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Anna J. Park

Korea Times Politics & City Reporter

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.

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Foreign Affairs

Malaysia positions itself as Korea's long-term tech partner

Malaysia is seeking to elevate its economic partnership with Korea beyond traditional manufacturing and trade by positioning itself as a long-term strategic partner in high-value industries, ranging from semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI) to electric vehicles, renewable energy and the fast-growing global halal economy. In an interview with The Korea Times, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) Director Redzuan Abd Rahman and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) Trade Commissioner Mohamad Termizi HJ Piee said the two countries' economic relationship has entered a new phase, with growing opportunities for Korean companies to leverage Malaysia as both an investment destination and a gateway to the wider ASEAN market. "Malaysia and Korea have built a strong and enduring economic partnership over the past several decades," Redzuan said. "We believe the greatest opportunities lie in deepening collaboration in industries that are shaping the future of our economies." According to MIDA, Korean companies have implemented investments totaling $11.7 bi

Aug 10, 2026By Anna J. Park
Malaysia positions itself as Korea's long-term tech partner
World

PHOTOS Aftermath of earthquake in Japan

A house lies collapsed in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto prefecture, Wednesday, after an earthquake struck southwestern Japan the previous day. AFP-Yonhap

Jul 29, 2026By Anna J. Parkphoto
[PHOTOS] Aftermath of earthquake in Japan
Defense

Photographer spends 13 years documenting Korean War veterans worldwide

For photographer RAMI, what began as a simple portrait session with Korean soldiers has evolved into a decadelong mission to document those who dedicate their lives to protecting others and preserve their sacrifices for generations to come. The founder of the nonprofit Project Soldier has spent the past 13 years photographing active-duty service members, military families and 1950-53 Korean War veterans from around the world. Along the way, the project has evolved from an artistic endeavor into what he now describes as a form of historical preservation and, increasingly, healing. "I wanted to tell them, 'You are a great soldier. You have lived an honorable life,'" RAMI said in an interview with The Korea Times. "That was how everything started." His interest in the military was not rooted in patriotism at first. After growing up in Korea and completing his military service, RAMI moved to San Francisco in the early 2000s to study documentary and editorial photography. Drawn to extreme subjects, he originally dreamed of becoming a war photographer, documenting military units, law enforcem

Jul 29, 2026By Anna J. Park
Photographer spends 13 years documenting Korean War veterans worldwide
Foreign Affairs

Romania seeks deeper partnership with Korea across AI, defense, logistics

Romania is looking to deepen its strategic partnership with Korea beyond its expanding defense and energy cooperation, with artificial intelligence (AI), digital infrastructure, logistics and education emerging as the next pillars of bilateral ties, Romanian State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Clara Volintiru said. In an interview with The Korea Times during her visit to Seoul, Volintiru said defense and energy have become the cornerstone of bilateral industrial cooperation as growing geopolitical tensions, energy security concerns and rising defense spending drive trusted allies to strengthen collaboration. "At the global level, we see an increased demand for energy security and an increased need for defense spending and increased capabilities," she said. "It only makes sense to bring together allies — trusted allies — to advance these capabilities." She described Korea as "a very trustworthy partner" for Romanian industries, particularly as Romania modernizes key sectors while strengthening national and regional security. Shared security priorities Romania has promoted the Odesa Tria

Jul 27, 2026By Anna J. Park
Romania seeks deeper partnership with Korea across AI, defense, logistics
Foreign Affairs

Korea powers Peru's push into minerals, defense, green energy: Peruvian ambassador

As Peru marks the 205th anniversary of its independence on July 28, the same day President-elect Keiko Fujimori is inaugurated — Peruvian Ambassador to Korea Paul Duclos said his country and Korea are entering a new phase of their 63-year partnership, with cooperation expanding beyond trade into critical minerals, defense, logistics, green energy, artificial intelligence, digital government and other strategic sectors. In an interview with The Korea Times ahead of Peru's National Day, Duclos described Korea as one of Peru's key strategic partners in Asia and expressed confidence that bilateral ties will continue to deepen across both traditional industries and emerging areas. "I consider that the commemoration of the 205th Anniversary of Peru's Independence is an occasion not only for celebration, but also for reflection on the progress we have achieved as a country in recent years and on the challenges we continue to face," Duclos said. "On this very day, Peru's new president, Keiko Fujimori, will begin her term in office with the commitment to further strengthen a stable, open and g

Jul 27, 2026By Anna J. Park
Korea powers Peru's push into minerals, defense, green energy: Peruvian ambassador
Politics

Ruling DPK leadership race narrows to 3-way competition

With the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) leadership contest now set as a three-way race, the final stretch to the Aug. 17 national convention is shaping up as a battle between continuity and closer alignment with the presidential office. Kim Min-seok, Jung Chung-rae and Song Young-gil emerged from the party's preliminary round Thursday as the three finalists — in order of candidate registration number. The party said 581,872 of its 1,554,259 eligible voters cast ballots, a turnout of 37.44 percent. In accordance with party rules, neither the vote totals nor the rankings of the candidates were disclosed. The contest is now widely expected to unfold as a showdown pitting Jung, the party's former chairman seeking reelection, against Kim and Song, both regarded as close allies of President Lee Jae Myung. Kim, who served as the first prime minister under the Lee administration from July 2025 to June, has positioned himself as the candidate best suited to ensure close coordination between the party and the government. Emphasizing the need for unity under the new administration, he

Jul 24, 2026By Anna J. Park
Ruling DPK leadership race narrows to 3-way competition
Foreign Affairs

Greece seeks to elevate Korea ties through maritime innovation, Indo-Pacific partnership

As Greece and Korea celebrate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, Athens is seeking to expand a partnership long anchored in shipping, shipbuilding and trade into new areas including green growth, digital governance, innovation and regional security, while strengthening cooperation between the two like-minded middle power countries. In a written interview with The Korea Times marking his three-day visit to Seoul this week, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said maritime cooperation remains at the heart of bilateral economic relations, with Greece being the world’s leading ship-owning nation and Korea a global powerhouse in shipbuilding. Maritime partnership enters new phase Gerapetritis pointed to cooperation between Skaramangas Shipyard and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries on naval and coast guard vessel projects, as well as the partnership between ONEX Shipyards and Technologies and Hanwha Power Systems. The latter has since developed into Project Trident, a 1.35 billion euro ($1.58 billion) trilateral investment program involving Greece, Korea and the United

Jul 21, 2026By Anna J. Park
Greece seeks to elevate Korea ties through maritime innovation, Indo-Pacific partnership
Arts & Theater

Polish Embassy backs Seoul retrospective of Kieslowski classics

The Polish Embassy in Seoul is partnering with the Seoul Cinema Center to present a retrospective of renowned Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Kieślowski through Wednesday, marking the 30th anniversary of the director's death. Titled "The Gaze of Kieślowski'," the festival offers Korean audiences a rare opportunity to revisit the works of one of the most influential figures in world cinema, celebrated for his profound explorations of morality, human relationships, chance and fate. The retrospective opened July 15 with a ceremony followed by a screening of "Still Alive," a documentary tracing Kieślowski's life and artistic legacy through the reflections of fellow filmmakers and actors. The festival features 17 works spanning the director's career, including all 10 episodes of his landmark series "Dekalog." Completed in 1989 and inspired by the Ten Commandments, "Dekalog" follows ordinary people confronting moments of conflict, desire, responsibility, faith and doubt in a Warsaw apartment complex. Although each episode tells a self-contained story, the series collectively raises enduring que

Jul 19, 2026By Anna J. Park
Polish Embassy backs Seoul retrospective of Kieslowski classics
North Korea

North Korea courts China, Russia at once to build leverage against US, analysts say

North Korea is stepping up high-level diplomatic engagement with both China and Russia in what experts describe as a calculated effort to maximize its strategic value to both powers and strengthen its leverage against the United States amid intensifying geopolitical rivalry in Northeast Asia. The latest diplomatic flurry saw North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui arrive in Moscow on Friday at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, while senior North Korean official Pak Thae-song recently visited Beijing and China's fourth-ranking leader Wang Huning traveled to Pyongyang to mark the 65th anniversary of the Sino-North Korean Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. The near-simultaneous exchanges reflect Pyongyang's broader effort to deepen ties with both traditional partners rather than relying exclusively on either, allowing the Kim Jong-un regime to extract greater political, economic and security benefits while maintaining room for diplomatic maneuver. "The current pattern should be viewed less as an urgent necessity than as an increasingly regul

Jul 19, 2026By Anna J. Park
North Korea courts China, Russia at once to build leverage against US, analysts say
Travel & Food

Malaysia eyes 600,000 Korean visitors annually with 'Surreal Experiences'

As Malaysia pushes to welcome 47 million international visitors under its Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, the country is setting its sights on bringing Korean arrivals back above prepandemic levels by promoting authentic local experiences beyond its well-known beach resorts and city attractions. "Korea is one of our priority markets," Kamilia Hani Abdul Halim, director of Tourism Malaysia Seoul, said in an interview with The Korea Times. Last year, about 558,000 Koreans visited Malaysia, making Korea the country's eighth-largest source market for international visitors. This year, Malaysia hopes to increase that figure to 600,000. "Our arrivals from Korea have yet to return to prepandemic levels," she said. "Before COVID-19, we welcomed more than 600,000 Korean visitors, so this is an important milestone for us." The tourism drive forms part of the government's global Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, which aims to attract 47 million international visitors despite growing uncertainties affecting the global travel industry. At the heart of the campaign is the theme "Surreal Experiences," reflect

Jul 19, 2026By Anna J. Park
Malaysia eyes 600,000 Korean visitors annually with 'Surreal Experiences'
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