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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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Politics

President withdraws nomination of budget minister candidate

President Lee Jae Myung withdrew the nomination of budget minister candidate Lee Hye-hoon on Sunday amid an outpouring of allegations, including staff mistreatment and an unlawful apartment purchase. The withdrawal came just 28 days after she had been selected as the inaugural head of the Ministry of Planning and Budget, and only two days after the National Assembly held her confirmation hearing following a series of delays due to bipartisan conflicts. From the outset, her nomination to join the liberal administration carried both promise and apprehension: She was a veteran economist, yet a former three-term lawmaker from the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP). With her withdrawal, Lee’s first effort to recruit a figure across party lines on a pragmatic basis has faltered. Senior presidential secretary for political affairs Hong Ihk-pyo told reporters that the president said the nominee had failed to meet the public's expectations due to multiple allegations. “President Lee Jae Myung listened carefully to the diverse opinions from all sectors of society regarding M

Jan 25, 2026By Anna J. Park
President withdraws nomination of budget minister candidate
Foreign Affairs

Kim, Vance establish hotline to prevent misunderstandings over Coupang issue

In a meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok emphasized that the Korean government is not treating U.S.-based e-commerce giant Coupang unfairly in its investigation into the company’s massive data breach and other labor-related allegations. To prevent misunderstanding over the Coupang matter and other diplomatic issues, the two exchanged direct contact numbers to establish a hotline, according to the Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday. Speaking to Korean correspondents in Washington Friday (local time), Kim said, “Vice President Vance raised several issues of interest, including questions about Coupang ... He asked specifically what problems the U.S. company was facing.” Their discussion took place a day after two major U.S. investors in Coupang said they petitioned the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to investigate the Korean government for what they call “discriminatory” treatment of the company. They also filed arbitration claims against the Korean government, saying the probe caused billions of dollars in losses. They also claimed Presiden

Jan 25, 2026By Anna J. Park
Kim, Vance establish hotline to prevent misunderstandings over Coupang issue
Politics

PM’s solo US visit draws attention to possible meeting with Vice President Vance

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok departed for the United States, Thursday, for a rare solo visit that includes efforts to arrange a meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, underscoring Seoul’s push to revive high-level communication channels with Washington. Kim’s trip is seen as part of efforts to establish an additional high-level communication channel between Seoul and Washington, as bilateral networks have grown increasingly important under the Trump administration. At the same time, some political observers suggest the visit may also serve to bolster Kim’s profile ahead of a possible bid for party leadership later this year. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Kim will visit Washington, D.C., and New York from Jan. 22 to 26. He left Incheon International Airport around 10 a.m., without holding the customary press briefing and accompanied by only a small group of aides. A meeting with Vance is being arranged, an official at the Prime Minister’s Office told The Korea Times, Thursday, adding that the date and time had yet to be finalized. During his visit, Kim is also ex

Jan 22, 2026By Anna J. Park
PM’s solo US visit draws attention to possible meeting with Vice President Vance
Politics

Lee delays decision on controversial budget minister nominee

President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday that he is not yet prepared to withdraw his controversial nomination of Lee Hye-hoon for the key post of budget minister, despite a cascading series of ethical scandals and a breakdown in the parliamentary confirmation process. Speaking at his New Year’s press conference at Cheong Wa Dae, the president said the controversy surrounding the nomination last month of the conservative-leaning politician ended up far more contentious than he had anticipated, adding that he had not expected to encounter such fierce resistance. The standoff has become a major test of Lee’s pragmatic governing strategy. The liberal president tapped Lee Hye-hoon — a veteran economist and three-term former lawmaker from the conservative opposition — to lead the newly created Ministry of Planning and Budget. The nomination was framed as a historic attempt at bipartisanship, but it has since been eclipsed by various allegations, including mistreatment of her aides and allegations her family members engaged in fraudulent housing applications to secure a luxury apartment

Jan 21, 2026By Anna J. Park
Lee delays decision on controversial budget minister nominee
Politics

Nomination scandals, weak currency drive president's support lower

President Lee Jae Myung’s approval rating fell last week for the first time in almost a month, slipping to 53.1 percent, while support for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) also declined after four straight weeks of gains — a shift that has prompted fresh questions about what is driving the slide. Despite the administration’s emphasis on diplomatic gains from Lee’s recent visits to China and Japan, analysts said concerns about a weakening won against the U.S. dollar and younger voters’ perceptions of fairness in ongoing political controversies have weighed heavily on support, particularly among people in their 20s. A survey conducted by Realmeter last week found that 53.1 percent approved of Lee’s job performance, down 3.7 percentage points from the previous week. The disapproval rate rose 4.4 points to 42.2 percent, while 4.8 percent remained undecided. Approval ratings declined across all regions and age groups, with the steepest drop seen in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province — a traditional conservative stronghold — where positive assessments of Lee’s per

Jan 20, 2026By Anna J. Park
Nomination scandals, weak currency drive president's support lower
Foreign Affairs

Korea, Italy agree to deepen industrial, strategic cooperation at Seoul summit

Korea and Italy pledged closer ties in advanced industries, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors and critical minerals, during Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Seoul for a summit with President Lee Jae Myung on Monday. The visit was the first by an Italian prime minister in 19 years, the first by a European leader since Lee took office last June and the first by a foreign leader since the presidential office returned to Cheong Wa Dae late last year. The two leaders had previously met at the G7 meeting in Canada in June and in New York during the U.N. General Assembly in September. In his opening remarks, Lee said cooperation was expanding in advanced sectors, including science and technology, aerospace and defense. Meloni noted that Korea has become one of the world’s largest per capita consumers of Italian goods. “If Italy’s traditional strengths as a scientific powerhouse are combined with the core DNA of the Republic of Korea as a technology leader, the two countries will be able to generate great synergy,” Lee said. “I hope the two countries

Jan 19, 2026By Anna J. Park
Korea, Italy agree to deepen industrial, strategic cooperation at Seoul summit
Politics

Lee highlights national unity as political divides persist

President Lee Jae Myung once again stressed the importance of national unity on Friday, urging political leaders to cooperate more closely in promoting social cohesion amid deepening divisions in the country. Speaking at the New Year's luncheon hosted at Cheong Wa Dae for leaders of Korea's political parties, Lee said efforts should be made to reflect the diverse views of the public. Leaders of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and five minor parties — the Rebuilding Korea Party, Progressive Party, Reform Party, Basic Income Party and New Jinbo Party — attended the event. The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) did not participate. The meeting marked the third time Lee has held talks with leaders of ruling and opposition parties since he took office last June. “The president is not the leader of the DPK,” President Lee said. “I once served as the DPK leader, but now I must represent all citizens, not just a single political party.” He added that a president should not reflect only one political color, emphasizing the need to ensure diversity to the greatest extent poss

Jan 16, 2026By Anna J. Park
Lee highlights national unity as political divides persist
Foreign Affairs

Seoul, Abu Dhabi pledge to expand strategic partnership

Korea and the United Arab Emirates signaled their intention to build a long-term strategic partnership focused on defense and high-tech cooperation, as President Lee Jae Myung met with Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Executive Affairs Authority, at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul Thursday. Al Mubarak visited Seoul in his capacity as the United Arab Emirates’ special envoy for Korea, holding the meeting as part of follow-up consultations after Lee’s state visit to the UAE in November. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen defense cooperation and explored opportunities to expand collaboration in the field of advanced technology. In his opening remarks, Lee said that “considerable groundwork has already been laid for cooperation projects between the two countries” and called for close coordination to produce tangible results. He also stressed the enduring scope of the bilateral relationship, expressing hope that “Korea and the UAE will develop a partnership that lasts for the next 100 years.” The president also mentioned the possibility of a state visit to Ko

Jan 15, 2026By Anna J. Park
Seoul, Abu Dhabi pledge to expand strategic partnership
Foreign Affairs

Japan hints at addressing historical issues: security adviser

OSAKA, Japan — The leaders of Korea and Japan showed commitment to making progress in addressing historical tragedies through humanitarian cooperation, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Wednesday. Wi said the historical issue was one of key agenda items at the summit between President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi, held one day earlier. According to Wi, the issue of identifying remains from the 1942 flooding accident at the Josei coal mine in Ube, Japan, which killed 183 laborers including 136 Koreans, was first proposed by the Japanese prime minister during the leaders’ one-on-one talks. Historical issues such as the forced labor of Koreans during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea have long been points of contention between the two countries. It has been rare for a Japanese leader to be the first to raise the issues. “The two sides agreed to cooperate at the relevant authorities’ level to conduct DNA testing to identify remains discovered last August at the site of the 1942 Josei coal mine flooding,” Wi said. “This was the first issue Prime

Jan 14, 2026By Anna J. Park
Japan hints at addressing historical issues: security adviser
  • Lee, Takaichi visit UNESCO World Heritage site in Nara
Foreign Affairs

Lee, Takaichi visit UNESCO World Heritage site in Nara

NARA, Japan — President Lee Jae Myung visited Horyuji Temple with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Wednesday, engaging in a friendly cultural exchange aimed at highlighting the growing goodwill between the two countries. On the second day of Lee's visit to Japan, the two leaders appeared relaxed and cordial throughout the visit. Takaichi, who arrived at the temple ahead of schedule, greeted Lee upon his arrival. As they shook hands, Lee remarked with concern that her hands felt cold. He also asked whether Takaichi, who grew up in Nara, had visited Horyuji on school excursions during her childhood. During the visit, Takaichi at one time gently held Lee’s arm to caution him about a step he had not noticed on the temple grounds. She also remarked that he appeared to be wearing the same sneakers he had worn the previous day. Located in Nara prefecture, the historic site is among Japan’s oldest temples and is home to the world’s oldest surviving wooden structures. It was designated Japan’s first UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1993 and is widely recognized for its stron

Jan 14, 2026By Anna J. Park
Lee, Takaichi visit UNESCO World Heritage site in Nara
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