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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

Trump gifts baseball set to President Lee

U.S. President Donald Trump found a sporty way to return a royal gesture. Following his receipt of a Silla gold crown replica, he reportedly presented South Korean President Lee Jae Myung with a baseball bat and ball, chosen to honor the shared history of a game first introduced to Korea by American missionaries. According to government officials, Thursday, the gift set included a baseball bat signed by Dylan Crews, an outfielder for the Washington Nationals, and a baseball imprinted with Trump’s presidential seal. The Nationals are based in Washington, home to the White House. U.S. officials said the gift was meant to celebrate “the deep cultural ties and shared values between the United States and South Korea,” noting baseball’s role as a symbol of the nations’ long-standing friendship. Trump appeared pleased with the gifts he received from Seoul. After the summit in Gyeongju, he reportedly instructed aides to load both the gold crown replica and the Grand Order of Mugunghwa medal onto Air Force One before departing for Washington following a U.S.–China meeting the same da

Oct 31, 2025By Jane Han
Trump gifts baseball set to President Lee
Foreign Affairs

Trump’s crown gift triggers ‘trolling’ jokes after ‘no kings’ protests

SEATTLE — When South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung placed a gleaming gold crown before U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, the moment was meant to symbolize friendship and shared prosperity. Instead, it quickly set off a wave of jokes and pointed commentary across social media, where critics saw the gesture as something more than ceremonial. The ceremony in Gyeongju, held during Trump’s state visit for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, featured the presentation of the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, South Korea’s highest civilian honor, along with a replica crown modeled after one from the ancient Silla Kingdom. Officials in Seoul described the gesture as a tribute to “a new golden age” in the Korea–U.S. alliance and a nod to the historic ties between the two nations. But online, the symbolism was met with skepticism and satire. The gift came just after a wave of “No Kings” protests held recently in cities across the United States, where thousands of demonstrators denounced what they called Trump’s increasingly authoritarian rhetoric. Marchers in

Oct 30, 2025By Jane Han
Trump’s crown gift triggers ‘trolling’ jokes after ‘no kings’ protests
South Korea

White House press secretary goes K-beauty shopping, shares haul on Instagram

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit may be about diplomacy, but even high-level politics leaves room for a little skin care. Karoline Leavitt, the 28-year-old White House press secretary traveling with U.S. President Donald Trump to Gyeongju, offered a glimpse of her personal discovery Wednesday night when she posted an Instagram story showing a neat spread of Korean beauty products. “South Korea skincare finds,” she wrote with a heart emoji, alongside 12 items ranging from sheet masks and pore pads to glow serum, cleansing oil and sunscreen — all staples of the famed K-beauty routine. Among the products were several brands that have already gained a strong following in the United States. Beauty of Joseon, the Seoul label behind the viral “Relief Sun” and “Glow Serum,” has taken TikTok by storm with more than a billion views under its hashtag. Medicube, the sleek clinical-style brand behind the red Zero Pore Pad, has built a loyal following online and routinely lands on Amazon’s bestseller lists. And Mediheal, best known for its hydrating sheet masks, was

Oct 30, 2025By Jane Han
White House press secretary goes K-beauty shopping, shares haul on Instagram
South Korea

Why is it called London Bagel Museum? Worker’s death draws attention to 'puzzling' name

The death of a 26-year-old London Bagel Museum employee has cast an unexpected spotlight on Korea’s most famous bagel chain — and renewed a peculiar question many have long wondered: Why is it called London Bagel Museum in the first place? The bakery, adored for its thick, chewy bagels and brick interior, has become a cultural phenomenon in Seoul, often drawing lines that wrap around city blocks. But as news spread that a young worker had died after reportedly working 80-hour weeks, discussion online shifted to a more common curiosity about the brand itself. “London Bagel Museum, famous for its non-London bagels,” one Reddit user joker. Another added, “It is just so random. It's not any different than calling something Stockholm Pizza, Barcelona French Toast, Rome Japchae, Tokyo Falafel, Seoul Lasagna.” A self-described Londoner weighed in more bluntly: “Ask yourself, as a Londoner; are we universally famous for our bagels?” Some users tried to reason it out. One claimed that “if you read the packaging, the reason it’s called London is ‘they just liked London,’

Oct 29, 2025By Jane Han
Why is it called London Bagel Museum? Worker’s death draws attention to 'puzzling' name
World

Trump ‘very much opposed’ to Georgia ICE raid, working on new visa plan

U.S. President Donald Trump said he was “very much opposed” to the recent immigration raid at a Hyundai factory in Georgia that led to the detention of more than 300 Korean workers, adding that his administration is developing a plan to ease the entry of foreign specialists working for companies building factories in the United States. “You know how I feel, I was very much opposed,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while en route to Japan Monday. “When they come in, they’re making very complex machinery, equipment, things. They’re going to have to bring some people in, at least at that initial phase. In that case, it was batteries.” Last month, U.S. immigration authorities raided a battery plant construction site in Georgia jointly operated by Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution, detaining about 300 Korean workers — most of whom had entered the U.S. on B-1 business visas or under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization visa waiver program — as alleged illegal immigrants. The workers were released a week later following government negotiations, but th

Oct 28, 2025By Jane Han
Trump ‘very much opposed’ to Georgia ICE raid, working on new visa plan
World

Japan’s new PM strikes friendly tone, calls S. Korea 'key neighbor'

Newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Tuesday she hopes to meet with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung soon, calling Korea an important neighbor and a key partner in tackling shared global challenges. She stressed that the significance of the Japan–Korea relationship is “now greater than ever.” At her first press conference since taking office, held at the prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo on Tuesday evening, Takaichi acknowledged that her appointment has drawn both hope and concern in South Korea. Seeking to strike a friendly tone, she said, “I really like Korean 'gim' (dried and seasoned seaweed), I use Korean cosmetics, and I watch Korean dramas,” adding that she hopes to strengthen mutual understanding through dialogue. “I want to move our ties forward in a stable, future-oriented way, building on the foundation laid by past administrations,” she said, emphasizing that close communication and steady cooperation will be priorities for her government. Takaichi also stressed the importance of three-way coordination among Japan, South Ko

Oct 22, 2025By Jane Han
Japan’s new PM strikes friendly tone, calls S. Korea 'key neighbor'
South Korea

Chartered flight arrives in Cambodia to repatriate detained Koreans

A chartered South Korean flight arrived in Cambodia late Friday night to repatriate 64 South Koreans detained for involvement in online scam operations, officials said. Korean Air flight, KE9689, landed at Techo International Airport near Phnom Penh at around 10:51 p.m. local time, carrying about 190 South Korean police officers assigned to escort the detainees back home. It is scheduled to take off from Phnom Penh at around 12:30 a.m. Friday (2:30 a.m. KST) for the return trip to Incheon later in the day. All 64 South Koreans — five more than the 59 initially announced by Cambodia’s National Police — held by Cambodian immigration authorities are to be repatriated. Of them, 59 were arrested during a crackdown on scam compounds, while the five others turned themselves in after escaping the criminal networks. Most of those to be flown home are suspects with arrest warrants issued in South Korea, and some are on Interpol’s Red Notice List. They are accused of taking part in phone-based fraud and “romance scams” run out of criminal enclaves known locally as “Wenches.” The larg

Oct 18, 2025By Jane Han
Chartered flight arrives in Cambodia to repatriate detained Koreans
Trends

Trader Joe’s Halloween totes are here — will fakes follow in Korea?

SEATTLE — New Halloween mini totes from Trader Joe’s, one of the most anticipated merch drops of the season, hit U.S. shelves Wednesday. Now, shoppers in Korea are watching closely to see if the frenzy will inspire another round of knockoffs. The $2.99 mini canvas bags, available in pumpkin orange, purple, jet black and multicolored, are the latest addition to the American grocery chain’s line of reusable totes that have become unlikely collectors’ items. In the U.S., the limited edition release drew long lines and social media buzz within hours. But in Korea, the conversation centers not only on scarcity, but authenticity. Earlier this summer, pastel-colored “Trader Joe’s” totes flooded Instagram and Naver, many of them marketed as “officially licensed imports.” The nearly identical bags mimicked the brand’s viral mini size, but many buyers soon realized they were dupes. Complaints piled up as customers discovered that the fabric, stitching and number of outer pockets differed from genuine Trader Joe’s merchandise. As refund requests increased, one question domina

Oct 10, 2025By Jane Han
Trader Joe’s Halloween totes are here — will fakes follow in Korea?
Films

Audrey Nuna realizes reach of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ on trip to Korea

NEW YORK — Audrey Nuna didn’t realize how far “KPop Demon Hunters” had traveled until she visited Korea. “I went to Korea a few weeks after the film started taking off,” she told Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show” that aired Tuesday evening. “I got off at Dongdaemun Station and this cute little grandpa was doing a street performance of ‘Golden’ on this Korean traditional instrument. He was so swagged out. I had to do a double take.” The 26-year-old Korean American singer, who voices one of the leads in the hit animated film, said the moment stayed with her. “In Korean culture, it’s a big deal if an elderly person is impressed by you,” she said. “You can get into an Ivy League school — that makes sense to them. But for the older generation to embrace something like this, it’s something different.” That intergenerational connection captures what “KPop Demon Hunters” and its fictional trio Huntr/x have achieved since the film’s release in June. The project’s soundtrack reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, while its breakout single “Golden” ha

Oct 9, 2025By Jane Han
Audrey Nuna realizes reach of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ on trip to Korea
South Korea

President Lee promotes K-food on primetime TV

The presidential couple stepped out of politics and into primetime TV, drawing wide attention with their appearance on “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator,” also known internationally as “Chef & My Fridge” on Netflix. The episode, which aired Monday evening during the Chuseok holiday, marked President Lee Jae Myung’s first appearance on an entertainment program since taking office. The broadcast had drawn public attention even before it aired, after critics questioned the timing of its filming shortly after a national network outage triggered by a fire at a government data center in Daejeon. On the show, the president, who stepped out of the political arena and into primetime TV, told viewers that the goal was to help showcase Korean food as a key cultural asset. “Culture is one of our most important strengths,” Lee said during the broadcast. “K-pop and dramas are vital, but at the heart of it all is food. Once people fall in love with a taste, it rarely fades. That’s why K-food has staying power.” Lee’s comments reflected his broader effort to promote Korea’s so

Oct 7, 2025By Jane Han
President Lee promotes K-food on primetime TV
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