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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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Foreign Affairs

Lee, Macron back Hormuz cooperation, stress 'peaceful' multinational mission

President Lee Jae Myung and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed Tuesday to work together to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, with Macron describing a prospective multinational mission as "peaceful" as Seoul weighs its role in the strategic waterway. The two leaders discussed cooperation on Middle East issues during their summit at the Elysee Palace in Paris, amid growing attention in Korea over how the government will respond to U.S. calls for contributions to efforts in the strait. Macron said Korea and France had previously discussed what they could do, including with the U.K., to help reopen the waterway. He said the two countries would cooperate to restore peace in the region once agreement is reached among countries involved in the multinational mission, which he described as peaceful. The talks come as Seoul considers its response to Washington's calls for Korea to contribute to efforts to secure the key shipping route. The government has said it is reviewing various options, including military measures, but that no deployment decision has been made. Iran h

Sep 9, 2026By Jane Han
Lee, Macron back Hormuz cooperation, stress 'peaceful' multinational mission
World

Iranian official warns Korea Hormuz deployment would mean joining war

A senior Iranian official has warned Korea against deploying military assets to the Strait of Hormuz, saying any action against Iran would be considered direct participation in the war. “Any South Korean involvement against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz would amount to direct military participation in the aggression and war against Iran,” the unnamed senior political and security official was quoted as saying by Al Mayadeen, a Lebanon-based news network aligned with Iran and Hezbollah, on Friday. The official also urged Seoul not to “sacrifice its interests and reputation” by supporting U.S. military operations. The warning comes as Korea weighs a possible contribution to efforts to secure the key waterway amid growing pressure from Washington. Seoul said Friday that no decision has been made. A senior U.S. administration official said Washington was “still waiting for South Korea to deploy resources to the region,” noting that the country is one of the largest buyers of Middle Eastern oil, media outlets reported Friday.

Sep 6, 2026By Jane Han
Iranian official warns Korea Hormuz deployment would mean joining war
South Korea

Chipotle brings burritos to Korea, and a familiar American anxiety

SEATTLE — For many Americans, ordering at Chipotle is practically muscle memory — rice, beans, protein, salsa, toppings. In Korea, some diners have a more immediate concern: How exactly are you supposed to order without holding up the line? Chipotle opened its first restaurant in Asia near Seoul's Gangnam Station this week, largely transplanting the American experience, including its signature build-your-own ordering system. Almost immediately, Korean social media filled with explainers on how to order, along with comparisons to Subway, another U.S. chain where customers move down the counter choosing ingredients as they go. “More nerve-racking than Subway,” one blogger wrote. Subway has long generated similar anxiety in Korea, spawning countless online tutorials explaining what to say, what to choose and in what order. “As someone who was scared of Subway, this is giving me PTSD,” one commenter said. Another had a simpler request: “Please introduce kiosks.” Part of the anxiety may come from having to make one choice after another while an employee waits for an answer and ot

Sep 2, 2026By Jane Han
Chipotle brings burritos to Korea, and a familiar American anxiety
World

Trump says he'll 'remember' S. Korea's lack of Iran help in primetime interview

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again singled out South Korea for not helping with his war on Iran, reiterating criticism he has voiced several times in recent months. “We got very little help from other countries,” Trump said in a primetime interview with Fox News that aired Sunday, as he complained that the United States spends billions of dollars helping other countries without receiving enough support in return. Trump then pointed specifically to South Korea. “We helped them, but when it came to helping us, I didn't put on a heavy sell, but I just said, ‘Would you like to participate?’ and they all said, ‘No, thank you,’” he said. “And I said, ‘I'm going to remember that to myself.’” Trump went on to suggest the United States should reconsider spending money to help countries unwilling to reciprocate. “When they're not willing to go for you, you just can't be a stupid person and help them,” he said. Later in the interview, Trump returned to South Korea, pointing to the U.S. military presence there while again criticizing Seoul's response to his request

Sep 1, 2026By Jane Han
Trump says he'll 'remember' S. Korea's lack of Iran help in primetime interview
World

Could China's cabbage scandal hurt kimchi's booming popularity in US?

SEATTLE — A food safety scandal involving formaldehyde-treated napa cabbage in China is raising a new question for kimchi’s fast-growing presence in the United States: Could the controversy hurt American consumers’ appetite for the Korean staple? Chinese authorities recently confirmed that napa cabbages were illegally soaked in a solution containing formaldehyde, a chemical classified as a human carcinogen, to keep them fresh during transportation, prompting an investigation and efforts to trace where the affected produce was distributed. The case quickly raised concerns about kimchi, the main ingredient of which is typically napa cabbage. Korea has strengthened inspections of cabbage imported from China and is seeking to determine whether produce linked to the case entered the country. There is currently no evidence that any affected cabbage or kimchi has reached the U.S. Still, the controversy comes as kimchi enjoys unprecedented visibility among American consumers. Once found mainly at Korean restaurants and Asian supermarkets, kimchi has become a mainstream food in the U.S., sho

Aug 26, 2026By Jane Han
Could China's cabbage scandal hurt kimchi's booming popularity in US?
World

US lawmakers push back against Trump's move to cut Korea drills

SEATTLE — U.S. lawmakers from both parties are pushing back against President Donald Trump’s order to sharply scale back joint military exercises with South Korea, warning that the move could weaken the alliance and benefit U.S. adversaries. The criticism has come largely from Democrats, but Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina has also publicly challenged Trump’s decision, making the congressional pushback bipartisan. Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the move “another inane, haphazard decision by President Trump and his chaotic administration.” “When President Trump cuts military exercises to flatter a dictator or punishes South Korea for declining to join a war he started, all of our allies — and adversaries — think that America’s commitments are negotiable,” Reed said in a statement. “Kim Jong Un has won a propaganda victory,” he added, referring to the North Korean leader. “... and South Korea, one of our strongest allies, has been punished for no reason beyond Trump’s ego.” Reed also

Aug 18, 2026By Jane Han
US lawmakers push back against Trump's move to cut Korea drills
World

Trump's secret plane switch: What if a Korean president did the same?

SEATTLE — President Donald Trump’s secret plane switch while leaving Turkey last month has become a major talking point in U.S. media this week. What if the same thing happened in Korea? Trump publicly boarded Air Force One after attending a NATO summit in Ankara on July 8. But before departure, he was secretly moved via an airport catering truck to a smaller C-32A military aircraft after intelligence indicated a credible threat. The presidential jet departed separately with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, other White House officials, staff and journalists aboard as part of a decoy operation. The incident has received extensive coverage since The Washington Post revealed the ruse earlier this week, with questions emerging about the decision to use the presidential jet as a decoy while carrying officials, staff and journalists. Some Democratic lawmakers have called for answers about the operation and the risks to those aboard. The debate has even spilled into speculation surrounding White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who announced this week

Aug 14, 2026By Jane Han
Trump's secret plane switch: What if a Korean president did the same?
World

US finally approves new UV filter. Can it catch up with K-beauty?

SEATTLE — The U.S. has approved its first new sunscreen filter in more than two decades. But for American fans of Korean skin care, the bigger question is: Is one new filter enough? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June approved bemotrizinol, a broad-spectrum ultraviolet filter that has been used for years in sunscreens sold in Korea, Europe and other markets. It is the first new active ingredient added to the U.S. over-the-counter sunscreen monograph since the late 1990s. Also known as BEMT and marketed as Tinosorb S by German chemicals maker BASF, bemotrizinol protects against both UVA and UVB rays and is highly photostable, meaning it maintains its effectiveness when exposed to sunlight. Its approval marks a significant change for a U.S. sunscreen industry that has long had fewer UV filter options than manufacturers overseas. The FDA itself acknowledged last year that it had “historically moved too slowly” on sunscreen innovation, leaving Americans with fewer options than consumers abroad. That gap is also one reason Korean sunscreens have drawn such a devoted foll

Aug 13, 2026By Jane Han
US finally approves new UV filter. Can it catch up with K-beauty?
South Korea

Top US home retailer's 'Taste of Korea' collection looks anything but Korean

SEATTLE — Williams Sonoma, one of America’s best-known upscale kitchenware and home retailers, has turned its attention to Korean cuisine with a new “Taste of Korea” collection. But Koreans in the U.S. are taking one look at the tableware and wondering exactly where the Korea is. The retailer’s collection features more than 100 items, from Korean sauces and seasonings to cookware and dinnerware. Front and center is the Lotus Bloom collection, an ornate line of plates and bowls in pinkish-red and gold, alongside similarly elaborate table linens. For a retailer that has spent decades cultivating an image as an upscale American tastemaker, the decidedly un-Korean look has struck a nerve online, particularly as brands increasingly seek to capitalize on the global popularity of Korean food and culture. “I saw this huge sign outside the store that said ‘Taste of Korea,’ and as a Korean, I felt so flattered,” Korean creator Bambigirl said in a YouTube video. “K-culture is everywhere now.” But her excitement quickly faded when she saw the collection. “What is going on here

Aug 8, 2026By Jane Han
Top US home retailer's 'Taste of Korea' collection looks anything but Korean
South Korea

K-beauty has moved beyond the skin care aisle

During a recent five-week visit to Korea, one thing became immediately apparent: While consumers overseas continue embracing K-beauty products, many Koreans have already moved on to the next step. For years, Korea's beauty industry has been synonymous with sheet masks, BB creams and the famed 10-step skin care routine. Those products helped turn K-beauty into a global phenomenon and cemented the country's reputation as a beauty powerhouse. Today, however, the conversation has shifted from cosmetics counters to the country's ubiquitous dermatology clinics, where aesthetic treatments have become part of everyday beauty routines. Scheduling a laser treatment or skin booster has become almost as routine as booking a haircut or nail appointment. Beauty in Korea is increasingly treated less like a luxury and more like maintenance. Instead of asking which moisturizer someone uses, friends compare lifting treatments, collagen-boosting procedures, skin booster injections and pore treatments. Recommendations for clinics are exchanged as casually as restaurant tips, while discussions about the lat

Aug 8, 2026By Jane Han
K-beauty has moved beyond the skin care aisle
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