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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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US Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, 5 others recognized for promoting hanbok

Participants pose during an award ceremony to give a certificate of appreciation to those who contributed to promoting Korea's traditional hanbok attire, at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Monday. From left are Korea Craft & Design Foundation President Kim Tae-hoon, Netflix series “Kingdom” costume designer Kwon Yoo-jin, K-pop singer and actress Jun Hyo-seong, Vice Minister of Culture Oh Young-woo, hanbok ambassador Kwon Na-ra, Lakai Korea CEO Shin Jung-hun and Riot Games PR leader Gu Gi-hyang. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonU.S. Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland and five teams have received a certificate of appreciation from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for promoting Korean traditional hanbok attire.During an award ceremony hosted by the ministry in collaboration with the Hanbok Advancement Center, Monday, Strickland was recognized along with a collaboration between K-pop singer and actress Jun Hyo-seong with fashion label Lakai Korea, as well as graffiti artist Chris Chanyang Shim, Netflix series “Kingdom” costume designers Kwon Yoo-jin and Chae

Apr 13, 2021By Park Ji-won
US Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, 5 others recognized for promoting hanbok
Shows & Dramas

Translation errors or censorship? Youn's Kitchen under fire for wrong subtitles

A screen capture from tvN “Youn's Kitchen” / Courtesy of tvNBy Park Ji-wonStar producer Na Young-seok's hit reality show tvN's “Youn's Kitchen” belatedly came under fire for what tvN has claimed were translation errors.In the eighth episode of the show that aired in 2018, in which Korean actors and actresses sell Korean food in Spain to observe the reactions from local customers, a man from Austria said, “Und zwei schwule Koreaner heir,” which is roughly translated as “Two gay Koreans are here,” watching the two Korean actors who served the food.However, the subtitles read: “Two handsome men are here.” An internet user who claimed to be a student studying in Germany said there were other subtitle errors which mistranslated locals' negative reactions to the pancake they were served into a positive meaning. Some internet users alleged that tvN fabricated the locals' negative reactions to food served to serve the cable network's interest as the show was introduced to feature locals enjoying Korean cuisine. Season 2 of the TV sh

Apr 12, 2021By Park Ji-won
Translation errors or censorship? Youn's Kitchen under fire for wrong subtitles
Arts & Theater

35th Korea Dance Festival to promote peace

The dance “One” by choreographer Jung Bo-kyung of Lim Hak Sun Dance We / Courtesy of HanfilmBy Park Ji-wonThe Korea Dance Festival, an annual choreography festival held since 1985, will kick off April 21 at the ???????? ?????? ???????????? and Dongduk Women's University. This year's event will run through May 1 with the themes of peace and coexistence amid the ongoing COOVID-19 pandemic.Under the title “Good Dance-Gut ― Dance for peace and coexistence,” the festival will showcase 25 works on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Korean Dance Association, its organizer.“We decided to deliver good or ritual-like performances hoping to deliver messages of peace, prosperity, equality and cooperation for the people hit by COVID-19,” Lee Mi-young, chairwoman of the Korean Dance Association, said in a press release.In addition to performances based on traditional dance forms such as ritual performances from the UNESCO-designated Gangneung Danoje Festival, to celebrate the anniversary, traditional Korean dancers including the association's leaders Li

Apr 12, 2021By Park Ji-won
35th Korea Dance Festival to promote peace
Arts & Theater

Performance recreates 1902 feast for Gojong of Korea

Performers of the National Gugak Center showcase the reinterpretation of “Yajinyeon,” a night feast for Gojong of Korea dating back to 1902 at the center, Thursday. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonThe National Gugak Center has been showcasing the reinterpretation of “Yajinyeon,” a night feast held at the royal palace in April of 1902, held by the prince or son of Gojong of Korea to celebrate his father joining the “Giroso,” an agency for high-ranking civil officials over 70 years of age. The national event included dance and music performances and traditional rituals. In addition to “Yajinyeon,” the ceremonial event had two more parts: one was held by the prince and servants and the other was held by families and relatives during the daytime.The recreation, to mark the 70th anniversary of the night feast of the palace, was based on a court drawing called “Imin Jinyeondobyeong” and focused on telling the story of the relationship between Gojong and his son, while showcasing some of the dance and music performances out of the original for

Apr 11, 2021By Park Ji-won
Performance recreates 1902 feast for Gojong of Korea
Trends

Upcycling boom in fashion: designers take action to reduce textile waste

A T-shirt of Holy Number 7 made of recyclable fabric / Courtesy of Holy Number 7By Park Ji-wonThe pandemic has become a turning point for fashion labels as local designers have begun to search their souls to figure out if there is any way they are responsible for the spread of COVID-19. Some have concluded that they are not immune from responsibility because every year billions of tons of textile waste ends up in landfills. Concerned about the fashion-driven environmental degradation, some designers are belatedly taking action to stop textile waste. Hansome, a fashion affiliate of Hyundai Department Store, launched its Carbon Zero Project in February to cut carbon emissions by upcycling its fabric waste into interior design products instead of just throwing it away.“The company had been burning up to 80,000 items of clothing, weighing 60 tons, annually to control stocks. But we decided to launch the project to take responsibility as a fashion company and expect to reduce our carbon emissions by 144 tons every year.”Eyeglass of Holy Number 7 made of overstock and 'dead-sto

Apr 9, 2021By Park Ji-won
Upcycling boom in fashion: designers take action to reduce textile waste
Arts & Theater

179 members of state-run art troupes found violating terms of employment

National Gugak Center / Courtesy of National Gugak CenterBy Park Ji-wonUp to 179 members of six state-run art troupes have been found to be in violation of regulations prohibiting them from having a second job, according to data.According to the inspection by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 69 were from the National Gugak Center, 52 from the Korean National Ballet, 44 from the National Theater of Korea, 11 from the Korean Symphony Orchestra, two from the Seoul Performing Arts Company and one from the National Chorus of Korea. In general, those working for the state-run organizations are not allowed to have a side job or engage in contracted work unless it is approved by the company since they are deemed as public servants.The revelation came after the ministry conducted its inspection over a period of approximately two years between Jan. 1, 2018, and March 6, 2020, after three members of the Korean National Ballet were found to be violating self-quarantine rules by traveling to Japan or teaching private lessons, which made headlines amid the fast spread of the virus. One

Apr 8, 2021By Park Ji-won
179 members of state-run art troupes found violating terms of employment
Arts & Theater

Performing arts scene resorts to star power amid pandemic

Tiffany Young, a member of Girls' Generation, speaks during a press call held at at Daesung D-Cube Arts Center in southwestern Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times file By Park Ji-wonThe ticket price of “The Ice,” a thriller play revolving around the death of a woman which will be performed at Seongnam Arts Center between May 14 and 16, was originally set at 10,000 won ($8.9). But tickets are currently being sold for as much as 250,000 won each in an online ticket resale marketplace.Fans of actor Kim Sun-ho, who is in the cast and became famous after appearing in KBS's flagship variety show, “Two Days and One Night,” have been rushing to buy the tickets. When the play was first showcased at another theater between January and March, the resale ticket price had also gone up to 500,000 won from 60,000 won.Amid the pandemic, production companies are having a tough time surviving as seats are vacant partly because of social-distancing measures and also because of infection fears

Apr 8, 2021By Park Ji-won
Performing arts scene resorts to star power amid pandemic
Trends

Underwood Memorial House designated cultural heritage site

Underwood Memorial House / Courtesy of the Cultural Heritage AdministrationBy Park Ji-wonUnderwood Memorial House, the residence of Horace Horton Underwood, who served as the third president of Yonhi College, the predecessor of Yonsei University, was designated as a cultural heritage site for its historical value as a work of Western architecture, along with three other sites, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA).“Horace Horton Underwood built the house in 1927. It is worth preserving because it is part of the history of the university, it has traits of modern Western architecture and a unique design,” the CHA said.Underwood (1890-1951) was a U.S. missionary and educator who later served as president of the university.His grandson, Horace Grant Underwood III, lived in the house until 1974, according to Yonsei University. Once a site becomes a registered cultural heritage site, its owner or manager can receive guidance for preservation from the administration.In addition to the house, the CHA also said that a textbook for sign language, the first helicop

Apr 6, 2021By Park Ji-won
Underwood Memorial House designated cultural heritage site
Entertainment

Naver Webtoon launches German service targeting European market

By Park Ji-wonNaver Webtoon / Courtesy of NaverNaver Webtoon, an online comic affiliate of the leading online search engine and portal, started offering German-language versions of its comics on March 31, local time, as part of its efforts to expand its footprint in Europe.The content provider said it launched German versions of up to 20 comics that have been popular in other Western countries. Naver Webtoon said its comics are now available in nearly 100 countries in 10 languages including English, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, French and Indonesian. Naver Webtoon will offer in German its original Korean series, such as “The Remarried Empress” and “Omniscient Reader,” as well as comics made in the United States such as “Lore Olympus” and “Unordinary.” The move comes amid the expansion of the online comic market in Germany, the largest market in Europe. Naver Webtoon has been gradually expanding its foreign language services over the past few years, and targeting the European market since 2019 when it introduced Spanish and French service

Apr 2, 2021By Park Ji-won
Naver Webtoon launches German service targeting European market
Arts & Theater

National Theater Company of Korea to present plays on diversity issues

“Tears of unknown artist and Zaytun pasta” Courtesy of NTCK By Park Ji-won Poster for “Setup 202” by the National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK) / Courtesy of NTCK The National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK) will showcase experimental plays exploring diversity issues as part of its project to question conventional wisdom and formats of plays at the theater from April 16 to May 10. Titled “Setup 202,” meaning taking one step further from 101, the art troupe will present four plays on sexual minorities, robots and hybrid art, which the art company underlined as key issues in society. So far, the NTCK has been adapting classic novels such as “The Plague” and “1984” and novels written by veteran authors into stage plays. This time, however, it tried to cultivate young authors so that it could expand the horizons of theatrical works and raise awareness

Apr 2, 2021By Park Ji-won
National Theater Company of Korea to present plays on diversity issues
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