The Korea Times

Rotary leader uses power of storytelling

What is required to lead a 117-year-old institution like Rotary — especially during the COVID-19 pandemic era? For Jennifer Jones, a Canadian from Windsor, dedication and "the power of storytelling" were essential to the job. As Rotary International's first female president, she knew her authentic and real communication style and desire to provide "vulnerable" leadership would see her through. "I think that sometimes the timing is right. My vocational strength, communication, was important as we were coming out of the COVID times," Jones said in an interview with The Korea Times at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. She said it was important to make sure that "people were not feeling isolated and that even in our solitude, we had the ability to connect across nations and still do good and support each other." During the pandemic, Rotary made use of infrastructure set up to fight polio — one of its most successful initiatives — helping people access treatment, vaccines and materials like masks in over 70 nations. "Rotary was meant for challenging times," Jones said, adding

Sep 4, 2026By Kim Ji-soo

Rotary leader uses power of storytelling

Opinion

COLUMN Good housing needs back-to-basics approach

There is renewed and intense focus on increasing the housing supply in Seoul. Officials in the Lee Jae Myung administration describe its housing policy as "dakgong," which in Korean both literally and figuratively means "shut up and supply." In early August, the government announced that it has plan to supply some 230,000 units, about 100,000 of which will come from designated public housing districts in the greater Seoul area. Just how the administration will do that has prompted questions about what makes for good housing. Seoul, the capital city replete with jobs, a strong public transportation system and other infrastructure, is crowded. Finding the right housing — rental or owned — that both fits within your budget and satisfies your needs is a tall order. On the house hunt for more than three decades, this writer was fortunate to have lived in a "guchuk," or apartment built in old style, block concrete with outdoor corridors. The structure of the apartment allowed for natural ventilation when windows on the veranda and the back corridor were opened simultaneously. Trees plante

Aug 21, 2026By Kim Ji-soo

[COLUMN] Good housing needs back-to-basics approach

People & Events

Kang Min-whee named IOM Republic of Korea chief of mission

Kang Min-whee, 57, has been appointed International Organization for Migration (IOM) Republic of Korea chief of mission. A veteran U.N. official, she began her job last month at the organization, which is often branded as IOM U.N. Migration following its integration into the U.N. system. Kang has rich experience fostering partnerships across governments, the U.N. system and diverse stakeholders. She is expected to further position migration as a key driver of sustainable development while strengthening cooperation between Korea and the international community. "Migration is one of the defining global issues of our time, intersecting with climate change, conflict, disasters, labor and demographic change," Kang said in a press release. "As the Republic of Korea continues to play an increasingly important role on the global stage, IOM looks forward to deepening its collaboration not only with the government, but also with civil society and the private sector to advance safe, orderly and regular migration." Kang began her U.N. career as a junior professional officer in 1998 working at the I

Jul 10, 2026By Kim Ji-soo

Kang Min-whee named IOM Republic of Korea chief of mission

Opinion

Second female PM

Timing is often an unruly thing. Many pundits have stressed the importance of timing in life. What I mean to say is, it is high time that Korea usher in another woman into a higher government office. The nation produced its first female president, Park Geun-hye, who served from 2013 until her disgraceful removal from office in 2017, and its first female prime minister, Han Myeong-sook, who served in the Roh Moo-hyun administration from 2006-07. Han Seong-sook, the current minister of SMEs and startups, has been tapped to become the next prime minister by President Lee Jae Myung. If she passes muster at the parliamentary hearings — which she did once before assuming the small and medium-sized enterprises ministership by promising, among other things, to sell off some of her real estate — she will become the second woman to become prime minister in Korean history. As Korea shifts gears to go headlong into the era of artificial intelligence (AI), Han's earlier career at IT company Naver is key. Her business background is different from the two women, Park and Han Myeong-sook who were

Jun 10, 2026By Kim Ji-soo

Today in History

WEDNESDAY, June 10, 2026

1190-Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa drowns while crossing the Saleph River in modern-day Turkey, leading an army to Jerusalem during the Third Crusade 1786-A landslide dam on the Dadu River, caused by an earthquake ten days earlier, collapses and kills 100,000 in Sichuan province, China 1898-U.S. Marines land in Cuba during the Spanish–American War 1916-Hashemite-led Arabs of the Hejaz rise up against the ruling Ottoman Empire in the Great Arab Revolt of World War I 1963-U.S. Equal Pay Act signed into law by President John F. Kennedy 1977-Apple Computer ships its first Apple II computers 2003-The Spirit Rover is launched, beginning NASA's Mars Exploration Rover mission

Jun 9, 2026By Kim Ji-soo

People & Events

PHOTO Green growth conference

Dignitaries including Kim Sang-hyup, seventh from left, director-general of Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Ban Ki-moon, eighth from left, president and chair of GGGI, pose for commemorative photo at the first GGGI-GCF joint conference, titled "Partnering for Ambitious Global Climate Action," at Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, Thursday. The GGGI and the GCF (Global Climate Fund) are international organizations which deal with policy planning and procuring funds for green growth in the globe, both headquartered in Korea. The two organizations stated that the conference will further strengthen cooperation towards that goal. Courtesy of GGGI

May 21, 2026By Kim Ji-soo

Korean Heritage

A 'simmani,' forager and naturalist

JANGSU, North Jeolla Province — Mount Beophwa is considered among the smaller mountains here in this remote but lush town, rising slightly over 700 meters above sea level. Lee Kyoung-suk, 66, came here to forage for mountain herbs and vegetables in the last week of April. The veteran "simmani," or forager, wore her rainboots to fend off the snakes, her apron, and a backpack to carry the wild veggies and herbs she gathers. Deftly, she climbed over fallen tree trunks and hanging branches, her legs and arms moving in a long arc-like silhouette. Whenever she saw a target, she bent 90 degrees, swiftly plucking it. "Ah there, there is 'chwinamul' (aster scaber). Here, look, there is 'gosari' (bracken fiddlehead)," she said. When she changes direction and enters a deeper, thicker section of the mountain, she finds 'dureup,' or Aralia sprouts from a Korean angelica tree. These seasonal wild herbs, which have a fresh and nutty taste, are in full bloom during late April and May, making them busy months for Lee. About four hours' drive from the highly wired and connected Seoul, the people in Jan

May 13, 2026By Kim Ji-soo

Opinion

Like climbing a mountain

Renting in Seoul's competitive housing market in 2026 can be challenging. With apartment prices having risen around 9 percent in Seoul in 2025, the news warned of the death of rentals, especially Korea's lump-sum "jeonse" rental system. Some 21 years ago, when I rented my first apartment, it was not that difficult. My past experiences made me pretty complacent — until I actually had to find a place recently. Circa 2005, there were plenty of jeonse rentals, the Korean system where people pay a large, refundable lump-sum deposit rather than monthly rent for multiyear leases. I had the fortune of living 16 years in one such place — both the landlord and I were too lazy to bother with changes. Then, about five years ago, I had to move to a new apartment nearby. Unfortunately, the apartment buildings where I had lived were all scheduled to be torn down and rebuilt as new apartment buildings with updated units. Of course, they became more expensive. As neighborhoods soon turned to "construction mode," where buildings are torn down and rebuilt en masse, they also had the effect of pushing

Mar 18, 2026By Kim Ji-soo

Others

Roundtable Gauging impact of US-Israel war on Iran

As the world attempts to make sense of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, Korean experts are gauging when the conflict will end, as well as grappling with its economic and political ramifications, including the closing of the Strait of Hormuz and soaring energy prices. U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) said that Iran is facing imminent defeat and that the U.S. is willing to escalate its attacks. However, there is no sign that Iran is considering surrender or that the war will come to a swift conclusion. To better understand the issues, a panel of experts was invited to share their opinions at The Korea Times roundtable, "U.S.-Israel war on Iran and its impact on the Korean Peninsula," held Wednesday in Seoul. The Korea Times' chief editorial writer Shim Jae-yun moderated the event, which featured Kim Won-soo, former United Nations under-secretary-general and high representative for disarmament affairs and retired Lt. Gen. Chun In-bum, former commander of the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command, along with Song Kyung-jin, senior fellow at the Asiatic Resear

Mar 12, 2026By Kim Ji-soo

[Roundtable] Gauging impact of US-Israel war on Iran

Korean Heritage

Samseongbo, tracing descendants of sons-in-law

Family genealogy records in Korea harken back to Chinese traditions, but the Korean-style printed books chronicling family relationships, known as "jokbo," blossomed in Korea, while China's tradition weakened after the Song Dynasty. Reflecting Korean values around social and family relationships, jokbo took surprisingly diverse forms. A good example is "Samseongbo," the only existing genealogy tracing descent through three sons-in-law. It is the family record of Choi Bu (1454-1504) who wrote well-known accounts of being shipwrecked during his travels in China. Choi, living in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), lacked a male heir and his tomb in Haenam (now Jeolla Province) wasn't being maintained. His family, and in particular his descendants through his daughters, decided to track their family records through his three sons-in-law. This reflected a perception even during the highly patriarchal Joseon period that daughters and their descendants are equally able to respect their ancestors, in both mind and practice. Choi's "Samseongbo" took 10 years to complete, detailing not only the child

Mar 3, 2026By Kim Ji-soo

Kim Ji-soo

Read more

Rotary leader uses power of storytelling

COLUMN Good housing needs back-to-basics approach

Kang Min-whee named IOM Republic of Korea chief of mission

Second female PM

WEDNESDAY, June 10, 2026

PHOTO Green growth conference

A 'simmani,' forager and naturalist

Like climbing a mountain

Roundtable Gauging impact of US-Israel war on Iran

Samseongbo, tracing descendants of sons-in-law

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