Photo News

JSA: Joint Security Area of Panmunjeom

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff reporter Panmunjeom is a village on the de facto border between South and North Korea, where the Armistice Agreement that halted the 1950- 53 Korean War was signed. The building, Panmungak, where the armistice was signed, still stands, though it is on the northern side of the Military Demarcation Line, which runs through the middle of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). It is considered one of the last vestiges of the Cold War. The Joint Security Area (JSA) in the truce village is used by the two Koreas for diplomatic engagements and was also the site of military negotiations between the United Nations Command and North Korea. The JSA has been the site of numerous major events since its establishment in 1953, the first of which was the repatriation of prisoners of war (POWs) after the cessation of hostilities, across the Bridge of No Return. The JSA consists of several blue buildings, some of which straddle the border between the two Koreas. In fact, it is where most talks between the two countries occur. Inside one of these buildings is th

Yangjae Stream Outdoor Pool

Sweat breaks down your back every time you move - it’s that time of the year when the smoldering heat makes you want to plunge into the closest pool of cool water. Just in time, swimming pools are opening their doors as the heat wave peaks, inviting you to take a plunge, including the Yangjae Stream Outdoor Pool. Since opening in July 2007, the pool has been catering to Seoul’s swimmers for its great location near Yangjae Citizens’ Forest near Gangnam-ro and for housing various facilities. Last year 60,000 Seoulites took a swim in the pool. The outdoor facility comprises of a pool for adults which, measuring 13.2 by 50 meters, meets international standards, as well as two circular pools for children with a diameter of 10 meters. There are also water slides for kids, parasols and walkways with acupressure points. Entire families can also have fun at the water playground featuring fountains stretching 100 meters long. “I came here last year and it’s more fun to play here with my friends than travel somewhere far away,” remarked an elementary school student who visited th

Demilitarized Zone(DMZ)

By Jung Sung-ki, Shim Hyun-chul Staff reporters Avestige of the fratricidal 1950-53 Korean War, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a strip of land dividing the Korean Peninsula and serves as a buffer zone between South and North Korea. The DMZ cuts the peninsula roughly in half, crossing the 38th parallel on an angle, with the west of the zone lying south of the parallel and the east end lying north of it. The 250-kilometer-long, 4-kilometer-wide zone is the world’s most heavily fortified border. The Armistice Agreement signed by the U.S.-led United Nations Command, China and North Korea on July 27, 1953, established the DMZ along the approximate line of ground contact between the opposing forces at the time the truce ended the Korean War. The Military Demarcation Line (MDL) runs down the center of the DMZ and indicates where the front was when the agreement was signed. Since the armistice accord has never been followed by a peace treaty, the two Koreas are still technically at war. The DMZ has seen numerous incursions by the North Koreans, although the reclusive state n

Fountain of Seoul

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff reporter Summer is here. The strong sunrays are hitting the asphalt, turning the ground into virtual hot grills. The traffic is congested and the city is as busy as usual, while a holiday couldn’t seem any further away. All in all, the weather is growing hotter by the day. The only urban sanity-saver these days are the splendid sprays of water from the fountains of Seoul. Get closer to them, and listen to the burst of water soar high up and then fall to the ground with a cooling thump. It will make you forget about the travails of summer in the city. The 286 fountains located at Seoul’s major parks and “green” areas have been in operation since April. They are scattered across Seoul ? from the Ttukseom Seoul Forest and Boramae Park to Mt. Nam Park and even Seoul Plaza in downtown Seoul. In particular, Gwanghwamun Plaza near the Sejong Center for the Peforming Arts is a magnetic draw for both Seoulites and tourists alike. Seoul City makes sure that the water quality of these fountains is on par with that of swimming pools. This year the c

Haeundae sand festival

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff reporter The refreshing sound of waves breaking against the shore echoes at Busan's Haeundae Beach. Children build their own respective empires of imagination using the abundant white sand. Sandcastles are piled upward in brilliant shapes, though the walls are covered with decorative seashell jewelry. Holes poked at the bottom of the structures allow a sea-filled moat to form, and the image of the castle is sufficiently convincing. The expression on a child's face building a sandcastle is a sober as an architect's while designing a skyscraper. But as the coming tide destroys the creation, the innocent children patiently begins work on another, unaware of the passing of time. Everyone has at least one nostalgic memory of building a sandcastle on the beach. In honor of these faded, but warm recollections, a festival at Haeundae's beach resort calls adults and children alike to play in the sand. The Haeundae Sand Festival began in 2005, as part of a commemorative event for the APEC summit, before evolving into an annual affair that now attracts

Korean War in color

By Kim Se-jeong Staff Reporter Memories of war can never be as vivid to those who have not been through it. A recent exhibition, "Korean War in Color" by American War correspondent John Rich adds color to the memory of what's known as "The Forgotten War" on the Korean peninsula between 1950-53. Rich was a war correspondent working for U.S. broadcasting company NBC at the time of the conflict. Altogether he shot 900 rolls of film in crisp color with Kodak's legendary Kodachrome film, securing the quality of the photos after 60 years. The photos were stored in a Japanese tea chest until they were rediscovered at Rich's home in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. The Smithsonian Magazine, a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Smithsonian Institute, once published his photos. The rights to distribute 173 photos were bought by Seoul Selection for the first time. The same 173 photos were also turned into a book on May 12 with the same title. In the prologue to the book, Rich writes, "It's my hope that readers of this book will understand the travails of war, and the fact tha

Emergency rescue drill for G-20 Seoul summit

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff reporter It's just past 10 a.m. on Monday at a hotel in Seoul. An unidentified terrorist has installed explosives and sprayed chemicals inside the building and goes on to make a scene by threatening a hostage. Upon receiving a phone call from an onlooker, soldiers and police officers arrive in no time to seize the culprit. This is where the Special Rescue Unit and come into the picture. Members of the unit help civilians to safety while the military chemical unit cleans up the chemical mess using specialized equipment. As fire begins to spread inside the hotel, dozens of fire trucks on standby hose it down. Meanwhile the Special Rescue Unit saves hotel guests who were unable to escape beforehand. The training comes to an end as each unit tends to the aftermath of the disaster. This coming November the G-20 summit will be held in Korea, calling for more preparation than ever for ensuring safety and responding to emergency situations. The Monday session was held under the auspices of the Seoul Jungbu Fire Station to counter disasters that could happ

Croatia: Harmony of Europe and the Mediterranean

When you plan to visit Croatia, the following regions are worth travelling. You can start your tour by visiting Zagreb, the capital city of the Mediterranean country. One day is enough to look around the truly central European cultural center. This reporter who crisscrossed 1,500 kilometer of the country by a car in April, believes that Dubrovnik, the southern tip of the country, is another must-see.The Plitvice Lakes, which are about 90 minutes from the capital city, are another amazing sight Croatia has to offer. Split, the home of the historical complex of Diocletian’s Palace, built 1,700 years ago is a UNESCOworld heritage site. You can enjoy the history of the new early-Christian, Byzantine and early-medieval art and its cathedral built in the Middle Ages. No other place has two cities with monumental heritage under UNESCO’s protection registered in the World Cultural Heritage within just 30 kilometers. They are the Diocletian Palace in Split and the historical core of the town of Trogir. Istria, which is the largest peninsula inCroatia, boasts blue seas, white sto

Floating lotus lanterns....

Rodin creates immortal beauties Hand of God