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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 launches military service support system for nationals abroad

The Military Manpower Administration (MMA) launched an interagency support network for overseas Koreans after finding that some citizens living abroad miss military service procedures simply because they are unfamiliar with Korea’s conscription system. The move reflects a broader demographic shift. As the number of multicultural families in Korea has grown over the decades, so too has the population of children born to one Korean and one foreign parent who reside outside Korea. Many of these individuals retain their Korean nationality — and the legal obligation to fulfill military service that comes with it — but grow up with little exposure to Korea's conscription system or the procedures it entails. The MMA formally launched the network on Tuesday with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Overseas Koreans Agency. The four agencies will work together to provide military service and nationality counseling, enlistment guidance and other support for Korean citizens living overseas, particularly those who have spent much of their lives abroad a

Jul 14, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Korea launches military service support system for nationals abroad
Defense

US commander praises Korea's RIMPAC leadership

HONOLULU — The top U.S. commander overseeing this year’s Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise praised the Republic of Korea Navy’s leadership in its first command of a major multinational maritime force, as Korea continues to take on larger leadership roles in the world’s largest naval exercise. Vice Adm. Jeffrey Jablon, commander of the Combined Task Force for RIMPAC 2026, said he was “extremely pleased” with the performance of Rear Adm. Kim In-ho, commander of the ROK Fleet, who is serving as Combined Maritime Component commander — the first time the role has been assigned to an Asian nation. “We are very happy to partner with the Republic of Korea and Rear Adm. In-ho Kim and his team,” Jablon said in a written interview with the Korean press corps. “I am extremely pleased with their performance.” He said training together in “complex, realistic scenarios” strengthens warfighting skills and interoperability, adding that such cooperation depends on partners continuing “to invest in their people and capabilities to increase their role in multinational maritime

Jul 12, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
US commander praises Korea's RIMPAC leadership
Defense

From 'cute navy' to RIMPAC command

HONOLULU — Foreign navies once referred to the Korean Navy as the “cute navy.” Rear Adm. Kim In-ho, commander of the Republic of Korea Fleet, recalled hearing the nickname from senior officers who participated in earlier Rim of the Pacific exercises (RIMPAC), when sending two frigates across the Pacific to Hawaii was considered an achievement. Those days are long gone. Today, Korea commands the maritime component of the world’s largest multinational naval exercise. Kim, the first officer from an Asian country to lead the Combined Force Maritime Component Command (CFMCC), said the experience extends beyond this year’s exercise and will help strengthen the Korean military’s combined maritime capabilities as it prepares for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington to Seoul. “RIMPAC is designed to improve interoperability, protect sea lines of communication and strengthen multinational responses to maritime threats,” Kim told reporters during a media roundtable. “In that sense, it also provides a valuable opportunity for our military to further stre

Jul 10, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
From 'cute navy' to RIMPAC command
Defense

Philippine captain praises Korea-built frigate after 1st year at sea

HONOLULU — Alongside Korean warships drawing crowds at this year’s Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), another vessel built in Korea has been attracting attention — one flying the Philippine flag. The BRP Miguel Malvar, the Philippine Navy’s newest frigate built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, entered service a year ago and is taking part in the multinational exercise for the first time. Capt. Paul Michael P. Hechanova, the ship’s first commanding officer, said the frigate has operated without major problems since its delivery and has met the Philippine Navy’s operational requirements. “So far, the ship has really met the requirements of the Philippine Navy when it comes to capabilities,” Hechanova told a group of Korean reporters aboard the frigate Tuesday. “We have not encountered any major problems. The ship is well buit.” He said the vessel was also deployed to India’s MILAN exercise earlier this year. “Its seakeeping is very good, and the design has been excellent so far,” he said, comparing it with the Jose Rizal-class frigates. “It is bigger, heavier and

Jul 9, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Philippine captain praises Korea-built frigate after 1st year at sea
Defense

Korean Navy's P-8A demonstrates submarine-hunting capability at RIMPAC

HONOLULU — At 9:54 a.m. Monday, a Republic of Korea Navy P-8A Poseidon roared down the runway at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and climbed over the Pacific, heading toward its assigned patrol area. Minutes later, a U.S. Navy P-8A lifted off from Kalaeloa Airport, marking the start of another joint anti-submarine warfare mission during this year’s Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC). For the Korean Navy, the flight carried added significance. It marked the Korean Navy’s first RIMPAC deployment of the newly introduced P-8A maritime patrol aircraft and the first time reporters were allowed to observe one of its operational missions while onboard. The exercise centered on tracking a submarine target simulator designed to replicate the movements of a real submarine. Before the patrol aircraft arrived, the U.S. Navy deployed separate simulators into the Korean and American operating sectors. Once in the water, the devices quietly followed preprogrammed routes while attempting to avoid detection. The mission for both aircraft was straightforward in concept but notoriously difficult in pra

Jul 8, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Korean Navy's P-8A demonstrates submarine-hunting capability at RIMPAC
Defense

Still evolving after 4 decades: Aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt at RIMPAC 2026

HONOLULU — Standing beneath rows of fighter jets on the flight deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), Capt. William Mathis greeted visiting reporters with a smile before introducing the warship in a few simple words. “This is a floating city.” The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier carries about 3,000 sailors assigned to the ship and another 2,000 with Carrier Air Wing 11. “We go out to sea and we run four and a half acres (1.8 hectares) of sovereign U.S. territory,” Mathis said. “It’s a floating airport, and really it’s a floating city.” Moored at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam during this year’s Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), the carrier’s flight deck was lined with F/A-18 Super Hornets, F-35C Lightning II fighters, EA-18G Growlers and E-2D Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft. Sailors moved steadily between aircraft and maintenance equipment as the ship prepared to get underway. Commissioned in 1986, Theodore Roosevelt marks its 40th anniversary this year. Yet Mathis said the ship’s age matters less than its ability to adapt. “We alway

Jul 7, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Still evolving after 4 decades: Aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt at RIMPAC 2026
Defense

At RIMPAC, Korea’s newest warships signal Navy’s growing role

HONOLULU — “Possible enemy missile launch detected.” The announcement echoed through the combat information center aboard the ROKS Jeongjo the Great and conversations stopped instantly. Sailors fixed their eyes on rows of tactical displays as a simulated missile track appeared on the main screen. Another order came seconds later. “SM-2 interceptor launch in 10 seconds.” The countdown ended. Operators continued working quietly at their consoles while the missile icon closed on its target. A few moments later, another voice broke the silence. “Target disappeared from radar.” The engagement lasted only minutes. It was only a simulation ahead of the sea phase of the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), but inside the Republic of Korea Navy’s newest Aegis destroyer, there was little to distinguish the drill from combat. The scene aboard Jeongjo the Great captures how far the ROK Navy has come since sending two frigates to its first RIMPAC in 1990. This year, nearly all of the country's newest major naval assets have converged at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam — the 8,200-ton Ae

Jul 6, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
At RIMPAC, Korea’s newest warships signal Navy’s growing role
Education

Hate speech seeps into Korean classrooms

“Gravity.” When a science teacher at a high school in Gyeonggi Province was beginning to explain the concept, a few students giggled. Only after class ended did the teacher discover why. In some far-right online communities, the Korean word for gravity, "jungryeok," has been appropriated as coded slang mocking the 2009 death of liberal former President Roh Moo-hyun, who died as a result of a fall from a cliff. The expression has since spread beyond those communities, with some students using it without understanding where it came from. “How can you teach physics without saying ‘gravity?’” asked another teacher at the school, surnamed Lee, who recalled the story shared by their coworker. “About 10 years ago, I rarely came across hate expressions I didn’t recognize. Now, new ones appear all the time and even teachers struggle to keep up.” Teachers say such incidents are becoming increasingly common in classrooms. A recent incident at a high school baseball game highlights how severe the situation has become. Members of the Paichai High School baseball team used chants evokin

Jul 2, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Hate speech seeps into Korean classrooms
Politics

Lee, Moon stress party unity ahead of DPK leadership race

President Lee Jae Myung and former President Moon Jae-in held their first official meeting at Cheong Wa Dae since Lee took office to emphasize party unity Wednesday, as the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) faces growing factional tensions ahead of its leadership election next month. The luncheon came as the race for the party chairmanship increasingly evolves into a contest between pro-Lee and pro-Moon factions, fueling concerns over growing divisions within the ruling party. While the presidential office said the gathering had been planned since shortly after Lee’s inauguration and was delayed only because of scheduling conflicts, the timing prompted speculation among political circles. Lee welcomed Moon at Sangchunjae, a traditional house inside the presidential compound, where the two held talks over tea before lunch. They discussed a wide range of issues, including the economy, foreign affairs, security and national unity. Cheong Wa Dae described the meal as a “table of unity.” The menu featured croaker soup, one of Moon’s favorite seasonal dishes, and bibimbap, which s

Jul 1, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Lee, Moon stress party unity ahead of DPK leadership race
People & Events

Soldier again, mother always

It took years for former Army Staff Sgt. Choi Woo-ri to return to uniform. Leaving the military was never about giving up her dream. It was a decision she made for her family after she and her husband, both career soldiers, struggled to balance military service with raising their three young children. “My discharge wasn’t giving up on my dream. It was simply putting it on hold,” Choi said in an interview with The Korea Times. Choi, who now serves as a long-term standing reservist with the Army’s 60th Infantry Division, said she had wanted to be a soldier since childhood. Her father, a former reconnaissance battalion soldier, was her biggest role model, while lessons from an elementary school teacher about serving the nation left a lasting impression. Learning about the 2010 sinking of ROKS Cheonan while working as a security officer in her early 20s cemented her decision to enlist. Becoming an Army noncommissioned officer in 2011, Choi spent years doing what she had always dreamed of before stepping away from military service to focus on her family. Even after leaving the Army, howe

Jul 1, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Soldier again, mother always
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