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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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South Korea

Why do Korean protesters wave American flags?

SEATTLE — As protests over Korea's ballot shortage controversy continue, many foreign observers are asking an unusual question: Why are American flags being waved at a protest over a Korean election? Images from the demonstrations show participants carrying U.S. flags alongside Korean national flags, renewing a long-running debate over the symbolism of the Stars and Stripes in Korean politics. The question has surfaced across social media platforms including Reddit, X (formerly Twitter) and Threads, where expatriates and international observers are debating why a foreign flag has become a recurring feature at some Korean political rallies. "It's so bizarre seeing so many American flags," one user wrote. "It's not really about America," one commenter responded, arguing that the flag has come to symbolize anti-communism and conservative political identity in Korea. Others pointed to the history of the U.S.-South Korea alliance and the Korean War, saying the flag has long been associated with support for the alliance and opposition to North Korea. Several commenters said the symbolism has e

Jun 17, 2026By Jane Han
Why do Korean protesters wave American flags?
South Korea

Ballot shortage tests trust in Korea's election system: US expert

SEATTLE — A ballot shortage that disrupted voting during South Korea's recent local elections could have longer-lasting consequences for public confidence in the country's electoral system, according to a U.S. scholar of Korean politics. The controversy deepened Thursday when police raided the National Election Commission (NEC) and several local election offices as part of an investigation into ballot shortages that temporarily suspended voting at 26 polling stations nationwide during the June 3 local elections. More than 100 investigators took part in searches of seven locations, including the NEC headquarters in Gwacheon and local election offices in Seoul that experienced shortages. Police are investigating possible election law violations and dereliction of duty, while former NEC Chairman Rho Tae-ak, who resigned over the incident, has reportedly been listed as a suspect. The shortages sparked days of protests by demonstrators demanding a rerun of the elections, though election officials have maintained that the incident does not constitute grounds for a revote. Celeste Arrington,

Jun 12, 2026By Jane Han
Ballot shortage tests trust in Korea's election system: US expert
Opinion

Are Korean boycotts intense but temporary?

SEATTLE — Just over three weeks after Starbucks Korea sparked outrage with its "Tank Day" promotion that coincided with the May 18 Gwangju Uprising, the company is already showing signs of a comeback. Starbucks gift certificates have once again become the most popular item in the cafe category on KakaoTalk's gift service, part of Korea's dominant messaging app, after briefly losing the top position in the wake of the controversy. The development comes despite continuing fallout from the incident, which sparked calls for a boycott, public apologies and a management reshuffle at Starbucks Korea. Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin also publicly apologized and recently assumed direct leadership of E-mart, the affiliate that oversees Starbucks Korea. Despite the consequences, the episode revives a familiar question in Korea: Why do so many consumer boycotts appear to follow a similar pattern? The Starbucks controversy is only the latest example. The incident triggered one of the most visible consumer backlashes of the year. Customers shared photos of canceled Starbucks cards and refunde

Jun 10, 2026By Jane Han
Are Korean boycotts intense but temporary?
South Korea

Won hits 17-year low after breaking 1,560 against US dollar

The Korean won weakened beyond the 1,560-per-dollar mark in overnight trading Friday and early Saturday, falling to its lowest level in 17 years as a stronger dollar and continued foreign selling weighed on the currency. The exchange rate climbed as high as 1,561.5 won per dollar in overnight trading before ending at 1,559.0. The move marked the weakest level for the won since March 2009 during the global financial crisis. The won had already weakened to 1,549.1 per dollar during regular trading Friday before the exchange rate closed the daytime session at 1,539.1 won per dollar. It then accelerated sharply after the release of stronger-than-expected U.S. employment data, breaking through the psychologically significant 1,550 and 1,560 levels in succession. Market watchers attributed the latest surge in the exchange rate to a combination of factors, including a stronger dollar, continued foreign selling of Korean equities and concerns over the economic impact of the prolonged conflict in the Middle East. The U.S. jobs report reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve could keep int

Jun 6, 2026By Jane Han
Won hits 17-year low after breaking 1,560 against US dollar
South Korea

Election watchdog rejects calls for revote over Seoul ballot shortages

The National Election Commission (NEC) on Thursday rejected calls for a revote over ballot shortages at several Seoul polling stations during Wednesday’s local elections, saying the incident does not constitute legal grounds for postponing the election or holding a new vote. In a statement, the commission apologized for the disruption caused by the shortages but said vote counting could not be suspended and ballots cast at the affected polling stations must be included in the final tally. "The ballot shortages that occurred at some polling stations do not constitute grounds for postponing the election or conducting a reelection under the Public Official Election Act," the commission said. The statement came after the People Power Party called for a revote and demanded a halt to vote counting following ballot shortages at 14 polling stations in Seoul on Wednesday. The commission acknowledged responsibility for the incident and pledged to investigate its cause after vote counting is completed. "We deeply regret causing disappointment and concern to voters who visited polling stations to p

Jun 4, 2026By Jane Han
Election watchdog rejects calls for revote over Seoul ballot shortages
  • PPP calls for revote over Seoul ballot shortages
World

US congressman defends Coupang again; Rubio flags trade talks

SEATTLE — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said concerns over Korea's treatment of American companies have affected Washington's ability to conclude a trade agreement with Seoul, responding to criticism from Rep. Darrell Issa during a congressional hearing. During the hearing Wednesday, Issa argued that Korea's democracy had "taken a strong bent to the left," accusing the country of opening more avenues toward China and "beginning to oppress" companies, including Meta and Coupang. Responding to Issa, Rubio said concerns about the treatment of U.S. firms had become part of Washington's engagement with Seoul. "Our companies aren't just facing challenges and getting targeted in South Korea. They're facing it throughout Europe," Rubio said. "I think this becomes a feature in our engagement with South Korea even if we have things we are strategically aligned on." "Frankly, [it has] impacted our ability to conclude a trade agreement with them because of some of their behavior toward American companies," he added. The comments mark the latest instance of Issa criticizing Korea, while defend

Jun 4, 2026By Jane Han
US congressman defends Coupang again; Rubio flags trade talks
Politics

Han Dong-hoon stages comeback with Busan parliamentary by-election victory

Independent candidate Han Dong-hoon won a closely watched parliamentary by-election in Busan's Buk-A constituency, Thursday, capping a dramatic political comeback months after being expelled from the People Power Party (PPP) and boosting his standing within the conservative bloc. The race, one of the most fiercely contested of the 14 by-elections held alongside the June 3 local elections, ended with a razor-thin margin. Han won 42.96 percent of the vote, or 35,056 ballots, edging out ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate Ha Jung-woo, who garnered 41.26 percent, by just 1,382 votes. PPP candidate and former two-term lawmaker Park Min-shik finished third with 15.76 percent. Han hailed the result as a "historic victory" after he was projected to win around 2 a.m. during the vote count. He said his success as an independent reflected the public's desire to rebuild the conservative movement and serve as a check on the Lee Jae Myung administration. "I just happened to be standing before that great wave of public sentiment. I will follow the will of the people and the spirit of the

Jun 4, 2026By Jane Han and Anna J. Park
Han Dong-hoon stages comeback with Busan parliamentary by-election victory
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
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