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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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Entertainment

BTS' agency changes name to HYBE

From left are Big Hit Entertainment Chairman and CEO Bang Si-hyuk, global CEO Lenzo Yoon, HQ & Management CEO Park Ji-won and Chief Brand Officer Min Hee-jin, during an online presentation released on YouTube, Friday / Courtesy of Big Hit Entertainment By Park Ji-won New logo for Big Hit Entertainment, the agency of BTS / Courtesy of Big Hit Entertainment Big Hit Entertainment, which manages K-pop sensation BTS, changed its corporate name to HYBE, and made other changes that will take effect on March 30 after a shareholders' meeting.Under the slogan, “We believe in music,” the company said it incorporated the meanings of connection, expansion and relationship in the new name, aiming to create a system that shifts away from hierarchy and allows employees with expertise in various fields to work horizontally.“We operate various businesses and understan

Mar 19, 2021By Park Ji-won
BTS' agency changes name to HYBE
Arts & Theater

Seoul Metropolitan Theatre switches to 'guerilla' tactics to survive COVID-19

Moon Sam-hwa, artistic director of the Seoul Metropolitan Theatre, speaks during a press conference held to announce this year's lineups of the theatrical art troupe under the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, at the art complex in Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonThe Seoul Metropolitan Theatre, a theatrical art troupe under the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, has announced its seasonal lineup which focus on “guerilla” performances outside the art complex based on works written in the 20th century.“We are thinking of performing outside the theater. It is an answer to the question: 'How can a play survive the pandemic?” We didn't want to replace our work with filmed pieces. So we are trying to make a small play like guerillas,” Moon Sam-hwa, artistic director of the Seoul Metropolitan Theatre said Wednesday during a press conference held to announce this year's lineup for the art troupe. She assumed the position in June last year replacing Kim Kwang-bo.“The cost of filming had increased and we were thinking of performing a play for

Mar 19, 2021By Park Ji-won
Seoul Metropolitan Theatre switches to 'guerilla' tactics to survive COVID-19
Music

20 classical artists to release healing neo classical music to mark World Sleep Day

From left are composers Max Richter, Yiruma and Ludovico Einaudi. Courtesy of Universal MusicBy Park Ji-wonUp to 20 classical artists released 18 songs to help people find solace as part of a campaign to mark World Sleep Day which falls on March 19.Universal Music said in a press release that the label will release classical songs Thursday created by leading composers, such as Max Richter and Ludovico Einaudi, on the theme of sleep. The songs, including Korean pianist and composer Yiruma's “Nocturnal Mind in d minor” and German-born British composer Max Richter's “Dream 3 (Remix),” will be unveiled through Universal's classic labels such as Deutsche Grammophon and Decca Classics.Dickon Stainer, CEO of Universal Classics, said in the release, “We realize the power of music to heal people and are happy to introduce special songs through the World Sleep Day campaign.”

Mar 18, 2021By Park Ji-won
Books

Sales of graphic novels increase by 7 times over last 10 years

Graphic novels published by Mimesis / Courtesy of MimesisBy Park Ji-wonThe book cover of the award-winning graphic novel "Grass," by Kim Keum-suk which depicts the life of a wartime sex slave / Courtesy of Drawn & QuarterlySales of graphic novels have increased seven times over the past decade, data from an online bookstore showed Wednesday.According to Yes24, one of the leading online bookstores in Korea, the number of graphic novels sold on the internet grew 31.1 percent in 2020, while sales increased 6.9 percent from a year earlier. The number of graphic novels being published annually has gradually been increasing, with the publications of 140 books in 2020 alone, just under four times the number of publications seen in 2010 when the number was merely 37.A graphic novel is a book written based on comics as seen in Marvel's graphic novel series. The key customers of the genre are women in their 40s. Those in their 40s accounted for 39.7 percent of all customers who bought those books, followed by those in their 30s (26 percent) and those in their 20s (15.6 percent). By gender,

Mar 18, 2021By Park Ji-won
Sales of graphic novels increase by 7 times over last 10 years
World

Catholic Priests' Association for Justice holds street Mass for Myanmar

The Catholic Priests' Association for Justice holds a street Mass praying for Myanmar's democracy and criticizing the military coup's crackdown killing its citizens near Myanmar's Embassy in Seoul, Monday. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonThe Catholic Priests' Association for Justice held a street Mass on Monday near the Myanmar Embassy in Seoul, praying for Myanmar's democracy. Up to 50 people consisting of priests of the liberal Catholic group joined the Mass. Several placards were hung nearby. One read “Myanmar's Military Coup, stop the massacre against citizens” and another read “Peace, freedom, hope for Myanmar.”“Korea had gone through similar experiences to what Myanmar is currently undergoing. I held this Mass for the citizens who are suffering amid despair,” said Kim Young-sik, head of the group who presided over the Mass. “We are planning to invite activists and students from Myanmar and financially support their tuition fees and living expenses in the long term.”The group has donated some $20,000 (22.6 million won) to the civic groups in M

Mar 17, 2021By Park Ji-won
Catholic Priests' Association for Justice holds street Mass for Myanmar
Music

Pandemic is wake-up call for musicians: Korean-German cellist Isang Enders rethinks playing music organically

Cellist Isang Enders / Courtesy of Jino Park Cellist Isang Enders contemplates the importance of the audience, playing music in a way that benefits the Earth By Park Ji-won Poster for cellist Isang Enders' recital / Courtesy of TLi Art Center For cellist Isang Enders, music is genetic. His German father and Korean mother are both musicians. His parents chose to name their son after the famous Germany-based Korean composer, the late Yun Isang. As indicated in his music-nurtured childhood, his journey to music has been unstoppable ever since he first played the cello at nine years old, following his piano teacher's advice that he would be more suitable for the musical instrument than the piano due to his “thick hands.” When he was 20, Enders was appointed the principal cellist of the Staatskapelle Dresden. The news came as a surprise to many who we

Mar 16, 2021By Park Ji-won
Pandemic is wake-up call for musicians: Korean-German cellist Isang Enders rethinks playing music organically
Arts & Theater

Violist Richard O'Neill wins Grammy's Best Classical Instrumental Solo

Violist Richard O'Neill / Courtesy of CrediaBy Park Ji-wonRichard O'Neill, a Korean American violist, won the Grammy Awards' Best Classical Instrumental Solo for his “Theofanidis: Concerto For Viola And Chamber Orchestra,” Sunday, local time.It is his first Grammy win after three nominations in the past.“This is a great day for the viola. Thank you to the recording academy for this honor of a lifetime. To composer Christopher Theofanidis, conductor David Alan Miller, producer Silas Brown and the wonderful Albany Symphony. My love to you all. During this most challenging time for all musicians, my eternal thanks goes to my family, the Tacus Quartet and CU Boulder for keeping me alive. Stay safe and healthy everyone,” O'Neil said during the awards ceremony held online after winning the award.O'Neill is a well-known classical musician in Korea, appearing frequently in media including documentaries and active performances and album releases. He led the chamber orchestra Ensemble Ditto here from 2007 to 2019. He was the first violist to receive an Artist Diploma fr

Mar 15, 2021By Park Ji-won
Violist Richard O'Neill wins Grammy's Best Classical Instrumental Solo
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K-pop

Sponsors quick to ditch TVXQ!'s U-Know Yunho following alleged offenses

TVXQ!'s U-Kwow Yunho / Courtesy of SM Entertainment By Park Ji-wonCorporate sponsors are quickly distancing themselves from TVXQ!'s U-Know Yunho after media reported he was caught violating social distancing rules in an illegal escort bar.Food-delivery app Yogiyo and food maker Ottogi removed the K-pop idol from all advertisements as of Sunday, including YouTube videos and posters. Formerly, when customers launched the food-delivery app, Yunho's image would appear with the company logo.Yunho had been promoting Yogiyo since November last year, appearing in various campaigns including TV commercials and promotional posters. He was also advertising Ottogi's instant rice bowl or “Cup Bap.”The move came after a local report claimed Friday that he not only violated social-distancing requirements that were in place since last month, but also spent time with female escorts in the illegally-registered business' premises.MBC reported Friday that the restaurant where the K-pop

Mar 14, 2021By Park Ji-won
Sponsors quick to ditch TVXQ!'s U-Know Yunho following alleged offenses
Trends

Korean religious groups' solidarity boosts morale among embattled protesters in Myanmar

Monks and students from Myanmar hold a street protest against the military who took control of Myanmar's government by force, in Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Han Jin-takBy Park Ji-wonA group of Korean Buddhist monks and students from Myanmar held a street protest earlier this week. They prostrated themselves on the streets of Seoul in an act known as “ochetuji” that requires a person's elbows, knees and forehead to touch the floor. Ochetuji has been used by Buddhist worshippers both as a sign of reverence to Buddha and as a form of peaceful protest.In response to news articles and videos online showing the monks and students holding the protest, online commenters appearing to be Myanmar's citizens continue to express gratitude for the show of unity.One commenter wrote, “It touches my heart and even makes me cry. Thanks and we will never forget your voices and support, Korea.”Another wrote, “I have been a fan of K-drama since 10 years ago. Then I become a big fan of EXO. Now you and your people bring tears to my eyes as I am so grateful for your he

Mar 14, 2021By Park Ji-won
Korean religious groups' solidarity boosts morale among embattled protesters in Myanmar
Trends

Deaf Korean priest finds warm welcome in US

Father Park Min-seo, right, signs an online Mass for the Archdiocese of Washington held on Feb. 7. Screen capture from ADW Special Needs MinistryBy Park Ji-wonFather Park Min-seo signs before having an interview about the establishment of an Ephatha Church in Seoul, in this Aug. 25, 2019, file photo. Korea Times fileMasses in American Sign Language (ASL) by Father Park Min-seo, a deaf Catholic priest from Korea who was dispatched to the United States in January to serve as a chaplain, have received warm welcomes from congregations, according to local media and the Archdiocese of Seoul.The newly appointed chaplain at St. Francis of Assisi, chaplain to the Catholic community at Gallaudet University and provider of a pastoral ministry to the Archdiocese of Washington's deaf believers, led his first sign-language mass there on Feb. 6. Local media said the number of viewers of the mass greatly soared to 800 after Park's debut, compared to the previous average of around 95 viewers.Since the coronavirus pandemic slashed the number of masses for deaf Catholics, Park's sign-language Masses ha

Mar 11, 2021By Park Ji-won
Deaf Korean priest finds warm welcome in US
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