PHOTOS: Elementary school in Seoul welcomes fresh students as spring semester begins

SEOUL, March 6 (AJP) - Many elementary schools in South Korea welcomed first-graders as this year's spring semester began across the country this week. The one in Seoul's western district of Mapo was among them, holding an entrance ceremony for about 105 new students amid heavy snow last Tuesday. The school's gate was adorned with colorful balloons as teachers greeted excited yet nervous children arriving with their parents, who sent them o

March 6, 2025

PHOTOS: Korean music legend Lee Mi-ja to retire with farewell concerts in April

SEOUL, March 06 (AJP) - Lee Mi-ja, the revered "Queen of Elegy" in Korean popular music, has announced her retirement after a 66-year career, culminating in farewell concerts next month. The singer, known for her emotive ballads, will perform at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul on April 26 and 27. The concerts will feature Lee alongside younger vocalists, a gesture intended to highlight the continuity of the Korean trot. Lee, who has been a fixture in th

March 6, 2025

PHOTOS: Winter's lingering grip

SEOUL, March 05 (AJP) - Heavy snowfall blanketed the nation on March 4, prompting widespread snow removal efforts. Across the country, crews worked to clear roads and pathways.

March 5, 2025

PHOTOS: Snowfall blankets South Korea in early spring

SEOUL, March 04 (AJP) - A heavy snowfall swept across South Korea in early March, as spring's nascent warmth was beginning to take hold. The incongruous juxtaposition of winter's last gasp against the budding season created a striking, if fleeting, tableau.

March 4, 2025

PHOTOS: Spring is in the air in Gangneung

SEOUL, February 28 (AJP) - Gangneung, Gangwon Province, is experiencing a surge of seasonal activity amid signs of spring, including the planting of potatoes, the catching of mullet, and the harvesting of seaweed.

February 28, 2025

PHOTOS: A journey through Korea's past at National Folk Museum

SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - Nestled on the eastern grounds of Gyeongbok Palace, the National Folk Museum of Korea offers a glimpse into the daily life and traditions of Korea's ancestors, from architecture to social customs. Upon entering the museum’s outdoor exhibition, visitors encounter a tableau of traditional Korean symbols: stone towers, cone-shaped structures believed to ward off misfortune; jangseung, totem poles carved with human faces, serving as village guardians; and sotd

February 27, 2025

PHOTOS: 10 elderly female divers, or haenyeo, retire in Jeju

SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - Aboard a yacht off Jeju Island, 10 haenyeo, the island's renowned female divers, marked their retirement on Feb. 26 in a ceremony punctuated by the warm appreciation of their successors.

February 27, 2025

TRAVEL: Soyosan Mountain in Dongducheon

SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - One of the best things about hiking is the opportunity to connect with nature as it changes beautifully with each season. Typically, a 4- to 5-hour hike involves steady walking through fresh forest air, navigating slopes that enhance physical fitness while boosting cardiovascular health. It is often said that people in their 30s and 40s live off their innate stamina, but after 50, physical strength depends on how well it was maintained in earlier years.

February 26, 2025

PHOTOS: Sungkyunkwan University honors ancestors ahead of graduation

SEOUL, February 26 (AJP) - Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul observed a traditional rite known as "Goyurye" on Feb. 25, just prior to its graduation ceremony. Goyurye is a traditional practice in which individuals or institutions notify their ancestors of significant upcoming events. Sungkyunkwan University, which traces its origins to the Joseon-era national education institution of the same name, continues to uphold these traditional ceremonies for important occasions.

February 26, 2025

PHOTOS: Rare Eurasian Oystercatcher spotted in South Korea

SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - A Eurasian Oystercatcher, a Class II endangered species and a designated natural monument, was spotted on the waters off Yeongjong Island in South Korea's Incheon on Monday. The bird is exceptionally rare, with small breeding populations believed to inhabit islands along Korea’s west coast, as well as the Kamchatka Peninsula’s eastern shores and the northern reaches of the Sea of Okhotsk.

February 25, 2025