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  Activists rally in Seoul to oppose warship dispatch to Middle East SEOUL, March 17 (AJP) - Civic activists held a rally at Gwanghwamun in central Seoul on Tuesday to oppose the possible dispatch of warships to the Strait of Hormuz as well as the deployment of South Korean troops to the Middle East. They chanted with banners and stickers reading "no war" and "no deployment," urging an end to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which began with U.S.-led airstrikes on Iran late last month. March 17, 2026
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  Over 200 South Koreans return home on military aircraft from Middle East SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) - Some 204 South Korean nationals residing in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries returned home on a military transport aircraft on Sunday. Amid the prolonged Middle East conflict, which began with U.S.-led airstrikes on Iran late last month, the South Korean government launched an evacuation mission, dubbed "Operation Desert Shine," to ensure the safe return of its nationals. A multipurpose transport aircraft flew to Saudi Arabia to ev March 16, 2026
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  Rice, beans, eggs among items under price control watch SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) -Rice, beans and eggs are among 13 fresh food and grocery items authorities will keep a close eye on amid signs of price increases linked to a prolonged cold spell. In total, 23 items were selected during a government meeting on consumer prices. Of these, 13 items — including rice, beans, garlic, imported fruits, eggs, pork, frozen meat, flour, starch sugar, cooking oil, mackerel, dried seaweed and processed foods — were classified as essential co March 16, 2026
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  South Korea finishes Winter Paralympics with best-ever medal haul SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) - This year's Winter Paralympics concluded their 10-day competitions in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, with a closing ceremony held last Sunday. With two gold, four silver, and one bronze medals, South Korea ranked 13th overall in the gold-medal count, the country's best-ever performance in Winter Paralympics history, surpassing its previous record set at the Pyeongchang Games in 2018 when the country secured one gold and two bronze medals. March 16, 2026
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  BTS Live D-5: Gwanghwamun begins dressing up as a giant open-air stage SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) -Seoul is redecorating Gwanghwamun Square to transform the historic plaza into a vast open-air stage for global K-pop group BTS, whose comeback performance will be livestreamed worldwide on Saturday. Stage installations are taking shape across the square, while large banners announcing BTS’s return line nearby streets and buildings. Foreign tourists stopped to take photos in front of the displays, adding to the growing buzz ahead of the concert. Phas March 16, 2026
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  PHOTOS: Living heritage and neon dreams - The parallel shopping worlds of Astana ASTANA, March 15 (AJP) -A thirty-minute taxi ride from the hotel leads to the Artyom Market in the older district of Astana. It is a personal routine to visit the traditional markets of any new city to see how people actually live without the filter of tourist attractions. The ground floor of this multi-story building is a dense world of its own, smelling of fresh dough, raw honey, and cold-stored meat. It feels like a space that has aged alongside the city, retaining March 16, 2026
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  Gwanghwamun redresses to play the host for BTS show SEOUL, March 13 (AJP) -An electronic billboard near Gwanghwamun Square flashes the announcement: BTS is coming back. The towering digital screen lights up the intersection in central Seoul with promotions for “BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG,” the group’s highly anticipated concert scheduled for March 21 — just eight days away. Around the historic square, the city is already wearing the band’s colors. Towering buildings along the Gwanghwamun boulevar March 13, 2026
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  BTS Comeback D-8: Gwanghwamun's oldest residents - a Joseon king and admiral SEOUL, March 12 (AJP) - At the heart of Seoul stands Gwanghwamun Square, often called the symbolic center of South Korea. The broad boulevard stretching from the ancient gates of Gyeongbokgung Palace has witnessed centuries of history — from the royal administration of the Joseon Dynasty to modern civic gatherings. Next Saturday, the historic square will host another moment in that long timeline: a comeback performance by global K-pop group BTS. March 13, 2026
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  Director Jang Hang-jun treats fans to coffee to celebrate his box-office success SEOUL, March 12 (AJP) - Director Jang Hang-jun shared the joy of his latest film’s huge box-office success with an up-close, personal event for Seoulites in central Seoul on Thursday. Jang served around 200 cups of coffee in front of the Korea Press Center, expressing his gratitude to his fans. The event was arranged as a gesture of appreciation after period film "The King's Warden" attracted over 10 million moviegoers, about a month after its release on Feb March 12, 2026
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  Shopping arcade in Seoul finds new life as elderly hangout SEOUL, March 12 (AJP) - A shopping arcade in central Seoul has found an unlikely second life as a favorite hangout for elderly people with little money. On the first floor of Nakwon Arcade in Jongno, a boisterous crowd of seniors fills the tables daily, some seated, others standing nearby, their laughter and chatter echoing all the way to the entrance. This is where the neighborhood’s best janggi (or Korean chess) players gather to compete. With recreational activities bann March 12, 2026