Photo News

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

We Will Get to Bottom of Tragedy

By Jung Sung-ki, Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporters The nation is mourning the loss of 46 sailors from the March 26 sinking of the Navy frigate Cheonan. The incident, of which the cause has yet to be determined, was the country’s worst naval disaster in peacetime. After an explosion, the 1,200-ton Cheonan sank in waters off Baengnyeong Island near the disputed sea border with North Korea. Fifty-eight sailors were rescued by coastguard vessels. The bodies of 40 crewmen were found later but six others still remain missing. On Sunday, Prime Minister Chung Un-chan announced a five-day period of national mourning in tribute to the 46 dead and missing sailors. The government designated April 29 a national day of mourning. The fallen seamen will be posthumously promoted by one rank and be decorated with the Hwarang Cordon of the Order of Military Merit, the country’s fourth highest military medal. Investigators indicated a massive air bubble caused by a proximity explosion below its hull split the frigate in two, bolstering suspicions that a North Korean torpedo or mine could

Spring Sneaks In

By Shim Hyun-chul Staff Reporter The long wait for spring has ended. The new season is finally amidst us, sprouting its crown jewels ― the flower blossoms ― here and there in our neighborhoods. One doesn't have to travel far to enjoy the glorious gifts of spring. There are plenty of options here in Seoul. Recently, Seoul City has designated ``100 Flower Roads'' to walk along this season. They consist of 36 lanes within parks, 29 along Seoul's roadsides and 31 along the city's rivers. Some of these have added features, making them good for walking, driving or jogging through, so there is no shortage of selection. For family outings and romantic dates, the flower roads by Mt. Nam, Ttukseom, Seoul Woods and World Cup Park are recommended. In particular, Mt. Nam, situated in the smack center of Seoul, is abundant in its offerings of forsythia, azalea and cherry blossoms. Along the northern part of Mt. Nam, the cherry blossoms are breaking free, akin to snowflakes fluttering in the wind. The Yunjungno in Yeouido is one of the most famous roads for the blossoms. The sm