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  Boot camp becomes winter break SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) -What was once synonymous with hardship is increasingly being reimagined as a winter challenge experience. The 1st Marine Division on Jan. 12 opened the “2026 Winter Marine Corps Camp” at its training center in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, drawing participants eager to sample life inside Korea’s elite fighting force. About 230 people — including middle and high school students, university students and adults from across the January 14, 2026
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  Ice fishing at day and light festival at dark at Hwacheon SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) -A small borderland county of some 20,000 residents readies itself each winter for a global influx of visitors, as Hwacheon opens its doors to the world-famous Ice Fishing Festival. The first glow appears on Seondeung Street, the gateway to Hwacheon-gun in Gangwon Province. Lined with some 27,000 handcrafted mountain-trout lanterns and LED lights, the street becomes a river of light at dusk. Each lantern is made of hanji, traditional Korean paper, painte January 13, 2026
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  Frozen commute in Seoul amid bus strike SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) -Buses across Seoul ground to a halt at 4 a.m. on Jan. 13 after labor and management failed to reach an agreement on wages and collective bargaining, triggering an indefinite strike and plunging the morning commute into chaos. With bus services fully suspended from the first scheduled departures, commuters crowded subway platforms, huddled at deserted bus stops and waited for hours for taxis that never came. Many learned of the strike only after stepping in January 13, 2026
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  As ramyeon turns into a global comfort food, exports boil to record high SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) -Steam rose higher than ever from Korea’s export kitchens last year. Food shipments hit a record, powered by an unstoppable wave of instant noodles that now travel farther than most K-pop tours. Provisional data from the Ministry of Agriculture shows K-Food Plus exports climbing 5.1 percent to $13.62 billion, with instant noodle sales jumping nearly 22 percent to $1.52 billion — the first time they’ve crossed the $1.5 billion line. From supe January 12, 2026
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  Snowy Seoul SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) -Snow fell quietly across Seoul on Monday afternoon, drawing tourists and residents alike to pause and capture the softened cityscape. Light snowfall blanketed streets, rooftops and palace grounds, muting the usual rush of the capital and turning familiar landmarks into scenes of winter stillness. Visitors lingered with cameras and phones as flakes drifted down, framing Seoul in a rare moment of calm. The snowfall came amid sharp temperature swings, with mo January 12, 2026
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  The seasonal magic of birch forest in Inje SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - The celebrated birch forest of Inje, nestled in the mountains of Gangwon Province, has been transformed into a pristine white landscape following a recent heavy snowfall. The Wondae-ri Birch Forest is a testament to decades of careful reforestation. Between 1974 and 1995, approximately 690,000 birch trees were planted across 138 hectares, evolving from a dedicated man-made plantation into one of the region's most iconic natural retreats. Today, the January 12, 2026
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  Lee attends 100th anniversary of Provisional Government building in Shanghai SEOUL, January 09 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung and first lady Kim Hye-kyung visited the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea Memorial Hall in Shanghai on January 7 (local time) to attend the "100th Anniversary Ceremony of the Government Building Establishment." Before the ceremony began, the president observed a moment of silence and laid flowers at the bust of Kim Gu. He then toured Kim Gu's office and listened to explanations about the anti-Japanese r January 9, 2026
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  'Charity thermometer' in Gwanghwamun nears fundraising goal SEOUL, January 9 (AJP) - An installation dubbed the "charity thermometer" in downtown Gwanghwamun reached 98.5 degrees Celsius on Friday, about a month after its launch as part of the annual campaign by the Community Chest of Korea to help those in need. With a goal to collect 450 billion Korean won (around US$306 million), its temperature rises by one degree for every 1 percent of the fundraising target. The fundraising campaign will run until the end of the January 9, 2026
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  Farewell to CES 2026 LAS VEGAS, January 09 (AJP) - The world’s largest consumer electronics and information technology trade show, CES 2026, wrapped up four-day run in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Friday. The annual event brought together global companies and visitors, showcasing next-generation technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, autonomous driving and healthcare solutions. Across exhibition halls, demonstrations highlighted practical applications and commercialization potenti January 9, 2026
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  Korean skaters prepare for Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics SEOUL, January 09 (AJP) - January 9, 2026