my timesThe Korea Times
ejb

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.

Go to Email

Read more

Defense

Gov’t begins evacuation measures for Koreans in Middle East

The government is evacuating some Korean nationals from parts of the Middle East as tensions in the region escalate, while withholding specific details for safety reasons, officials said Tuesday. About 21,000 Korean nationals are currently in 13 countries across the region. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said the protection of overseas nationals must remain the government’s top priority as uncertainty grows. “The protection of our nationals abroad is the government’s top priority,” Kim said during a Cabinet meeting at Government Complex Seoul. “Please ensure that evacuation measures and response plans for residents in the affected countries are thoroughly prepared.” He added that relevant ministries must be ready to act if conditions worsen. “The Ministry of National Defense has reported that military transport aircraft and other assets are on standby,” Kim said. “We must be prepared to respond immediately, should circumstances require it.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and lawmakers gave a briefing at a meeting between the ruling party and government earlier in the day

Mar 3, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Gov’t begins evacuation measures for Koreans in Middle East
Politics

17%: PPP approval rating plunges as internal rift over Yoon deepens

A new poll showing the People Power Party's (PPP) approval rating plunging to 17 percent has intensified concerns that leader Jang Dong-hyeok’s leadership is entering a critical phase ahead of the June 3 local elections. The nationwide survey released Thursday marked the party’s lowest level since Jang took office and widened the gap with the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) to 28 percentage points. In Seoul, the party recorded 19 percent support, followed by 16 percent in Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, 15 percent in Daejeon, Sejong and Chungcheong, and 12 percent in Gangwon and Jeju. Even in Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province, traditional conservative strongholds, it trailed the DPK by double digits. The result that most alarmed party officials was Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, long considered the conservative base, where the two parties were tied at 28 percent. It marked the first time the PPP’s rating fell below 20 percent since August last year. Party lawmakers and analysts attribute the slump to mounting internal divisions and controversy over Jang’s sta

Feb 27, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
17%: PPP approval rating plunges as internal rift over Yoon deepens
Defense

USFK says report on Pentagon-directed statement contains inaccuracies

U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Friday that a local media report, which claimed its recent statement on communication with Korea about a West Sea drill was issued under instructions from Washington, contains multiple inaccuracies. In response to an inquiry from The Korea Times, USFK said the report included “many parts that differ from the facts.” But it did not specify which elements it disputed or provide further clarification. The report in question said that a statement issued by USFK on Feb. 24 concerning the West Sea drill earlier in the month was prepared under direction from the U.S. Department of Defense. It said USFK Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson shared details of the situation with higher authorities in the United States and coordinated messaging before releasing it. The report also said that U.S. officials raised concerns about how information related to the incident was transmitted within Korea’s military chain of command. USFK did not tell The Korea Times whether it would issue a formal rebuttal to the report. The issue stemmed from a Feb. 18 incident in which USFK train

Feb 27, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
USFK says report on Pentagon-directed statement contains inaccuracies
  • USFK commander reportedly apologizes over West Sea drill
  • Korea, US see problems with coordination over military drills
  • Korea, US give conflicting accounts of West Sea drill communication
North Korea

April NK-US summit looms as both sides signal openness

Speculation is growing over a possible summit between North Korea and the United States as both sides have recently signaled a willingness to engage in dialogue. Analysts say a bilateral meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may be possible in line with Trump’s planned visit to China in April. But they also say the chances of a summit resulting in tangible outcomes remain uncertain, as Pyongyang implied talks could take place only if certain conditions are met. The signal for potential talks came in Kim’s remarks during a policy review session from Friday to Saturday at the Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. "There is no reason for the two countries not to get along if the U.S. respects our country's current state as defined in the constitution and withdraws its hostile policy toward North Korea," Kim was quoted as saying by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Thursday. "The prospect of North Korea-U.S. relations totally depends on the U.S.' attitude ... We are prepared for peaceful coexistence or eternal con

Feb 26, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
April NK-US summit looms as both sides signal openness
Defense

Korea, US give conflicting accounts of West Sea drill communication

Korea and the United States are offering conflicting accounts over communication between the two sides about a recent U.S. air exercise in the West Sea in which U.S. and Chinese jets experienced a brief standoff. The differing explanations center on whether Seoul was given advance notice about the drill and whether the top U.S. commander apologized over the issue. The dispute stems from a large-scale U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) drill conducted Feb. 18 and 19 from Osan Air Base, during which U.S. fighter jets carried out more than 100 sorties over waters west of the Korean Peninsula. Chinese warplanes also scrambled in response, leading to a short aerial standoff between the two sides. The defense ministry confirmed that Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Jin Young-seung, spoke with USFK Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson to protest that details of the exercise had not been sufficiently shared in advance with Korean authorities and that such operations could heighten tensions in nearby waters. USFK pushed back on the implication there was no prior coordin

Feb 25, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Korea, US give conflicting accounts of West Sea drill communication
  • USFK commander reportedly apologizes over West Sea drill
  • Korea, US see problems with coordination over military drills
Defense

USFK commander reportedly apologizes over West Sea drill

Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), apologized to Korean military officials for a recent West Sea air exercise that briefly brought U.S. and Chinese fighter jets into a tense encounter, according to news reports. The Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday that parts of the media accounts were accurate but declined to provide further details, citing diplomatic sensitivity. The U.S. military also declined to confirm the reports. The USFK staged large-scale aerial maneuvers from Osan Air Base on Feb. 18 and 19, during which Chinese aircraft also scrambled, creating a temporary standoff over the West Sea. Korean officials were said to have protested that the plan had not been sufficiently shared in advance. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back reportedly called Brunson on Feb. 19 to lodge a complaint. Afterward, Brunson conveyed his apology and the drill, originally scheduled to run through last Saturday, was halted early on Feb. 19, according to the reports. Defense ministry spokesperson Chung Binna confirmed to reporters that the phone call had taken place, but said that

Feb 24, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
USFK commander reportedly apologizes over West Sea drill
Environment & Animals

PHOTO Snow blankets Daejeon

A pedestrian crosses a street as snow falls in Dunsan-dong, Seo District, Daejeon, Tuesday. A heavy snow advisory was in effect for Daejeon, Sejong City and southern South Chungcheong Province. Yonhap

Feb 24, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
[PHOTO] Snow blankets Daejeon
Politics

As cable giant shuts out rivals, Lee seeks to topple Olympic paywall

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called for changes to the law to ensure what he described as “universal access” to major sporting events, criticizing a private broadcaster that secured exclusive rights to the Olympics and the 2026 World Cup. While Lee did not name the company, his remarks clearly targeted JTBC, the cable giant whose exclusive contracts have sidelined traditional networks in Winter Olympics coverage. The move has sparked backlash over a "paywall" being placed around events long viewed as a shared national right. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Lee said the government should review how Koreans can watch events that carry broad public interest. “Institutional improvements are needed to ensure our people have broad access to international events,” he said. Lee pointed to the recently concluded Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, saying the national mood did not rise as much as in past global competitions despite strong performances by Korean athletes. “Despite our athletes’ grit and performances, there is regret that social excitement was not sufficiently elevated co

Feb 24, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
As cable giant shuts out rivals, Lee seeks to topple Olympic paywall
Defense

Korea, US see problems with coordination over military drills

Korea and the United States have seen problems in coordination in recent military activities. The latest issue involved a U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) drill conducted over the West Sea without detailed prior coordination with Korea’s military. According to military sources, the United States on Jan. 15 proposed a trilateral air exercise with Korea and Japan. The proposed timing overlapped with the Lunar New Year holiday period and came shortly before Japan’s “Takeshima Day,” in which Japan renews its claim over Korea's easternmost Dokdo islets. This timing prompted Seoul to request adjustments. Korea suggested either bringing the exercise forward to distance it from the date or holding a Korea-U.S. bilateral drill afterward. Washington later informed Seoul on Feb. 5 that it would proceed with a U.S.-only exercise, the sources said. But the U.S. conducted joint air drills with Japan on Feb. 16 and 18 over the East Sea and the East China Sea. The exercises involved four B-52 strategic bombers and Japanese fighter aircraft. USFK also carried out a solo drill over waters west of the Korea

Feb 23, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Korea, US see problems with coordination over military drills
Foreign Affairs

Tariff uncertainty likely to further delay Korea-US nuclear sub talks

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision striking down Washington’s tariff scheme has emerged as a new variable affecting security negotiations between Seoul and Washington, raising concerns that uncertainties surrounding the tariff issue may hinder defense cooperation. Officials here have said the trade issue is separate from security issues, including Seoul’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines and expanded rights over uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing. However, the security negotiations have already been delayed by the deadlock in tariff talks in recent months, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump on Jan. 27 threatened to raise levies on Korean goods, citing Korea's slow progress on pledged investments. The timing of a planned visit by a U.S. interagency delegation is now being closely watched. Seoul expects officials from the White House, the State Department, the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy to participate in the security negotiations, saying earlier this month that the delegation may arrive at the end of February or early March. However,

Feb 22, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Tariff uncertainty likely to further delay Korea-US nuclear sub talks
previous page
1617181920
next page

Top 5 stories

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.