Anna J. Park

PHOTOS Azerbaijan Embassy marks 107th Independence Day in Seoul

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Korea Ramin Hasanov, left, poses at a reception celebrating the country's 107th Independence Day at the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square in Seoul, May 26. Ambassador Hasanov noted Azerbaijan’s democratic legacy as the first democratic republic in the Muslim world and underscored the country’s continued efforts toward regional development, international cooperation and post-conflict reconstruction in his remarks. He also emphasized the growing partnership between Azerbaijan and Korea, noting expanding cooperation in political, economic, cultural and humanitarian fields. Courtesy of Embassy of Azerbaijan in Seoul

Sri Lankan Embassy celebrates International Tea Day in Seoul with Ceylon tea showcase

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Korea commemorated International Tea Day 2026 on May 21 with a special Ceylon tea ceremony at the Seoul Film Center, celebrating the country’s globally renowned tea industry and its enduring cultural and economic significance. Sri Lanka is the world’s largest producer and exporter of orthodox black tea, made from whole leaves using traditional processes rather than the "crush, tear, curl" method, and ranks as the fourth-largest tea producer and exporter globally. Sri Lankan Ambassador to Korea M. K. Pathma Naathan underscored the global significance of tea and the distinguished reputation of Ceylon tea. “Tea remains the second most consumed beverage in the world after water and Sri Lankan tea, internationally known as Ceylon tea, is widely recognized as one of the finest teas in the world for its unique flavor, aroma and freshness,” the ambassador said during the ceremony. “Today, we gather not only to celebrate a beverage, but also to honor a remarkable product that has evolved into a symbol of craftsmanship, tradition, unique culture and a major g

PHOTOS French collector unveils rare trove of Korean modernist art

Thailand seeks deeper partnership with Korea through investment, innovation

Thailand and Korea are seeking to redefine bilateral relations long associated with tourism, food and cultural exchanges by building a deeper partnership centered on investment, industrial cooperation and innovation, Thailand's ambassador to Korea Tanee Sangrat said. In a recent one-on-one interview with The Korea Times, Sangrat said he has sought to expand the scope of Thailand-Korea relations since assuming his post in Seoul in April 2024, emphasizing that the two countries should increasingly be viewed not only through the lens of people-to-people exchanges, but also as economic and strategic partners capable of shaping future growth together. "Our relationship is broad-based. It is not only about culture and food. ... Those areas remain important because they form a strong foundation of our relationship, but we also want to highlight future-oriented activities and economic cooperation," Sangrat said. "Thailand today is also about technology, innovation and future industries." Thailand remains one of the most popular destinations for Korean travelers, with Thai cuisine, films and lif

Over 350 pigeons flock around Seoul Station, topping city survey

Seoul Station had the highest concentration of feral pigeons of any surveyed location in Seoul last year, with as many as 351 birds recorded in a recent government study. These findings were published Sunday in a pigeon research report by Korea’s National Institute of Biological Resources, which launched the study last year due to an increase in complaints and social conflicts related to wild birds. The research aims to inform measures addressing damage caused by urban bird populations. After surveying 45 major locations across Seoul, the researchers found that pigeons tended to cluster in areas with heavy foot traffic and frequent outdoor dining, such as parks along the Han River. The pigeon survey was conducted twice, in February and November last year, at 36 designated “feeding prohibition zones” and nine areas without such restrictions. Researchers also carried out additional surveys in key locations, including 14 feeding-ban zones and seven nonrestricted areas, in March, April, May, July and August. Among locations without feeding restrictions, Seoul Station was recorded as ha

Lee calls for review of closing down far-right website over promoting hate speech

President Lee Jae Myung has called for a policy review of tougher measures against online and offline hate speech and hateful behavior, targeting far-right websites accused of promoting or enabling such behavior. Lee made the suggestion on X, formerly Twitter, Sunday, while sharing a news report saying that young people believed to be users of the far-right online community Ilbe had visited Bongha Village, the hometown of former President Roh Moo-hyun, during a memorial ceremony for Roh on Saturday and allegedly behaved in provocative and mocking ways. The village, located in South Gyeongsang Province, is where Roh lived after leaving office. According to the news report, which cited an online post by a lawyer who serves as a board member of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, around 50 young people entered the memorial hall in the village and took photos while wearing Ilbe-related T-shirts and making hand gestures associated with the community. Ilbe has sparked numerous controversies over content considered offensive or derogatory toward political figures, social groups and victims of nationa

PHOTO Seoul showcases Hermitage masterpieces through digital exhibition

Russian Ambassador to Korea Georgy Zinoviev delivers opening remarks during a special guided tour for foreign ambassadors at the Amazing Hermitage digital exhibition at Oil Tank Culture Park in Seoul, Monday. The immersive exhibition allows visitors to experience masterpieces from the State Hermitage Museum of Saint Petersburg through large-scale digital media and interactive art installations. The exhibition runs through July 30. Courtesy of Embassy of Russia in Seoul

Women, future leadership take center stage at Korea-France forum marking 140 years of ties

Calls for stronger women leadership and greater gender equality took center stage at a special forum at Ewha Womans University on May 18 under the theme “Women, Forces of the Future, 140 Years of Korea-France Dialogue.” The daylong event was organized to commemorate both the 140th anniversary of Ewha Womans University, along with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France. In his welcoming remarks, French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Bertoux emphasized both the progress made and the challenges that remain in advancing gender equality. “At the legislative, regulatory and societal levels, women’s status has made considerable progress. However, women still frequently face unfair and unacceptable environments. Such conditions can only weaken trust in systems designed by men,” Bertoux said. “France, like Korea, is changing far too slowly. Although women are generally more highly educated than men, they remain a minority in high-paying sectors such as engineering and information technology, while making up the majority in professions with below-average

Mongolian ambassador highlights rare earths, health care as future pillars of bilateral ties

As Korea races to secure stable supply chains for critical minerals and expand its global health care footprint, Mongolia is emerging as one of Seoul’s most strategically important partners in Northeast Asia. Rich in rare earth resources yet eager to move beyond raw material exports, Ulaanbaatar is now looking to combine its mineral wealth with Seoul’s advanced technology and investment capacity in a partnership that Mongolian Ambassador to Korea Sukhee Sukhbold says could redefine bilateral relations in the coming decade. In a recent interview with The Korea Times at the Mongolian Embassy in Seoul, Sukhbold described the relationship between Korea and Mongolia as one rooted in “brotherhood relations,” citing historical and cultural connections that predate the formal establishment of diplomatic ties in 1990. Today, the partnership is increasingly driven by strategic economic interests. Since upgrading their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership in 2021, Korea and Mongolia have expanded cooperation across a range of sectors, including critical mineral supply chains,

80% of teachers fear child abuse accusations for routine classroom guidance

Nearly half of teachers in Korea are considering leaving the profession, underscoring growing concerns over excessive administrative workloads, malicious complaints from parents and fears of child abuse accusations stemming from routine classroom guidance. The findings come from surveys released by Korea's two major teachers' unions — the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) and the Korean Federation of Teachers’ Unions (KFTU) — to mark Teachers' Day, which falls on May 15. In a survey conducted by the KTU from May 7 to 12 involving 1,902 teachers nationwide, 97.5 percent of teachers said administrative workload negatively affects educational activities. Tasks identified as the most burdensome included accounting and budget-related paperwork, selected by 60.5 percent of respondents, followed by hiring-related administrative work at 41.5 percent and handling civil complaints at 39.8 percent. A separate survey conducted by the KFTU between April 20 and May 11, which gathered responses from 7,180 teachers across the country, also found that 61.3 percent believed their cu