Anna Jiwon Park has been covering the politics at The Korea Times since the summer of 2024, when she joined the press pool for the Office of the President in Korea. Prior to that, she spent about five years reporting extensively on financial markets, regulatory authorities and the financial industry. She joined The Korea Times in 2019 after spending eight years as a broadcast journalist at Arirang TV, Korea’s leading global broadcaster, covering politics, defense and culture.
Presidential office unveils commemorative wristwatch marking 6 months of Lee administration
The presidential office released commemorative wristwatches marking President Lee Jae Myung’s first six months in office, Friday. The two on the left are men’s watches, while the two on the right are women’s watches. Courtesy of the presidential office
By Anna J. Park
The presidential office unveiled a commemorative presidential wristwatch Friday to mark six months since President Lee Jae Myung’s inauguration.
As with traditional presidential timepieces, the front features the presidential seal alongside Lee’s signature, while the watch face is adorned with a traditional Taegeuk motif. On the back of the watch, the phrase “A nation where the people are the sovereign” is engraved in the president's own handwriting.
Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung explained that the Taegeuk motif “enhances the aesthetic completeness of the design while embodying the continuity of Korea’s constitutional identity and a wish for national unity.” She added that the inscription on the back reflects Lee’s commitment to communicating with the public anytime and anywhere, and to upholding the people’s sovereign will.
“The presidential office hopes that the unveiling of the wristwatch serves as a reminder of the president’s governing philosophy — that one hour of the president’s or a public official’s time is equal to the 52 million hours of the Korean people,” Kang said during a press briefing Friday, emphasizing the administration’s determination to work harder to improve citizens’ daily lives.
The tradition of presidential watches dates back to the administration of former President Park Chung-hee. Since then, it has become customary for each president to commission a unique design as a keepsake, with the president’s name engraved in the back of the watch.