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Bahk Eun-ji

Korea Times Politics & City Reporter

Bahk Eun-ji has been with The Korea Times since 2012, building a career across multiple desks. She began at the Business Desk, where she conducted in-depth interviews with key figures in Korea's corporate world. Later, she moved to the Politics & City Desk, focusing on education policy and social affairs. She later served as team leader of the digital content team, leading curation efforts on the newspaper’s homepage and reshaping print stories for social media audiences to enhance digital reach. Now back on the Politics Desk, she covers the National Assembly and the Ministry of National Defense, with a renewed focus on political developments.

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Defense

Korea's next-gen destroyer program hit by dispute over design data

Legal disputes over design data in Korea’s next-generation destroyer program have exposed a growing fault line in how defense projects are awarded and managed. The row centers on the Korea Destroyer Next Generation project, also known as KDDX, a plan to build six 6,000-ton Aegis-class destroyers with domestic technology. The project, valued at around 7.8 trillion won ($5.1 billion), has already faced delays, and the latest clash adds fresh uncertainty as companies prepare bids for the next phase. This time, the issue is not about who will win the contract, but what information should be shared before the decision is made. The program was shifted from a negotiated deal to an open bidding process by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), after controversy over a past security breach involving HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. The move opened the competition to Hanwha Ocean, which did not take part in the basic design stage, to compete for the detailed design and construction work. That change created a practical dilemma. Hanwha Ocean needs access to the existing design to submit

Apr 1, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Korea's next-gen destroyer program hit by dispute over design data
Politics

US sees Korea as reliable investment partner, ruling party lawmaker says

U.S. government officials and lawmakers view Korea as a reliable manufacturing partner and have responded positively to its commitment to investing in the U.S., a Korean lawmaker told The Korea Times. However, they remain sensitive to certain nontariff trade issues as well as controversies surrounding Coupang, a U.S.-based e-commerce giant that experienced a massive customer data leak in Korea late last year. Rep. Lee Un-ju, a Supreme Council member of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and a member of the Korea-U.S. Parliamentarians' Union, visited Washington last week as part of a six-member delegation from the union. She said U.S. officials and lawmakers showed a broadly favorable assessment of Korea’s economic role. “The U.S. side saw Korea as one of the most reliable manufacturing partners and a key supply chain ally,” Lee said in a written interview, referring to discussions with senators, House members and officials from the departments of State, Commerce and Energy. She added that this positive view was shared by both Republicans and Democrats, who also welcomed the

Mar 31, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
US sees Korea as reliable investment partner, ruling party lawmaker says
Defense

At Camp Casey, US general commands troops on field named after Korean War hero great-uncle

CAMP CASEY, Gyeonggi Province — Maj. Gen. Charles Lombardo did not start the interview sitting behind a desk. Instead, he stood up and said he wanted to show the space himself. In the newly opened dining and recreation area on the base, Lombardo pointed to a wooden bar built from salvaged materials taken from a former commanding general’s mess at now-closed Camp Red Cloud. The space, he explained, was designed as a place where soldiers could gather, eat and socialize. “This is where soldiers come to eat and be together,” he told The Korea Times, moving through the room before leading the way down a hallway lined with artifacts and photographs. The tour continued past displays honoring previous commanders and units as well as images from the 1950-53 Korean War, a reminder of the division’s long history on the peninsula. Lombardo paused to explain that the 2nd Infantry Division remains the only permanently forward-stationed U.S. Army division and operates as part of a combined structure with South Korean forces. “It’s the only combined division in the U.S. Army,” he said.

Mar 31, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
At Camp Casey, US general commands troops on field named after Korean War hero great-uncle
  • 'Our secret sauce': Why KATUSA program is backbone of Korea-US military alliance
Defense

'Our secret sauce': Why KATUSA program is backbone of Korea-US military alliance

CAMP CASEY, Gyeonggi Province — Within the 2nd Infantry Division, service as a Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army (KATUSA) is widely seen as more than just a supporting role. It provides a daily link between American and Korean soldiers and continues to shape relationships long after service ends. Maj. Gen. Charles Lombardo, commanding general of the division, described KATUSA as an essential part of the unit. “They are our secret sauce. They’re our superpower,” he told The Korea Times in an interview at Camp Casey, March 20. He noted that KATUSAs are embedded across the formation, working alongside U.S. soldiers at nearly every level. “Think about the relationships that are strengthened beyond service. There’s a KATUSA with every squad," he said. For Lombardo, their role extends beyond communication and administrative support. They are a defining element of how the combined division operates, helping build trust and cohesion between the two forces. That impact often continues well beyond military service. Kim Jong-wook, headquarters director of the Korea Defense Veterans Ass

Mar 31, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
'Our secret sauce': Why KATUSA program is backbone of Korea-US military alliance
  • At Camp Casey, US general commands troops on field named after Korean War hero great-uncle
Politics

Kim Boo-kyum declares Daegu mayoral bid, calls for break with PPP

Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announced Monday that he will run for mayor of Daegu in the June 3 local elections, urging voters in the conservative stronghold to rethink their long-standing political alignment. Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Kim said, “I have decided to once again challenge the Daegu mayoral race,” framing his candidacy as part of a wider effort to address regional imbalance and political stagnation. “Overcoming regionalism and achieving balanced national development is my final political mission,” he said. Kim said he had been urged to run since last fall but initially hesitated. “I felt it would be shameful to avoid this responsibility,” he said. “In the end, the responsibility I must bear lies with Daegu.” He also sharply criticized the People Power Party (PPP), which has long dominated politics in the city. “Daegu has effectively been controlled by a single party, and that has led to a lack of competition,” Kim said. “In a system where party nominations all but ensure victory, politicians have little incent

Mar 30, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Kim Boo-kyum declares Daegu mayoral bid, calls for break with PPP
Politics

PPP infighting deepens as ruling party pushes into conservative strongholds

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) is entering the June 3 local elections with its nomination process still unsettled, as internal disputes continue to spill into the open. At the same time, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is widening its focus to conservative regions, sensing an opportunity. The sharpest turbulence inside the PPP is centered on the Daegu mayoral race. Rep. Joo Ho-young, who was cut from the primary, has taken the matter to court. Others have staged hunger strikes or are shaving their heads in protest against the nomination committee's decisions. The dispute has not remained confined to the race itself. Instead, it has spread across the party, raising questions about how the nominations were handled and who is really in control. The polling numbers are also dropping. A Gallup Korea survey released this week showed the PPP’s approval rating at 19 percent. This marks the first time under the current leadership that the party has fallen below 20 percent. The same survey also showed that in the Daegu and North Gyeongsang region, long considered the party

Mar 29, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
PPP infighting deepens as ruling party pushes into conservative strongholds
Politics

More than 20% of senior presidential aides own multiple homes

More than one in five senior presidential aides were found to own multiple homes, highlighting a gap between President Lee Jae Myung’s hardline housing policymaking directive and the reality within his own office. According to data released Thursday by the Government Public Ethics Committee, 10 out of 47 senior aides at the presidential office — those at the senior secretary or secretary level — owned two or more homes as of the end of last year, accounting for 21.3 percent. Among them, two of 11 senior secretaries and eight of 33 secretaries were classified as multi-home owners. Kim Sang-ho, chief press secretary, reported owning seven properties, the highest number among the aides. Other senior aides were found to hold multiple apartments or mixed-use residential buildings in Seoul and surrounding areas. The number rises further when broader real estate holdings are included. When officetels, commercial buildings and partial ownership of housing units are counted, 18 aides — or 38.3 percent — were found to hold multiple properties, highlighting the extent of real estate expos

Mar 26, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
More than 20% of senior presidential aides own multiple homes
  • Where to draw line on Lee's push to bar officials with multiple homes from housing policymaking?
Defense

Korea weighs noncombat role in Hormuz tension

The Korean government is leaning toward offering diplomatic and other nonmilitary support for freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, rather than sending troops, amid Washington's growing pressure for allies to help stabilize shipping routes in the region. A senior official of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea said Monday that the government’s position on the issue is taking shape gradually, pointing to Korea’s participation in a joint statement led by seven countries as a key example. The foreign ministry said earlier that Korea joined the statement initiated by the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and Canada, which strongly condemned Iran’s effective closure of the strait and attacks on civilian vessels and energy infrastructure. The official added that Seoul has consistently stressed the importance of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and will continue to respond in a measured manner. The presidential office said high-level consultations with the U.S. and other countries are ongoing through multiple channels. At the same time, Seou

Mar 23, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Korea weighs noncombat role in Hormuz tension
Defense

Korea ramps up bid for Canada's $44 bil. submarine deal

Korea is ramping up efforts to secure Canada’s submarine procurement project, with Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Minister Lee Yong-cheol saying the outcome remains too close to call. “It is difficult to say at this point whether we will win or lose,” Lee said during a press briefing at MND Center in Yongsan, Seoul, Thursday. Still, he emphasized the strategic importance of the project, noting that a successful bid could significantly elevate Korea’s position in the global defense market. “If we secure the deal, it could fundamentally change the landscape of Korea’s defense industry,” he said. Canada is seeking to replace its aging submarine fleet with up to 12 next-generation vessels under a project estimated at around 60 billion Canadian dollars ($43.7 billion). Korea and Germany have emerged as the leading contenders, with Berlin proposing an industrial package that combines submarine sales with automotive and battery investments, in line with Ottawa’s push to attract broader manufacturing investment alongside defense contracts. The Canadian submarine

Mar 20, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Korea ramps up bid for Canada's $44 bil. submarine deal
Defense

Drone warfare poses new security threats to South Korea, experts warn

North Korea is rapidly absorbing drone warfare tactics and combat experience through its participation in Russia's war against Ukraine, raising new security concerns for South Korea, experts said Thursday. They warned that the growing role of low-cost unmanned systems is reshaping modern warfare and could directly affect the security environment on the Korean Peninsula. The remarks were made at a seminar hosted by Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the People Power Party at the National Assembly in Seoul. The event brought together Ukrainian and South Korean security experts to assess how recent conflicts are transforming the nature of warfare. Yu said the global security environment is undergoing what he described as a fundamental shift, with unmanned systems emerging as a central driver of change on the battlefield. He pointed to cases in which relatively inexpensive drones are used to destroy high-value targets, noting that such developments are challenging long-standing assumptions about military power and deterrence. “The rules of warfare are being rewritten,” Yu said, emphasizing that the gap

Mar 19, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Drone warfare poses new security threats to South Korea, experts warn
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