom curiosities to items consumers can actually take home. At Electromart Yeongdeungpo in western Seoul, E-mart has opened a robot demonstration zone showcasing 14 different robot models, all available for purc February 2, 2026
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  Seoul wakes up to winter wonderland, traffic largely unaffected SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) -Heavy snow blanketed Seoul overnight, turning the city into a winter wonderland, but the harsh weather caused little disruption to the Monday morning commute. Authorities lifted the heavy snow advisory at 4 a.m. While snow-covered sidewalks slowed pedestrians, many commuters left home earlier than usual and moved cautiously to avoid delays. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said overnight snow removal operations kept major roads largely clear, preventi February 2, 2026
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  Expo in southern Seoul showcases latest gardening trends SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) -A gardening expo is underway in southern Seoul this week, giving visitors a chance to explore the latest trends in landscaping and gardening. The four-day expo, which runs until Feb. 1, features exhibitions related to landscaping and gardening along with various programs including special lectures, forums, and expert consultation booths in an effort to revitalize relevant industries. January 30, 2026
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  K-goods at Illustration Fair Seoul 2026 SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - K-illustration Fair Seoul 2026 is taking place at COEX Hall D in Gangnam, Seoul. The fair opened on the 29th and runs through Feb. 1 for four days. Approximately 600 booths are showcasing a variety of domestic and international illustrations, independent publications, and merchandise. The event operates from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The fair is scheduled to be held at BEXCO in Busan in July and at COEX Magok in August. January 30, 2026
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  EU envoy to Seoul speaks out SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - Ugo Astuto, head of the Delegation of the European Union to South Korea, addresses press on issues from Greenland to Russia at the Maehwa Hall of the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Jan. 30. 2026. January 30, 2026
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  A number ticks down at the family table SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) -In "Number One", Ha-min (Choi Woo-shik) notices something unsettling: each time he eats his mother’s cooking, an invisible number drops. When he understands that zero would mean the end of his mother, Eun-sil (Jang Hye-jin), the meals become acts of love—and resistance—against time itself. Set for release on Feb. 11, the film draws from a tender premise by Japanese writer Uwano Sora. Adapted from the short novel There Are 328 Ti January 30, 2026