my timesThe Korea Times
jwpark

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.

Go to Email

Read more

Arts & Theater

Ryu Dance Company ties for 1st in int'l dance competition

Three members of Ryu Dance Company, left, and Brazilian dance troupe CTG Rancho da Saudade pose after tying for the first prize at the International Folk Dance Competition “Golden Bridge” on the sidelines of the 22nd International Buyukcekmece Culture and Art Festival held in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday (local time). Courtesy of FIDAF TurkeyBy Park Ji-wonRyu Dance Company has tied for first prize at the International Folk Dance Competition “Golden Bridge” held on the sidelines of the 22nd International Buyukcekmece Culture and Art Festival in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, local time, sharing victory with Brazilian dance company CTG Rancho da Saudade.The Korean dance company presented a traditional drum dance performance from Jindo for the annual folk dance competition, held July 27 to 31 by the Federation of International Dance Festivals. Second prize went to Ensamble Folklorico Mexicano from Mexico and Amazebra Youth Organization from South Africa. The third prize went to Cossack Ensemble Stanitsa from Russia and Grupo Folclorico de Alvaraes from Portugal. The compe

Aug 3, 2021By Park Ji-won
Ryu Dance Company ties for 1st in int'l dance competition
Arts & Theater

INTERVIEW Italian director aims to express Korean sentiment 'han' in opera 'Nabucco'

A scene from the opera “Nabucco” / Courtesy of Korea National OperaBy Park Ji-wonA poster for the opera “Nabucco” by the Korea National Opera (KNO) / Courtesy of KNP“Nabucco,” an Italian-language classic opera composed by Giuseppe Verdi in 1841, will be presented by the Korea National Opera (KNO) at the renovated Haeoreum Grand Theater of the National Theater of Korea from Aug. 12 to 15 with a fresh interpretation by Italian director Stefano Poda.This will be the first time for the troupe to present the full opera in 16 years, since the last production in 2005, especially on the nation's liberation day which falls on Aug. 15. Also, it will be the director's third direction with the art troupe following “Andrea Chenier” (2015) and “Boris Godunov” (2017).The veteran director will be highlighting the Korean concept of “han,” which is often described as an internalized feeling of regret, sorrow, anger or a mixture of those in the romance and political story through various objects and symbolic figures such as the sta

Aug 3, 2021By Park Ji-won
[INTERVIEW] Italian director aims to express Korean sentiment 'han' in opera 'Nabucco'
Arts & Theater

World Music Festival to showcase 15 musicians in various genres

By Park Ji-wonPoster for 2021 ACC World Music Festival / Courtesy of Asia Culture CenterThe state-run Asia Culture Center (ACC) will hold its three-day “12th ACC World Music Festival” in Gwangju and on online platforms from Aug. 20 to 22, featuring 15 musicians performing in various genres.Using the four themes of “Being Asian,” “South Jeolla Province,” “Technology Convergence” and “Coexistence of Tact and Intact,” the festival aims to reinterpret the overseas market for K-pop and world music through collaborations between Korean and foreign musicians. The “South Jeolla Province” theme will present the Korean traditional vocal style of pansori masters Kim Il-gu and Ahn Sook Sun. Pansori singer Kim Joon-soo and musician Choi Gonne will also join hands to give a collaborative performance. Kim Yul-hee, who blends Korean traditional music with reggae, and bassist Seo Young-do will also perform together.Foreign and Korean musicians will also present joint performances. Portuguese singer Mariza will be singing in a vid

Aug 1, 2021By Park Ji-won
World Music Festival to showcase 15 musicians in various genres
Arts & Theater

First-generation abstract painter Lee Joon dies at 101

“Yul” (1993) by painter Lee Joon / Courtesy of Lee JoonBy Park Ji-wonPainter Lee Joon paints at Aram Art Gallery in 2007. Courtesy of Aram Art GalleryKorea's first generation of abstract painters, Lee Joon, died of old age at 101 on Friday, according to the National Academy of Arts. Born in Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province in 1919, Lee went to Japan at the end of the 1930s and graduated in 1942 from the Pacific Art School, a private Western painting school attended by many Korean painters, such as Gu Bon-ung, Lee In-seong and Nam Gwan.After graduating and returning to Korea, he became a professor at Ewha Womans University between 1954 and 1984, teaching Western painting there.Lee is considered as one of the pioneers of abstract painting in Korea.In the 1970s, his works started to include characteristics of geometric paintings, such as various colored shapes and lines. His works not only featured abstract patterns, but also made reference to modern historical events that occurred on the Korean Peninsula, such as the Korean War and the partition of Korea.Even until recentl

Aug 1, 2021By Park Ji-won
First-generation abstract painter Lee Joon dies at 101
Health

Korean Catholic Church comes under fire over allegations of priests' crimes

gettyimagesbankBy Park Ji-wonThe Korean Catholic Church has come under fire for allegations of crimes committed by its clergymen recently, facing criticism for its poor handling of the case. Local broadcaster MBC reported last week that a priest, who is also the head of the Catholic Church-run SOS Children's Villages Korea, a non-government organization providing care for those children without family care, will be suspended from duty from Aug. 6 after it made public that he was recently investigated by the police in Daegu as a suspect in a sexual harassment case involving two female staff members of the organization in 2018.The facility was founded in Daegu in 1965, and later expanded its operations to Seoul and Suncheon in South Jeolla Province. Until the mid-1980s, the facility was run to support Korean War orphans but later expanded its scope to all children in need of parental care.The priest is suspected of touching two staff members in 2018 during a company dinner. The priest reportedly touched one employee's waist and thigh and the other employee on an unspecified body part w

Jul 30, 2021By Park Ji-won
Korean Catholic Church comes under fire over allegations of priests' crimes
Entertainment

Singers in proxy war

Singer Na Hoon-a / Courtesy of KBSRight-wing indie musician hits back at liberal rocker who criticized conservative trot singerBy Park Ji-wonA right-wing indie musician and a liberal rocker were caught in a war of words after the rocker assailed veteran trot music singer Na Hoon-a for holding three days of concerts in the southeastern city of Daegu from July 16-18 during the pandemic. Their fight soon became a multi-party brawl involving some liberal politicians, as the conservative indie musician, Choi Il-hwan, alleged that the liberal rocker, Shin Dae-chul, who had first chastised Na, had criticized the veteran singer on behalf of the liberal ruling camp. Conservative indie musician Choi, who is also a YouTuber running a channel called, Crocodile Men's Training Center, attacked liberal Shin, a guitarist and the leader of the rock band, Sinawe, claiming that a rocker should not surrender to political power. An image capture of YouTube channel Crocodile Men's Training Center shows indie musician Choi Il-hwan of Victim Mentality. Courtesy of Crocodile Men's Training CenterIn a video u

Jul 27, 2021By Park Ji-won
Singers in proxy war
Arts & Theater

Discover and experience Korea's unique cultural and natural heritage nearby

Seen is Suncheonman Bay, one site included in the "Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats," a serial natural heritage site that was added recently to UNESCO's Natural World Heritage list. Courtesy of Cultural Heritage Administration By Kim Hyun-mo Kim Hyun-mo, head of the Cultural Heritage Administration Korea's culture is enjoying unprecedented global popularity, with phenomenal music sales, mesmerizing drama series, award-winning movies, addictive webtoons and creative food shows feeding insatiable appetites around the world. The hallyu (Korean wave) that began some 20 years ago is indeed still gathering energy and has not even reached its peak yet.At center stage is BTS, with its “Army” of fans catapulting sales of the K-pop group's new songs to stratospheric heights within days of their release. BTS's performances in the courtyard of the main throne hall and

Jul 27, 2021By Park Ji-won
Discover and experience Korea's unique cultural and natural heritage nearby
Society

Korean tidal flats to join UNESCO Natural World Heritage list

Seen is Gochang Getbol in North Jeolla Province, one site of the “Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats” which was added recently to UNESCO's Natural World Heritage list. Courtesy of Cultural Heritage AdministrationBy Park Ji-won“Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats” became the 15th South Korean entry to be inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list, Monday; and the second natural heritage site here, following the “Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes,” designated in 2007.The decision was officially made during the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Fuzhou, China, Monday (local time).“The Getbol is a natural serial property, comprising four components in the first phase, located on the eastern shoreline of the Yellow Sea on the southwestern coast of the Korean Peninsula. The Yellow Sea, lying between the Korean Peninsula and China, hosts one of the world's largest and most productive tidal ecosystems supporting millions of migratory waterbirds at the heart of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF), whilst providing critical ecosystem services f

Jul 26, 2021By Park Ji-won
Korean tidal flats to join UNESCO Natural World Heritage list
Music

Seven Koreans to compete in Chopin piano competition in Oct.

Seen is the stage for the 18th Chopin Piano Competition. Courtesy of the Fryderyk Chopin Institute By Park Ji-won Poster for 18th Chopin Piano Competition. Courtesy of the Fryderyk Chopin Institute Seven South Koreans advanced to compete in the 18th Chopin Piano Competition.The seven are Choi Hyoung-lok, Ka Joo-yeon, Kim Su-yeon, Lee Hyuk, Lee Jae-yoon, Park Jin-hyung and Park Yeon-min. Kim won the top prize at Concours musical international de Montreal this year. The seven Koreans will compete with 80 other pianists in October. In the finals, they will play works by Polish composer Frederic Chopin in a series of main round competitions to be held from Oct. 3 to 17. Those who are chosen will compete in the final scheduled to be held at the Chamber Hall of the National Philharmonic on Oct. 20. The winner will be given 40,000 euros ($47,114) of prize m

Jul 26, 2021By Park Ji-won
Seven Koreans to compete in Chopin piano competition in Oct.
Books

INTERVIEW Korean girls' comic books reflect multifaceted female roles in society

Kim So-won, a comic critic and researcher / Courtesy of Kim So-won Korean girls' comics show differences in storylines from that of JapanBy Park Ji-won Cover for the book “Girls Portray Ages: A History of Korean and Japanese Girls' Comics” by Kim So-won / Courtesy of Somyungbooks From the late 1950s to the 1990s, female-targeted comic books known as “sunjeong manhwa” were popular among female readers in their teens and 20s. Many would expect these stories to revolve around a starry- and wide-eyed Barbie-like lead character who struggles her way through a tough life situation but ends up falling in love with a handsome male character and living happily ever after. Also, some would think those comic books are simply a copycat of Japan's “shojo manga,” literally meaning girls' comics. But Kim So-won, a comic critic and researcher who earned her Ph.D. in

Jul 24, 2021By Park Ji-won
[INTERVIEW] Korean girls' comic books reflect multifaceted female roles in society
previous page
2627282930
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.