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Kang Hyun-kyung

Korea Times Editorial Reporter

I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.

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Books

Related images Pandemic can't stop literary passion

By Kang Hyun-kyungDue to her extremely busy academic schedule, Min Eun-kyung, a professor at Seoul National University and one of three judges of The Korea Times Modern Literature Awards, initially planned to just drop by the award ceremony held at the Lotte Hotel in central Seoul, Wednesday, to say hello to the participants. But she chose to stay until the very end of the ceremony, and even had lunch with other attendees afterward. Asked why she decided to stay until the end of the event, the soft-spoken English literature professor said she was so touched by the literature-loving people who had gathered there. “I am struggling managing my time these days because there are so many things to do, but here I got comfort. I'm glad to know that there are still people who are in love with literature,” she said. “I'm relieved.” Novelist Lee Jung-myung reads The Korea Times during the 52nd Korea Times Modern Literature Translation Awards at the Lotte Hotel in central Seoul, Wednesday. He later read an excerpt of his latest book “Broken Summer.” Korea Time

Nov 24, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung
[Related images] Pandemic can't stop literary passion
  • Future of literary translation addressed during Korea Times award ceremony
Shows & Dramas

'Squid Game' team gets bonuses from Netflix

A still of South Korea's dystopian drama “Squid Game” / Courtesy of NetflixBy Kang Hyun-kyungThe “Squid Game” team has received one-time bonuses from Netflix in the past weeks, according to Bloomberg News.The media report came amid an “underemployment” controversy raised by some Korean experts who claim Netflix does not sufficiently value the efforts of the creators, producers and cast members. The amounts of money paid to the team are not the level of “life-changing,” the Bloomberg article said. “The cast received less than the stars of (U.S. TV series) 'Succession' get paid for one episode. The bonuses are a recognition of how lucrative 'Squid Game' has been for Netflix. The show, which cost just $21 million to produce, is estimated to be worth more than $900 million to Netflix,” the article read. Netflix's one-time bonuses for the Squid Game team, paid in the past couple of weeks, came at a time when some Koreans were complaining about the global streaming giant's inequitable financial reward model. The South Korean dysto

Nov 23, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung
'Squid Game' team gets bonuses from Netflix
Shows & Dramas

'Hellbound' vs 'Squid Game': What global chart says about two Korean dramas

A still of director Yeon Sang-ho's “Hellbound” / Courtesy of NetflixPopularity of 'Hellbound' appears not to be as solid as that of 'Squid Game'By Kang Hyun-kyungWriter-director Yeon Sang-ho's fantasy drama, “Hellbound,” has topped the top 10 Netflix shows list only 24 hours after its official release last Friday.The Korean drama was quick to rise to global stardom, generating quite a buzz in the Korean entertainment industry, with some hastily predicting that the fantasy drama could become another “Squid Game,” which has become the most-watched Netflix series ever. Despite sharing some parallels, the two Netflix original series are different in terms of their paths to success and audience reactions. “Hellbound” was quicker to top the global charts than “Squid Game.” It took only a day to rise to the No. 1 spot on Netflix's top 10 most watched shows, while “Squid Game” won the same title eight days after its official release. The global streaming chart, uploaded by FlixPatrol, a website that updates daily VOD cha

Nov 22, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung
'Hellbound' vs 'Squid Game': What global chart says about two Korean dramas
Books

Book reveals uncomfortable truth about 'Squid Game's global success

A scene from the dystopian Netflix series “Squid Game” / Courtesy of NetflixNew book untangles how Netflix pays studios and why Korean creators cannot amass fortunes despite global success By Kang Hyun-kyungBook cover for “Content Will be All the More Important in 2022” by Mirae BooksShortly after the dystopian drama series, “Squid Game,” became a global sensation following its ground-breaking debut in September on Netflix, a South Korean film producer's social media post caught the eyes of those in the entertainment industry. Sharing his thoughts about the implications of the Korean drama's unprecedented global success, Won Dong-yeon, president of the Seoul-based film studio, Real Rise, which released the mega-hit, “Along with the Gods” movies, compared “Squid Game” to “an underpaid Major League Baseball slugger who hit 40 home runs in his debut season.” “What is likely to happen in the near future is that the clubs (referring metaphorically to the U.S.-based streaming giants) will seek out another talente

Nov 19, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung
Book reveals uncomfortable truth about 'Squid Game's global success
Books

Some languages survive colonialism, while others go extinct

Chinese newspapers with front-pages showing Chinese President Xi Jinping attending the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, at a newspaper stall in Beijing, China, on Nov. 12. EPA-Yonhap'Speak Not' underscores community members' determination to protect their languages as a vital factor for its survivalBy Kang Hyun-kyung“Speak Not: Empire, Identity and the Politics of Language” by James GriffithsJames Griffiths' new book, “Speak Not: Empire, Identity and the Politics of Language,” released on Oct. 21 by Zed Books/Bloomsbury, deals with the rare but grave topic of the survival and extinction of minority languages in times of historical turmoil. The fate of minority languages, to a large extent, hinges on the determination of people to protect their language and their persistent, unwavering efforts to make that happen, as seen in the Welsh nationalists' successful movements to preserve their language, the book argues. According to the author, colonialism and imperialism are two formidable forces behind the killing and dying out of minority la

Nov 15, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung
Some languages survive colonialism, while others go extinct
Books

Korean War mural in Washington D.C. explained in US designer's memoir

Lee Joon-seok, center, chairman of the main opposition People Power Party, walks past a mural at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., in this Sept. 23 file photo. Designed by Louis Nelson, the mural featuring the faces of 2,400 service members of the U.S. armed forces during the Korean War was dedicated July 27, 1995. Yonhap Louis Nelson's memoir 'Mosaic: War Monument Mystery' will be released later this weekBy Kang Hyun-kyungThe Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. visually illustrates how the South Korea-U.S. alliance began. The memorial features two iconic installments: the 164-feet black granite mural showcasing the faces of 2,400 service members of the U.S. armed forces who fought in the Korean War and, adjacent, Frank Gaylord's three-dimensional stainless-steel sculptures of 19 warriors to commemorate those who fought to defend freedom in South Korea. Since its grandiose dedication on July 27, 1995 with the participations of the the

Nov 8, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung
Korean War mural in Washington D.C. explained in US designer's memoir
  • South Korea invites foreign Korean War veterans ahead of event to honor UN troops
Society

Church group leader's eulogy at Roh's funeral backfires

Rev. Lee Hong-jeong speaks during a news conference at National Council of Churches in Seoul on Thursday. YonhapNCCK leader draws the ire of progressive church members for his remarks justifying the late president By Kang Hyun-kyungRev. Lee Hong-jeong, general secretary of the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK), apologized on Thursday to the victims killed during the May 18 Uprising and their families for his participation and remarks during the state funeral of the late President Roh Tae-woo. He said his attendance at the state funeral of the military general-turned-president was a grave mistake.“I initially planned to deliver a meaningful message to society at the funeral by taking advantage of the opportunity that was given to me,” he said during a press conference held at the National Council of Churches in Seoul. “Regardless of my purposes, however, I came to realize that my participation in the funeral itself is self-contradictory and therefore I hereby apologize.” Lee took part in the state funeral of Roh held on Oct. 30 at Olympic Park in sou

Nov 4, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung
Church group leader's eulogy at Roh's funeral backfires
Books

'Pandemic can't stop us': SIWA bazaar goes online

Ghanaian Ambassador to South Korea Charis Margaretha Obetsebi-Lamptey Zwennes poses near a table showcasing cultural products of her country which will be sold during Seoul International Women's Association's online bazaar to be held at siwakorea.com from Nov. 8 to 21. Courtesy of Nora Gyuris Int'l women's group's annual charity event this year to feature gourmet foodBy Kang Hyun-kyungBottles of baobab oil, shea butter in plastic containers, chocolate bars and pieces of colorful fabric are placed on a small table in a corner of the Azaleas Room of the brand-new Fairmont Ambassador Hotel on Yeouido, Seoul. Also placed behind them are three oil paintings created by Ghanaian artist Nsiah. One after another, Ghanaian diplomat Isabella Sauponey was putting items in place attentively and trying to make room for another item she had brought from her embassy in Seoul. “These are $150 each,” she said, pointing to one of the oil paintings. “The artist used real sand here a

Nov 3, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung
'Pandemic can't stop us': SIWA bazaar goes online
Films

Netflix noir series 'My Name' reminiscent of 2013 film 'New World'

Han So-hee in a still of Netflix original series “My Name” / Courtesy of NetflixBy Kang Hyun-kyung “Two lives. Two names. That's why he looked like he was on the edge of a cliff.” Actress Han So-hee plays a revenge-driven woman named Jiwoo in the hit Netflix series, “My Name.” She is hell-bent on chasing down the person who murdered her father, an undercover cop who infiltrated a criminal organization responsible for selling and distributing 90 percent of the crystal methamphetamines sold on the streets of Korea.Constantly reminded of the gun shots that killed her father in front of their home, Jiwoo vows to take revenge and silently begins to track down the murderer.For noir film fans, the popular Netflix series is reminiscent of the 2013 crime action movie, “New World,” which is also about a showdown between cops and a criminal gang in the guise of a corporation. The showdown occurs after the sudden death of its boss in a dubious car accident, resulting in a leadership vacuum.Both “My Name” and “New World” deal

Nov 1, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung
Netflix noir series 'My Name' reminiscent of 2013 film 'New World'
Trends

Smart city alliance leader vows to help tech startups find overseas opportunities

Park Jung-sook, secretary general of World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGo) / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukPandemic creates more opportunities for ICT companies as 'going online' has become the new normal, says new WeGo Secretary General Park Jung-sook By Kang Hyun-kyungTV show host and hallyu expert Park Jung-sook has returned to the public eye, this time with a new title, as the leader of a Seoul-based international association of cities and local governments seeking smart city solutions in public administration.On Sept. 27, Park was named by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to lead the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGo) as secretary general.WeGo is a smart city initiative launched by Seoul Mayor Oh. Established in 2010 with 50 founding members all over the world, WeGo aims to share its member cities' experiences in Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-based public services to learn from each other.“There're still a lot to catch up on because I took the helm just a month ago,” she told The Korea Times. “But I think there is certainl

Oct 22, 2021By Kang Hyun-kyung
Smart city alliance leader vows to help tech startups find overseas opportunities
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