Choi Won-suk is a photojournalist at The Korea Times. Before joining the newspaper, he also worked as a photojournalist with AFP and St. Joseph News-Press in Missouri. He spent 13 years in the United States, graduating with a Bachelor of Journalism degree (Cum Laude) from the University of Missouri - Columbia and a Master of Arts in Photography from Ohio University - Athens. Over the past 11 years, Choi covered various news events such as presidential elections, the 2019 North Korea-United States Hanoi Summit and 2022 Qatar World Cup. But above all, Choi believes in local journalism and finds a lot of joy telling life stories of ordinary citizens in small neighborhoods.
PHOTOS Tangerine tea on Jeju: A sip of comfort
This aerial shot shows tangerine peels being dried near the ocean in Jeju’s Seogwipo City. Cows graze in the pasture during spring, summer and fall and the area turns into orange color with tangerine peels being dried in winter. Dried tangerine peels are dried again with hot air and then are ground into powder to be used for skincare products, herbal medicine and feed for dairy cows. Courtest of Choi Jae-young
By Choi Won-suk
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Stone, wind and women. These three are inseparable from the southern resort island of Jeju. Abundant stones are the result of past volcanic activities. Being surrounded by ocean, Jeju is windy. Women on Jeju are born to be strong. Perhaps more so than women in urban areas, Jeju women multitask to feed their children and send them to school as they dive, farm and make house.
In wintertime, three more truly iconic Jeju scenes appear: tangerine tea, camellia and the island covered with snow.
Tangerine peels being dried under the sun off the ocean creates iconic wintertime scenery on the island. Farmers peel the rind from tangerines and lay it out near the water. They are dried by the sun and the sea winds for years. The islanders sip a cup of tangerine tea with the dried peels to beat cold spells during winter. The dried tangerine peels are also used for herbal medicine to help the local farmers stay healthy.
Red camellia flowers are covered with snow. They will bloom in winter and then the petals will fade. Courtesy of Choi Jae-young
Jeju is a rare place where people can watch flowers bloom during winter. Camellias are in full bloom between December and April. The islanders use camellia oil for various purposes: some use it for their hair and other skincare purposes, some for food. The flower is commonly spotted there because the islanders planted the trees to protect their houses from strong winds.
Snow falls in Jeju Stone Park in the island’s rustic town of Jocheon in this undated photo. The eco park is a living exhibit of the local culture related to stone. Courtest of Choi Jae-young
Jeju Stone Park covered with snow creates another wintertime sight to see. Stretching over 3.2 million square meters of territory in the rustic township of Jocheon, the natural park showcases several mythical figures and a goddess who are said to have created the island. The park offers a rare glimpse into the lives of the islanders and their culture.