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

Society

Gov't launches new inspection to find hidden cameras in schools

Police officers check for hidden cameras at a public restroom in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, in this May 30, 2018 file photo. Yonhap By Bahk Eun-jiThe Ministry of Education (MOE) said Tuesday that it has asked 17 regional education offices to conduct a “full-scale” inspection into possible existence of hidden cameras in elementary, middle and highs schools nationwide. The ministry's move comes after two teachers in Gimhae and Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, were found to have installed hidden cameras in the bathrooms of the schools they worked at.Initially, the Gyeongsangnamdo Office of Education (GNE), which is in charge of the schools where the teachers worked, decided to conduct thorough inspections of all schools in its jurisdiction this month using specialized detection equipment; but the education ministry decided to expand the scope of the investigation to the whole country considering the seriousness of the issue.“I offer a sincere apology to the resi

Jul 16, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Gov't launches new inspection to find hidden cameras in schools
Law & Crime

Gender ministry hit for being 'unconcerned' about sexual abuse cases

Kim Jae-ryun, a lawyer representing a former secretary of the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, speaks at a press conference held at the Korea Women's Hot Line office in western Seoul, Monday. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiThe Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has been drawing criticism from civic activists for its reluctance to comment on a series of recent sexual abuse allegations aimed at high-profile figures, including the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon. The ministry, which should represent women's voices, has been working to root out various sex crimes and support the #MeToo movement. But it has remained silent over related issues recently, including the Nth Room case and a local court's recent rejection of a U.S. extradition request for Son Jung-woo, the operator of one of the world's biggest child pornography sites who was recently released from a local prison.With the criticism over the ministry's reluctance escalating, it belatedly released a statement regarding the alleged sexual harassment by the former mayor, Tuesday. In the statement, the ministry said it would support the vict

Jul 14, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Gender ministry hit for being 'unconcerned' about sexual abuse cases
Health

When will COVID-19 pandemic die down?

How novel coronavirus differs from MERS, SARSBy Bahk Eun-jiKim So-ra, a 35-year-old office worker and mother of a four-year-old daughter, said she wonders when she and her daughter will be able to live without wearing masks. “In the early stages of the outbreak, I thought it would last for two or three months, but now I sometimes wonder if we will end up living with it like the common cold,” Kim said.The health authorities here believe the country will soon face a second wave of COVID-19 although Korea has gained global attention for its prompt response to the ongoing pandemic, particularly in the early stages. The pandemic began in Wuhan, China as a result of a mix of coronavirus strains commonly found in bats, and quickly found its way to humans who carried it not only to Korea but also around the world. Many now wonder when it will end as it has been almost six months since the first patient was confirmed to be infected here, Jan. 20.At a press conference in Geneva, Friday, Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO's health emergencies program, said the world is unlikel

Jul 14, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
When will COVID-19 pandemic die down?
  • S. Korea reports 33 new cases of coronavirus infection
  • Moderna's coronavirus vaccine proven 'safe, induces immune response' in phase 1 trials
Health

3rd rare cancer case reported connected to Allergan's breast implants

Lee Seung-joon, second from left, a lawyer from the Tae Il Law Firm, who is leading a lawsuit against Allergan seeking damages for plaintiffs affected by its breast implants, arrives at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in this Sept. 23, 2019 photo. Courtesy of Lee Seung-joonBy Bahk Eun-jiA third patient has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer caused by Allergan's Biocell textured breast implants, a local law firm leading a lawsuit against the U.S. company said Monday.Lee Seung-joon, a lawyer at Tae Il Law Firm, which has been gathering people to participate in the lawsuit since last year and filed the suit against Allergan, which was acquired by AbbVie in May, for damages, said he was distributing the press release about the third patient as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) had not officially announced the third incideence. “So far, three patients have so far been reported in the past few months since the company announced a compensation plan in September last year, which only reflects the high risk of the possibility of additional cases,” L

Jul 13, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
3rd rare cancer case reported connected to Allergan's breast implants
Health

What to know about GH strain of coronavirus

Medical workers test people for the coronavrius at a makeshift clinic on the premises of a church in Gwangju, 300 kilometers away from Seoul, in this July 3 photo. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiA recent series of infection clusters in the Seoul Metropolitan area have revealed that a particularly contagious strain of the coronavirus, the GH strain, is spreading.It is reported that the GH strain of the virus is transmitted a lot faster than other types, but how dangerous is it? The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said it is believed to spread six times faster than other strains of the virus.What happened?This strain of COVID-19 virus, which has been spreading not only in Korea but also around the world, has been identified as a genotype of the G group ― G, GR, and GH ― which is believed to have spread faster than the initially identified strains of the virus. The S and V groups were more prevalent in Asia, including China from January to March when the outbreak of the virus first occurred. But Since April, the G group has been most prevalent in the United States and Europ

Jul 12, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
What to know about GH strain of coronavirus
Politics

From prominent civil activist to third-term mayor

A memorial photo of Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon is seen at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno, Seoul, Friday. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiSeoul Mayor Park Won-soon, 64, who was found dead near Sukjeong Gate on Mount Bugak at around 12:20 a.m. Friday, was a former civic activist before he was elected. He emerged as one of the ruling Democratic Party's leading presidential candidates after he became a three-term mayor of the nation's capital, but his sudden death amid allegations in a #MeToo scandal shocked not only the political community but also the whole country.Born in Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, he entered Seoul National University after graduating from Gyeonggi High School in 1974, but was jailed for participating in protests against Korea's dictatorship, and subsequently expelled from SNU. Park later passed the 22nd bar exam after graduating from Dankook University in 1980. After his brief career as a prosecutor, Park opened his law firm in 1983. He began to make his name known in the political community by defending suspects involved in public security cases, and b

Jul 10, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
From prominent civil activist to third-term mayor
  • Park's death expected to heat up 2021 by-elections
Health

Concern grows over unrelenting spread of COVID-19

Public officials prepare kits packed with quarantine-related goods, including face masks and thermometers, in the southwestern city of Gwangju, Tuesday, for delivery to people who are self-quarantining at home. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiThe health authorities are increasingly concerned as the spread of COVID-19 here is accelerating, with recent outbreaks having occurred in everyday places such as apartments, gyms and golf courses, officials said Tuesday.The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), said 29 coronavirus infections have been connected to an apartment block in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province. The apartment's elevator was considered the most likely vector for infection as residents' movements did not overlap anywhere else. Elevators, however, had not been identified as a clear route for infection, the KCDC said. Experts also warn that the coronavirus can survive for several days on surfaces, so there is always a risk that droplets from an infected person could spread the virus on elevator buttons. In other words, people can be exposed to the risk of infection in the

Jul 7, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Concern grows over unrelenting spread of COVID-19
  • S. Korea reports 44 new coronavirus infections
Health

More children falling victim to coronavirus

Medical workers test daycare center children and their families at a drive-through center in the southwestern city of Gwangju, Monday, after two children at the center were confirmed to be infected with the virus. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiConcern is growing over the safety of young children here as more preschoolers are falling victim to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to quarantine officials, Monday.Preschool siblings attending daycare centers in Gwangju were confirmed to have coronavirus infection that day, following a series of confirmed cases among children a day earlier, including elementary school brothers in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. The two preschoolers, a girl, 6, and her brother, 4, in Gwangju, were confirmed to have had contact with their 70-year-old grandmother, who is among 110 patients in the region, according to the Gwangju Metropolitan Government. The health authorities will conduct full testing of children and teachers in the daycare center, and their family members.In Seongnam, a first grader at Tancheon Elementary School and his third grader elder brother were also

Jul 6, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
More children falling victim to coronavirus
Society

Athlete abuse found to be rife in sports

Members of sports-related civic bodies hold a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday, to call for a thorough investigation into the death of triathlete Choi Suk-hyeon, a junior bronze medalist at the 2015 Triathlon Asian Championships, who committed suicide on June 26 after claiming she had been abused by her coach, physiotherapist and teammates. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiThere are many athletes in colleges and universities here who are exposed to the same kind of violence that led Choi Sook-hyun to take her own life after her allegations of abuse at the hands of her coach, teammates and physiotherapist fell on deaf ears. The young triathlete's death highlighted a brutal training culture and highly hierarchical relationship between coaches and players in the country's competitive sports.Especially for college athletes who are about to enter professional leagues, they don't have much choice other than to accept the abusive practices of coaches and senior team members unless they are prepared to have their sports career derailed.According to a recent survey conducted from

Jul 6, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Athlete abuse found to be rife in sports
Society

Athletes' human rights under spotlight after tragic death

The late triathlete Choi Suk-hyun receives a gold medal at the 2013 National Maritime Sports Games in Ulsan, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in these photos provided by Choi's family, Thusday. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiThe death of 22-year-old female triathlete Choi Sook-hyun has brought human rights of Korean athletes to the fore, sparking public uproar over allegations that she was abused and assaulted for years by her coach and physiotherapist.The Sports Fair Committee under the Korea Triathlon Association is scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss Choi's death. To prove the association's commitment to preventing abuse of athletes, the committee is expected to discuss permanently expelling the coach, physiotherapist and senior athletes who allegedly engaged in abusing Choi.The move came after Choi was found dead in her Busan residence on June 26. In the last message sent to her mother, she wrote “Please bring the crimes of those who abused me to light,” referring to the Gyeongju City Hall triathlon team in North Gyeongsang Province. She moved to play for Busan City Hall in

Jul 5, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Athletes' human rights under spotlight after tragic death
  • Triathletes to speak out about 'years of abuse' after teammate's tragic death
previous page
9293949596
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.