PHOTOS: Rice transplanting season brings life to countryside

SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - By mid-May, the South Korean countryside awakens to the intensive rhythm of "monaegi," the season of rice transplanting. This labor-intensive process, where young rice seedlings are carefully transferred to prepared paddies, unfolds across the rural landscape from mid-May through mid-June. These transplanted shoots, nurtured in the flooded fields, will eventually yield the autumn harvest, beginning in October.

May 13, 2025

PHOTOS: Presidential campaign starts for June 3 election

SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - The official campaign for the June 3 snap presidential election, triggered by the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, began on May 12. Although seven candidates registered, the election is expected to be a three-way race among Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, and Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party. The presidential candidates will engage in official campaigning until June 2, the day before the election.

May 12, 2025

PHOTOS: Exploring treasures of Gyeongbokgung Palace

SEOUL, May 09 (AJP) - Once the resplendent heart of the Joseon Dynasty's royal lineage, Gyeongbokgung Palace stands as a testament to both the kingdom's foundational aspirations and its resilience through periods of upheaval. Erected in tandem with the dynasty's establishment, the palace met a devastating fate during the Japanese invasion in 1592, succumbing entirely to flames. The Gyeongbokgung that graces Seoul today bears the imprint of a later era, with sections re

May 12, 2025

TRAVEL: Across a narrow strait, Daemado reveals layers of history

SEOUL, May 08 (AJP) - Though barely 30 miles from Busan, South Korea, the island of Tsushima, known to Koreans as Daemado, felt like a world away on my recent inaugural visit. A mere hour and forty minutes by ferry from Busan International Passenger Terminal on a placid sea, this Japanese outpost holds a unique position, geographically close to its neighbor yet steeped in a distinct history marked by centuries of intricate exchange. The island’s past is deeply intertwined with the Ko

May 8, 2025

PHOTOS: Royal ancestral Jongmyo Daeje ritual resumes after six-year pause

SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - On May 4, the royal ancestral rite known as Jongmyo Daeje was held at Jongmyo Shrine in central Seoul. Recognized as the most significant and solemn ritual of its kind, Jongmyo Daeje was conducted for the first time in six years and unfolded in grand fashion beneath clear skies. Built in 1394 by King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty, Jongmyo is the official royal shrine where the s

May 7, 2025

PHOTOS: 'Virus,' a tale of infection and irresistible love, set for May 7 release

SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - The cast and crew of the upcoming film "Virus" convened for a press screening and conference on April 28 at CGV Yongsan ahead of its May 7 release. Director Kang Yi-kwan appeared alongside stars Bae Doo-na, Kim Yun-seok and Chang Ki-ha to discuss the film, which explores the unsettling spread of the fictional “Toxo Virus” — a pathogen that causes its victims to fall into irrational, fatal love. Virus centers on the journey of a protagonis

April 30, 2025

PHOTOS: Everyday life inside royal palaces

SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - A unique performance unfolded at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul on April 28, offering a glimpse into the daily routines of the Joseon Dynasty's royal court as part of the "Spring Royal Culture Festival." This festival, a prominent showcase of South Korea's cultural heritage, continues until May 4, presenting a diverse array of traditional cultural programs across the five Joseon-era palaces — Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksug

April 29, 2025

PHOTOS: Nationwide Buddhist celebrations are underway

SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - In anticipation of Buddha's Birthday on May 5, South Korea's Buddhist community is immersed in a series of festive observances. Temples throughout the nation are adorned with a profusion of lanterns, casting a luminous glow on the upcoming holiday. Adding to the spectacle, a vibrant lantern parade unfolded in central Seoul on April 26, drawing throngs of participants and onlookers. A glimpse at the nationwide lantern festivities reveals the rich cultural and

April 28, 2025

PHOTOS: Historic diplomatic mission to Japan reenacted

SEOUL, April 25 (AJP) - To mark the 60th year since the normalization of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Japan, observances are underway to honor the Joseon Tongsinsa, the diplomatic mission dispatched from Korea to Japan during the Joseon Dynasty. On Thursday, a reenactment of the Joseon Tongsinsa procession was staged at Gyeonghuigung Palace in Seoul. Separately, the Seoul Museum of History has mounted a special exhibition dedicated to the Joseon Tongsinsa, which will remain open un

April 25, 2025

PHOTOS: Joseon-era folk paintings on display in Seoul

SEOUL, April 24 (AJP) - An engaging exhibition at the Amorepacific Museum of Art offers a sweeping view of Joseon-era "minhwa," the vibrant and often whimsical folk paintings that flourished from the late 18th through the early 20th centuries. Drawing from 19 institutional and private collections, the show features over 100 works that underscore the distinctiveness of Korean traditional art, a realm where creativity often defied rigid artistic

April 25, 2025