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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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Society

7 honorary ambassadors to promote Seoul's global appeal

The Seoul Metropolitan Government appointed seven new promotional ambassadors on Tuesday from the entertainment, music and media sectors, in a bid to boost the city’s global brand and cultural outreach. Those appointed include actor Kim Seok-hoon, YouTuber Park We, pianist Sunwoo Yekwon, actress and singer Song Ji-eun, broadcaster Um Ji-yeon, K-pop boy band ENHYPEN and rookie girl group Hearts2Hearts. The appointment ceremony took place in the multipurpose hall at Seoul City Hall, with all ambassadors in attendance. The selected individuals, who are widely recognized as experts in their respective fields both domestically and internationally, are expected to use their influence to promote Seoul’s diverse cultural content and policy initiatives. According to city officials, the ambassadors will serve a two-year term and contribute to public campaigns spanning youth issues, welfare, tourism, the environment and the arts. Having recently completed a world tour, ENHYPEN will now focus on promoting Seoul’s tourism and lifestyle to younger and overseas audiences. Meanwhile, Hearts2Heart

Jun 17, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
7 honorary ambassadors to promote Seoul's global appeal
Politics

Lee Jae-myung’s job approval rating hits 59% in 1st week since taking office

Nearly six out of 10 Koreans gave a positive evaluation to President Lee Jae-myung's job performance in his first public evaluation since taking office on June 4, according to a poll released Monday. In a survey conducted by Realmeter from Monday to Friday, 58.6 percent of 2,507 adults nationwide approved of Lee's job performance, while 34.2 percent said he was performing poorly and 7.2 percent said they were unsure. Lee's approval rating in his first week as president was higher than those of his predecessors Yoon Suk Yeol who received 52.1 percent, and Park Geun-hye at 54.8 percent. However, it was lower than the ratings achieved by Moon Jae-in at 81.6 percent and Lee Myung-bak at 76 percent. Realmeter attributes the positive evaluation to a number of factors, including an improvement in economic sentiment that includes a bullish stock market, as well as the resumption of diplomacy including Lee's phone calls with his U.S., Japanese and Chinese counterparts. By region, Lee received the highest job approval from Gwangju and the Jeolla provinces at 75.8 percent. He was also popular in In

Jun 16, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
Lee Jae-myung’s job approval rating hits 59% in 1st week since taking office
Politics

New president turns social media feed into briefing room

“Reporting to the people.” Every day, President Lee Jae-myung shares a summary of the previous day’s activities under this title on his social media account. These posts include photos and brief updates on everything from policy meetings with business leaders to security briefings on the conflict between Israel and Iran. Since the series began on June 10, Lee has not missed a single day. Although politicians’ use of social media is nothing new, daily presidential updates written in the president’s own voice and shared via personal account represent a notable shift. This is not a feed curated by staff or an official government channel. Lee writes and posts the updates himself. “I feel it is my duty to report each day to the people who entrusted me with this office,” he wrote in a recent post. This communication style is one that Lee has refined over the years. During his time as mayor of Seongnam and subsequently as governor of Gyeonggi Province, he was renowned for his prompt and active responses to citizens’ online messages, as well as his “action-first” approach to

Jun 16, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
New president turns social media feed into briefing room
Politics

PM nominee under pressure to withdraw over criminal record, power abuse allegations

Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok has come under pressure to resign over his past conduct, including criminal convictions for receiving illegal political funds, power abuse allegations and dubious academic credentials, as well as questions surrounding his assets, as the controversy quickly evolved into a broader criticism of the new Lee Jae-myung administration. Lawmakers from both the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the opposition People Power Party (PPP) are set to hold the first round of negotiations on Tuesday to finalize the schedule for Kim’s confirmation hearing. The National Assembly’s special committee on Kim’s confirmation comprises 13 members — seven from the DPK, five from the PPP and one from the minor Rebuilding Korea Party. Under current parliamentary rules, the hearing must be completed by June 29. The PPP highlighted his criminal record, citing his convictions for accepting illicit political donations from SK Group and from three acquaintances in 2002 and 2008. He is also accused of receiving 40 million won ($30,000) as a "loan" from an acquaintanc

Jun 15, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
PM nominee under pressure to withdraw over criminal record, power abuse allegations
Politics

President signals deregulation drive, aims for policy sync with big businesses

President Lee Jae-myung held his first meeting with the heads of Korea’s top business groups, Friday, pledging to eliminate unnecessary regulations and establish a new channel for policy coordination. Framing his administration as an ally of the private sector, Lee called for mutual trust and emphasized that “support and encouragement — not control — will define the government’s role in the economy.” Just nine days into his presidency, Lee convened the high-profile meeting that brought together the heads of Korea’s five largest conglomerates — Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong; Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun, SK Group Chairman and Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman Chey Tae-won; LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo; and Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin. The gathering also included the leaders of six major business associations: the KCCI, Korea Enterprises Federation (KEF), Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), Korea International Trade Association (KITA), Korea Federation of SMEs (KBIZ), and Korea Federation of Middle Market Enterprise

Jun 13, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
President signals deregulation drive, aims for policy sync with big businesses
Politics

Education ministry accused of shielding group tied to after-school certification scandal

The Ministry of Education is facing sharp scrutiny amid accusations that it actively shielded a key organization from an ongoing investigation into a far-right teaching network. The controversy centers on alleged ideological infiltration into public after-school programs, raising questions about the integrity of the nation’s educational oversight. The organization, whose Korean name would translate to Life and School Training Institute, issued certificates used by instructors in public elementary schools and has maintained close ties with the Rhee Park School. That civic group, named after polarizing former presidents Syngman Rhee and Park Chung-hee, is widely known for its ultra-conservative historical interpretations. Records made public by ruling party lawmakers indicate the ministry specifically excluded this institute from a directive sent to 17 provincial education offices, a directive that otherwise called for a comprehensive review of certification records linked to the Rhee Park School and its affiliated entities. Despite being left off the list, instructors certified by the i

Jun 11, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
Education ministry accused of shielding group tied to after-school certification scandal
People & Events

Air Force doctor helps troops fight smoking with grit and trust

For Lt. Col. Kim Young-jin, commander of the medical battalion at the Air Force’s 20th Fighter Wing, tackling smoking isn’t about strict enforcement — it’s about empathy, persistence and meeting people where they are. Recognized with a health minister’s award on World No Tobacco Day, Kim has quietly led a shift in attitudes toward smoking within the base where she serves. Since joining the military as a nurse officer in 2007, she has organized mobile counseling sessions, lunchtime campaigns and informal conversations with troops. “You can sense it — people are changing, little by little,” she said. What sets her approach apart is its accessibility. Realizing that rigid clinic hours don’t suit military life, Kim brought counseling directly to the troops. More recently, she launched a task force with security and safety teams to reevaluate smoking zones and reduce secondhand smoke exposure. She also plans to expand cancer screenings — currently limited to pilots — to include their families. “When you see possible cancer risks in your children, it changes how you thin

Jun 11, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
Air Force doctor helps troops fight smoking with grit and trust
Politics

PM nominee refutes ‘anti-American’ label, embraces US legal principles

Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok on Monday dismissed allegations of anti-Americanism stemming from his past as a student activist, asserting that he has long admired the U.S. Constitution and its legal traditions. His swift and unequivocal denial underscores the enduring sensitivity of anti-American sentiment in Korean politics, particularly for senior officials with roots in student activism and highlighting the delicate balance Seoul must navigate between nationalist sentiment and its vital alliance with Washington. “I have great respect for how the American legal system protects individual rights and ensures democratic accountability,” Kim said during a press briefing in Seoul. Kim, who holds a U.S. law degree and bar certification, added that his ties with American legal and political figures — including some in the Donald Trump administration — position him to strengthen Korea-U.S. relations. “Knowing how our allies’ legal systems function allows for more strategic and effective diplomacy,” he said. Addressing the 1985 occupation of the U.S. Cultural Center in Seoul,

Jun 10, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
PM nominee refutes ‘anti-American’ label, embraces US legal principles
Politics

Special probes loom for disgraced ex-president and wife

Korea’s new government is expected to officially launch three special counsel investigations as soon as Tuesday, targeting former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee. Investigators will focus on allegations ranging from the unconstitutionality of Yoon's martial law declaration to stock price manipulation and election interference. The investigations come amid mounting pressure from lawmakers and the public demanding accountability after Yoon’s contentious martial law order and a string of high-profile scandals involving his administration and family members. The three bills passed by the National Assembly on Thursday mandate the appointment of special prosecutors to investigate Yoon’s Dec. 3 martial law declaration, Kim’s alleged involvement in financial and election-related misconduct and the death of Marine Cpl. Chae Su-geun during a flood rescue operation in July 2023. Chae died while participating in a search-and-rescue mission for missing civilians during heavy rainfall, and the case has drawn public scrutiny over allegations of interference and cover-up atte

Jun 9, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
Special probes loom for disgraced ex-president and wife
Politics

KOREA TIMES POLL Koreans expect new president to revive economy with strong drive

Koreans expect the Lee Jae-myung government to carry out state affairs with administrative capacity and strong driving forces and use that power to revive the sluggish economy, a public opinion poll by The Korea Times showed, Saturday. They also expressed concerns about the unchecked power of Lee and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and lingering legal controversies involving the president himself. Such expectations and concerns were sharply divided according to respondents' political preferences, implying that uniting the nation, which has been sharply divided, especially since former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law fiasco last year, will be another major task for the new leader. According to the poll conducted by Hankook Research at the request of The Korea Times after Lee's election, respondents mainly expect strong administrative skills and policy momentum from Lee’s administration, with 25 percent of 1,000 surveyed people highlighting these as key expectations. Economic policies supportive of workers, small businesses and minority shareholders were also anticipated

Jun 7, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
[KOREA TIMES POLL] Koreans expect new president to revive economy with strong drive
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