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  PHOTOS: South Korea greets 2026 with the first sunrise SEOUL, January 1 (AJP) — The Year of Byeongo (the Year of the Red Horse) has begun, marking the start of 2026. On the first day of the new year, most regions across the country are expecting clear skies and weather, which makes watching the sunrise more enjoyable. However, the morning temperature in Seoul is forecast to plunge to minus 11 degrees Celsius, bringing frigid weather. January 8, 2026
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  Countdown begins ahead of BTS' full-group comeback SEOUL, January 8 (AJP) - Since earlier this week, promotional displays for BTS' full-group comeback in late March have adorned the staircases of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts near Gwanghwamun in central Seoul. As one of the country's major cultural venues, hosting a wide range of performances and exhibitions, the center was an ideal place to promote the septet's return with a new album set for release on March 20, according to their management agency. Th January 8, 2026
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  [CES 2026] CES 2026 Sneak peek: Samsung and LG turn exhibition spaces into experience hubs SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - January 7, 2026
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  Around 500 elementary schools in Seoul welcome new students SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - Some 566 public elementary schools in Seoul are holding two-day prep sessions this week to welcome new students. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, there are 51,265 first-graders this year, down about five percent from last year, as the young population continues to shrink due to the country's ultra-low birthrates. These sessions are an annual event aimed at preparing students for their upcoming school life. This year, they are b January 7, 2026
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  Seoul subways go fully self-service on fares SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - Seoul Metro announced on January 6 that it has completed the installation of 440 new transportation card kiosks across all 273 stations on Lines 1-8, marking the first upgrade in 17 years since the introduction of cash-only machines in 2009. The new kiosks now accept credit cards and mobile payment methods including KakaoPay and Naver Pay for purchasing and recharging single-journey tickets, monthly passes, and Climate Companion Cards. The nu January 7, 2026
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  PHOTOS:Seoul exhibition explores centuries of human-equine history SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - The National Folk Museum of Korea has launched a comprehensive exhibition to commemorate the Year of the Red Horse, exploring the deep-seated historical and cultural bonds between humans and horses. The exhibition, which opened on Dec. 16 and is scheduled to run through March 2, examines how horses transitioned from essential tools of survival to significant figures in global mythology and belief systems. For centuries, horses served as a primary means January 7, 2026
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  PHOTOS:Cinematic society bids farewell to late actor Ahn Sung-ki SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - A memorial space honoring the late actor Ahn Sung-ki has been opened at the Seoul film center in Jung-gu, Seoul, and will operate from January 6 to 8. The space is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., allowing citizens to freely pay their respects. Ahn Sung-ki made his debut in the film industry at the age of five through director Kim Ki-young's film "Twilight Train" in 1957. Over six decades, he appeared in more than 170 films an January 7, 2026
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  Army's Nonsan training camp welcomes first recruits of 2026 SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - Korea's biggest Army training center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, officially commenced its 2026 operations on Monday with the year’s first enlistment ceremony. Approximately 1,760 new recruits took part in the proceedings, joined by thousands of family members and friends. As the primary gateway for military service, the Nonsan facility handles approximately 60 percent of all Army enlistees. Following this inaugural intake, the cent January 6, 2026
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  Fresh cold spell grips Seoul SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - A fresh cold spell returned to Seoul on Tuesday, with a morning low of -6 degrees Celsius, much colder than the previous day's -1 degrees. The mercury barely rose, with daytime temperatures climbing to just 4 degrees as frigid conditions persisted throughout the day. Other cities across the country also faced frigid temperatures, with Chuncheon at -10 degrees, Cheongju at -8 degrees, Daejeon at -7 degrees, and the southern port city of Busan at -2 d January 6, 2026
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  Lee shares selfie with Xi SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung shared a selfie with Chinese President Xi Jinping on social media on Mondy night, suggesting their talks were held in a friendly atmosphere. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, shortly after their 90-minute summit, Lee said he took the selfie using a Xiaomi smartphone that Xi had given him, when the two leaders met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju in No January 6, 2026