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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

Korea should align with Japan on Middle East burden-sharing, experts say

Korean political and security experts are urging Seoul to stake out a clear position on stabilizing the situation in the Middle East, following Thursday’s U.S.-Japan summit (local time), warning that being seen as less cooperative than Tokyo could invite consequences from Washington. During the 90-minute meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Trump raised the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, pointing out that Japan secures more than 90 percent of its oil through the maritime passage and arguing that such dependence gives Tokyo sufficient justification to take a more active role in securing it. Trump also praised Japan’s contributions to regional and global security while differentiating it from NATO, urging Japan to “step up” for the U.S. in stabilizing the Middle East. “I expect Japan to step up because, you know, we have that kind of ⁠relationship and we step up for Japan,” Trump said. “I think it’s appropriate that people step up.” Takaichi expressed agreement on the importance of securing the Strait of Hormuz, but ado

Mar 20, 2026By Anna J. Park
Korea should align with Japan on Middle East burden-sharing, experts say
Books

French author Sylvain Tesson says AI risks turning humans into tools

At a time when artificial intelligence (AI) is redefining human experience, French writer and traveler Sylvain Tesson argues that the real challenge is not technological progress, but preserving the balance between culture and humanity’s natural instincts. A recipient of three of France’s four major literary honors — the Prix Goncourt (2009), Prix Médicis (2011) and Prix Renaudot (2019) — Tesson outlined his philosophy of travel and writing and reflected on the evolving relationship between humanity and the natural world at a press conference at the French Embassy in Seoul, Wednesday. Born in 1972 and trained in geography, Tesson began undertaking extreme journeys and expeditions at an early age, publishing his first book in his 20s. He gained recognition for travels in harsh natural environments, including crossing the Alps on skis and for writing grounded in those experiences. His work has long focused on reconciling the dual poles of the human condition — civilization and nature. Reflecting on his lifelong devotion to travel and literature, the author described travel as t

Mar 19, 2026By Anna J. Park
French author Sylvain Tesson says AI risks turning humans into tools
Foreign Affairs

Indonesian, French presidents to pay state visits to Korea in late March, early April

The presidents of Indonesia and France are scheduled to make state visits to Korea and hold summit talks with President Lee Jae Myung from late March to early April. According to the presidential office on Friday, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will pay a state visit to Korea from March 31 to April 2 at Lee's invitation. The visit will mark Subianto’s return to Korea about five months after his previous visit in October last year, when he attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, and held bilateral talks with Lee. The two leaders will take part in a series of official events on April 1, including a welcome ceremony, a summit meeting, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony and a state luncheon. During their talks, they are expected to discuss ways to elevate the Korea-Indonesia Special Strategic Partnership, including enhancing cooperation in trade and defense, as well as expanding practical collaboration in emerging growth sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), advanced technology, energy and cultural and c

Mar 13, 2026By Anna J. Park
Indonesian, French presidents to pay state visits to Korea in late March, early April
Foreign Affairs

Iranian Embassy in Seoul displays banner condemning US-Israel airstrikes

The Iranian Embassy in Seoul has hung a large banner on the exterior wall of its building in Yongsan district featuring a portrait of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in recent airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel. Khamenei, who ruled Iran as its supreme leader for 37 years, died in the joint strikes. The banner also includes the phrase, “When will the world hold war criminals accountable?” along with images of deceased children and women set against the backdrop of Iranian territory. Next to the images appears the message: “The massacre of women and children is neither forgivable nor forgettable.” The display appears to accuse the United States and Israel of committing war crimes, and is interpreted as a protest against an airstrike on an Iranian elementary school that reportedly left at least 175 people dead. The Iranian Embassy is believed to have installed the banner as part of its condemnation of the United States and Israel. South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment in detail on the matter, stating only that

Mar 12, 2026By Anna J. Park
Iranian Embassy in Seoul displays banner condemning US-Israel airstrikes
Defense

Is Middle East crisis casting shadow over annual S. Korea-US military drills?

A notable absence by the top U.S. military official in Korea at a command bunker during the start of this week’s Freedom Shield joint exercises has fueled speculation about shifting priorities within the alliance. While U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) says the exercises remain on track, some experts suggest the move may reflect a broader shift in America's defense strategy toward what Washington calls “strategic flexibility.” Analysts note that the United States is increasingly adjusting its force posture to manage multiple crises simultaneously in the Middle East while preparing for the long-term challenge posed by China’s growing regional influence. A local media report citing an unidentified military official said Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of United States Forces Korea (USFK) and the Combined Forces Command (CFC), did not enter the Command Post (CP) Tango bunker near Seoul until Tuesday evening — about 45 hours after the exercise began. Typically, the CFC commander and deputy receive operational briefings from the bunker at the start of the drill. But the report said only the

Mar 11, 2026By Anna J. Park
Is Middle East crisis casting shadow over annual S. Korea-US military drills?
Politics

Lee says big business-SME cooperation is key to survival

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday urged large corporations and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to work more closely together to sustain the Korean economy and deliver broader growth, describing such collaboration as a “smart survival strategy” for businesses. Lee made the remarks while presiding over a meeting with business leaders at Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office. The gathering brought together representatives from 10 major corporations — including Hanwha Ocean, Samsung Electronics, SK SUPEX Council and Hyundai Motor — along with 10 SMEs that partner with them. The event aimed to promote mutually beneficial cooperation between large companies and smaller firms. “Cooperation between large corporations and SMEs is not charity but an investment. Put more bluntly, it could even be a survival strategy,” Lee said at the meeting. Lee underscored that cooperation should extend beyond corporate partners, saying that regional youth, small-business owners and investors can also become long-term sources of corporate competitiveness. He noted that companies increasingly fa

Mar 10, 2026By Anna J. Park
Lee says big business-SME cooperation is key to survival
Defense

S. Korea regrets transfer of USFK air defense assets to Middle East, Lee says

The Korean government has expressed its opposition to the transfer of some U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) air defense weapons to the Middle East, President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday, but stressed that the move will not weaken the country’s deterrence against North Korea. Speaking at the beginning of a Cabinet meeting in Cheong Wa Dae, Lee addressed the growing debate over reports that some U.S. air defense batteries stationed in Korea have been transferred abroad. “We have expressed opposition to USFK transferring some air defense weapons according to its own military needs, but it is also the reality that we cannot fully enforce our position,” the president said. Lee emphasized that the transfer will not significantly affect Korea’s ability to deter any potential aggression from North Korea. “If you ask whether this creates serious obstacles for our deterrence strategy against North Korea, I can say with certainty that it does not,” he said. He noted that South Korea’s defense spending ranks among the highest in the world, adding that some estimates place the country’s annual

Mar 10, 2026By Anna J. Park
S. Korea regrets transfer of USFK air defense assets to Middle East, Lee says
Politics

Gov't to implement price cap system for petroleum products this week

The Korean government plans to introduce a temporary price cap on petroleum products as early as this week to curb surging fuel costs triggered by escalating tensions in the Middle East, the presidential policy chief said Monday. The system will allow the government to set an upper limit on retail fuel prices for a fixed period to prevent sharp spikes. Presidential chief of staff for policy Kim Yong-beom said at a briefing that the government will work fast to complete administrative steps, including issuing a ministerial notice, so the cap could take effect within days. He said officials had discussed detailed measures to prevent abnormal pricing of petroleum products and improve price predictability in the market, adding that the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources will move quickly to finalize procedures needed to introduce the system. Earlier Monday, President Lee Jae Myung convened an emergency economic meeting and ordered the immediate introduction of the price cap, along with a crackdown on price manipulation, to shield the public from economic fallout linked to the Middle

Mar 9, 2026By Anna J. Park
Gov't to implement price cap system for petroleum products this week
Defense

Airlift operations at USFK base signal possible shift of assets to Middle East

Recent U.S. military airlift activity at a major air base in South Korea has drawn attention to the possibility that air defense assets assigned to United States Forces Korea (USFK) have been redeployed to the Middle East. According to the real-time flight tracking website Flightradar24 Sunday, U.S. Air Force C-5 and C-17 transport aircraft that landed at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, in late February departed in a series of flights earlier this month. Particular attention has focused on the C-5 Galaxy, which is larger than the C-17. At least two C-5 aircraft arrived at the base in late February and were seen departing on Feb. 28 and last Monday. Their final destinations were not listed, but flight records indicate journeys lasting more than 14 hours, raising the possibility that they continued on to the U.S. mainland or the Middle East. While C-17 aircraft routinely stop at Osan to transport U.S. troops and equipment, the arrival of the much larger C-5 aircraft is considered unusual. Reports earlier indicated that USFK had relocated some Patriot air defense systems fro

Mar 8, 2026By Anna J. Park
Airlift operations at USFK base signal possible shift of assets to Middle East
Law & Crime

Ruling party seeks stricter corporate penalties for customer data breaches

The Korean government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) are moving to advance a second revision of the country’s Personal Information Protection Act that would strengthen corporate liability for large-scale data breaches. The proposed amendment is intended to enhance compensation and relief for victims of large-scale data breaches. However, industry insiders warn that the measures could impose excessive burdens on companies. Discussions at the National Assembly are focusing on amendment bills introduced by several DPK lawmakers, political sources said Sunday. The proposals share a central provision: eliminating the requirement to prove “intent or negligence” in compensation claims stemming from cases of compromised user data, a change that would broaden corporate liability. The push for stricter liability follows a series of high-profile data breaches in Korea, including a recent case involving Coupang, the country’s largest e-commerce platform. Authorities said the incident may have exposed personal information linked to a large number of user accounts, intensifyin

Mar 8, 2026By Anna J. Park
Ruling party seeks stricter corporate penalties for customer data breaches
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