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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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Politics

National Assembly passes bill on $350 bil. investment in US

The National Assembly passed a special bill on Korea’s investments in the United States Thursday, establishing a legal framework to manage $350 billion worth of investment projects agreed upon by the two countries. Lawmakers passed the legislation after reaching a bipartisan agreement during a plenary session. Of the 242 lawmakers participating in the session, 226 voted for it and eight opposed, with another eight abstaining. The bill was passed around three months after the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the investment and tariff issues, and about six weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs on Korean goods from 15 percent to 25 percent, citing "delays" in the legislation process. President Lee Jae Myung welcomed the passage of the bill. “The bill’s passage is a meaningful example showing that there are no partisan divides when it comes to national priorities,” he wrote in a post on X. “It establishes the legal and institutional foundation needed to implement the Korea-U.S. tariff agreement.” Lee added that the governmen

Mar 12, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
National Assembly passes bill on $350 bil. investment in US
Defense

THAAD redeployment sparks fears of high-altitude defense gap in South Korea

The reported redeployment of parts of the United States’ Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system from South Korea to the Middle East has raised questions about whether the move could affect missile defense readiness on the Korean Peninsula. Although experts say the move is unlikely to create a significant gap in South Korea’s defenses, it reflects the growing flexibility in how U.S. military assets stationed here are used. The Washington Post reported Tuesday that the Pentagon was moving parts of a THAAD system from South Korea to the Middle East, citing two U.S. officials. The report said that the U.S. military is also drawing on its supply of Patriot interceptors, which are deployed in the Indo-Pacific and other regions, to strengthen defenses against Iranian drone and ballistic missile attacks. Military sources said six THAAD launcher vehicles that were recently moved from a base in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, to Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, have since returned to Seongju after unloading their interceptor missiles. The missiles are believed t

Mar 11, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
THAAD redeployment sparks fears of high-altitude defense gap in South Korea
Defense

PHOTO Dismantling THAAD launcher

This combination photo shows a launcher from a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in a ready position, left, and dismantling work underway on another launcher, right, at a U.S. THAAD base in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, last Thursday. The U.S. Department of Defense is moving part of the THAAD system deployed in Korea to the Middle East, according to media reports Tuesday. Yonhap

Mar 10, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
[PHOTO] Dismantling THAAD launcher
North Korea

Pyongyang-Beijing passenger train to resume service after pandemic shutdown

A passenger train service connecting Pyongyang and Beijing will resume operations this week for the first time in about six years, signaling a gradual reopening of cross-border travel between North Korea and China. According to a Chinese railway service center, the international train linking the two capitals is scheduled to restart round-trip service on Thursday. The route had been suspended since 2020, when North Korea sealed its borders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The train will run four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, officials said. It is scheduled to depart Beijing at 5:26 p.m. (local time) and arrive in Pyongyang at around 6 p.m. the following day. The train will stop in Dandong, a Chinese border city across the Amnok River from the North Korean city of Sinuiju. The route has long served as one of the main overland transportation links between the two countries. Officials said the service will initially be used mainly to transport diplomats and other travelers on official business. If seats remain available, authorities may consider allowing

Mar 10, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Pyongyang-Beijing passenger train to resume service after pandemic shutdown
Politics

PPP’s break with Yoon sparks conservative rift ahead of local elections

The main opposition People Power Party’s (PPP) decision to formally distance itself from former President Yoon Suk Yeol is exposing deep divisions within Korea’s conservative bloc as the country approaches the June 3 local elections. The party adopted a resolution Monday rejecting calls for Yoon’s political comeback, marking its clearest attempt yet to separate itself from the so-called “Yoon Again” movement that has gained traction among some conservative supporters following the former president’s conviction over his Dec. 3, 2024, martial law declaration. Political observers say the move reflects growing concerns within the party about its electoral prospects, particularly in the Seoul metropolitan area, where public sentiment toward conservatives has deteriorated sharply. At an emergency meeting of lawmakers, the PPP apologized for the turmoil caused by Yoon’s martial law declaration and said that it opposes “all claims calling for the former president’s political return.” The resolution was issued in the name of all PPP lawmakers. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon welcomed th

Mar 10, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
PPP’s break with Yoon sparks conservative rift ahead of local elections
Society

Rising Sun flag at WBC Korea-Japan game sparks criticism

The appearance of the Rising Sun flag during a World Baseball Classic (WBC) game between Korea and Japan has sparked criticism after Japanese spectators were seen displaying the controversial symbol at Tokyo Dome. The flag, widely associated with the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy, is viewed by many throughout Asia as a symbol of the country’s militaristic colonial past, including its 35-year rule over Korea. The incident occurred during the 2026 WBC match played Saturday. Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women’s University, said he sent a protest email to the tournament’s organizers after reports showed several Japanese fans holding and waving the controversial flags before entering the stadium. “Some Japanese fans were openly displaying the Rising Sun flag and cheering before entering Tokyo Dome,” Seo wrote on social media Saturday, citing footage reported by broadcaster JTBC. “The Rising Sun flag is a symbol of Japan’s militarism and imperialism,” he said. “Using it while cheering denies the history of Japan’s past wars of aggression and reminds many Asians

Mar 8, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Rising Sun flag at WBC Korea-Japan game sparks criticism
Politics

Experts see growing links between European, Asian security amid Ukraine war

Security developments in Europe and East Asia are becoming increasingly intertwined in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, experts said at the Inaugural Strategic Dialogue in Seoul last week. Participants said the war had accelerated debate over whether to view crises in different regions as part of a broader strategic environment rather than isolated regional challenges. They also pointed to growing pressure from the United States for allies to assume greater responsibility for their own defense, as well as expanding opportunities for Europe-Asia cooperation in fields such as defense and advanced technologies. The discussion took place at the Korea Military Academy, where the International Policy Studies Institute (IPSI) and Hungary’s Danube Institute jointly hosted the event, titled “Changing Dynamics of Geopolitics in Europe and East Asia: Assessing Constraints and Opportunities for Cooperation.” Hong Kyu-dok, president of IPSI, said the forum was intended to promote deeper exchanges between experts from Europe and Asia as geopolitical risks continue to grow. “This fo

Mar 8, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Experts see growing links between European, Asian security amid Ukraine war
Politics

Unification ministry adopts new English term for North Korean defectors

The Ministry of Unification said it will use “North Korean-born citizens” as the standard English expression for people from North Korea who now live in the South. The ministry recently circulated guidance on the new term, explaining that it was chosen to better reflect both their birthplace and their legal status as citizens protected under South Korea’s Constitution. Previously, several English terms have been used to describe them, including “defectors,” “refugees” and “escapees.” Officials said those expressions tend to focus on the act of fleeing North Korea rather than the individual’s identity. The new phrase, they said, reflects both their birthplace in North Korea and their status as citizens under South Korean law. The ministry added that the term also reflects the constitutional principle that people from North Korea are recognized as South Korean citizens, even if they are currently residing in a third country. The guidance comes as the government promotes a new Korean term referring to people whose hometown lies in the North, rather than the commonly used

Mar 5, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Unification ministry adopts new English term for North Korean defectors
Politics

Students flood president’s TikTok with playful pleas as followers surpass 110,000

President Lee Jae Myung’s newly launched TikTok account has quickly drawn attention from young users, with students flooding the comment section with playful requests as the new school term began across Korea. As of Wednesday morning, Lee’s official TikTok account, @jaemyung_lee, had 111,300 followers and about 248,600 cumulative likes. The account was launched Saturday, marking Lee’s entry into the short-form video platform as he expands online communication beyond Facebook and X, formerly called Twitter. The first video posted on the account has already surpassed 2.6 million views, drawing strong engagement from younger users. In the clip, Lee is seen pressing a “join TikTok” button on a document handed to him by an aide before making a hand-heart gesture toward the camera. “Follow, like and comment — you know the drill,” Lee says in the video. The comment section has since turned into an unexpected outlet for students as most schools across the country resumed classes this week. Many comments appear to come from teenagers or elementary school students, with messages such

Mar 4, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Students flood president’s TikTok with playful pleas as followers surpass 110,000
Foreign Affairs

23 Koreans evacuated from Iran to Turkmenistan

Twenty-three Korean nationals were evacuated from Iran to neighboring Turkmenistan as tensions escalate across the Middle East, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday. The evacuees crossed the Iran-Turkmenistan border on Tuesday evening, Korea time, with assistance from the Korean Embassy in Tehran and a rapid-response team dispatched from Seoul. According to the ministry, the group departed Iran on Monday morning aboard two buses arranged by the embassy and escorted by diplomatic staff. After an overnight stop, they completed entry procedures at the Turkmenistan border without incident. They are traveling to Ashgabat, the capital, using transportation arranged by the Korean Embassy there and are scheduled to depart individually on Wednesday for Korea or third countries. “This evacuation was part of preemptive efforts to ensure the safety of our nationals in light of the deteriorating security environment,” a foreign ministry official said. “We have maintained close communication with those involved and prioritized their safe relocation.” The official added that a rapid resp

Mar 3, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
23 Koreans evacuated from Iran to Turkmenistan
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