PHOTOS: Coming-of-Age Day

SEOUL, May 19 (AJP) - May 19 is South Korea's Coming-of-Age Day, observed annually on the third Monday of May. Under the nation's civil code, individuals attain adulthood at the age of 19. Historically, the transition to adulthood was marked by traditional ceremonies. For young men, this involved styling their hair in a topknot and donning a gat, a traditional Korean hat. Young women would put their hair up in a chignon and adorn it with a binyeo, an ornamental hairpin. Contempo

May 19, 2025

PHOTOS: Remembering King Sejong the Great

SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - King Sejong the Great, the fourth monarch of the Joseon Dynasty, whose reign saw the creation of Hangeul, the nation’s indigenous alphabet, and significant advancements across economic, social, cultural, and military spheres, was honored on Thursday in the first national commemoration of his birthday. May 15 was designated a national commemorative day last November. King Sejong is widely revered by South Koreans today, often mentioned alongside the famed Admiral

May 16, 2025

PHOTOS: Steam, spice and history in Namdaemun Market's Galchi Golmok

SEOUL, May 15 (AJP) - On a warm weekday afternoon in late spring, the labyrinthine corridors of Namdaemun Market remain as lively as ever. Tucked amid its maze of narrow passageways and densely packed storefronts lies a culinary enclave devoted to a single dish: braised hairtail fish. The cluster of small restaurants is devoted entirely to the preparation of spicy hairtail stew. The roots of Galchi Golmok (Hairtail Alley) stretch back to the late 1980s, when a handful of mercha

May 15, 2025

PHOTOS: Teachers' Day

SEOUL, May 15 (AJP) - South Korea observes May 15 as Teachers' Day, a nationally designated occasion intended to cultivate a societal ethos of respect for educators' authority and appreciation for their service. The annual commemoration aims to bolster morale among the teaching profession and elevate their social status. Across the nation's schools, it is customary for students to present their teachers with carnations as a tangible expression of their gratitude.

May 15, 2025

PHOTOS: Presidential election posters to appear nationwide

SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - The National Election Commission has released the official campaign posters of the candidates vying for the 21st presidential election on June 3. These posters are slated for display in prominent public spaces across the nation, beginning on May 15.

May 14, 2025

PHOTOS: 'Korea Day' marked at Osaka Expo with arrival of historic ship

SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - A celebration of Korean culture and history unfolded at the Osaka Expo on Tuesday with the observance of "Korea Day," a designated event by organizers to honor participating nations. The centerpiece of the commemoration was the arrival ceremony and performances highlighting the Joseon Tongsinsa vessel, a historical symbol of diplomatic exchange between Korea and Japan. The ship represents the official envoys dispatched by the Joseon Dynasty's monarch to Jap

May 14, 2025

PHOTOS: Candidates court TK voters in crucial campaign stop

SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - As the presidential race intensifies ahead of the June 3 election, candidates from major parties took their campaigns to the conservative heartland of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province (known as the TK area), Tuesday, the second day of official campaigning. Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, began a series of rallies in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, before proceeding to Daegu, Pohang, and Ulsan. Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party camp

May 13, 2025

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