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Park Ji-won

Korea Times Politics & City Reporter

Park Ji-won is a writer for The Korea Times who has been covering a wide range of topics from Korea’s culture to its politics. An avid journalism enthusiast to the core, Ji-won brings a thoughtful and unique perspective to every topic she covers. On weekends, you'll often find her contemplating life’s purpose on a yoga mat — with a cup of quality tea in hand. A native Korean speaker by birth and fluent in English through her work, she went to college in Japan and is learning Chinese and French — hoping to add Polish, Russian and Thai to the mix.

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World

HK-China border opens again, but no influx of mainland travelers yet

Nancy Zha, a mainlander working in the toy industry, goes back to mainland China after spending four days in Hong Kong to attend a toy fair, at Lok Ma Chau checkpoint, Hong Kong, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Park Ji-wonBy Park Ji-wonHONG KONG ― The border that divides mainland China and Hong Kong reopened on Jan. 8, following Beijing's easing of many COVID-19 restrictions, a move that now enables 60,000 people to enter each other's territory every day. Although there have been some visitors to each side during the past several days since the measure took effect, the anticipated influx of mainland Chinese people to Hong Kong is not expected soon, due to a lag in the process of China issuing individual visas to Hong Kong.“I am so happy to be able to travel to Hong Kong,” Nancy Zha, a mainlander working in the toy industry, said at Lok Ma Chau checkpoint on Wednesday after spending four days in Hong Kong since Jan. 8 to attend a toy fair.It's been almost three years since she visited Hong Kong. Before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, she had visited Hong Kong every

Jan 15, 2023By Park Ji-won
HK-China border opens again, but no influx of mainland travelers yet
World

How has national security law changed life for Hongkongers?

Seen is a currency exchange shop with a photo of Mao Zedong, the founder of the People's Republic of China, in Hong Kong, Dec. 25. Korea Times photo by Park Ji-won By Park Ji-wonHONG KONG ― In June 2020, China passed the new national security law (NSL) for Hong Kong, making it easier for Beijing to prosecute Hongkongers, including extraditing citizens to the mainland.As the law can punish anyone who “endangers national security” and can be interpreted in different ways, many Hongkongers have been staying low key ever since the passage of the law or have decided to leave the city for good. Statistics from the U.K. show during the period from Jan. 31, 2021, to the end of June 2022, there were some 140,500 applications from Hong Kong for British National Overseas (BNO) citizenship, which allows Hongkongers born before 1997 to get U.K. citizenship.An estimated 5.4 million Hong Kong people out of its 7.5 million population are eligible for the move, according to the Sout

Jan 4, 2023By Park Ji-won
How has national security law changed life for Hongkongers?
Entertainment

Jin of BTS is to begin military service - where will the K-pop star go and what will he do?

BTS's Jin Screenshot from WeverseBy Park Ji-wonAt 30, Jin of K-pop sensation BTS will be the first member of the seven-strong group to begin his mandatory service in the South Korean armed forces on Dec. 13.Fans have been asked by the band's label, BigHit Music, to “refrain from visiting” the ceremony marking Jin's entry to the armed forces ― normally attended by the enlisting person's family ― to avoid crowding.All able-bodied South Korean men must undertake 18 months of military service between ages 18 and 35.There has been a long-running debate about whether the septet could be exempted from conscription, in light of the band's global success and contributions to the entertainment industry and the national economy.In November 2020, the South Korean National Assembly passed a law allowing those who have excelled in popular culture and arts and have a recommendation from the culture minister to delay the start of their service until the age of 30. With few exceptions, other South Korean men must enlist by 28.Jin, whose full name is Kim Seok-jin, decided to defer no more

Dec 12, 2022By Park Ji-won
Jin of BTS is to begin military service - where will the K-pop star go and what will he do?
  • BTS' Jin to begin active-duty military service
  • BTS' Suga to fulfill military service as social service agent
Trends

Korean art market is expanding, but still faces challenges to becoming Asia's hub

A green pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama is on display at a preview of Seoul Auction's Hong Kong sale at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, Friday. Korea Times photo by Park Ji-wonBy Park Ji-wonHONG KONG ― The Korean art market has not been the first choice for collectors over other options like the U.S., Hong Kong or the U.K. when art auction season starts. But with Korea's increasing cultural footprint in the world, demand for Korean artworks has also grown. The latest indication of this trend is Frieze's art fair that was held in Seoul in September of this year, which was the first-ever art fair in Asia that drew over 110 galleries.The Korean market, scaled at 915.7 billion won ($703.4 million) in 2021, has been expanding over the past couple of years. One of the largest auction houses in the country resumed its overseas activities in Hong Kong.Seoul Auction's Hong Kong sale was held for the first time in two and half years from Nov. 25 to 27. It grew considerably in size this year and the pre-sale estimate of the auction house this year was 21.1 billion won, up some 185 percent year-on-year.Yayo

Dec 4, 2022By Park Ji-won
Korean art market is expanding, but still faces challenges to becoming Asia's hub
Sports

New soccer star Cho Gue-sung grabs headlines for more than just goals

Korean footballer Cho Gue-sung celebrates after making his second goal in the match against Ghana, at the Qatar World Cup 2022, Nov. 28. Newsis By Park Ji-wonHONG KONG ― His team may have lost 3-2 to Ghana in Monday's group stage match at this year's World Cup, but South Korea's handsome forward, Cho Gue-sung, is enjoying a meteoric rise in popularity, highlighted by his skyrocketing number of Instagram followers.As of Dec. 1, the 24-year-old's Instagram account with only five posts had more than 1.6 million followers. Before the World Cup, he had only 20,000.After Korea's first World Cup game against Uruguay on Nov. 24, in which Cho played only 23 minutes during the second half, his number of followers soared to about 700,000.After scoring his team's two goals against Ghana ― the first time a Korean player had scored two goals in a single World Cup game ― his number of followers spiked to nearly 1.5 million.That's the second largest number of Instagram followers fo

Dec 2, 2022By Park Ji-won
New soccer star Cho Gue-sung grabs headlines for more than just goals
  • Japan progress after beating Spain; Korea to take next crack at knockout berth
K-pop

K-pop group Super Junior dazzles Hong Kong, overseas fans in world tour concert

K-pop idol group Super Junior perform during its “Super Show 9: Road” world tour at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong, Sunday. Korea Times photo by Park Ji-wonBy Park Ji-wonHONG KONG ― On Nov. 19 and 20, the AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong's largest venue of 14,000 seats, was filled with fans, where the veteran K-pop star Super Junior played two shows as part of its “Super Show 9: Road” world tour, its first time in the city in more than four years.The hot and humid weather on Sunday was something unexpected, but it was negligible for fans who had been unable to meet the nine-member boy group, one of the most popular K-pop acts in Hong Kong, for years due to the strict quarantine policy of the city. Thousands of fans wearing blue ― the color of the K-pop act ― from all over the world queued outside of the arena to share cheering items they made with other fans before attending the concert.Since the tour started in Seoul in July, Hong Kong was the fourth overseas venue following Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. “I am so excited (to see the concert),” Hong

Nov 21, 2022By Park Ji-won
K-pop group Super Junior dazzles Hong Kong, overseas fans in world tour concert
Sports

Asia Rugby admits it didn't give Chinese anthem file to Korean body

A screenshot from an Asia Rugby press conference, Tuesday. Screenshot from a video uploaded on Asia Rugby's YouTube channelBy Park Ji-wonHONG KONG ― Asia Rugby has admitted that the organization didn't pass on the Chinese national anthem audio file to the Korea Rugby Union, regarding the incident in which the Hong Kong protest anthem was played instead of China's national anthem for the Hong Kong team during the final of the Asia Rugby Sevens Series held in Incheon, Korea, Sunday.Confirming that the Hong Kong team did give the “right” anthem file to Asia Rugby in October for the Bangkok tournament, which is part of the Asia Rugby Sevens Series, interim chief executive Benjamin van Rooyen of Asia Rugby said during an online press conference held Tuesday that “Asia Rugby did not give any file to Korea Rugby.”“I think this is another grey area where I would say, from the Asia Rugby side, there was an understanding that Korea Rugby had this specific anthem on file based on the fact that in July, the correct anthem was played,” he said, adding that Asia

Nov 16, 2022By Park Ji-won
Asia Rugby admits it didn't give Chinese anthem file to Korean body
Travel & Food

Hong Kong becomes battlefield for Shine Muscat grapes among Korea, Japan, China

Shine Muscat grapes / gettyimagesbankBy Park Ji-wonHONG KONG ― Shine Muscat grapes ― developed in Japan ― are popular in Hong Kong. Despite their high price, the fruit is eaten for special occasions or given as a sign of respect. Hongkongers' fascination with Japan and its produce helped it dominate the market for this fruit. But with an increasing number of producers from South Korea and China now offering high-quality grapes at better prices, the Shine Muscat market is changing.For Fiona Mok, 29, an office worker in Hong Kong, eating Shine Muscat grapes was once reserved for special occasions ― bringing them as gifts when visiting a friend's home for a meal ― but now she enjoys them as an everyday fruit.“My boyfriend bought me a bunch of Japanese Shine Muscat worth about HK$400 ($51) as a gift. But for me, they tasted similar to Chinese ones,” she said. If it was up to her, she would choose the cheaper grapes, she added.For price-conscious Hongkongers, Shine Muscat grapes' high price ― Japanese grapes can cost anywhere between HK$100 and HK$500 a bunch, while Korean var

Nov 15, 2022By Park Ji-won
Hong Kong becomes battlefield for Shine Muscat grapes among Korea, Japan, China
Sports

Hong Kong protest anthem played at Rugby Sevens series in Korea

A screenshot of a video showing the Hong Kong rugby team at the Asia Rugby Sevens Series on Sunday listening to the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement protest anthem, “Glory to Hong Kong” instead of the Chinese national anthem. Screenshot from a video uploaded on Twitter.By Park Ji-wonHONG KONG ― The Korea Rugby Union, the local operator of the second leg of the Asia Rugby Sevens Series held in Korea between Nov. 12 and 13, apologized for playing “Glory to Hong Kong,” a protest anthem widely sung during the 2019-2020 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, instead of the Chinese national anthem, “March of the Volunteers,” during the men's final round between Hong Kong and Korea held in Incheon, Korea on Sunday.The Hong Kong government chastised Asia Rugby Monday morning about what happened and asked for an “in-depth investigation.” However, the remarks of the Korean operator contradict those of the Hong Kong government.Stressing that playing the Hong Kong pro-democracy protest anthem was “simply a mistake” by the Korea Rugby Unio

Nov 14, 2022By Park Ji-won
Hong Kong protest anthem played at Rugby Sevens series in Korea
K-pop

Meet the women of cover dance crew Chocomint HK, whose 'K-pop in public' videos have gone viral

Chocomint HK / Courtesy of Chocomint HKBy Park Ji-wonHONG KONG ― You may have seen them if you are living in Hong Kong: six young women performing in some of the busiest and most scenic spots in the city, their dance moves slick and stylish. The women make up Chocomint HK, a K-pop cover dance crew whose members are taking part in “K-pop in public,” a popular trend on social media platforms such as YouTube.Two of the group's most recent videos have gone viral ― their cover of BLACKPINK's “Pink Venom” and “Shut Down” have, as of October 31, had 191,000 and 738,000 views respectively.Considering the fact that many K-pop cover dance videos made in Hong Kong attract, on average, only hundreds to thousands of views, these numbers are phenomenal.The videos have attracted the attention of BLACKPINK fans from all over the world and have bumped their subscriber numbers to 7,700 from some 4,000 over the past month.“We didn't expect that (success),” Pearl Chan Pui-yee, a member of the group, said of the two BLACKPINK videos.“The number of com

Nov 3, 2022By Park Ji-won
Meet the women of cover dance crew Chocomint HK, whose 'K-pop in public' videos have gone viral
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