Octogenarian becomes oldest contestant at beauty pageant in Seoul

SEOUL, October 2 (AJP) - Choi Soon-hwa, the oldest contestant at this year's beauty pageant, narrowly missed winning the crown in Seoul early this week. At 81, she looked exquisite and graceful on stage with her silver hair at the pageant on Monday. Organizers said it was the first time a model of that age participated in the pageant, but Choi proudly stood out among younger rivals in their 20s and 30s. The pageant allows the winner to represent Korea in November's Miss Univ

October 2, 2024

Golfer Pak Se-ri wins Van Fleet Award for strengthening US-Korea relations

SEOUL, October 2 (AJP) - Korean golf pioneer Pak Se-ri received an award in New York on Tuesday for her contributions to strengthening Korea's relations with the U.S. The Van Fleet Award, named after General James Van Fleet, the U.S. commander who fought in the Korean War, is presented annually by the U.S.-based non-profit organization Korea Society to individuals who have contributed to promoting Korea and its relationship with the U.S. Previous recipients include former UN

October 2, 2024

Indian cultural festival kicks off with traditional dance performance

SEOUL, October 2 (AJP) - The "Sarang Festival," a nine-day Indian cultural event hosted by the Indian Embassy to Korea, began on Tuesday with a traditional Kuchipudi dance performance by artists from the Avanthika Space for Dance, a renowned arts institute based in Kerala, Southern India. Kuchipudi, a classical dance form from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, is known for its graceful movements, expressive storytelling, and combination of dance, drama, and music. The da

October 2, 2024

War Memorial of Korea chief reflects on sacrifice of war veterans in celebration of Armed Forces Day

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - "We will never forget war heroes who gave their lives during the Korean War about seven decades ago," the War Memorial of Korea's chief stressed in his exclusive interview with AJP last month. "We will ensure their dedication and sacrifices remain honored and remembered throughout history, preserving the legacy of the fallen to inspire future generations with the values of peace and freedom as well as the importance of national defense,

September 30, 2024

Event on Nami Island promotes UAE's vibrant heritage and culture

Performers showcase the UAE's traditional dance Al-Ayyala at an event on Nami Island, Gangwon Province on Sept. 27, 2024. AJP Han Jun-gu SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - A special event featuring several performances and exhibitions to promote the UAE's heritage and culture took place over the weekend on Nami Island, a tiny island near Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. In cooperation with the UAE Embassy in Korea, the three-day event, hosted by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, an educ

September 30, 2024

South Korea to showcase latest home-grown missile at Armed Forces Day parade

SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - South Korea is set to unveil its latest homegrown missile along with other cutting-edge military equipment during a parade celebrating the 76th anniversary of Armed Forces Day next month. The anniversary, which has been reinstated as a national holiday for the first time in 34 years this year, falls on Tuesday. This will be the second consecutive year that a military parade in downtown Seoul commemorates the occasion, following last year's event, whic

September 29, 2024

Korea, Japan hold rare meeting on joint development zone in East China Sea

SEOUL, September 27 (AJP) - Officials from Korea and Japan held a meeting in Tokyo on Friday to discuss the co-development of an underwater continental shelf in the East China Sea for the first time in nearly 40 years. According to sources here, officials from the two countries resumed working-level talks about the decades-old agreement for the joint development zone called the "Block 7," which was signed in 1974. Either side can unilaterally nullify the agreement three ye

September 27, 2024

Gangnam: The epitome of affluence in modern Korea

SEOUL, September 27 (AJP) - Gangnam in southern Seoul has been one of the most prosperous and wealthiest districts in Korea. The affluent area has now become a symbol of modern Korea, often associated with upscale lifestyle, economic success, and cultural vibrancy. Its reputation grew even further, after rapper Psy's megahit song "Gangnam Style" went viral globally in 2012. Gangnam, with its outstanding infrastructure and high-quality amenities that integrate b

September 27, 2024

Korea to lure more skilled foreign talent

SEOUL, September 27 (AJP) - Korea is set to attract more skilled workers from abroad as the country faces a declining population. The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy said on Friday that it will introduce a new visa program for foreigners in high-tech industries and also streamline the overall process for obtaining work permits. "Unlike other countries such as Japan and Singapore, which are keen to attract global talent, Korea lags behind by focusing primarily on nurt

September 27, 2024

International forum to explore vision for free, unified Korea

SEOUL, September 26 (AJP) - The International Forum on One Korea 2024 will kick off on Friday for a three-day run at the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul in southwestern Seoul, exploring the vision and pathway toward a free and unified Korea. The event, co-hosted by Global Peace Foundation, Action for Korea United and One Korea Foundation, will bring together prominent experts, policymakers, journalists and civil society leaders from Korea, and the international community. The particip

September 26, 2024