The Korea Times

Haegue Yang, LA Phil bring Yun Isang's 'Double Concerto' to life in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES — The lights dimmed inside Walt Disney Concert Hall as the sound of wind drifted through the darkness Tuesday evening. Two narrow beams swept across the audience, racing from the back of the hall toward the stage before swinging back again like a pendulum. As the lights moved, the soundscape thickened, wind giving way to rain before swelling into the suggestion of a gathering storm. This five-minute “light prelude,” designed by internationally acclaimed artist Haegue Yang, served as a quiet overture before the Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil) performed composer Yun Isang’s 1977 composition, “Double Concerto.” The LA Phil New Music Group navigated the work’s restless currents under the baton of Korean Canadian conductor Earl Lee. Instead of a traditional melody, the oboe and harp move through shifting textures and sustained tones, circling one another in gestures that build tension rather than resolve it. Without a clear melodic anchor, the piece draws listeners into a landscape defined by texture and movement. When the final sound faded, the sold-out hall rose

Mar 13, 2026By Jane Han

Haegue Yang, LA Phil bring Yun Isang's 'Double Concerto' to life in Los Angeles

Economy

Korean won drops below 1,500 per dollar for first time since 2009 financial crisis

The Korean won fell past the 1,500 mark against the U.S. dollar early Wednesday for the first time since March 2009 during the global financial crisis, as escalating military clashes involving the U.S., Israel and Iran sent investors rushing to the dollar. According to Reuters and other foreign media reports, the won-dollar exchange rate briefly broke above 1,500 won at around 12:20 a.m. on Wednesday. The rate extended gains to as high as 1,506 won before retreating below the 1,500 won level. The move reflected a sharp surge in the dollar amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty. The breach marked the first time in 17 years that the won-dollar rate had crossed the 1,500 threshold, a level widely viewed as a psychological support line in local currency markets and last seen during the global financial crisis.

Mar 4, 2026By Jane Han

Korean won drops below 1,500 per dollar for first time since 2009 financial crisis

Companies

Olive Young’s US debut draws buzz as shoppers question formulas

SEATTLE — When CJ Olive Young said it would open its first U.S. stores in California, the reaction was swift. On social media, K-beauty fans celebrated the idea of finally walking into a brick-and-mortar version of the Seoul retailer they have been ordering from for years. For many shoppers here in the U.S., Olive Young is more than a chain. It represents what’s trending in Korea right now. The sheet masks stacked by the register. The sunscreen that sells out in Seoul before it appears on Instagram. The perception that you are getting the same products sold in Korea, not a separate export version. That is why the excitement has come with a pointed question: will the products on U.S. shelves be exactly the same? Since news of Olive Young’s U.S. expansion first surfaced, online forums have buzzed with questions about whether the products would remain unchanged. “Most of the brands that sell a lot to the U.S. changed to a separate U.S. formula (aka worse) so I expect those will be the imports unless the FDA gets cool with a lot of technologies really quickly,” one Reddit user wrot

Feb 28, 2026By Jane Han

Olive Young’s US debut draws buzz as shoppers question formulas

South Korea

Bithumb blunder sends 2,000 bitcoins instead of small reward

South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb said a system error during a payout event Friday led to an abnormal distribution of Bitcoin to some users, briefly disrupting prices on its platform. According to media reports, the event was originally intended to provide users with either reward points or a small Bitcoin reward worth about 2,000 won ($1.37). However, a system configuration error caused the reward unit to be entered as a Bitcoin quantity rather than points, resulting in some users being credited with 2,000 bitcoins instead. Media reports said Bithumb attempted to recover the mistakenly credited assets after recognizing the issue, but some users immediately sold the Bitcoin at market prices, realizing gains of hundreds of millions of won. As a result, Bitcoin prices on Bithumb briefly plunged to around 81 million won ($55,000) — more than 10 percent lower than prices on other exchanges. In a notice released shortly after midnight Saturday, Bithumb said that during the payout process “an abnormal quantity of Bitcoin was credited to certain customers,” and that some of th

Feb 7, 2026By Jane Han

Bithumb blunder sends 2,000 bitcoins instead of small reward

South Korea

In Korea, 'riding' doesn't mean riding

This week, the New York Times chronicled the relentless grind of South Korea’s private education industry. What it did not explore is the small, borrowed English word that quietly powers much of that world and occasionally irritates English speakers. In standard English, “riding” usually involves bicycles, horses or amusement park attractions. In Korea, it means something far more mundane: Parents use the word to describe shuttling children from one hagwon, or private cram schools, to another, often late into the evening. The expression may be linguistically incorrect, but it has quietly joined the long list of "Konglish" — English words that take on new meanings and become everyday Korean vocabulary. In everyday English, what Korean parents call “riding” would usually be phrased as “giving someone a ride,” “picking up” or “dropping off” a child. Using “riding” by itself to mean driving someone is uncommon, which is why the Korean version often puzzles native English speakers. The word has become part of the daily dictionary of mothers with school-aged childre

Feb 6, 2026By Jane Han

World

Fear ripples through Korean communities in US as ICE activity intensifies

SEATTLE — The prospect of stepping outside, driving to work or simply running errands is increasingly bringing a quiet anxiety for many Koreans in the United States, as recent immigration enforcement actions reverberate through social media, community forums and everyday conversations from coast to coast. What once felt distant — something that happened to “other people” — is beginning to feel uncomfortably close. In Korean-language forums, messenger group chats and community platforms such as MissyUSA and HeyKorean, users trade sightings, rumors and advice, often late into the night. The posts span everything from past DUI records and old visa overstays to whether bankruptcy filings or green card renewals could suddenly put someone at risk. For many, the fear sharpened last week after reports and social media videos suggested federal immigration agents were operating in Los Angeles’ Koreatown, a neighborhood long regarded as the symbolic heart of the Korean American community. “ICE agents are being spotted all over this morning,” one user wrote. “There are armed, mask

Feb 4, 2026By Jane Han

Fear ripples through Korean communities in US as ICE activity intensifies

Foreign Affairs

US Treasury keeps Korea on currency monitoring list

The U.S. Treasury on Thursday (local time) kept Korea on its currency monitoring list, citing the need for continued scrutiny of its foreign exchange practices despite finding no evidence of currency manipulation. In its semiannual report to Congress, the Treasury said no major trading partner met the criteria for manipulation during the review period through June 2025. Korea remained on the monitoring list alongside economies including Japan and Taiwan. Countries are placed on the list if they meet at least two of three criteria related to trade surpluses with the U.S., material current account surpluses or persistent one-sided intervention in foreign exchange markets. Korea was removed from the monitoring list in November 2023 for the first time since April 2016 but was added back in November 2024, ahead of the inauguration of the Donald Trump administration.

Jan 30, 2026By Jane Han

US Treasury keeps Korea on currency monitoring list

South Korea

‘Gangnam formula’ Aptamil sparks concern in Korea after Europe recall

A precautionary recall of infant formula products in Europe has sent Korean parenting communities into a frenzy, with online mom forums buzzing over fears that some popular imported brands may pose health risks to babies. While the recall affects several European manufacturers, much of the anxiety in Korea has centered on Aptamil — a premium brand widely dubbed the “Gangnam formula” for its association with wealthy families and high-end parenting choices. The recall involves certain batches of infant formula manufactured in Europe that may contain trace amounts of cereulide, a toxin produced by the foodborne bacterium Bacillus cereus. The toxin can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea, and is known to withstand heat during food processing. France-based food giant Danone said on Jan. 23 that it initiated a precautionary recall in Europe of some batches of Aptamil First Infant Formula in the 800-gram size after a supplier flagged potential contamination. According to the U.K. Food Standards Agency, the affected products were sold in several European countries, primari

Jan 30, 2026By Jane Han

‘Gangnam formula’ Aptamil sparks concern in Korea after Europe recall

World

House Judiciary casts US tariff hike on Korea as retaliation over Coupang

SEATTLE — Senior Republicans are casting the Trump administration’s decision to raise tariffs on Korean goods as retaliation for Seoul’s handling of the Coupang, highlighting how regulatory disputes involving U.S. firms overseas are increasingly spilling into trade policy. The comment came from the official X (formerly Twitter) account of House Judiciary Republicans, chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan, which said Tuesday that “this is what happens when you unfairly target American companies like Coupang,” following the tariff announcement. The post came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump said tariffs on automobiles, pharmaceuticals and other goods would rise from 15 percent to 25 percent. The latest post followed weeks of escalating criticism from Republicans over Korean regulatory actions against Coupang. Earlier this month, Jordan reposted a statement by Rep. Scott Fitzgerald condemning what he described as a “politically motivated witch hunt” against American executives of Coupang, calling the actions “unacceptable” and vowing that the United States “will always pro

Jan 28, 2026By Jane Han

House Judiciary casts US tariff hike on Korea as retaliation over Coupang

World

US agriculture secretary hit with ‘let them eat cake’ backlash

SEATTLE — A comment by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins about a $3 healthy meal has ignited a storm of online criticism, with detractors comparing the remark to Marie Antoinette’s alleged “let them eat cake.” Rollins made the comment in a NewsNation interview this week while discussing the Trump administration’s updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans. She said the U.S. Department of Agriculture had run more than 1,000 simulations suggesting it was possible to meet basic nutritional standards at roughly $3 per meal. As an example, she cited a plate consisting of chicken, broccoli, a corn tortilla and one additional item. That explanation triggered an immediate backlash. Across TikTok, Instagram and Reddit, users questioned both the math and the premise of the $3 meal, focusing in particular on what Rollins described as “one other thing.” “My three-year-old eats more than that,” one TikTok user wrote. Another asked, “Simulation of what? Starvation?” A third zeroed in on the portion size, posting, “One piece of broccoli? Are you kidding?” On Instagram, com

Jan 17, 2026By Jane Han

Jane Han

Read more

Haegue Yang, LA Phil bring Yun Isang's 'Double Concerto' to life in Los Angeles

Korean won drops below 1,500 per dollar for first time since 2009 financial crisis

Olive Young’s US debut draws buzz as shoppers question formulas

Bithumb blunder sends 2,000 bitcoins instead of small reward

In Korea, 'riding' doesn't mean riding

Fear ripples through Korean communities in US as ICE activity intensifies

US Treasury keeps Korea on currency monitoring list

‘Gangnam formula’ Aptamil sparks concern in Korea after Europe recall

House Judiciary casts US tariff hike on Korea as retaliation over Coupang

US agriculture secretary hit with ‘let them eat cake’ backlash

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