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.
Hong Kong faces fresh round of protests
Hong Kong faced more protests on Tuesday, against a proposed extradition law that would allow people to be sent to China for trial. Hundreds of protesters out in force in Hong Kong again on Tuesday (June 11).
They seek to derail a proposed extradition law that would allow people to be sent to mainland China for trial. These marches are ahead of a second round of debate on the bill on Wednesday (June 12).
And despite the backlash, the Chinese-ruled city's leader Carrie Lam has vowed this will go ahead.But outrage over the proposed bill has been brewing for weeks.
Business leaders have warned that pushing through the extradition law could undermine investor confidence in Hong Kong, eroding its competitive advantages.
A demonstrator holds up a sign during a protest to demand authorities scrap a proposed extradition bill with China, in Hong Kong, China June 9, 2019. Reuters
By Choi Won-suk
An online petition called for 50,000 people to surround the legislature building - which is currently controlled by a pro-Beijing majority.
Officials argue that a loophole has allowed Hong Kong to become a haven for criminals from the mainland.They say this bill would close it.
It would specifically allow for extraditions from Hong Kong to greater China - including the mainland, Taiwan and Macau.
Human rights groups have cited the alleged use of torture, arbitrary detentions, forced confessions and problems accessing lawyers in China - where the courts are controlled by the Communist Party - as reasons why the bill should not proceed.
China denies accusations that it tramples on human rights. Strikes and transport go-slows were also announced for Wednesday - in a last-ditch effort to block the bill. (Reuters)