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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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Music

Pianist Cho Seong-jin releases Chopin album with intent, feels grateful to meet audiences amid pandemic

Pianist Cho Seong-jin plays Chopin's “Piano Concerto No. 2” during a press conference held at Seoul Arts Center, Friday, to promote his latest album of Chopin works and his upcoming recitals in Korea. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonHad it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic, pianist Cho Seong-jin, the winner of the 2015 International Chopin Piano Competition, would have been one of the busiest pianists in Korea and the world holding solo recitals and concerts with renowned orchestras.However, after his last recital in New York in March 2020, all of his performances were canceled following the virus spread, and he barely had a chance to appear on stage except for online performances until he had a national tour in Korea starting from October, 2020. He started online concerts and resumed some offline recitals, but it didn't satisfy as performing on a stage in front of an audience did. Despite the pandemic, however, he came back to Korea to embark on a nationwide recital tour in seven different cities starting from Jeonju Sept. 4 with the new album of Chopin works released on Aug. 27. H

Sep 3, 2021By Park Ji-won
Pianist Cho Seong-jin releases Chopin album with intent, feels grateful to meet audiences amid pandemic
Arts & Theater

Media art exhibitions featuring pandemic-hit world on display in Asia's first Vatican-approved shrine

A media art exhibition under the title “The Age of Multiple Losses” / Courtesy of Seosomun Shrine History Museum By Park Ji-wonThe Shrine History Museum located near Seoul Station is a historic site known as one of the key holy grounds in Korea where up to 44 people were martyred during the suppression of the Catholic Church in Korea during the Joseon period. Due to the historic meaning of the site, it was designated as the Asia's first Vatican-approved shrine in 2018 and the Pope Francis visited there when he came to Korea in 2014.After years of reconstruction, the location has been transformed into a new art complex and museum in June 2019 where all visitors can also enjoy exhibitions and take part in seminars while it also functions as a park and a pilgrimage site, too. During the renovation, a 12.3-meter path named “Sky Route” was created for use in the event of an emergency.The museum is home to immersive media art exhibitions on various themes. From July 1 to

Sep 2, 2021By Park Ji-won
Media art exhibitions featuring pandemic-hit world on display in Asia's first Vatican-approved shrine
Music

'Secret to my success? I keep working because I'm never satisfied with myself'

Baritone Kim Gi-hoon / Courtesy of Art & ArtistsBBC Cardiff Singer of the World winner Kim Gi-hoon shares the story of his rise to the top in international competition By Park Ji-wonBaritone Kim Gi-hoon made it into the headlines in June after winning the main award for opera arias at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition. This was the first time for a Korean to win the prize at the international singing competition, which started back in 1983. He said dissatisfaction with his performances helped him to aim high as an artist and pushed him to join the international competitions.“I think an artist who is satisfied with their artistic outcome has no future. I believe an artist can pull off a greater performance if they continue to improve. When I am satisfied with what I do, my life as an artist will be at its end,” Kim said in a recent press conference. He held the conference to share the behind-the-scenes story of his big win and to promote his upcoming recital at Seoul Arts Center, Saturday, where he will sing a list of songs which led to him winning the aw

Sep 2, 2021By Park Ji-won
'Secret to my success? I keep working because I'm never satisfied with myself'
Books

Author of 'Dooley' animation publishes new black humor comic book

A new comic book with the roughly translated title of “Game of Death” in English, by Kim Soo-jung, author of “Dooly, the Little Dinosaur.” Courtesy of DoolynaraBy Park Ji-wonThe cover of the new comic book, “Game of Death,” by Kim Soo-jung / Courtesy of DoolynaraKim Soo-jung, author of the animation, “Dooly, the Little Dinosaur,” has published a new comic book under a title roughly translated as, “Game of Death,” in English. This new comic book is the first Kim has released in about 20 years.The book consists of four black humor stories and answers the questions, “How to live” and “How to die,” according to a press release. One of Korea's leading animation authors in the 1980s and 1990s, with the animated series, “Dooly,” Kim drew the book in an old-fashioned way, without using an animation tablet, and added finishing touches using pencil, pen and watercolor paint. Kim defined the style of the book as seeking what he called, “B-list” sensibility, or kitsch subculture, as he say

Sep 1, 2021By Park Ji-won
Author of 'Dooley' animation publishes new black humor comic book
Shows & Dramas

Musicals to be adapted to TV series, films

A scene from the Korean musical “Cha_me” / Courtesy of PAGE1By Park Ji-wonWeb and more web comics, films and dramas are being adapted into other content formats. For example, Netflix's “Sweet Home,” one of the most popular series in the streaming service last year, is a drama adaptation of a web comic of the same title. Although they have not been launched officially, some companies started projects to adapt TV series into web comics including “My Mister.”Unlike these genres, musicals have never been adapted into other genres, partly because there were not enough original musicals that can be made into other content formats. But a growing number of production companies are setting their sights on turning musicals into dramas or other content formats amid a rising number of original musicals in Korea receiving rave reviews.PAGE1, the production company behind the musical, “The Devil,” and the play, “Amadeus,” announced that it will make its musical, “Cha_me,” into a 16-episode drama jointly with Studio Red and Aur

Sep 1, 2021By Park Ji-won
Musicals to be adapted to TV series, films
Trends

Christian radio network FEBC delivers W150 million worth of goods to Afghan evacuees

Maeng Joo-wan, general affairs director of Far East Broadcasting Company Korea (FEBC-Korea) delivers charity gifts to Kim Eun-ja, head of the Korean Red Cross's volunteer group in North Chungcheong Province at the National Human Resources Development Institute in Jincheon-gun, North Chungcheong Province, Monday, where 390 Afghans, who were airlifted under Korea's evacuation mission named “Operation Miracle,” are staying. Courtesy of FEBC-KoreaBy Park Ji-wonFar East Broadcasting Company Korea (FEBC-Korea), a Christian radio network, donated 150 million won ($129,371) worth of goods on Sunday for 390 Afghans who were airlifted under Korea's evacuation mission named “Operation Miracle.”As the Afghan evacuees arrived in Korea on Aug. 26, FEBC-Korea, founded by Christian missionaries from the U.S., started reaching out to various companies asking for cooperation in gathering charity items and was able to collect 10 tons of relief goods from up to 23 companies, including Lotte Food, Lotte Confectionery, E-Mart and Dongwon Group. Each box of relief goods includes up

Aug 31, 2021By Park Ji-won
Christian radio network FEBC delivers W150 million worth of goods to Afghan evacuees
Arts & Theater

INTERVIEW Director of Seoul Museum of Craft Art promotes artisan spirit

The Seoul Museum of Craft Art / Courtesy of Seoul Museum of Craft ArtBy Park Ji-wonKorean craftworks have flourished over thousands of years since ancient times, developing their delicate, skillful and versatile quality artistic objects, as seen in many relics such as “najeon chilgi” (pearl inlaid objects).But there was no state-run organization to collectively preserve the legacy of these craftworks, and so they have been preserved separately in various museums, including the National Museum of Korea.On July 16, however, the Seoul Museum of Craft Art, the first of its kind under the Seoul Metropolitan Government established in a 10,590-square-meter space, opened to the public in central Seoul, showcasing up to 21,750 craft artifacts including 3,890 works from ancient times and 13,091 works from modern times. All pieces on exhibit are made in Korea except for two.The museum is in the former site of Poongmoon Girls' High School, which moved south a few years ago. It is also where Prince Yeongeung (1434-67), son of King Sejong the Great (1397-1450), built his home and where

Aug 31, 2021By Park Ji-won
[INTERVIEW] Director of Seoul Museum of Craft Art promotes artisan spirit
Music

Winners of Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition to hold recitals in Korea

Pianist Jonathan Fournel / Courtesy of the Queen Elisabeth Competition_Derek PragerBy Park Ji-wonThe pianists who won the Queen Elisabeth Competition this year will hold recitals in Korea in September. French pianist Jonathan Fournel won the first prize at the Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition in May, while Japanese pianist Keigo Mukawa won the third prize in the competition.Fournel is an artist in residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, while Mukawa is attending the Paris Conservatory, continuing his studies in fortepiano and pursuing an artistic diploma in piano.The two will hold their recitals starting at the Peace & Life Zone Festival in Gangwon Province on Sept. 8. Mukawa will play various classical works on Sept. 9, including, “Piano Sonata No. 14,” a work known as “Moonlight,” Ravel's "Gaspard de la nuit” and Rachmaninoff's “Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op.42,” at the Beautiful Thursday Concert Series in Kumho Art Hall. Fournel will also hold a solo recital at the same venue, featuring works including Bach's “Orga

Aug 30, 2021By Park Ji-won
Winners of Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition to hold recitals in Korea
Arts & Theater

Pianist Cho Seong-jin releases sixth album, delays recitals due to health problems

Pianist Cho Seong-jin / Courtesy of Universal Music By Park Ji-won Cover image for pianist Cho Seong-jin's new album, "Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 Scherzi" / Courtesy of Universal Music Pianist Cho Seong-jin, the winner of the 2015 International Chopin Piano Competition, released his sixth album ― the second featuring the music of Chopin ― on Friday six years after his debut album in 2015. He was planning to start a recital tour in Korea from Aug. 31, however, he has delayed some of the performances due to health problems.Titled “Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 ― Scherzi” and released through Deutsche Grammophon, the album features Chopin's works, “Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21,” and a series of scherzos, including: “Scherzo No. 1 in B Minor, Op. 20,” “Scherzo No. 2 in B Flat Minor, Op. 31,” “Scherzo No. 3 in C Sharp Minor, Op. 39” and “Scher

Aug 29, 2021By Park Ji-won
Pianist Cho Seong-jin releases sixth album, delays recitals due to health problems
Travel & Food

INTERVIEW Ven. Beopsong shares Korean temple cuisine's legacy of simple, seasonal dishes

Ven. Beopsong, the chief Buddhist nun at Yeongseon Temple, demonstrates how to make grilled eggplant from a recipe that was passed down to her by a senior nun, the late Ven. Seongkwan, during an interview with The Korea Times, at the temple in Daejeon on Monday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBuddhist nun chef explains how temple cuisine is different from vegan food By Park Ji-wonAmid the growing interest in veganism throughout the world and health concerns due to the spread of COVID-19, temple food has recently been getting attention as a healthy food. Both temple food and vegan cuisine are prepared with vegetarian ingredients, but they are quite different when it comes to certain details, especially the use of meat. Few people actually know that the use of meat is allowed in temple food under strict conditions. According to Ven. Beopsong, a Buddhist nun who is an expert of temple cuisine, masters and practitioners of Buddhism (called “suhengja” in Korean) are allowed to eat meat when their lives are at risk. Ven. Beopsong, the chief Buddhist nun at Yeongseon Temple

Aug 27, 2021By Park Ji-won
[INTERVIEW] Ven. Beopsong shares Korean temple cuisine's legacy of simple, seasonal dishes
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