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

Politics

Ruling party shaken by nomination bribery allegations ahead of local elections

Korea’s ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is scrambling to contain political fallout after allegations surfaced that money may have been exchanged during its candidate nomination process ahead of the 2022 local elections — a controversy that now threatens to complicate preparations for this year’s local polls. The allegations center on claims that during the 2022 local elections, Kim Byung-kee — who served as secretary of the Seoul party nomination committee — was aware that an aide to DPK lawmaker Kang Sun-woo had received 100 million won ($69,200) in cash from Kim Kyung, then a prospective city council candidate, but failed to intervene. The controversy escalated after media reports on Monday disclosed audio recordings related to the case. Kim stepped down from his post the following day. Kim said the growing controversy had reached a point where it risked damaging the party as a whole. “I concluded that remaining in this position would inevitably become a burden on the DPK and on the Lee Jae Myung administration,” Kim said, adding that he could not allow the issue t

Dec 31, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
Ruling party shaken by nomination bribery allegations ahead of local elections
Society

PHOTO Bidding farewell to 2025, preparing for 2026

A maintenance engineer checks the engine of a Boeing 777-200 aircraft at Asiana Airlines' second hangar at Incheon International Airport, Dec. 18, to prepare for operation in the new year. After various accidents and fires in 2025, citizens hope for safety and security in the coming year. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Dec 30, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
[PHOTO] Bidding farewell to 2025, preparing for 2026
Defense

Hanwha Aerospace signs $4 bil. Chunmoo missile contract with Poland

Hanwha Aerospace has signed an execution contract worth about 5.6 trillion won ($4 billion) to supply Chunmoo guided missiles to Poland, according to the company and government officials. The contract was signed on Monday (local time) at the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw with the Polish Armament Agency. It covers the supply of CGR-080 guided missiles with a maximum range of 80 kilometers and will be carried out through Hanwha-WB Advanced System, a joint venture established by Hanwha Aerospace and Poland’s WB Group. The missiles will be produced at a dedicated facility in Poland, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2030. This is the third execution contract Poland has signed for the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system. Hanwha Aerospace concluded a framework agreement with Poland in 2022 and later that year signed its first execution contract, valued at about 5 trillion won. A second execution contract worth roughly 2 trillion won followed in April 2024. With the latest agreement, the total value of Chunmoo-related contracts with Poland has reached about 12.6 trillion won. Speaking

Dec 30, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
Hanwha Aerospace signs $4 bil. Chunmoo missile contract with Poland
Politics

Nomination of conservative economist triggers political backlash across parties

The nomination of a veteran economist and three-term conservative lawmaker to a key Cabinet post sparked a political backlash, exposing deep divisions over President Lee Jae Myung’s push for “pragmatic and inclusive” appointments. Lee Hye-hoon, a former lawmaker from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), was named Sunday as the first minister-designate of the newly established Ministry of Planning and Budget, a powerful body tasked with shaping fiscal policy and long-term economic strategy. The presidential office said the nomination was consistent with the president’s governing philosophy and that professional competence, rather than political affiliation, had guided the decision. A senior presidential official said the president believes that “anyone with proven expertise and experience should be given a role, regardless of where they come from politically.” The decision, however, immediately drew sharp reactions from both the opposition and within the ruling bloc. The PPP reacted swiftly and harshly. Hours after the nomination was announced, the party convened an em

Dec 29, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
Nomination of conservative economist triggers political backlash across parties
Politics

Coupang founder apologizes over massive data breach, but refuses again to attend parliamentary hearing

Kim Bom-suk, founder of Coupang, issued a public apology Sunday over a massive customer data breach at the e-commerce platform, saying the incident caused “great concern and inconvenience” to customers and the public. The belated apology came nearly a month after the data leak was disclosed, as the government and the National Assembly have been stepping up their pressure to hold the e-commerce giant responsible for the incident. However, separately from the apology, he again refused to attend an Assembly hearing slated for Tuesday and Wednesday. “As the founder and chair of Coupang’s board, I sincerely apologize on behalf of all employees,” Kim said in a statement over the incident, in which about 33.7 million customers' information was allegedly leaked. He acknowledged that many customers were left feeling uneasy about the security of their personal information, and admitted that Coupang failed to communicate clearly in the early stages of the incident. “I deeply regret the inadequate initial response and lack of communication,” he said, adding that his apology came too la

Dec 28, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
Coupang founder apologizes over massive data breach, but refuses again to attend parliamentary hearing
Politics

New insurrection tribunal faces legitimacy questions as Yoon weighs appeal

The passage of a new law mandating dedicated court panels for insurrection-related crimes has thrust Korea into a complex legal debate, as critics and government officials alike weigh whether the special tribunal violates the fundamental principles of the country’s judiciary. Under the law, known as the Special Act on Criminal Procedures for Insurrection, Foreign Aggression and Rebellion Crimes, at least two specialized panels must be established at the Seoul Central District Court and the Seoul High Court to hear cases related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s imposition of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. The legislation was passed despite repeated objections raised during parliamentary deliberations. Critics note that the Constitution allows only military courts as a special exception, a provision they say the insurrection tribunal may run up against. Article 101 vests judicial power exclusively in courts composed of judges, while permitting military courts as an explicit exception. Opponents contend that creating a tribunal through legislation to hear a specific category of cases

Dec 24, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
New insurrection tribunal faces legitimacy questions as Yoon weighs appeal
Defense

Trump wants Hanwha to build US frigates at Philadelphia shipyard

When U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled plans to build new frigates for the U.S. Navy and specifically mentioned Korea’s Hanwha, the moment stood out as more than a passing mention to a foreign defense contractor. By explicitly naming the Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean, Trump seemed to signal a preferred partner in his broader push to revitalize the American shipbuilding industry — a move that has reshaped perceptions of the competitive race between Korean shipbuilders under the so-called MASGA initiative, short for “Make American Shipbuilding Great Again.” The remarks have been widely interpreted as tipping the scales in favor of Hanwha over HD Hyundai, two Korean shipbuilding heavyweights often described by industry insiders as twin pillars of Korea’s naval construction sector. While both companies have been considered potential partners for the U.S. Navy, Trump’s emphasis on Hanwha suggests that the contest is being judged not only on technical sophistication, but also on which company best aligns with the administration’s political and industrial priorities. Trump’

Dec 23, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
Trump wants Hanwha to build US frigates at Philadelphia shipyard
Defense

Next-generation destroyer faces more delays after shift to competitive bidding

Korea’s arms procurement agency has again postponed a final decision on how to award the Korean Next-Generation Destroyer (KDDX) project, opting instead for a designated competitive bidding process after nearly two years of deadlock. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said Monday that the Defense Project Promotion Committee had approved a plan to select a contractor for the detailed design and construction of the first KDDX vessel through a competition limited to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean. The agency will now redraw its master plan for the ship’s detailed design and construction, a blueprint that must clear a final committee hurdle before formal bids are solicited. While the move introduces another layer of administrative review to the already stalled program, officials insist they are committed to an aggressive timeline, aiming to finalize a contract by the end of next year. A DAPA official said the committee reached the decision unanimously after extensive deliberation. “Many members emphasized the need to restore fairness through competition

Dec 22, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
Next-generation destroyer faces more delays after shift to competitive bidding
Defense

Lee gov't moves to ease North Korea sanctions

The Lee Jae Myung administration is intensifying its outreach to North Korea, signaling the change through a series of policy decisions and public remarks that emphasize dialogue, the careful management of military tensions and a selective easing of sanctions. In recent weeks, this shift has begun to crystallize as a recalibrated military posture along the inter-Korean border and a sweeping overhaul of the Ministry of National Defense’s North Korea apparatus. At the same time, South Korean officials have reopened the question of easing unilateral sanctions, moves that are aimed at restoring long-dormant channels to Pyongyang and increasingly viewed by analysts as groundwork for a potential high-stakes summit between the United States and North Korea on the sidelines of U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to China in April. As the latest move, the defense ministry has decided to reinstate the North Korea policy office, reversing a reorganization carried out under the conservative Yoon Suk Yeol administration. This office had previously been renamed the “North Korea strategy office

Dec 22, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
Lee gov't moves to ease North Korea sanctions
Politics

Seoul to appoint Korean Peninsula peace envoy

The Ministry of Unification said Friday that it is moving to appoint a special envoy for peace on the Korean Peninsula, as the Lee Jae Myung administration seeks new diplomatic channels to revive dialogue with North Korea amid prolonged tensions. The plan was outlined during the ministry’s policy briefing to the president, where officials said the envoy would be tasked with engaging key countries and international partners to explain Seoul’s peace initiatives and explore ways to restart talks. This reflects the government’s intention to play a more proactive role as a direct stakeholder in efforts to ease inter-Korean tensions. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said South Korea should play a more active role in shaping discussions on the Korean Peninsula, emphasizing that Seoul must not remain on the sidelines of diplomacy concerning its own future. “The Korean Peninsula issue is ultimately our own problem, and we need to strengthen our role as a direct party in pushing the process forward,” he said during the briefing. He added that the proposed peace envoy would help to

Dec 19, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
Seoul to appoint Korean Peninsula peace envoy
previous page
1718192021
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.