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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

Former first couple’s water use makes a splash

An unusually high level of water usage — over 228 tons during a seven-day period at the official residence of former President Yoon Suk Yeol and former first lady Kim Keon Hee — has attracted scrutiny, following the Constitutional Court’s decision to remove him from office in early April. While some have speculated that a swimming pool within the residence could be the cause, no explanation has yet emerged, leaving many questions unanswered. The controversy over the massive water usage began on April 16, when Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Rep. Kim Young-whan revealed data from Seoul Waterworks Authority, highlighting the unusually high water consumption by the former presidential couple during their weeklong stay at the residence as private citizens following Yoon’s impeachment on April 4. Rep. Kim’s data showed that the couple used 228.36 tons of water at the official residence in Hannam-dong in Yongsan District from April 4 to April 10, the day before they moved out. According to 2023 data from the Seoul Waterworks Authority, the average two-person household uses about 3 to

Apr 22, 2025By Anna J. Park
Former first couple’s water use makes a splash
Global Community

Acting president pays respects to Pope Francis at Myeongdong Cathedral

Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo paid his respects to Pope Francis Tuesday afternoon, visiting a special memorial altar set up at Myeongdong Cathedral, the historic Catholic church located in the heart of Seoul. The cathedral began accepting Koreans who wished to pay their respects to the pope from 3 p.m., and the acting president visited the altar at around 3:15 p.m. "Pope Francis, the 266th pope, left a profound spiritual legacy and teachings of faith for the Catholic Church and believers worldwide. I express my deep gratitude and condolences to Pope Francis, who always practiced love for the poor and socially vulnerable with his humble and simple demeanor," Han said, after paying his respects at the church. On Monday evening, Han also sent an official letter of condolence to Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, following the news of the pope's death. "The government and people of the Republic of Korea share in the sorrow with Catholics around the world and extend our heartfelt condolences," the letter stated. The message expressed deep gratitude fo

Apr 22, 2025By Anna J. Park
Acting president pays respects to Pope Francis at Myeongdong Cathedral
Law & Crime

Ex-president photographed for first time at insurrection trial

Under a barrage of camera flashes, former President Yoon Suk Yeol made his first photographed appearance as a defendant on Monday, for the second hearing of his insurrection trial. The session was held at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, exactly one week after the first. It was the same courtroom where four other former presidents — Chun Doo-hwan, Roh Tae-woo, Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye — underwent criminal trials for charges ranging from insurrection to corruption. Unlike the first session, the court permitted filming inside the courtroom when the former president made his entrance. Wearing a red tie and a suit, Yoon entered with a stern expression and took a seat in the defendant’s section, closest to the bench. "Taking into account public interest and the right to know, we have permitted courtroom filming before the start of the trial, following previous precedents," the court's chief judge said before commencing the proceedings. As opposed to his first trial session a week ago, where the former president defended his position for nearly 90 minutes, Yoon r

Apr 21, 2025By Anna J. Park
Ex-president photographed for first time at insurrection trial
Society

ACRC meets foreign business leaders to boost investments

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) hosted a policy roundtable on Thursday, inviting executives from foreign chambers of commerce in Korea to help create a more favorable investment environment for foreign companies impacted by the U.S. tariff war and to support the daily lives of foreign businesspeople in Korea. The forum was also a chance to hear directly from foreign businesses about their concerns and experiences while sharing the government's anti-corruption policies. The event featured participants from various foreign chambers, including American Chamber of Commerce in Korea Chairman James Kim, Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairperson Marie Antonia von Schönburg, European Chamber of Commerce in Korea President Stephan Ernst, Australian Chamber of Commerce in Korea CEO Rowan Petz, French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Sonia Chaïeb and Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Korea Chairman Roger Loyo. "With the recent rise in global economic uncertainty following U.S. President Trump's tariff policies, concerns among business leaders are m

Apr 17, 2025By Anna J. Park
ACRC meets foreign business leaders to boost investments
Politics

Majority oppose PM Han Duck-soo's potential presidential run

Six out of 10 Korean citizens believe it would be undesirable for acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to run in the upcoming presidential election, according to a recent poll. The National Barometer Survey (NBS) — conducted by Embrain Public, KSTAT Research, Korea Research and Hankook Research from Monday to Wednesday among 1,001 adults aged 18 and older — showed that 66 percent of respondents viewed Han’s candidacy as “undesirable,” far outweighing the 24 percent who found it “desirable.” About 10 percent answered “don’t know” or gave no response. Breaking down the results by party affiliation, about 91 percent of respondents who identified as supporters of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said Han’s candidacy was "undesirable," while only 4 percent viewed it as "desirable." In contrast, among supporters of the conservative People Power Party (PPP), 55 percent said it was "desirable," while 38 percent said it was "undesirable." The NBS survey was conducted through telephone interviews. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage poin

Apr 17, 2025By Anna J. Park
Majority oppose PM Han Duck-soo's potential presidential run
Politics

Momentum grows for anti-Lee Jae-myung alliance

While former Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leader Lee Jae-myung remains the frontrunner in recent public opinion polls for the upcoming presidential election, the idea of forming a big tent anti-Lee alliance is quickly gaining momentum. This shared goal of opposing Lee in the June 3 election has not only united conservative and centrist candidates, but is also fueling discussions of a potential coalition among rival parties, including factions within the People Power Party (PPP) and the broader progressive bloc. This comes amid a growing belief that cross-party and cross-ideological unity is crucial to preventing Lee from winning. The leadership of the conservative PPP has consistently emphasized efforts to oppose Lee, stating that to win the upcoming presidential election, the party must develop an electoral strategy that unites all those opposed to his candidacy. "We must overcome the Lee Jae-myung faction, who will drive Korea into endless political strife and division," PPP floor leader Kweon Seong-dong said Tuesday. "Despite all our differences, uniting and jointly confronting Le

Apr 15, 2025By Anna J. Park
Momentum grows for anti-Lee Jae-myung alliance
Law & Crime

Criminal trial starts for ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s criminal trial opened Monday on charges of leading an insurrection through his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. In court, Yoon countered the prosecution’s indictment point by point, much like his defense during his impeachment trial. He asserted that the martial law declaration was peaceful and intended solely as a warning to opposition lawmakers over their lack of cooperation. The trial comes just 10 days after the Constitutional Court removed Yoon from office in its April 4 ruling. Yoon is now the fifth former president in Korea to face a criminal trial. However, he is the first in the nation’s history to be indicted and arrested while still in office. Yoon arrived at the Seoul Central District Court at 9:48 a.m. in a black van, ahead of the schedule 10 a.m. trial start. His appearance was shielded from the media, as the court had approved a request from the Presidential Security Service (PSS) for a discreet arrival, citing security concerns. Exiting the vehicle shielded from public view, Yoon proceeded directly to the main courtroom through an

Apr 14, 2025By Anna J. Park
Criminal trial starts for ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol
Politics

Should Korea’s presidential office stay in Yongsan?

With the early presidential election now set for June 3, public attention is shifting to where the next president will set up office. While keeping the current office in Yongsan remains an option, alternative sites such as Cheong Wa Dae, Gwanghwamun and Sejong City are also being considered. The simplest and most feasible option for the next president’s office is to retain the current location at the Ministry of National Defense compound in Yongsan District. This proposal is driven largely by practical concerns over the lack of feasible time to relocate. Given the nature of the snap election, the next president is expected to begin duties as early as June 4, making Yongsan the most realistic option. Financial considerations also play a key role in favoring this option. According to the National Assembly Budget Office, the relocation of the presidential office under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration cost an estimated 83.2 billion won ($57 million). Keeping the office in its current location would avoid additional relocation expenses and save taxpayers' money. However, the negative connota

Apr 12, 2025By Anna J. Park
Should Korea’s presidential office stay in Yongsan?
Politics

Will PM join presidential race?

The possibility of acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo entering the presidential race as a candidate for the conservative People Power Party (PPP) is generating significant buzz across the political landscape. While opinions on the matter are split within the PPP, the liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has voiced strong criticism against Han's potential candidacy. Han himself has not shown a clear stance about the possibility. Han, a long-term career bureaucrat and trade expert, initially told his staffers at the Prime Minister's Office not to mention even "p" for presidential election, dismissing speculation about his joining the race. However, when U.S. President Donald Trump asked him during a phone call Tuesday whether he planned to run for president, Han's response was a vague, "Nothing has been decided yet." Supporters of Han’s candidacy within the PPP say that his credentials as a Harvard-educated economic expert make him an ideal contender in a race shaped by global trade tensions. His roots in the Jeolla region in the country’s southwest, which is a liberal

Apr 11, 2025By Anna J. Park
Will PM join presidential race?
Politics

Acting president's pick for Constitutional Court justice sparks controversy

Acting President Han Duck-soo is facing a backlash after abruptly appointing successors to two Constitutional Court justices whose terms expire on April 18. Legal experts contend that an acting president does not hold the authority to unilaterally appoint Constitutional Court justices — a power traditionally reserved for a sitting president. However, the bigger controversy stems from the qualifications of one of the two nominees. Minister of Government Legislation Lee Wan-kyu, one of the two Constitutional Court appointees named by the acting president, is not only a close confidant of former President Yoon Suk Yeol but is also under investigation for alleged involvement in a treason plot connected to Yoon’s martial law plan. Lee has long been a pro-Yoon figure, with a relationship spanning over four decades. He and Yoon both graduated from Seoul National University and were classmates at the Judicial Research and Training Institute after passing the bar exam. Lee later served as Yoon’s attorney in a lawsuit challenging a disciplinary action brought by the Ministry of Justice duri

Apr 9, 2025By Anna J. Park
Acting president's pick for Constitutional Court justice sparks controversy
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