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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

France marks 140 years of ties with Korea at largest-ever Bastille Day in Seoul

France celebrated its National Day, commonly known as Bastille Day, in Seoul on July 14, with this year's reception carrying added significance as the two countries marked the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, the reception drew around 1,000 guests, making it the largest French National Day celebration ever hosted by the French Embassy in Korea. The embassy began holding its Bastille Day reception at an external venue last year, after traditionally hosting the event at the ambassador's residence, reflecting the growing scale of bilateral exchanges. The holiday traces its origins to the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris on July 14, 1789, an event widely regarded as the beginning of the French Revolution. It also commemorates the Fête de la Fédération, held one year later to celebrate national unity following the revolution. July 14 was officially designated as France's national holiday in 1880 and has since been observed with military parades, fireworks and public festivities across the country, most notably the annual parade along the C

Jul 15, 2026By Anna J. Park
France marks 140 years of ties with Korea at largest-ever Bastille Day in Seoul
Society

Korea faces sweltering weekend with tropical nights as monsoon retreats

As the summer monsoon begins to retreat from the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bracing for an extended spell of intense heat, with daytime temperatures forecast to soar to as high as 38 degrees Celsius over the weekend and heat wave alerts expected to expand across much of the country. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), Friday, rain will linger through the morning in parts of the greater Seoul area, Gangwon Province and Jeju Island, before largely clearing by the afternoon. Once the rain clouds move out, oppressive heat is expected to set in quickly. Heat wave advisories are already in effect for parts of South Jeolla Province, Gyeongsang Provinces and Jeju Island and the KMA expects the warnings to be extended to additional regions in the coming days. Beginning Friday, daytime temperatures in most parts of the country are forecast to exceed 30 degrees Celsius, with the heat index reaching around 31 degrees. In areas under heat wave advisories, the perceived temperature could rise to about 33 degrees. The KMA forecasts daytime highs of 28 to 34 degrees on Friday, cli

Jul 10, 2026By Anna J. Park
Korea faces sweltering weekend with tropical nights as monsoon retreats
Defense

Gwangju Airport semiconductor hub plan risks new Korea-US friction

The Korean government's plan to transform Gwangju Airport, also known as Gwangju Air Base, into a flagship semiconductor cluster for the country's southwestern region faces an alliance hurdle, as the facility serves as a Korea-U.S. Air Force Collocated Operating Base (COB), meaning any redevelopment will require close consultations with Washington. Established in 1964, Gwangju Airport is a Ministry of National Defense-owned dual-use facility shared by the Air Force and domestic civilian aviation. The civilian side has already been earmarked for transfer to Muan International Airport in Muan County, South Jeolla Province, subject to the completion of a KTX extension slated for December 2027. The military relocation involves a far more complex set of considerations. As one of five COBs in Korea, Gwangju Airport is designated as a location where U.S. air assets can rapidly deploy in a contingency, even though no American operational units are permanently stationed there during peacetime. Portions of the installation are understood to have been provided to the U.S. side under the Status of

Jul 10, 2026By Anna J. Park
Gwangju Airport semiconductor hub plan risks new Korea-US friction
People & Events

UK, Korea launch sustainable fashion exhibition centering on future of circular design

The British Embassy in Seoul and the British Council Korea will host a collaborative exhibition on sustainable fashion at Seoul's Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) from July 15 to 25, bringing together British and Korean researchers, designers and creative practitioners to examine how fashion can become more sustainable through innovation and circular design. Titled "UK-Korea Fashion Futures," the exhibition highlights the complementary strengths of the United Kingdom, a global leader in the creative industries, and Korea, whose influence continues to grow through the worldwide popularity of K-culture. Developed in partnership with the University of the Arts London (UAL), the Seoul Design Foundation and other institutions, the exhibition follows the concept of two exhibitions, brought together with one journey. Visitors move through two interconnected exhibitions that trace the journey from research and innovation to creative practice and public participation. The first exhibition, "New Landscapes," showcases research led by UAL's Fashion, Textiles and Technology Institute, highlighting Bri

Jul 10, 2026By Anna J. Park
UK, Korea launch sustainable fashion exhibition centering on future of circular design
Foreign Affairs

Quebec sees Korea as Indo-Pacific gateway for AI, batteries, aerospace

As Korea and Quebec mark 35 years since the Canadian province opened its first office in Seoul, Quebec is looking beyond traditional trade to build a deeper partnership centered on artificial intelligence (AI), aerospace, batteries and innovation, while positioning itself as North America's gateway for Korean businesses. Originally established as a trade office in Seoul in 1991, the Quebec Government Office was upgraded to a full delegation in 2024, broadening its mandate to represent all ministries of the provincial government. That evolution comes as Quebec increasingly views Korea as one of its key strategic partners in Asia under its Indo-Pacific strategy. "We went from what we call an antenna, then to a bureau and now we are a delegation since 2024," Damien Pereira, chief representative of the Quebec Government Office in Seoul, told The Korea Times in a recent interview in Seoul, explaining that the office now focuses on connecting industries, researchers, startups and government agencies across both economies. The economic figures reflect that growing partnership. Since the Canada

Jul 9, 2026By Anna J. Park
Quebec sees Korea as Indo-Pacific gateway for AI, batteries, aerospace
South Korea

Seoul City Hall to open new observatory with panoramic views to public

A new public observation deck inside Seoul City Hall will open later this week, offering panoramic views of some of the capital's best-known landmarks, from the tranquil grounds of Deoksu Palace and the historic Jeong-dong neighborhood to Gwanghwamun Plaza. The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Sunday that it will open the newly renovated Sky Observatory on the eighth and ninth floors of the west wing of City Hall later this week, transforming what was once an employees-only area into a public space. To the south, visitors can overlook the tranquil grounds of Deoksu Palace and the historic Jeong-dong neighborhood, while to the north, the skyline stretches toward Gwanghwamun Plaza and the city's main boulevard. Until recently, the space served as a simple waiting area connected to a multipurpose hall on the eighth floor. Access was restricted to City Hall employees and event participants, and the area was used primarily as a small lounge. City officials explained that the decision to open the space followed internal discussions, during which it was agreed upon that such exceptional

Jul 5, 2026By Anna J. Park
Seoul City Hall to open new observatory with panoramic views to public
Environment & Animals

Korea overhauls heat wave alert system for 1st time in 18 years

Korea has overhauled its heat wave warning system for the first time in 18 years, introducing a new top-tier alert aimed at providing earlier warnings as increasingly extreme summer temperatures pose greater health risks. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) activated the revised system on Wednesday, replacing the previous two-tier structure with a three-stage framework consisting of a heat wave advisory, heat wave warning and the newly created severe heat wave warning. Under the previous system, a heat wave advisory was issued when the perceived temperature was forecast to remain above 33 degrees Celsius for at least two consecutive days, while a warning required apparent temperatures of 35 degrees or higher for two days. The new highest-level alert, however, can be issued if the perceived temperature is expected to reach 38 degrees or if the actual air temperature reaches 39 degrees for just one day, allowing authorities to respond immediately without waiting for prolonged extreme heat. The KMA said the change reflects the growing threat posed by unprecedented heat waves, whic

Jul 5, 2026By Anna J. Park
Korea overhauls heat wave alert system for 1st time in 18 years
Foreign Affairs

Quantum leaders converge in Seoul as Dutch, Australian and Canadian delegations expand Korea ties

Quantum Korea 2026 continued to serve as a key meeting point for global quantum players this year, with the embassies of the Netherlands, Australia and Canada organizing official national pavilions to strengthen research collaboration, explore business opportunities and expand long-term cooperation with Korea. The three embassies brought delegations of companies, researchers and public organizations to the three-day event at Dongdaemun Design Plaza from Thursday to Saturday, showcasing the strengths of their respective quantum ecosystems and facilitating partnerships with Korean academia and industry. The Netherlands returned for a second consecutive year with six leading quantum organizations — QDNL, TNO, QuTech, Qblox, QuantWare and Delft Circuits — under a government-supported program aimed at strengthening cooperation with Korea. The Dutch delegation showcased expertise spanning quantum computing, hardware, control systems, networking and applied research, while operating a dedicated Netherlands Lounge for meetings with Korean partners. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency supporte

Jul 3, 2026By Anna J. Park
Quantum leaders converge in Seoul as Dutch, Australian and Canadian delegations expand Korea ties
Foreign Affairs

PHOTOS US marks 250th anniversary of independence in Seoul

James Heller, second from left, chargé d'affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, pays respect to the U.S. flag as he stands next to Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, left, during a ceremony at the 250th U.S. Independence Day celebration held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul in Yongsan District, Seoul, June 30. The U.S. Embassy in Seoul is running the “Freedom 250” campaign this year to mark America’s 250th anniversary, working with various Korean institutions and organizations to celebrate the values of freedom, democracy and innovation. Joint Press Corps

Jul 3, 2026By Anna J. Parkphoto
[PHOTOS] US marks 250th anniversary of independence in Seoul
People & Events

Flowers foster Korea-Japan friendship at exhibition in Seoul

The Japanese Embassy in Seoul opened a special flower exhibition Wednesday to mark the 10th anniversary of the Ohara School of Ikebana's Seoul chapter, presenting ikebana, or the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement, as a symbol of cultural exchange between the two countries. Organized jointly by the embassy and the Ohara School Seoul Chapter, the two-day exhibition runs through Thursday at the embassy's Public Information and Culture Center in central Seoul. The event commemorates the 10-year anniversarry of the establishment of the Seoul branch and highlights the role of traditional arts in fostering people-to-people exchanges. Ikebana dates back centuries and emphasizes harmony, balance and the beauty of nature over elaborate decoration. The Ohara School, one of Japan's leading ikebana institutions, was founded in 1895 and is particularly renowned for its "moribana" style, which recreates natural landscapes using seasonal flowers and branches set in shallow containers. The exhibition features more than 50 floral arrangements by 42 artists from the Ohara School's Seoul and T

Jul 1, 2026By Anna J. Park
Flowers foster Korea-Japan friendship at exhibition in Seoul
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