my timesThe Korea Times

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.

Read more

South Korea

Seoul subway strike to begin Friday morning as talks collapse

Seoul Metro workers on subway lines 1 through 8 will launch a full strike starting with Friday’s first trains, a move that may disrupt morning commutes across the capital after overnight talks between the main union and management collapsed. The Seoul Transit Corporation Labor Union, representing more than 57 percent of all employees, announced around 3:30 a.m. that final talks with management had collapsed. Labor and management held last-minute negotiations on wages and collective bargaining at the company’s headquarters in Seongdong District on Thursday afternoon, but negotiations were suspended after about 40 minutes. The two sides continued working-level talks throughout the night, yet failed to narrow their differences and were unable to resume the main negotiation, leading to the collapse of the talks. Separate negotiations between the company and the two smaller unions are still underway. As of July this year, the main union accounted for 57.4 percent of unionized workers, followed by the No. 2 union at 16.4 percent and the No. 3 union at 12.6 percent.

Dec 12, 2025By Jane Han
Seoul subway strike to begin Friday morning as talks collapse
World

More US law firms begin reviewing Coupang after data leak

SEATTLE — More U.S. law firms are moving to scrutinize Coupang as the fallout from the company’s massive data leak continues to widen, adding fresh pressure on the e-commerce giant and drawing new attention from investor groups. In the past week, at least three additional firms have issued public notices announcing investigations into whether Coupang Inc. may have violated federal securities laws. Each notice encourages shareholders to reach out as the firms examine whether recent disclosures, including those addressing the breach and related leadership changes, contributed to investor losses. The firms have not announced formal filings, but their notices indicate that preliminary reviews are accelerating as investor interest grows. New York-based Rosen Law Firm urged Coupang investors to inquire about a potential claim, saying it is assessing whether the company provided misleading information to the market. Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, also based in New York, issued a similar alert, asking shareholders to contact the firm as it evaluates whether recent disclosures affected

Dec 12, 2025By Jane Han
More US law firms begin reviewing Coupang after data leak
Entertainment

Overseas fans split over Cho Jin-woong's retirement after past crime resurfaces

SEATTLE — When news broke last week that Cho Jin-woong would retire from acting, it hit like a thunderbolt. Many international fans were caught off guard, unsure how a teenage crime from decades ago could suddenly end a long and respected career. Reactions abroad have been complicated. Some viewers felt shocked and disappointed. Others tried to understand the context in Korea, where public figures are often expected to uphold strict personal standards. Many said they needed more information before deciding how to feel. The story has raised difficult questions about how societies balance justice, accountability and the possibility of change. Supporters have been vocal, with one international fan writing on a popular Reddit thread, “It seems like he did his time and cleaned his act up. Unless there are additional instances of misconduct for which he wasn’t punished already, it’s a real shame he’s had to quit acting for this.” Another commenter questioned Korean cultural expectations, saying, “Is rehabilitation or forgiveness considered unobtainable?” A third added, “What

Dec 9, 2025By Jane Han
Overseas fans split over Cho Jin-woong's retirement after past crime resurfaces
South Korea

Samsung scion’s near-perfect college exam score reaches Korean parents in US

SEATTLE — A story about Hotel Shilla CEO Lee Boo-jin’s son receiving a near-perfect score on the national college entrance exam has already made headlines in Korea, but the buzz did not stop there. The news quickly leapt across the Pacific and began circulating among Korean moms in the U.S., where parents are reacting with equal parts envy and fascination. Parents abroad said they were struck by how a Samsung scion managed to excel within Korea’s intensely competitive school system. Many expressed surprise that he stayed in Korea for his entire education rather than joining the steady stream of students heading overseas, especially the U.S. Park Sun-young, chair of the new Truth and Reconciliation Committee, praised both the result and the family’s approach to schooling in a widely shared post. She wrote on Facebook that the senior at Whimoon High School “missed only one question on the CSAT this year” and had remained “first in his class” since middle school. CSAT refers to Korea's College Scholastic Aptitude Test. Park contrasted Lee’s parenting with what she describe

Dec 5, 2025By Jane Han
Samsung scion’s near-perfect college exam score reaches Korean parents in US
World

Coupang’s data breach starts drawing US legal attention

SEATTLE — Coupang may be heading into a new phase of legal pressure in the U.S. as investors begin to assess the fallout from the massive data breach that exposed personal information linked to more than 33 million customer accounts. The breach has already drawn intense scrutiny in Korea and contributed to a decline in Coupang’s share price. A New York–based investor rights firm, DJS Law Group, has opened an investigation into whether Coupang may have made misleading statements or failed to disclose information related to cybersecurity risks that could be important to investors. Such inquiries are often a precursor to a class action lawsuit. "The investigation focuses on whether the company issued misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors," DJS Law Group said in a statement, Tuesday. U.S. litigation firms commonly monitor major data incidents and sharp stock moves for signs that a company failed to properly warn investors about known vulnerabilities. Coupang’s share price movement following the breach disclosure suggests conditions that c

Dec 4, 2025By Jane Han
Coupang’s data breach starts drawing US legal attention
World

Coupang US headquarters quiet as Korea presses for answers

SEATTLE — The global headquarters of Coupang sits tucked in the heart of downtown Seattle, quiet and unassuming despite the storm of controversy unfolding an ocean away. The building rises sleek and glassy above the street, its windows reflecting its surroundings. A discreet sign identifies the company behind Korea’s dominant e-commerce empire, but there are no crowds outside and no visible signs of concern. Delivery vans don’t line the block. From the street, it is hard to imagine that this is the command center of a company facing major scrutiny in Korea following a massive data breach. In Korea, consumers are organizing to take part in legal action and asking for clear answers after their personal information was exposed. But here, the scene appears unchanged. Coupang’s U.S. media relations team had not responded to inquiries from The Korea Times as of Tuesday (local time). The difference is noticeable. For Korean users, the company’s name is fueling online discussions and calls for accountability. Yet at its U.S. hub, there is little outward indication of those concerns. W

Dec 3, 2025By Jane Han
Coupang US headquarters quiet as Korea presses for answers
World

When data leaks, Korea reacts while US litigates on autopilot

SEATTLE — A massive data leak has stirred anger and anxiety across Korea, but in the U.S., a similar breach would more likely set off a wave of automatic class action notices than public outrage. The breach, now considered one of the largest in Korea’s digital history, has shaken public trust in a platform that millions rely on for groceries, household goods and fast delivery. Users rushed to community sites to check whether their names, addresses or purchase histories had been compromised, and many questioned how closely the company had safeguarded the data behind its rapid rise. In the United States, where some of the world’s largest data breaches have occurred, public reaction is usually more subdued. A 2025 survey by Varonis found that 64 percent of U.S. adults have never checked whether their information was exposed in a breach, despite repeated incidents involving retailers, credit bureaus and social media companies. More than half said they would not know what steps to take if they learned their data had been compromised. Conversations on Reddit point to a kind of collectiv

Dec 2, 2025By Jane Han
When data leaks, Korea reacts while US litigates on autopilot
South Korea

Less clicking as Koreans rethink US Black Friday

Just a few years ago, Korean shoppers would stay up past midnight to pounce on Black Friday deals from the United States. Now, many are closing their browsers instead. America’s biggest shopping weekend long served as a major online event in Korea, where direct overseas purchases once promised luxury goods and specialty items at bargain prices. But this season, the excitement is noticeably quieter. With the U.S. dollar still strong against the Korean won, even steep discounts are failing to translate into real savings. The currency gap is wiping out the price advantage that once made the process worthwhile, especially after international shipping fees and customs charges are added. “Even if an item is 40 or 50 percent off, by the time you convert it into won and add shipping, it’s no longer a deal,” wrote one user on Dealgong, an online community focused on overseas bargains and shipping tips. Black Friday sales of Ralph Lauren, a consistently popular brand among Korean consumers, also feel underwhelming this year. Its 30 percent discount on select items is not enough to spark pa

Nov 29, 2025By Jane Han
Less clicking as Koreans rethink US Black Friday
World

Kimchi for Thanksgiving? More American cooks are giving it a try

SEATTLE — Turkey, pie — and kimchi? The Korean staple is starting to show up on more Thanksgiving tables as home cooks look for ways to add a little spark to their traditional spread. As Thanksgiving approaches, many cooks are pulling out trusted recipes they’ve made for years. But for anyone looking to introduce something unexpected, kimchi is quietly emerging as a bold twist that blends surprisingly well with American favorites. Thanksgiving, observed in the U.S. on the fourth Thursday of November, is one of the country’s biggest family holidays, much like Chuseok in Korea. With social media helping spread the idea, kimchi-inspired Thanksgiving dishes are popping up in viral posts and Instagram Reels, where home cooks and food influencers share fusion plates that look both playful and comforting. Many note that kimchi’s tangy brightness and gentle heat can lift the richness of a heavy holiday lineup. One of the most popular ideas is Kimchi mac and cheese, a dish that has already made its way into Korean-American kitchens and trendy cafés. The combination works for the same r

Nov 27, 2025By Jane Han
Kimchi for Thanksgiving? More American cooks are giving it a try
South Korea

No US trip needed: Dollar-priced menus are hitting Koreans at home

Koreans don’t need to take a trip to the U.S. to experience the pain of a weak won. A few restaurants at home already charge in U.S. dollars, turning a $110 buffet into a splurge of more than 160,000 won and giving diners a taste of American-style sticker shock without ever leaving Seoul. At the handful of restaurants that price their meals in dollars, the won’s slide has simply made those figures feel heavier. The menu hasn’t changed, but the exchange rate has, pushing meals that already leaned pricey into noticeably more expensive territory for locals. Among the small group of establishments that rely on dollar-based pricing are seafood buffets like Viking’s Wharf — known for its $110 buffet — and Crab52, where dinner runs $200 per person, as well as Noryangjin101, a high-end spot that opened earlier this year in Seoul’s fish market district. All three have been listing their prices in U.S. dollars, a practice the company says stems from relying heavily on imported seafood, whose costs are tied to global markets. Notably, the restaurants belong to the same parent company,

Nov 26, 2025By Jane Han
No US trip needed: Dollar-priced menus are hitting Koreans at home
previous page
56789
next page

Top 5 stories

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.