my timesThe Korea Times
annajpark

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.

Go to Email

Read more

Foreign Affairs

Lee calls for stronger energy security, global AI ecosystem at G7 expanded session

CALGARY, Canada — President Lee Jae Myung underscored the critical importance of energy security and the stabilization of key mineral supply chains during an expanded session of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, Tuesday (local time). The expanded session was attended by G7 member states as well as invited partner nations. The president’s remarks reflect Korea’s broader ambition to take an active role in addressing global energy and digital challenges, particularly as geopolitical instability continues to threaten supply chains for critical minerals and fuel sources. Speaking twice during the session, Lee laid out his vision for building a reliable, economical and sustainable energy system under the theme “the future of energy security,” as he pledged Korea’s strong commitment to contributing to the development of a stable global artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem. “We are working to build a more stable energy system through diversification,” Lee said, highlighting that this strategy includes increasing the share of domestically sourced renewable energy an

Jun 18, 2025By Anna J. Park
Lee calls for stronger energy security, global AI ecosystem at G7 expanded session
Foreign Affairs

Lee, Ishiba pledge closer Korea-Japan cooperation in 1st summit talk

CALGARY, Canada — President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation on key issues, in their first-ever summit meeting at the G7 Summit venue in Kananaskis, Alberta, Tuesday (local time). The two leaders agreed to resume visits to each other's countries frequently for a closer relationship. The meeting between the two leaders took place just 14 days after Lee's inauguration on June 4. During their summit talk, Lee noted their previous communication by phone and expressed his pleasure at meeting the prime minister in person. “In our country, Japan and Korea are often described as ‘close but distant neighbors.’ Like neighbors sharing the same yard, we cannot separate from one another. Although there are small differences and disagreements, I hope Korea and Japan will overcome these to develop a relationship based on mutual cooperation and support,” Lee said. “Given the increasing challenges in the international trade environment and global affairs, it is even more important

Jun 18, 2025By Anna J. Park
Lee, Ishiba pledge closer Korea-Japan cooperation in 1st summit talk
Foreign Affairs

President highlights stronger bilateral cooperation on sidelines of G7 summit

CALGARY, Canada — President Lee Jae Myung is aiming to deepen engagement with major global partners during his two-day visit to Canada for the G7 Summit, holding a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders on Tuesday (local time). In his meeting with United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Lee underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation in trade and defense. He specifically emphasized the need to make meaningful progress on revising the Korea-U.K. free trade agreement (FTA). “I believe there needs to be further progress on the FTA revision,” Lee said during the meeting held in Kananaskis, Alberta. “I hope today’s meeting will serve as a valuable opportunity to strengthen the longstanding partnership between Korea and the United Kingdom.” Starmer expressed enthusiasm for future cooperation by working with Lee. "We want to further strengthen our partnership, whether on trade, particularly the Korea-U.K. free trade agreement, or on defense and security,” Starmer said. Lee went on to hold talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, marking a key diploma

Jun 18, 2025By Anna J. Park
President highlights stronger bilateral cooperation on sidelines of G7 summit
Foreign Affairs

Lee's planned meeting with Trump at G7 falls through as US leader leaves early

CALGARY, Canada — A scheduled meeting between Korea's newly inaugurated President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada will not take place, as Trump left the G7 event earlier than scheduled amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Monday (local time) that a bilateral meeting between the two leaders had initially been scheduled for Tuesday, but the meeting was canceled due to Trump’s sudden change of plans. "As President Trump unexpectedly returned to his country today, it has become difficult to proceed with the Korea-U.S. summit that was scheduled for tomorrow," Wi told reporters during a press briefing in Calgary, Canada. "Such things occasionally happen during multilateral events, but it seems likely that it is related to the military conflict between Israel and Iran. We received a message from the U.S. side asking for our understanding." Following the abrupt change, discussions are underway to reschedule the two leaders' summit, an official from the presidential office said. "We are

Jun 17, 2025By Anna J. Park
Lee's planned meeting with Trump at G7 falls through as US leader leaves early
Foreign Affairs

Lee seeks stronger ties with Australia, South Africa in summit talks

CALGARY, Canada — President Lee Jae-myung and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese agreed to cooperate in defense and clean energy sectors on Monday (local time). Lee had a bilateral summit with the Australian leader on the sidelines of the G7 Summit which is being held in Canada. They earlier had a phone call. Lee began by thanking Albanese for his congratulations on his inauguration and extended his own congratulations on the Australian prime minister's recent election victory and the launch of his second-term Cabinet, the presidential office said. Lee also highlighted Australia’s role as a key ally that fought alongside South Korea during the Korean War, highlighting that the two countries are further building their relations today as "comprehensive strategic partners” to promote regional and global stability and prosperity. Albanese emphasized that South Korea and Australia enjoy deep-rooted trust and solidarity, and that cooperation is actively advancing in various fields, including defense and security, clean energy and supply chains for critical minerals. He reaffirmed

Jun 17, 2025By Anna J. Park
Lee seeks stronger ties with Australia, South Africa in summit talks
Politics

President vows stronger diplomatic engagement as he arrives in Canada for G7 summit

CALGARY, Canada — President Lee Jae-myung signaled a more proactive and elevated approach to summit diplomacy and international cooperation as he began his first overseas visit to attend the G7 Summit in Canada. Lee arrived in Canada on Monday (local time) to attend the event as a guest country. This visit came just under two weeks since he took office as president on June 4. Speaking to reporters during an impromptu press briefing on board of Air Force One, Lee emphasized that heightened international competition, along with his administration's focus on economic livelihood and public well-being, necessitates deeper international ties, particularly through summit-level diplomacy. “This marks my first official foreign trip as president, and I believe it’s time for Korea to conduct summit diplomacy more vigorously than we have so far,” Lee said during the press conference. “We need to strengthen our international engagement to a higher level. “As a trade-dependent nation, Korea must strategically strengthen its global relationships so our businesses can expand overseas more ef

Jun 17, 2025By Anna J. Park
President vows stronger diplomatic engagement as he arrives in Canada for G7 summit
Foreign Affairs

Korean president to make diplomatic debut at G7 Summit in Canada

President Lee Jae-myung is set to step onto the global diplomatic stage for the first time as he travels to Canada to attend the G7 Summit, according to the presidential office Sunday. It will be the starting point to restore Korea's summit diplomacy, which was halted for six months following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law fiasco and subsequent impeachment, it said. According to the presidential office, Lee will depart Seoul early Monday for Alberta for the summit, which runs through Tuesday (local time). It will be his first overseas visit as president since his June 4 inauguration. Korea is not a G7 member but was invited as a guest by the host country Canada. At this year's summit, major themes will include global challenges in energy security, digital transformations and fostering global partnerships. In Tuesday's expanded session on energy security, which guest countries will participate in, Lee will deliver speeches on diversification of energy supply chains and the integration of artificial intelligence and energy. Wi Sung-lac, Lee's national security adviser, explain

Jun 15, 2025By Anna J. Park
Korean president to make diplomatic debut at G7 Summit in Canada
Foreign Affairs

New president vows stronger ties with Vietnam, Australia

President Lee Jae-myung held his first official phone call with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, Thursday, pledging to strengthen the bilateral partnership between Korea and Vietnam. According to the presidential office, the conversation began around 9:30 a.m. and lasted about 25 minutes. The Vietnamese president, who had previously sent a congratulatory message following Lee’s election victory, extended warm congratulations once again and expressed hope for significant achievements during the Korean leader’s term in office. “President Lee Jae-myung expressed his high regard for the remarkable progress in bilateral ties with Vietnam since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, highlighting advancements in trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges,” Kang Yu-jung, spokesperson for the presidential office, said during a Thursday press briefing. She added that the president expressed a strong desire to work closely with his Vietnamese counterpart, pledging to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. During the phone call, the Vietna

Jun 12, 2025By Anna J. Park
New president vows stronger ties with Vietnam, Australia
Politics

President to continue tradition of issuing commemorative watches

In a nod to a unique piece of presidential symbolism, President Lee Jae-myung announced Wednesday that his administration would continue the long-standing tradition of commissioning custom-designed presidential watches. These timepieces, often bearing the seal of the Blue House, have become a coveted, if subtle, token of recognition and political influence under previous Korean leaders. "After considering various suggestions, I concluded that a gift combining both symbolic meaning and practicality would be most appropriate, and I instructed the production of a cost-effective presidential watch," the president wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday. He further specified that his directive was for the production of a timepiece mindful of budgetary constraints, aiming to balance tradition with fiscal prudence. His remarks come in response to recent media reports speculating that the current administration would break from the tradition. The speculation stemmed from comments made by Rep. Jeon Hyun-heui, a three-term lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, on a YouTube channel earlier thi

Jun 11, 2025By Anna J. Park
President to continue tradition of issuing commemorative watches
Foreign Affairs

President invites Chinese leader to APEC meeting in Korea

President Lee Jae-myung invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Korea later this year, according to the presidential office Tuesday. In their first official phone conversation, the leaders highlighted the two countries’ commitment to deepening their strategic partnership, it said. Xi is the third world leader that Lee has talked over the phone since his June inauguration, following U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. This initial engagement with China’s leader underscores Seoul's strategic imperative to maintain robust economic ties with Beijing, its largest trading partner, even as the new administration prioritizes fortifying alliances with the United States for shared security interests amid escalating geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific region. During the 30-minute conversation, Xi congratulated Lee on his election victory, expressing China’s desire to further develop bilateral cooperation within the framework of their strategic partnership. "Expressing gratitude for Xi

Jun 10, 2025By Anna J. Park
President invites Chinese leader to APEC meeting in Korea
previous page
3132333435
next page

Top 5 stories

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.