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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

1st day of early voting sees record turnout

Early voting for Korea’s presidential election began Thursday at 6 a.m., with 3,568 polling stations opening nationwide. The two-day early voting period continues on Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. According to the National Election Commission, turnout for the first day of early voting reached 19.58 percent. This marks the highest level of participation at that time since early voting was introduced nationwide in 2014. Among all regions, South Jeolla Province posted the highest turnout at 34.96 percent, followed by North Jeolla Province with 32.69 percent and Gwangju with 32.1 percent. During this period, eligible voters can cast their ballots at any voting station nationwide without prior registration, as long as they bring a valid photo ID such as a resident registration card, passport or driver’s license. Major presidential candidates participated in early voting on the first day of the two-day early voting period. Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung cast his ballot at a polling station in western Seoul's Sinchon area, accompanied by a few university student

May 29, 2025By Anna J. Park
1st day of early voting sees record turnout
Global Community

Anti-corruption commission opens grievance channel for foreign businesses

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) announced Wednesday the launch of a dedicated support channel to handle grievances from foreign companies operating in Korea. This initiative is designed to help international businesses navigate challenges more effectively and promote clearer, more consistent administrative procedures in Korea. Yang Jong-sam, acting director of the ACRC’s Planning and Coordination Office, emphasized the importance of predictable and consistent administrative procedures in corporate operations. “For business management, it is essential to have administrative processes that are both predictable and consistent,” he said during the press conference held in Sejong City, Wednesday. “We will continue to foster a more business-friendly environment by maintaining regular communication with foreign businesspeople in Korea.” He also noted that the new initiative is expected to enhance Korea’s reputation as a transparent and open society for international businesses. “This effort will contribute to building a positive image of Korea as a clean and

May 28, 2025By Anna J. Park
Anti-corruption commission opens grievance channel for foreign businesses
Politics

Early voting for June 3 presidential election starts Thursday

With Korea's high-stakes presidential election less than a week away, leading candidates are making an intense final push, urging supporters to vote during the two days of early voting beginning on Thursday. The urgent appeals reflect growing concerns that many voters may take advantage of the long weekend by taking Monday off and extending their break through Election Day on Tuesday, which could significantly reduce turnout on the official polling day. Lee Jae-myung, the candidate of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has emphasized the importance of early voting and is urging his supporters to vote in advance. He will cast his early ballot in Seoul on Thursday, according to Rep. Jo Seoung-lae, chief spokesperson for the party’s election committee. The DPK is framing the upcoming election as a referendum on former President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3 martial law declaration, urging broad voter participation. Since early voting typically sees higher turnout among liberal voters, the party is intensifying efforts to energize and mobilize its core supporters. "The record-breaking t

May 28, 2025By Anna J. Park
Early voting for June 3 presidential election starts Thursday
Politics

Korea’s upcoming presidential election to reflect generational, ideological shifts

The June 3 presidential election will be the first in Korea’s history where voters aged 60 and over outnumber those under 40, marking a significant demographic shift that could reshape the country’s political dynamics. Despite the conventional belief that older voters support conservatives while younger voters tend to favor progressives, both the conservative People Power Party (PPP) and the liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) are wary of relying on these assumptions in the snap election that has been shaped by the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. According to data released late last week by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, a total of 44.39 million people are eligible to vote in the upcoming June election. Voters in their 60s and 70s now make up about 33 percent of the electorate, surpassing the combined 28 percent of those in their 20s (13.1 percent) and 30s (14.9 percent). The remaining 38 percent consists of voters in their 40s and 50s. Compared to the last presidential election, the proportion of voters aged 60 and over has increased by about 3 percentag

May 27, 2025By Anna J. Park
Korea’s upcoming presidential election to reflect generational, ideological shifts
Defense

Korean gov't urged to understand potential troop cut as broader US strategic perspective

Amid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula driven by North Korea’s growing military threats, a recent report suggesting the United States is considering a reduction of its troops in South Korea is stoking fresh concerns about security on the Korean Peninsula. Yet, security experts warn against overreacting to fragmented reports, urging policymakers and the public to avoid linking the issue solely to defense cost-sharing or trade negotiations between South Korea and the U.S. governments. Instead, they emphasize the importance of understanding the broader context of the U.S.’ evolving long-term defense strategy. According to an exclusive report in the Wall Street Journal Thursday (local time), the Donald Trump administration is weighing the possibility of withdrawing approximately 4,500 American troops from South Korea. Citing defense officials familiar with the matter, it states that the troops could be repositioned to other locations in the Indo-Pacific region, including Guam. The proposed reduction would represent around 16 percent of the current 28,500 U.S. troops stationed

May 23, 2025By Anna J. Park
Korean gov't urged to understand potential troop cut as broader US strategic perspective
Politics

Reform Party presidential nominee declares opposition to candidacy merger

Lee Jun-seok, the presidential candidate of the minor conservative Reform Party, has made it clear that he will not unify his candidacy with that of Kim Moon-soo of the major conservative People Power Party (PPP). His declaration comes amid growing calls from the PPP for the conservative candidates to unify — a move that could alter the course of the presidential election, which liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate Lee Jae-myung has been solidly leading. However, as the PPP's proposition essentially means fielding Kim as the single conservative candidate, the Reform Party candidate has consistently refused the call, saying he will stay in the race. "Lee Jun-seok and the Reform Party will will fight to the end,” Lee said during a press conference at the National Assembly on Thursday evening. “On the ballot, the name 'Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party, No. 4' will be clearly visible." The PPP has pinned its hopes on a last-minute alliance between Kim and Lee Jun-seok, as recent polling numbers suggest a combined conservative ticket could pose a viable challenge to Lee Jae

May 22, 2025By Anna J. Park
Reform Party presidential nominee declares opposition to candidacy merger
Politics

Koreans abroad cast ballots as presidential race heats up

As Korea gears up for its presidential election set for June 3, overseas voting officially began Tuesday with polling stations opening across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. The overseas voting period will run for six days, concluding Sunday. The global turnout serves as a barometer of the national mood, highlighting the deep divisions the upcoming election will either bridge or exacerbate, as Korea seeks to stabilize its political landscape and reassert its international standing following recent turbulence. A total of 223 polling stations have been established in 118 countries to accommodate eligible voters residing or temporarily staying abroad. Notably, overseas polling stations have been set up for the first time in four countries — Cuba, Luxembourg, Lithuania and Estonia — following the recent establishment of Korean diplomatic missions there. In addition to these new locations, 39 more polling stations have been added at diplomatic missions where over 30,000 Korean nationals reside. Special voting arrangements have also been made for military units deployed overseas, inc

May 21, 2025By Anna J. Park
Koreans abroad cast ballots as presidential race heats up
Politics

DPK broadens 'big tent' coalition with more conservative supporters

The liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is witnessing an influx of figures from traditionally conservative factions. This strategic expansion of its “big tent” approach is expected to shift the balance of power and potentially reshape the nation’s political landscape. Ironically, it was originally the conservative People Power Party (PPP) that was pursuing a big tent strategy, aimed at uniting people from diverse political backgrounds to maximize electoral support as part of its campaign to oppose DPK presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung. However, recent developments show it is the DPK, not the PPP, that is expanding its broad-based political coalition more swiftly at this stage of the campaign ahead of the June 3 election. A group of conservative-leaning politicians from the minor conservative Reform Party recently joined the DPK’s campaign. This group includes the Reform Party's former leader Her Eun-a, former policy chief Kim Yong-nam and former lawmaker Rep. Moon Byeong-ho. They left the Reform Party earlier this year after conflicts with its presidential candidate, Lee

May 20, 2025By Anna J. Park
DPK broadens 'big tent' coalition with more conservative supporters
Politics

History of Korea's constitutional amendments

As presidential candidates Lee Jae-myung and Kim Moon-soo unveil proposals to amend the Constitution, public attention is turning to the nation's complex history of constitutional reforms, marked by multiple amendments over the past eight decades. Since the establishment of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea in 1948, there have been nine amendments, reflecting the many twists and turns of Korean political history and changes in the structure of power. The country has seen several different forms of governance within its presidential system, including periods of direct and indirect elections and experiments with parliamentary systems. The history of the Korean Constitution dates back to July 17, 1948. Although Korea finally gained liberation from Japan’s 36-year colonial rule in 1945, the domestic and international political landscape remained unstable. As a result, Korea held its first independent general election in May 1948. The National Assembly then drafted and promulgated the Republic of Korea’s first Constitution on July 17, 1948, drawing its founding spirit from the C

May 19, 2025By Anna J. Park
History of Korea's constitutional amendments
Society

China's land grab in key area of Seoul sparks fury

The Chinese government’s purchase of approximately 4,000 square meters of land in one of Seoul’s most strategically sensitive districts has sparked a firestorm of controversy in Korea. The revelation has reignited calls for reciprocal regulations on cross-border real estate transactions, deepened national security concerns and drawn sharp criticism of political leaders over their continued inaction. According to an exclusive report by a local media outlet on Tuesday, supported by Seoul's official certified copy of the land registry, the Chinese government purchased 11 plots totaling 4,162 square meters in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan District, for 29.92 billion won ($21.4 million) in December 2018. The final payment was completed in July 2019. Land registry records list the buyer as the People’s Republic of China. What makes the deal particularly sensitive is the location. The property lies just over one kilometer away from several of Korea’s most sensitive security sites, including the Office of the President in Yongsan District, the planned relocation site of the U.S. Embassy at Camp

May 18, 2025By Anna J. Park
China's land grab in key area of Seoul sparks fury
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