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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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Politics

Next president's first headache: Find a place to live

No matter who wins the upcoming presidential election, the next president will have to start from scratch. From Day One in office, he will face two rare challenges that most of his predecessors did not encounter. First and foremost, the new president will forgo the traditional status of president-elect and immediately assume the responsibilities of office. There will be no time to savor the victory or enjoy the ceremonial aspects of a transitional period. Because the winning candidate will be declared president immediately after the final vote count, he will be sworn in without the usual two-month transition period. This situation is reminiscent of Moon Jae-in’s inauguration in May 2017, following the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye. Like Moon, the new president will have to assume control of government operations without the benefit of a formal handover. His predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, was ousted in April after the Constitutional Court decided to impeach him for declaring martial law. As a result, the incoming president must navigate the steep learning curve of governance lar

May 29, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung
Next president's first headache: Find a place to live
Politics

Fear campaign works as Lee Jae-myung's legal troubles erode support

As the June 3 presidential election draws near, candidates have intensified their attacks on rivals amid a tightening race, particularly between the two leading contenders. Frontrunner Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) accused his rival, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party (PPP), of being "a collaborator in the Yoon Suk Yeol-led insurrection," claiming Kim would simply continue the flawed legacy of the Yoon administration. “Kim has been shielding Yoon and has ties with far-right groups,” Lee alleged during a televised presidential debate held on Friday. In response, Kim argued that Lee, if elected, would become a strongman intent on controlling all three branches of government, the legislative, the executive and the judiciary. “Voters are faced with a choice between a totalitarian regime under Lee or a democracy poised for progress,” Kim said during a press conference on Thursday at the PPP's headquarters in Seoul, where he announced his campaign pledges on political reform. Kim further attacked Lee’s integrity, calling him “a crime kingpin” who is cu

May 26, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung
Fear campaign works as Lee Jae-myung's legal troubles erode support
Politics

Kim Moon-soo walks a tightrope between right-wing support and centrist appeal

This past week has been an arduous one for Kim Moon-soo, marked by internal strife. It was more eventful than the previous week, during which his status as the People Power Party’s (PPP) presidential candidate hung in the balance. Ultimately, grassroots PPP members overturned the leadership’s top-down decision to replace Kim with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, reinstating Kim as the party's candidate. Though relieved that his candidacy had survived a political roller coaster, Kim’s sense of relief was fleeting. After officially registering as the PPP’s official nominee on May 11, he launched his campaign the very next day, beginning with rallies in Daegu Metropolitan City and the surrounding North Gyeongsang Province — traditional strongholds of the conservative party. The local response was enthusiastic, injecting renewed energy into his campaign. Returning to Seoul, however, Kim found himself politically isolated. His former rivals from the PPP primaries were unwilling to support him, leaving the party fractured just weeks before the June 3 election. This lack of unity

May 19, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung
Kim Moon-soo walks a tightrope between right-wing support and centrist appeal
Politics

Can Korea's next president heal a nation in crisis?

With the June 3 presidential election fast approaching, less than a month remains until voters head to polling stations to cast their ballots for their preferred candidates in this snap election. Questions loom large over the nation’s future leadership: Who will be Korea’s next president? Which candidate is the best fit to lead? What policy priorities should be addressed first by the incoming administration? To shed light on these pressing issues, The Korea Times, in collaboration with the Korean Institute for Presidential Studies (KIPS), hosted a roundtable discussion on May 2 featuring four leading experts. They are Hahm Sung-deuk, chairman of KIPS; Lee Keun, president of the Korean Economic Association; Jung Kwang-ho, president of the Korean Association for Public Administration; and Jeon Hak-seon, president of the Korean Public Law Association. Under the theme “What to Expect in the June 3 Presidential Election,” the panelists shared their insights on the qualities Korea’s next president should possess and reflected on the political downfalls of two former presidents, Yoo

May 7, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung
Can Korea's next president heal a nation in crisis?
Opinion

Desk Column Who's to blame for decline of legacy media?

As a commuter, I’m used to spending nearly three hours a day on the road — traveling to my office in central Seoul and back home to the suburbs after work. Riding the bus isn’t so bad. In fact, it’s often far better than taking the subway, which is infamous for being overcrowded during the morning rush hour. On the bus, I usually spend time resting, napping or simply watching the changing scenery through the window. It’s a calm and peaceful part of my day — at least until it’s interrupted, seemingly out of nowhere, by a radio news show blasting from the driver's speaker system. These radio programs often feel like a snapshot of Korea’s deep political divide. Some hosts are so overtly biased that I question their professionalism. They speak freely about their political leanings without the slightest attempt at neutrality. Their choice of guests can be just as questionable. As just one of many passengers on the bus, I have no choice but to listen. This kind of forced listening is stressful, especially during what I prefer to be the quiet hours of a daily commute. Last Wedne

Apr 30, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung
[Desk Column] Who's to blame for decline of legacy media?
People & Events

UK shoemaker back in business to disrupt footwear market with AI

For Koreans who grew up in the 1980s, any mention of global sports brand Reebok brings back memories of an iconic TV commercial that played on a loop in their minds. In the ad, Lee Jong-won, a then-unknown model, appeared in a black sleeveless jersey emblazoned with the word “Reebok.” His flawless athletic dance performance — jaw-dropping and powerful — captivated viewers across the country. The routine was said to be inspired by Mikhail Baryshnikov’s dramatic opening dance in the critically acclaimed 1985 film “White Nights.” The TV commercial was a turning point in Lee’s career, launching him into stardom. Virtually overnight, he became one of the most sought-after actors in the country, riding the wave of the Reebok ad’s viral popularity. By the 1990s, the British footwear brand had become a must-have among trendy young Koreans. What’s less known, however, is that Reebok’s global rise had a strong Korean connection: Its shoes were produced by manufacturers based in the southeastern port city of Busan. “In 1979, I met with three factories in Busan and was amazed

Apr 16, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung
UK shoemaker back in business to disrupt footwear market with AI
Opinion

The Statue of Peace in Berlin

BERLIN — A bronze statue of a teenage girl in traditional Korean hanbok attire caught my attention as I was on a bus heading to my hotel in the central Berlin district of Mitte on Nov. 24, 2024.

Feb 26, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung
The Statue of Peace in Berlin
Foreign Affairs

South Korea wary of cyber espionage, tech theft as China expands data harvesting

Chinese startup DeepSeek’s saga was short-lived. The groundbreaking debut of its new chatbot, R1, in January, was initially hailed as a historic moment that could disrupt U.S. dominance in artificial intelligence (AI) and ignite a fierce U.S.-China rivalry for AI supremacy. This was compared to the Soviet Union’s 1957 launch of Sputnik 1, which triggered the Cold War space race.

Feb 20, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung
South Korea wary of cyber espionage, tech theft as China expands data harvesting
Foreign Affairs

'Trump for Nobel Prize': Can the initiative offer relief to Lee Jae-myung amid double whammy?

South Korea’s largest political party has filed paperwork recommending that the Norwegian Nobel Committee consider nominating U.S. President Donald Trump for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.

Feb 6, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung
'Trump for Nobel Prize': Can the initiative offer relief to Lee Jae-myung amid double whammy?
Sports

INTERVIEW Unstoppable teen skater dazzles fans

A star was born. Choi Ha-bin, 15, thrilled figure skating fans earlier this month at the Korea Skating Union’s national championship, where he competed to secure one of five spots on the national team.

Jan 22, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung
[INTERVIEW] Unstoppable teen skater dazzles fans
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