Young Korean filmmaker's meteoric rise at Cannes shows how luck favors the prepared

SEOUL, June 14 (AJU PRESS) - A young Korean director suddenly became the talk of the town when her short film was invited to this year's Cannes Film Festival in May. "Forest of Echoes" directed by Lim Yoo-ri was invited to the prestigious festival's La Cinef, a section showcasing short- and medium-length films submitted by film school students around the world, aimed at exploring new talents and aspiring directors. The 22-minute short was among 18 finalists sele

June 14, 2024

Plan to allow foreign doctors sparks heated debate in Korea

SEOUL, May 17 (AJU PRESS) - Pros and cons over a scheme to allow foreign doctors to work in Korea are heating up, after the government announced the move early this month. The government came up with the idea in a bid to address the long-term shortage of medical personnel and ease disruptions in public healthcare across the country, amid a collective strike by medical professionals. Since February, most of medical trainees at major hospitals have resigned in protest against the go

May 20, 2024

Russian envoy expects thaw in ties with South Korea

SEOUL, May 10 (AJU PRESS) - Amid frozen diplomatic relations between South Korea and Russia, mainly stemming from the two countries' different perspectives on the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russian Ambassador to South Korea Georgy Zinoviev has admitted the strain, but expressed hope for improvement. "Currently, both Russia and South Korea are facing challenges in the diplomatic arena. But we believe that there is still a chance for both countries to recover and further enhan

May 10, 2024

Hangeul forum inaugurated in Sejong City

SEOUL, May 08 (AJU PRESS) - The inaugural forum on promoting the use of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, was held in Korea's administrative capital, Sejong City, on Wednesday. Hosted by the Sejong Institute of Korean Language and Culture, the forum provided a platform to discuss ways to raise public awareness of the importance of preserving the Korean language. Notably, Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Hyungwon Kang, dedicated to the globalization of Korean cultural heritage,

May 8, 2024

Queer parade to take place in central Seoul on June 1

SEOUL, May 07 (AJU PRESS) – The organizers of Korea’s largest LGBTQ festival on Tuesday announced plans to stage a Pride parade in central Seoul on June 1, criticizing the city government for rejecting its application to use the event's traditional spot of Seoul Plaza for the second consecutive year. The Seoul Queer Parade, a key event of the Seoul Queer Culture Festival (SQCF), will be held in the capital's Euljiro and Jongno districts, hundreds of meters from

May 7, 2024

John Y. Lee, Korean War hero who interpreted for MacArthur, dies at 95

SEOUL, May 03 (AJU PRESS) – John Y. Lee, a Korean War hero famous for serving as an interpreter for Gen. Douglas MacArthur during the 1950 Incheon Landing Operation, died in Atalanta, the U.S., on Wednesday (local time). He was 95. The Korean-born U.S. lawyer received the U.S. Legion of Merit in April 1952 from then-President Harry S. Truman for his service in many crucial battles during the 1950-53 war. He also won the St. Maurice Medal from the U.S. National Infantry Associa

May 3, 2024

[INTERVIEW] Creating robots designed to free people from work

SEOUL, April 08 (AJU PRESS) - Inside the headquarters of South Korean robotics technology company ROBOTIS, located in southwestern Seoul, a scene reminiscent of science fiction unfolds. Tower-shaped service robots silently roam the campus, delivering drinks and snacks to employees. On the main wall in the lobby, the company motto reads: "Freedom from Work." The autonomous service robots seen here are called "Gaemi" (meaning "ant" in Korean). Both the

April 8, 2024

Son Heung-min to leave football after retirement

SEOUL --South Korean football star Son Heung-min has revealed a plan to step away from the football world after retiring. "While I love and enjoy football," Son said in an interview with Harper's Bazaar Korea, published March 18, "I don't have the ability to teach others. It's the moment when I actually kick the ball myself that I truly cherish." Son's decision to forgo a football-related career after retirement may disappoint some fans, but

March 18, 2024

[INTERVIEW] Chilean public works minister seeks S. Korea's investment for Chile's transport infrastructure projects

SEOUL -- Chilean public works minister Jessica Lopez has called for South Korean companies' investment in her home country's ongoing transport infrastructure projects. Highlighting the critical role of technology in the mobility sector incorporating highways, airports, and electric vehicle networks, Lopez stressed the need for South Korean companies' participation in construction endeavors and the sharing of their expert know-how in providing cutting-edge technological so

March 18, 2024

Russian star ballerina's Seoul performance cancelled

SEOUL --Svetlana Zakharova's scheduled ballet performance in Seoul has been cancelled, the organizer announced on March 15. Zakharova, a Ukrainian-born prima ballerina with the Bolshoi Ballet, was set to perform in "Modanse," a ballet depicting the life of fashion icon Coco Chanel, at the Seoul Arts Center's Opera House from April 17 to 21. The cancellation follows growing worldwide backlash against Russian artists and cultural institutions due to the ongoing

March 15, 2024