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Lee Kyung-min

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South Korea

Ancient royal tombs open forest paths to visitors this spring

For most of the year, the pine-scented silence of Korea’s royal burial grounds remains undisturbed, a sanctuary for the spirits of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and the centuries-old ecosystems that guard them. But on Friday, the heavy gates to these secluded landscapes swung open, marking the start of a brief seasonal window where the public can traverse the inner sanctums of South Korea’s UNESCO-listed heritage. The Korea Heritage Service announced the reopening of nine specialized forest trails surrounding the royal tombs, a 19-kilometer network of paths stretching across the capital and surrounding Gyeonggi Province. From now through June 30, visitors can walk through wooded corridors in Seoul, Guri and Namyangju that are typically cordoned off to protect their ecological and historical integrity. The program, which launched in 2019, seeks to balance growing public demand for immersive nature retreats and contemplative spaces with the strict preservation requirements of these sovereign sites. At Donggureung in Guri, the largest cluster of royal tombs in the country, hikers can

May 15, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Ancient royal tombs open forest paths to visitors this spring
South Korea

Seoul’s free learning portal becomes gateway to AI careers for the poor

What began as an online tutoring program for struggling students during the COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly evolving into something much bigger: a digital lifeline for thousands of young people in Seoul trying to close the education gap in one of the world’s most competitive academic cultures. Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday that enrollment in Seoul Learn, the city’s free education welfare platform for low-income students, has surpassed 40,000 users for the first time since the program launched in 2021. The city also announced a major expansion of the platform beginning in June, adding artificial intelligence-based English learning tools, career development courses and new mentoring programs aimed at supporting students from middle school through early employment. Officials said the platform’s academic impact has become increasingly visible. According to the city’s annual performance review, high school students using Seoul Learn improved their average school grades from 3.16 to 3.52 between the first and second semesters of 2025. Students who relied more heavily on the

May 14, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul’s free learning portal becomes gateway to AI careers for the poor
South Korea

New tour invites visitors into Seoul’s gardens

In the manicured expanse of Seoul Forest, the modern bustle of the Korean capital is being traded for the rhythmic pace of the Joseon Dynasty. Under the shade of sprawling oaks and meticulous flower beds, foreign visitors are increasingly seen donning gat — the iconic black-rimmed horsehair hats of Joseon Dynasty aristocrats — while following guides dressed as traditional noblemen and ladies. The "Seoul Garden Traveler" is an immersive docent program launched by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to introduce international residents and tourists to the distinct "pungnyu," or the traditional art of appreciating nature with leisure and poetic flair. The initiative, which returned this month following a highly successful pilot at Boramae Park last year, transforms a standard park stroll into a cultural time capsule. Through May 31, participants can join these English language tours every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The experience is designed to be tactile: Visitors choose between a gat or a baessi-meoritdi, a traditional embroidered headband, before winding through the highlights of th

May 14, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
New tour invites visitors into Seoul’s gardens
South Korea

Seoul’s young entrepreneurs redefine what it means to be ‘local’

In the competitive landscape of Korean retail, the distance between a rural farm and a luxury department store shelf can feel insurmountable. However, a strategic partnership between the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Shinsegae Department Store is narrowing that gap, transforming regional specialties into high-end urban commodities. Starting Friday, the city will launch a relay of "Next Local" pop-up stores across the nationl, beginning at Shinsegae’s Daegu branch before arriving at its flagship Gangnam location on May 23. The initiative, now in its eighth year, is designed to support Seoul-based youth who build businesses using resources from depopulated rural areas. Under the theme "Find My Local: A Journey to Find Your Own Taste," the event showcases products that have cleared rigorous evaluations by Shinsegae buyers and food safety experts. The selection spans artisanal desserts and sauces to tea and beauty products, representing the work of seven entrepreneur cohorts. The Daegu opening features nine brands, including Soy Our Meal, which offers hummus made from 100 percent Kore

May 14, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul’s young entrepreneurs redefine what it means to be ‘local’
South Korea

From tragedy to UNESCO recognition: Jeju’s ‘Sea of Life’ exhibition debuts in Jakarta

The buried history of Jeju Island and the fierce, singular resilience of its women divers arrived in Jakarta this week, part of the first major Southeast Asian exhibition devoted to the Jeju April 3 uprising, the violent ideological conflict between 1947 and 1954 that left tens of thousands dead. The exhibition, titled “Island of Memory, Sea of Life — Jeju,” opened Monday at the KOREA360 Atrium, seeking to introduce Indonesian audiences to a tragedy that remains one of Korea’s most painful and enduring chapters. The province of Jeju has increasingly turned to international galleries to frame the island not merely as a tourist paradise, but as a global symbol of reconciliation. Having previously staged exhibitions in Germany, Britain, France and Japan, officials are now bringing the island’s dual identity as a site of mass violence and a sanctuary of communal culture to the heart of Indonesia. At the center of the exhibition is the 1948 uprising and the subsequent crackdown that left tens of thousands dead. During a talk titled “Stories of Jeju,” family members of victims o

May 14, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
From tragedy to UNESCO recognition: Jeju’s ‘Sea of Life’ exhibition debuts in Jakarta
Companies

LIG Defense & Aerospace makes inroads in Europe with direct pitch to NATO

As European countries race to strengthen their air defenses amid mounting security fears, Korean arms maker LIG Defense & Aerospace is using a weapons exhibition in Romania to press its case as a new supplier to NATO allies. LIG Defense & Aerospace said Thursday that it is participating in Black Sea Defense and Aerospace (BSDA) 2026, one of Eastern Europe’s largest defense exhibitions, held in Bucharest from Wednesday through Friday, where the company is showcasing a broad lineup of missile and air defense systems aimed at expanding its foothold across Europe. The company said it plans to market Korea’s guided missile technologies and integrated air defense systems to NATO and European Union member states, building on its previous export deal with Romania for the Chiron portable surface-to-air missile system, known in Korea as Shingung. That agreement, signed in November 2023, marked the first entry of a Korean air defense system into the NATO market. LIG Defense & Aerospace said the Romanian project is being successfully completed this month, a milestone the company described as pro

May 14, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
LIG Defense & Aerospace makes inroads in Europe with direct pitch to NATO
South Korea

Korea bets on open-air markets to draw tourists beyond Seoul

The scent of sizzling pancakes and the boisterous calls of vendors in crowded alleyways are being reframed as strategic assets in Korea’s latest tourism push. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, alongside the Korea Tourism Organization, designated 11 traditional markets on Thursday as part of the second phase of its “K-Tourism Market” project, an initiative designed to transform aging local hubs into polished international destinations. The project targets a diverse geographical spread, including Mangwon Market and Gyeongdong Market in Seoul, Haeundae Market in Busan, Seomun Market in Daegu, Jeonju Nambu Market and Jeju Island’s Dongmun Traditional Market. While these sites have long been the lifeblood of local neighborhoods, the government now aims to elevate them into major cultural attractions while simultaneously overhauling the long-criticized customer service practices that have occasionally alienated visitors. At a launch ceremony held Thursday at Mangwon Market in western Seoul, merchant associations from the selected sites signed a joint declaration pledging fu

May 14, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Korea bets on open-air markets to draw tourists beyond Seoul
South Korea

Seoul exhibition honors Korea’s master artisans

The quiet rhythm of scissors slicing through silk, the sharp bite of chisels into aged wood and the rhythmic tightening of knots will soon resonate within a Seoul exhibition hall. Starting next week, some of Korea’s most accomplished traditional artisans will pull back the curtain on their workshops, offering a rare glimpse into the ancestral techniques that define the nation’s cultural identity. The Korea Heritage Service and the Korea Heritage Agency announced Thursday the launch of “Gongdeulim,” a special joint exhibition running from May 21 to Aug. 21 at the National Intangible Heritage Center in southern Seoul. The showcase is dedicated to the labor and philosophy of masters who have spent decades preserving crafts that are increasingly rare in a digitized world. Bringing together 12 artisans representing 11 state-designated intangible heritage crafts, the exhibition spans a diverse range of disciplines, from the delicate art of embroidery and decorative knotting to the robust traditions of woodcraft and musical instrument making. It also features the specialized fields of

May 14, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul exhibition honors Korea’s master artisans
Companies

LS Eco Energy to supply cables to AI data center in Vietnam

LS Eco Energy said Thursday that it will supply power cables for a massive artificial intelligence (AI) data center project led by Vietnam’s largest telecommunications company, Viettel Group, as competition intensifies across Southeast Asia to build AI infrastructure. The Korean company said its Vietnam production subsidiary, LS-VINA, will provide cables for a hyperscale AI data center being built near Hanoi. The facility, with a planned capacity of 60 megawatts, is considered one of the largest AI infrastructure projects in northern Vietnam and is designed to meet rising demand for generative AI and cloud services. The scale of the project is equivalent to the electricity consumption of roughly 40,000 to 50,000 households, underscoring the growing strain AI computing places on regional power grids. LS Eco Energy said the cables will be used in the power network connecting the data center and substations. AI data centers, which rely on high-density GPU servers, require stable electricity supply systems and highly reliable power distribution infrastructure because of their heavy energy

May 14, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
LS Eco Energy to supply cables to AI data center in Vietnam
South Korea

Foreign residents emerge as Korea’s unexpected tourism ambassadors

Foreign residents living in Korea are rapidly becoming a powerful new force in the country’s tourism economy, with many traveling frequently across the nation and encouraging friends and relatives abroad to visit. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization said Wednesday that a new survey of foreign residents found that nearly 7 in 10 respondents had taken domestic day trips over the past year, while nearly 6 in 10 had traveled overnight. The report comes as Korea’s foreign resident population reaches 2.58 million, roughly 5 percent of the country’s total population, prompting tourism officials to view expatriates, international students and migrant workers as a growing tourism market rather than simply long-term residents. The survey of 1,000 foreign residents showed that respondents averaged 3.7 day trips and two overnight trips annually between November 2024 and October 2025. Nature and food ranked among the most popular activities. About 85.7 percent said they enjoyed sightseeing focused on scenery and landscapes, while 64.2 percent said food

May 13, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Foreign residents emerge as Korea’s unexpected tourism ambassadors
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