Winter mountain climbing Mountain climbers walk down the trail along the northern side of an ancient fortress wall on Mount Bukak, just behind the presidential compound in Seoul, on Dec. 19, 2021. (Yonhap)
Gyeongbok Palace in snow Gyeongbok Palace, the main palace of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), is covered with overnight snow on Dec. 19, 2021, in downtown Seoul. (Yonhap)
Goryeo Dynasty relics excavated This photo, provided by the National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage, shows work to excavate Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) relics under the sea off Gunsan, 275 km southwest of Seoul. Some 200 articles, including 125 Goryeo celadons, were found during the 60-day work. (Yonhap)
Ahead of death anniversary of NK leader An art exhibition opens in Pyongyang on Dec. 15, 2021, two days ahead of the 10th anniversary of the death of former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, in this photo provided by the North’s Korean Central News Agency. (Yonhap)
Flag burning marks Korean War battle Soldiers of the U.S. Forces Korea’s 2nd Brigade Engineer Battalion hold national flags of South Korea and the United States at Camp Casey in Dongducheon, 40 kilometers north of Seoul, on Dec. 10, 2021, as they ceremonially burn its unit colors to remember the Battle of Kunu-ri during the 1950-53 Korean War. In the battle, which took place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, 1950, U.S. soldiers were under siege by Chinese forces and burned the unit flag before fleeing their position. (Yonhap)
1st day of vaccine pass enforcement A notice asking customers to show their vaccine certification upon entry is attached to a restaurant in Seoul on Dec. 13, 2021, as the government starts to enforce the nation’s vaccine pass. Businesses will be fined 1.5 million won (US$1,260) if they fail to abide by the vaccine pass system and can also be ordered to permanently close after more than four violations. (Yonhap)
Mink whale caught in East Sea This photo provided by the Coast Guard shows a mink whale, found dead in a fishing net in seas off the eastern port county of Goseong, being moved onto a nearby pier on Dec. 11, 2021. (Yonhap)
Rally against COVID-19 vaccine pass system for youths A parent holds her child as protestors stage a rally at the government complex in Sejong, central South Korea, on Dec. 9, 2021, to demand the government withdraw its plan to expand the COVID-19 vaccine pass system to teenagers. The system requires them to present COVID-19 vaccination or negative test certificates at multiuse facilities, including public study rooms and cram schools, a measure that critics say amounts to forcing people to get vaccinated. (Yonhap)
Christmas tree at National Assembly A large Christmas tree is lit up at the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 8, 2021, after a lighting ceremony attended by Speaker Park Byeong-seug and other dignitaries. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
Military meeting in N. Korea This photo, released by the Korean Central News Agency on Dec. 7, 2021, shows a meeting of the North Korean Army’s educationists, presided over by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang on Dec. 4 and 5. Kim stressed the need to prepare them “to be true soldiers immensely loyal to the idea and leadership of the Workers’ Party,” according to the agency. (Yonhap)
