RECORD GRAIN PRICE HIKE – A shopper looks around the grain section at a supermarket in Seoul, Sunday. On the day, Statistics Korea said that the country’s average grain price increased 19.8 percent in the first half of 2018, compared to the same period the previous year. It marks the biggest hike in grain prices since the state-run statistics agency began tracking the figures. (Yonhap)

The sixth Water Gun Festival in Sinchon, Seoul, brought some much needed relief to the scorching summer heat on Saturday.On the first day of the two-day fiesta, the main street that rolls down from Sinchon subway station to the front gate of Yonsei University was crammed with people of all nationalities and ages, armed with water guns and raincoats.Several were dressed up as DC and Marvel’s super heroes, including the intergalactic villain Thanos of the latest Avengers movie. The festival runs u

Kim Soo-min, 23, was crowned winner of Miss Korea 2018 in the final round of the annual beauty pageant in Seoul on Wednesday.Representing Gyeonggi Province, Kim studied international business at Dickinson College. With her eyes set on becoming an international journalist, Kim said her hobbies include dancing, singing and impersonating voices.This year’s 62nd Miss Korea pageant was held Wednesday night at the Olympic Hall in Sonpa-gu, southeastern Seoul, with 32 contestants competing in the final

Cleanup efforts have started after Typhoon Prapiroon tore through the southern region of the Korean Peninsula from Saturday to Monday, leaving three dead, three injured and one missing. A total of 85 public buildings and facilities, such as rivers, roads, ports and schools, were destroyed when Prapiroon hit South Jeolla Province, North Jeolla Province and Jeju. The heavy rain also caused many residential buildings and farmland to be submerged in water. Environment workers remove massive clumps o

Environmental activists staged a protest against the use of excessive plastic packaging in Seoul on Monday. (Yonhap)In celebration of International Plastic Bag Free Day on Sunday, members of environmental groups including the Korea Zero Waste Movement Network staged a protest outside a supermarket near Seoul Station. (Yonhap)Monday’s protest follows another on Sunday, which saw protestors shop around wearing rolled up plastic bags, leaving onlookers startled with their bold fashion statement.  (

South Korea is bracing for more torrential rain and strong wind as Typhoon Prapiroon moves southwest across the peninsula. Moving northwest away from Japan’s Okinawa, Typhoon Prapiroon has moved closer to Korea, packing gusts of up to 21 kph as of 9 a.m. Sunday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.  Residents holding umbrellas walk past a closed market in North Jeolla Province on Monday. (Yonhap)Cars were seen submerged in flood waters caused by the typhoon in Boseong county, So

CHEER UP, YOUNG -- Performers including singer-songwriter Baek Ga-young, folk song duo Okdal and poet Ha Sang-wook on Saturday perform at the Cheer Up 2030 Concert held by steelmaker Posco. The concert, held at Posco Center in Seoul and attended by some 300 college students, came as part of the company‘s long-term efforts to enhance communication with the young generation. (Posco)

In what became both the first win and the last match for South Korea in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, a number of Korean fans gathered in various venues across the country and lit up the night with chants and screams.The Group F match between South Korea and Germany took place from 11 p.m., Wednesday in Korea.Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul was packed from corner to corner with people clad in red, praying for a “miracle.”According to Soccer Power Index, the chances of South Korea winni

PINKFONG ON FLIGHT -- Korean children’s content producer SmartStudy unveils a Jeju Air plane decorated with its character Pinkfong on Wednesday. The project was launched as part of a joint marketing agreement signed between Korean low-cost carrier Jeju Air and SmartStudy in April. (SmartStudy)

BRAND NEW XC40 -- South Korean actor Jung Hae-in poses with Volvo’s new SUV XC40 at a launch event in Seoul. Yonhap

Monday marks the 68th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-1953 Korean War on June 25. In commemoration, the National Assembly and ROK Army Headquarters host a two-day photo exhibition of 239 photographs taken by late US Army sergeant Thomas B. Hutton, who fought in the Korean War. His grandson Col. Brandon D. Newton, currently stationed in South Korea, donated the pictures to the ROK Army Headquarters. The photographs show not only of the livelihoods of Koreans at the time, but also historic

To mark the 68th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War on June 25, 85 people including war veterans and their family members have been invited to South Korea. During the six-day trip, the veterans are set to visit the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul and the Odusan Unification Observatory in Paju. The invitees will also participate in a commemorative ceremony at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan on Tuesday. Ahead of the memorial events, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Aff

Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Saturday night, was painted red with the Red Devils cheering for the midnight match between South Korea and Mexico.With tightly clasped hands held high, fans watched the rollercoaster game.A giant sized Taeguekgi -- the Korean national flag -- created a wave above the crowd. Raw emotions were displayed without reservation.Grieving groans and joyous exclamations intersected between those supporting Team Korea and the Mexican players as Carlos Vela and Javier Hernandez

The summer solstice fell on Thursday, marking the start of haji, one of 24 divisions of the year on the lunar calendar.The sun reaches its highest altitude in the Northern Hemisphere on this day, resulting in the longest period of daylight of the year. High temperatures were felt around the country Thursday, topping 30 degrees Celsius in some inland regions including Daegu, Andong in North Gyeongsang Province and Chuncheon in Gangwon Province.  A heat haze over the streets of Yeouido in Seoul A

DISCUSSING GAME EXPORTS -- Business meetings are held at the “2018 ITS GAME” game industry trade show, which kicked off at Coex in Seoul on Tuesday. In its ninth edition, the event has the participation of 110 game publishers and buyers from 14 countries including the US and China. Yonhap