PHOTOS: Seoul apartment prices rise fastest in nearly six years

SEOUL, July 16 (AJU PRESS) - Apartment prices in Seoul have risen for the 16th consecutive week, marking the sharpest increase in nearly six years, according to the state-run Kore Real Estate Board. As of the second week of July, prices climbed 0.24 percent from the previous week, the highest weekly gain since 2018. The average price per square meter for new apartments in Seoul has surpassed 40 million won, a 31 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

July 16, 2024

PHOTOS: Koreans mark chobok, the first of three dog days of summer

SEOUL, July 15 (AJU PRESS) - Koreans marked chobok, the first of the three dog days of summer, on Monday. The Korea Meteorological Administration reported that temperatures across most regions nationwide soared above 30 degrees Celsius. On this occasion, health food restaurants across the country are experiencing a surge in business as samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup), grilled eel, and raw croaker are particularly in high demand. At some renowned eateries, reservation wait times have stretch

July 15, 2024

PHOTOS: Government employees rally to demand higher pay

SEOUL, July 15 (AJU PRESS) - Government employees in Korea rallied on Monday to demand higher salaries and allowances. The Confederation of Korean Government Employees' Union staged a demonstration in front of the Government Complex in central Seoul, claiming that low wages had caused an unprecedented wave of resignations among new civil servants.

July 15, 2024

PHOTOS: Animal rights group protests traditional summer chicken dish

SEOUL, July 15 (AJU PRESS) - A Korean animal rights organization staged a protest Monday against a traditional summer chicken dish, claiming it promotes animal cruelty. The group Animal Liberation Wave held a rally in central Seoul, condemning the consumption of samgyetang, a soup made with a whole young chicken stuffed with rice, ginseng, and other ingredients. It has traditionally been eaten during the hottest days of summer in Korea. The protest coincided with boknal, a day marking the pe

July 15, 2024

VISUALS: South Korea celebrates first North Korean Defectors' Day

SEOUL, July 14 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea is observing the first North Korean Defectors' Day on Sunday. The national day was designated this year to support North Korean refugees as they build new lives in the South. Various events were held throughout last week to commemorate the occasion, which coincides with the effective date of the Act on the Protection and Settlement Support of North Korean Defectors, enacted on July 14, 1997. The law has served as the foundation for the legal status a

July 14, 2024

PHOTOS: Various events mark North Korean Defectors' Day

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - Various events are underway this week to celebrate the first North Korean Defectors' Day, which falls on July 14. This national day was designated this year to support North Korean refugees as they build new lives in the South. An exhibition is taking place at Seoul City Hall's Citizens' Hall from Monday to Saturday, showcasing photos and videos depicting the lives of North Koreans and their human rights conditions. The Seoul Forum on North Korean

July 13, 2024

PHOTOS: Exam-takers' mecca in Seoul faces decline amid shifting career prospects

SEOUL, July 12 (AJU PRESS) - Seoul's Noryangjin Goshichon area, long known as a mecca for test-takers, is facing an unprecedented downturn as interest in civil service careers wanes. The neighborhood, once bustling with aspiring civil servants from across the country, now struggles with declining enrollment in its numerous academies. This year, competition for government positions hit an all-time low, reflecting a shift in job seekers' preferences away from public sector careers.

July 12, 2024

PHOTOS: Photo exhibition highlights rampant disposable culture of today

SEOUL, July 12 (AJU PRESS) - The "22nd Century Relic Exhibition" by photographer MJ Kim is being held at the Dream Forest Art Center in Seoul from July 12 to August 11. Under the theme "Traces and Environment to Leave for Future Generations," the exhibition showcases 38 photographs of disposable items and trash taken by MJ Kim since 2019, along with related videos. Actress Kim Hye-ja serves as an audio docent. "In the past, digging in the ground yielded celadon and w

July 12, 2024

PHOTOS: NewJeans named promotional ambassadors to promote tourism to Korea

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - K-pop girl group NewJeans will serve as promotional ambassadors for Korean tourism for this year. At an event held at Grand Hyatt Seoul in the capital on Thursday, the quintet received a plaque from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to carry on their role in promoting Korean tourism. They will engage in various promotional activities primarily targeting the young demographic, which constitutes about one-third of Korean tourists. As part of such eff

July 11, 2024

VISUALS: Virtual artist Suvi makes debut with dance single 'Suncream'

SEOUL, July 11 (AJU PRESS) - Virtual artist Suvi made her debut with a dance single titled "Suncream" on Thursday. The 22-year-old, 170-centimeter (5'7")-tall digital singer is a member of Studio Meta-K's virtual artist group, "Season." "Suvi" means "summer" in Finnish. "Suncream" tells the story of a mermaid emerging from the sea in search of love, only to discover the joys of summer instead. The choreography for the song

July 11, 2024