Local government officials, residents and “honorary villagers” of Okcheon-gun County celebrate the region's population reaching 100,000 at the Aquatic Botanical Garden in Okcheon, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, October 30 (Photo by Okcheon-gun County) Some 170 kilometers southeast of Seoul, an unusual celebration was held on October 30 in Okcheon-gun County in Chungcheongbuk-do Province. The region’s residents, local government officials and 150 “honorary villagers” gathered

(Left)A poster for "Love after Divorce," a reality show about divorced singles finding new loves (Courtesy of MBN); (Right)A poster for "Merry Queer," Wavve's reality show on LGBTQ romance (Courtesy of Wavve) It was about a decade ago in 2011 when SBS TV’s “Jjak” ignited Korea’s fever for blind-date reality shows. The controversial television series became a media sensation but was taken off the air in 2014 following the suicide of a female cast member. Now, years later,

Participants in the "Turn Toward Busan" ceremony observe a minute of silence at the U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Busan, November 11, in honor of U.N. troops who were killed during the 1950-53 Korean War. (Photo by Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs) A commemorative ceremony was held at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan on November 11 to honor the fallen soldiers who fought for the Republic of Korea under the U.N. flag in the 1950-53 Korean War. Since its la

Culture Minister Yu In-chon, fifth from left; Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, second from right; Gangwon-do Province Governor Kim Jin-tae, fourth from right; and other dignitaries celebrate the arrival of the torch for the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games during a ceremony in Seoul on October 11, marking the 100 day countdown. (Photo by Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee) Next January, young people from around the globe will congregate in Gangwon-do Province, Kore

Gangneung Oval, where the Gangwon 2024 opening ceremony and speed skating competitions will be held (Photo by Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee) When Jang Mi-ran, now second vice minister of culture, sports and tourism, was at the height of her athletic training, she worked out with barbells so often that the combined daily weight lifted added up to 50,000 kilograms. That rote training – fueled by perseverance and endurance – explains her stellar