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Jane Han

Korea Times Digital Content Reporter

Jane Han is the North America editor for The Korea Times. Based in Seattle, she has covered business, culture and social issues across the United States for over 15 years. She previously worked at The Boston Globe.

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World

Foreign media see local elections as test of Lee's first year

SEATTLE — Foreign news outlets portrayed Korea's local elections as an important test of President Lee Jae Myung's first year in office, viewing the vote as a measure of public support for his administration and the conservative opposition's prospects for recovery from the political turmoil that followed former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law in 2024. While local elections in Korea typically receive limited international attention, Wednesday's vote drew coverage from major international news organizations including The New York Times, Reuters, Bloomberg and The Associated Press. Many reports focused on the broader political significance of the elections rather than the outcome of individual races. The New York Times described the elections as "widely viewed as a referendum on President Lee Jae Myung's leadership" and "a pivotal test for the embattled conservative opposition." The newspaper noted that the governing Democratic Party of Korea was projected to make significant gains while the People Power Party continued to grapple with the political consequences of

Jun 4, 2026By Jane Han
Foreign media see local elections as test of Lee's first year
World

Koreans in US send protest emails to Starbucks HQ over ‘Tank Day’

SEATTLE — Koreans in the United States are increasing pressure on Starbucks headquarters in Seattle over the company’s “Tank Day” controversy, arguing the issue has evolved from a local marketing blunder into a global brand problem tied to the historical trauma of the May 18 Gwangju Uprising. The movement has been gaining traction on MissyUSA, a popular online community for Koreans living overseas, where users have been sharing sample complaint emails in Korean and English, as well as Starbucks contact information, and encouraging others to contact the company directly. Many of the messages reference the painful memories associated with the 1980 military crackdown in Gwangju, when troops and tanks were deployed against pro-democracy demonstrators. Critics say the use of the phrase “Tank Day” in a marketing campaign trivialized one of Korea’s darkest chapters. “I couldn’t stay silent after seeing the campaign,” said a Korean woman in Seattle surnamed Kim, who said she emailed Starbucks headquarters earlier this week. “On May 18, tanks aren’t something people joke

May 28, 2026By Jane Han
Koreans in US send protest emails to Starbucks HQ over ‘Tank Day’
Companies

Starbucks Korea controversy draws overseas backlash, calls for HQ intervention

SEATTLE — Days after Starbucks Korea’s “Tank Day” campaign sparked outrage domestically, overseas social media users have begun reacting to the controversy, with some drawing comparisons to tragedies such as the Sept. 11 attacks and calling on Starbucks headquarters in Seattle to intervene. The controversy, which initially triggered backlash largely within Korea, has increasingly spread overseas this week as English-language posts explaining the historical significance of the May 18 Gwangju Uprising circulated widely on Reddit, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). Many foreign users attempted to contextualize the controversy for international audiences by comparing it to marketing campaigns tied to national tragedies in their own countries. “Imagine the American Starbucks HQ launching a promotion on Sept. 11 with a catch phrase like 9/11 Airplane Day,” one Instagram user wrote in a widely shared comment. Others drew comparisons to Holocaust-related marketing, with one commenter sarcastically referring to a hypothetical “Gas Day.” “Wow, how did they manage to mess that up?

May 22, 2026By Jane Han
Starbucks Korea controversy draws overseas backlash, calls for HQ intervention
South Korea

No longer just a labor dispute: Samsung strike draws global focus

SEATTLE — The threat of a strike at Samsung Electronics this week quickly became an international story, with foreign media outlets closely tracking the potential impact on global semiconductor supply chains during the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. As Samsung Electronics and its largest labor union reached a tentative wage agreement on Wednesday and postponed a walkout planned for Thursday, foreign coverage focused heavily on the potential implications for the global technology industry rather than the details of the labor negotiations themselves. “This was never just a wage dispute,” startup and technology outlet Startup Fortune wrote in its coverage of the potential strike. Samsung is one of the world’s largest suppliers of high-bandwidth memory and NAND flash chips used in AI servers, smartphones, laptops and data centers. Demand for advanced memory chips has surged alongside investment in AI infrastructure, increasing the strategic importance of major chipmakers to global technology companies and investors. “A prolonged disruption at the world’s biggest memory chipma

May 21, 2026By Jane Han
No longer just a labor dispute: Samsung strike draws global focus
World

Police complaints filed against Shinsegae Chairman Chung for defaming Gwangju citizens

SEATTLE, SEOUL — Starbucks Global described the recent “Tank Day” controversy at Starbucks Korea as an “unacceptable marketing incident” and said it is implementing stronger internal controls and review standards following the backlash in Korea. “We are deeply sorry for an unacceptable marketing incident in Korea that referenced and coincided with May 18, the commemoration of the Gwangju Democratization Movement — a day of profound historical and human significance,” Starbucks Global said in a statement to The Korea Times. “While unintentional, this should never have happened. We recognize the deep pain and offense this has caused, particularly to those who honor the victims, their families and all who contributed to Korea’s democratization.” The company also apologized directly to “the people of Gwangju, to those impacted by this tragedy and to our customers and communities.” The statement came as Starbucks Korea has faced mounting criticism after running a promotion of tumblers with phrases widely interpreted as mocking the May 18 Gwangju pro-democracy movemen

May 20, 2026By Jane Han
Police complaints filed against Shinsegae Chairman Chung for defaming Gwangju citizens
World

Trump’s apparent wine sip draws attention during China trip

U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to sip wine during a state banquet hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, drawing attention because of Trump’s decades-long public abstinence from alcohol and stirring questions online over whether he had broken a long-standing personal rule. Videos and photographs from Thursday’s banquet at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People showed Trump raising a wine glass during a toast with Xi and appearing to take a sip as the two leaders exchanged remarks emphasizing closer U.S.-China ties. The moment quickly spread across social media, with some users calling it a symbolic gesture of respect toward Xi and others questioning whether the drink may have been nonalcoholic. Trump, 79, has long described himself as a teetotaler, frequently linking his refusal to drink to the death of his older brother who struggled with alcoholism. His abstinence and fondness for Diet Coke have long been closely associated with his public image. While several outlets described Trump as sipping wine during the toast, neither the White House nor Chinese officials pub

May 15, 2026By Jane Han
Trump’s apparent wine sip draws attention during China trip
World

Rubio sparks memes over Nike ‘Maduro look’ en route to China summit

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sparked a flood of memes Wednesday after appearing aboard Air Force One in a gray Nike Tech tracksuit while traveling with U.S. President Donald Trump to a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The image was posted on X by White House communications director Steven Cheung, who wrote: “Secretary Rubio rocking the Nike Tech ‘Venezuela’ on Air Force One!” Online users quickly pointed out that Rubio’s outfit closely resembled the gray Nike tracksuit worn by Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in widely circulated images earlier this year. The comparison fueled a wave of memes, with some social media users dubbing the look “Maduromaxxing.” The outfit stood out because Rubio is typically seen in dark suits and ties during official appearances and overseas trips. Instead of formal diplomatic attire, the secretary of state appeared relaxed in matching gray sweats and sneakers while en route to Beijing. Rubio’s arrival in China was also notable because Beijing sanctioned him in 2020 over his criticism of China’s policies in Hong Kong and Xinj

May 14, 2026By Jane Han
Rubio sparks memes over Nike ‘Maduro look’ en route to China summit
World

On Korea’s Parents’ Day, gratitude can come in cash

SEATTLE — When Parents’ Day approaches in Korea, many adult children do not spend days searching for the perfect gift. They open their banking app. For Korean families, sending money to parents on May 8 is not seen as impersonal. It can be practical, respectful and familiar, a way to say thank you with support that parents can actually use. A recent survey of 2,000 adults in Korea by Lotte Members, the membership and data unit of retail giant Lotte Group, found that cash was both the gift parents most wanted for Parent’s Day and the gift adult children most wanted to give. Around 71 percent of respondents picked cash as the gift they wanted to receive, while nearly 84 percent chose it as the gift they wanted to give. For Koreans in the U.S. with parents back in Korea, instead of handing over a cash envelope after dinner, they may send a wire transfer, followed by a text message or a late-night phone call. “In Korea, giving cash is just the easiest way to show you care,” said Grace Lee, 42, who regularly sends money to her parents in Seoul. “Here, it feels a little different.

May 8, 2026By Jane Han
On Korea’s Parents’ Day, gratitude can come in cash
South Korea

‘Authentication nation’ tests visitors to Korea ahead of summer travel

SEATTLE — As the summer vacation season approaches, many travelers heading to Korea are doing the usual pretrip scramble: setting up medical appointments, registering children for summer programs and booking beauty appointments. And then, almost immediately, they hit the same wall: phone verification. Before even boarding her flight, a Seattle-based Korean mom of two tried to book a dermatology appointment and sign her kids up for a local summer camp. Each time, the process stopped cold. Enter a Korean phone number. Verify. Confirm. Without it, nothing moves. “The most annoying word when dealing with anything online in Korea is ‘authentication,’” said Minjung Park, who visits Korea once every two years. “Why are there so many steps of verification and authentication? Drives me crazy.” The experience points to a broader limitation in Korea’s digital system. Much of it is built around mobile-based identity checks tied to local carriers, making logins fast and secure for residents. For visitors and overseas Koreans without a domestic number, access can be far less straightfo

May 7, 2026By Jane Han
‘Authentication nation’ tests visitors to Korea ahead of summer travel
South Korea

Trump Jr. gets taste of Seoul’s famed pork belly scene

Donald Trump Jr. added an unmistakably Korean stop to his Seoul itinerary this week: sizzling pork belly at one of the city’s best-known barbecue restaurants. The eldest son of U.S. President Donald Trump was spotted at Geumdwaeji Sikdang, or Gold Pig Restaurant, in Jung District, Seoul, where he signed an interior door and wrote “2026” beside his name, according to local media reports. He also posed for a photo with a restaurant official. The restaurant is no ordinary neighborhood barbecue joint. Known for drawing long lines and celebrity diners, Geumdwaeji Sikdang has built a reputation as one of Seoul’s most recognizable pork barbecue spots. Former soccer star David Beckham is among the high-profile visitors who have eaten there. The restaurant is best known for pork belly and other grilled pork cuts, making Trump Jr.’s visit a distinctly local stop during a trip otherwise watched for its business and political connections. Trump Jr.’s restaurant visit came during a private trip to Korea that has drawn attention because of his ties with Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-

May 1, 2026By Jane Han
Trump Jr. gets taste of Seoul’s famed pork belly scene
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