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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

Seoul result denies both major parties outright victory in local elections

The aftermath of Korea’s June 3 local elections has produced an unusual political landscape, with neither the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) nor the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) able to claim an unequivocal victory. While the ruling party dominated the nationwide race for metropolitan and provincial governor posts, the PPP retained the Seoul mayoralty and secured several key strategic districts, complicating efforts by either side to frame the election as a clear mandate. On paper, the DPK emerged as the clear winner. The party captured 12 of the nation’s 16 metropolitan and provincial chief executive posts, reinforcing its dominance in local government. Such a result would traditionally be regarded as a sweeping mandate. Yet internal debate quickly followed as party members questioned whether the outcome fully reflected public support. Much of the scrutiny has focused on the Seoul mayoral race, where the DPK failed to win control of the capital, the country’s largest and most politically influential local office. The loss, combined with defeats in a few by-elec

Jun 7, 2026By Anna J. Park
Seoul result denies both major parties outright victory in local elections
Politics

SMEs Minister Han Seong-sook tapped as new PM

President Lee Jae Myung nominated Han Seong-sook, the current minister of small and medium-sized enterprises and startups and a former Naver chief executive, to serve as Korea’s next prime minister. The nomination places one of the country’s most prominent tech executives at the center of the Lee administration’s efforts to promote innovation-led growth and accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across the economy. Before entering government, Han built her career in the tech sector. Born in 1967, Han graduated from Sookmyung Women's University with a degree in English language and literature and began her career as a journalist for an IT publication. She joined portal site Empas as a founding member in 1997. She went on to hold a series of leadership positions at NHN and Naver — including head of the search business division and head of Naver's service division — before becoming Naver's first female CEO in 2017. During her five years at the helm, Han is credited with driving the company’s growth by expanding Naver’s business beyond its traditional search e

Jun 7, 2026By Anna J. Park
SMEs Minister Han Seong-sook tapped as new PM
Foreign Affairs

'Korea means trust': EU lawmaker sees growing role for parliamentary diplomacy

The European Parliament and South Korea’s National Assembly should play a greater role in strengthening bilateral ties as Seoul and Brussels deepen cooperation across a range of strategic areas amid growing geopolitical uncertainty, according to César Luena, chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with the Korean Peninsula (DKOR). Luena recently led an 11-member European Parliament delegation to Seoul at what he described as a pivotal moment in Korea-EU relations, with President Lee Jae Myung expected to visit Europe later this month. He stressed that parliamentary diplomacy can serve as a key pillar of the South Korea-EU partnership by sustaining political engagement beyond government-to-government relations. While governments negotiate and implement policies, Luena noted legislatures provide a complementary channel by representing citizens’ priorities and helping maintain long-term cooperation. “The National Assembly represents Korean society,” he said during a one-on-one interview with The Korea Times in Seoul. “We, Members of the European Parliament

Jun 5, 2026By Anna J. Park
'Korea means trust': EU lawmaker sees growing role for parliamentary diplomacy
Politics

Han Dong-hoon stages comeback with Busan parliamentary by-election victory

Independent candidate Han Dong-hoon won a closely watched parliamentary by-election in Busan's Buk-A constituency, Thursday, capping a dramatic political comeback months after being expelled from the People Power Party (PPP) and boosting his standing within the conservative bloc. The race, one of the most fiercely contested of the 14 by-elections held alongside the June 3 local elections, ended with a razor-thin margin. Han won 42.96 percent of the vote, or 35,056 ballots, edging out ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate Ha Jung-woo, who garnered 41.26 percent, by just 1,382 votes. PPP candidate and former two-term lawmaker Park Min-shik finished third with 15.76 percent. Han hailed the result as a "historic victory" after he was projected to win around 2 a.m. during the vote count. He said his success as an independent reflected the public's desire to rebuild the conservative movement and serve as a check on the Lee Jae Myung administration. "I just happened to be standing before that great wave of public sentiment. I will follow the will of the people and the spirit of the

Jun 4, 2026By Jane Han and Anna J. Park
Han Dong-hoon stages comeback with Busan parliamentary by-election victory
Politics

Busan's Buk-A by-election shows close race between former presidential aide, ex-PPP leader

Ha Jung-woo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and independent candidate Han Dong-hoon are locked in a neck-and-neck race in the parliamentary by-election for Busan's Buk-A constituency, according to an exit poll released 6 p.m. Wednesday by the country's three major broadcasters. In the joint exit poll conducted by KBS, MBC and SBS, Ha held a narrow lead with 42.6 percent of the vote, while Han garnered 41.6 percent, within the margin of error ranging from 1.7 to 4.1 percentage points, with a 95 percent confidence level. Park Min-shik of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) gained 15.8 percent. The constituency emerged as one of the most closely watched battlegrounds in the parliamentary by-elections, which were held alongside the local elections, seen as a duel between Han and Ha that could play a role in shaping the country’s political landscape. Ha was the inaugural senior presidential secretary for artificial intelligence (AI) and future planning. While overseeing the Lee Jae Myung administration's AI strategy, the Busan native joined the DPK's race following re

Jun 3, 2026By Anna J. Park
Busan's Buk-A by-election shows close race between former presidential aide, ex-PPP leader
Foreign Affairs

Egypt invites Korean firms to build industrial zone along Suez Canal

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called for an expansion of bilateral economic cooperation with Korea, highlighting Egypt’s role as a gateway to African and Middle East markets and urging Korean companies to establish a dedicated industrial zone along the Suez Canal. Speaking to reporters at the Egyptian Embassy in Seoul on Tuesday, Abdelatty, who is visiting Korea for the Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, said Korea and Egypt share a “very strong and long-standing relationship” and should now focus on translating their robust political ties into broader economic and industrial cooperation. “We would like to further enhance our cooperation with South Korea,” he said. “What we need to do more is in the economic and trade areas.” A central theme of his remarks was Egypt’s strategic location and its potential as a manufacturing and logistics hub for Korean companies seeking access to wider markets. “Egypt is engaged in 11 FTA agreements,” Abdelatty said. “We have FTA agreements with the European Union, with Mercosur countries in Latin America, with Ara

Jun 2, 2026By Anna J. Park
Egypt invites Korean firms to build industrial zone along Suez Canal
Foreign Affairs

'After they get comfortable, Koreans are just like us': Italy's ambassador to Korea

When Italy marks Republic Day on June 2, the occasion carries more weight than patriotism. Festa della Repubblica commemorates the 1946 referendum that transformed Italy from a monarchy into a republic — and the first time Italian women were granted voting rights. Nearly eight decades on, it remains a moment for Italians to reflect not only on history but also on identity and values. For Italian Ambassador to Korea Emilia Gatto, who arrived in Seoul in September 2023, the celebration comes amid another personal journey — discovering Korea and, perhaps unexpectedly, finding echoes of home. After nearly three years of diplomatic life in Korea, she has increasingly come to see similarities between the two countries' peoples, so much so that she now understands why Koreans often describe themselves as "the Italians of Asia." At first, she admits, she did not quite understand the comparison. But after living in Seoul, interacting with people and observing everyday life, she says she began to see the resemblance herself. "We have many differences, of course. Koreans are much shyer at the

Jun 2, 2026By Anna J. Park
'After they get comfortable, Koreans are just like us': Italy's ambassador to Korea
Foreign Affairs

PHOTOS Georgia celebrates 108th Independence Day in Seoul

Diplomatic guests, including ambassadors and senior officials, gather at Pullman Ambassador in Seoul, May 28, to celebrate the 108th anniversary of Georgia’s independence. Courtesy of Embassy of Georgia in Korea

Jun 1, 2026By Anna J. Parkphoto
[PHOTOS] Georgia celebrates 108th Independence Day in Seoul
Society

Yeoju Ceramic Festival apologizes over Chinese-made giveaway prizes

Organizers of Korea's renowned Yeoju Ceramic Festival have apologized after Chinese-made ceramic products were distributed as giveaway prizes at an event intended to promote the country's pottery heritage, sparking public backlash and online criticism. The controversy emerged after a social media user posted on Threads on Tuesday that a miniature moon jar received through a festival promotional event carried a "Made in China" sticker. "I honestly doubted my eyes when I opened the package," the winner wrote on Threads, posting photographs of the prize. "This was an event held under the name of the Yeoju Ceramic Festival, but what I received was a cheap, low-quality product with a 'Made in China' sticker on it, which is worse than something you'd buy at Daiso. Is this right?" The annual festival, held in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, is one of Korea's best-known ceramic events and aims to promote local artisans and the region's pottery industry. As part of a social media campaign held from May 1 to May 10, visitors who posted photos from the festival on their personal social media accounts we

May 31, 2026By Anna J. Park
Yeoju Ceramic Festival apologizes over Chinese-made giveaway prizes
Foreign Affairs

Cambodian court sentences 6 Chinese nationals to life for murder of Korean student

A Cambodian court has sentenced six Chinese nationals to life in prison for the kidnapping, torture and murder of a 22-year-old Korean university student. The student was lured to Cambodia last year by a voice phishing scam network and later trafficked between multiple criminal organizations. According to local media reports Thursday, the Kampot Provincial Court in southern Cambodia handed down life sentences to all six defendants convicted in the killing of Park, the student. Since Cambodia does not have the death penalty, life imprisonment is the country's harshest punishment. The trial began on May 6, and the court ruled that the six defendants were guilty of murder, unlawful detention, torture and organized fraud. In a statement, the court said the victim died after being subjected to severe torture, adding that investigators found numerous bruises and injuries across his body. The court added that the evidence and legal review provided sufficient grounds to convict all six defendants. Assets seized during the investigation were also ordered confiscated. Park, a university student fro

May 29, 2026By Anna J. Park
Cambodian court sentences 6 Chinese nationals to life for murder of Korean student
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