Swimmers Brave Icy Waters at Busan Polar Bear FestivalDozens of swimmers plunge into the frigid waters off Gwangalli Beach on Feb. 9 for the 38th Busan Polar Bear Festival. Inspired by Canada’s Polar Bear Swim, the annual event began in 1988 and draws citizens and tourists eager to test their cold endurance.
Rescue Teams Recover Wreckage After Deadly Mid-Air CollisionRescue workers recover the wreckage of a passenger plane that crashed into the Potomac River after colliding with a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Jan. 29. The crash marks the first major U.S. commercial passenger flight accident since Colgan Air Flight 3407 in 2009.
Fireworks Light Up Hong Kong for Lunar New Year Celebration
A dazzling fireworks display illuminates Victoria Harbour on Jan. 30 as Hong Kong celebrates the Lunar New Year. The annual spectacle, a tradition since 1982, draws thousands of spectators and is part of the city’s festive events, which include parades and lion dance performances.
Fishing Fleets Resume Operations After Lunar New Year17 large-scale purse seine fishing fleets, responsible for over 80 percent of South Korea’s mackerel catch, depart from Busan Cooperative Fish Market on Feb. 2 for their first post-holiday operation. Each fleet consists of six vessels, including a main ship, backup vessels, and transport vessels.