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Lee Hyo-jin

Korea Times Finance Reporter

Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.

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Music

Korean violinist wins US competition after car accident forces long hiatus

Violinist Lim Hyun-jae won the first prize at the 2026 Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition (EOIVC) held in Florida on Sunday (local time), marking a major milestone in her comeback after a yearslong hiatus following a car accident. The 28-year-old Korean national clinched the top honor with a performance of Jean Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, accompanied by the Lynn University Philharmonia Orchestra, according to the competition's website. Video footage posted by the competition shows Lim performing in a wheelchair. As the winner, Lim received $30,000 in prize money, along with an additional $2,000 in special awards. She will also be offered performance opportunities over the next three years on international stages, including in New York, Boston and Italy. Lim moved to the United States at the age of 7 and later graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music, emerging as a promising young talent in the international classical music scene. Her career was abruptly interrupted in May 2020 when she was involved in a traffic accident while in Korea, forcing her to stop playin

Jan 21, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Korean violinist wins US competition after car accident forces long hiatus
Politics

Overseas Koreans Agency at odds with Incheon over potential relocation to Seoul

The Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA) is embroiled in a dispute with Incheon Metropolitan City after its chief raised the possibility of moving the agency's headquarters to Seoul, citing logistical hurdles in providing services from its current base in Incheon, located west of the capital. Following fierce backlash from Incheon officials, the agency has stepped back from formally pursuing the relocation. Officials say, however, that they may bring it up again if Incheon fails to provide sufficient logistical and institutional support. "For now, we have temporarily suspended the review of a relocation plan, but only on the condition that Incheon comes up with concrete improvement measures," an agency official told The Korea Times on Tuesday. The official added that the agency has proposed conducting a joint survey of overseas Koreans with the Incheon city government, through a credible polling firm, to assess whether they are satisfied with the agency's current location. "We understand that similar surveys had been carried out before Incheon was selected," the official said. "But now that the

Jan 20, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Overseas Koreans Agency at odds with Incheon over potential relocation to Seoul
Politics

Partisan standoff stalls confirmation hearing for budget minister nominee

Rival political parties were locked in a fierce standoff Monday over the parliamentary confirmation hearing for Lee Hye-hoon, the nominee to lead the newly launched Ministry of Planning and Budget, amid disputes over her qualifications and allegations of misconduct. The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) refused to hold the hearing, citing what it viewed as Lee's failure to adequately submit requested materials. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) argued that the hearing should proceed as scheduled so that the National Assembly could properly evaluate the nominee. The Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee chair, Rep. Lim Lee-ja of the PPP, declined to hold the confirmation hearing slated for 10 a.m. She told members of the two main parties in the committee to reach an agreement about the submission of the materials, such as records of real estate purchases. "If we are to hold a proper confirmation hearing, we need proper materials," Rep. Park Soo-young of the PPP said during the meeting. He claimed that the nominee had submitted only a small portion of the requested doc

Jan 19, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Partisan standoff stalls confirmation hearing for budget minister nominee
North Korea

Drone incursion probe focuses on 2 civilians who worked in Yoon administration

Accusations of South Korean drones entering North Korea have erupted into a political controversy after it emerged that two key suspects previously worked at the presidential office under former President Yoon Suk Yeol. One of the suspects, a man in his 30s who publicly claimed responsibility for flying the drones, worked as a contract staffer in the presidential spokesperson's office in 2022. The other suspect, who is under investigation for assembling the drones, is also known to have served in the same office during a similar period. A joint military-police investigative team said Sunday it plans to soon summon the man who claimed in a media interview that he sent drones across the inter-Korean border. In an interview with local broadcaster Channel A on Friday, the man said he personally flew drones toward North Korea three times since September 2025, claiming two crashed in the North while one returned safely. He presented what he described as aerial footage and other materials that showed the drone belonged to him. He said the flights were intended to measure radiation levels near a

Jan 18, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Drone incursion probe focuses on 2 civilians who worked in Yoon administration
Foreign Affairs

Korea opposes use of force against peaceful protests in Iran

The Korean government on Thursday voiced opposition to the use of force against peaceful demonstrations in Iran, expressing deep concern over growing instability in the region. "The Korean government is deeply concerned about the recent protests in Iran, which have resulted in numerous casualties and the worsening stability in the region," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement released by its spokesperson, adding that it is closely monitoring developments. "The Korean government opposes any use of force against peaceful demonstrations and hopes for a peaceful resolution of the situation," the statement said. The ministry also said it is closely monitoring the safety of Korean nationals in Iran, and is taking all necessary measures to protect its citizens in case the local situation deteriorates further. The statement came amid reports that violent crackdowns by Iranian authorities on anti-government protesters have led to around 12,000 casualties, according to a human rights group. The protests, sparked by an economic crisis, have escalated into a broader anti-government mo

Jan 15, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea opposes use of force against peaceful protests in Iran
Society

Korea opens new pathway for refugee students through state scholarships

Korea has opened a new education pathway for refugee students by adding a dedicated track to its state-funded scholarship program, according to the U.N. refugee agency and education authorities. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Korea office, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Justice signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding Thursday to strengthen support for refugee students by expanding access to higher education in Korea. Under the agreement, up to five refugee students will be selected each year through a newly established refugee track within the government’s Global Korea Scholarship program for international students. The program targets refugees living in overseas camps or similar settings who demonstrate strong academic motivation and growth potential but lack access to higher education opportunities. Candidates will be recommended by the U.N. refugee agency and screened through a joint evaluation process involving Korean universities and the National Institute for International Education. The justice ministry will oversee necessary legal and adm

Jan 15, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea opens new pathway for refugee students through state scholarships
Politics

What's next for ex-president after special prosecutor's death penalty request?

A special prosecutor's request for the death penalty against impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his 2024 martial law fiasco has turned the spotlight to what comes next, as the court prepares to issue a ruling in the coming weeks. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Feb. 19. The closely-watched ruling will come more than a year after Yoon was indicted in January 2025 on charges of leading an insurrection. Legal experts say an actual death sentence is unlikely and that the case is almost certain to move through a lengthy appeals process. Still, they note that the prosecution's decision to seek the death penalty carries significant symbolic weight. In a 38-minute closing argument on Tuesday, prosecutors under special counsel Cho Eun-seok urged the court to impose the harshest punishment available. They described Yoon's abrupt martial law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024, not simply as an unlawful exercise of authority but as a long-planned attempt to dismantle the nation's constitutional order through the mobilization of military and police forces. Deputy special counsel P

Jan 14, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
What's next for ex-president after special prosecutor's death penalty request?
Foreign Affairs

Korea speeds up preparations for nuclear energy talks with US

The Korean government appears to be speeding up preparations for nuclear energy talks with the United States after Washington gave Seoul the green light to pursue uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing for peaceful purposes. According to diplomatic sources Tuesday, an internal task force on nuclear energy negotiations within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is seeking to hold weekly meetings. A director-general-level task force is expected to meet at least once every three months. Officials are said to be pushing to quickly hold an inaugural meeting with the U.S. side, reflecting a shared understanding between the Korean and U.S. leaders that the process should move forward swiftly. On Friday, the government held the inaugural meeting of a pan-government task force on nuclear energy negotiations with the U.S. Chaired by Rim Kap-soo, the government's representative for Korea-U.S. nuclear cooperation, the task force includes officials from the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Officials from t

Jan 13, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea speeds up preparations for nuclear energy talks with US
North Korea

N. Korea unlikely to respond to request for joint probe into drone incident

North Korea is unlikely to respond to calls from South Korea for a joint investigation into an alleged drone incursion, analysts said, dimming hopes in Seoul that the incident could help break a deadlock in inter-Korean relations. Pyongyang has accused South Korea of sending drones into its territory on two occasions — once in September last year and again on Jan. 4 — claims Seoul's military immediately denied. South Korean officials said they will continue efforts to de-escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula. On Monday, South Korea's police and military launched a joint task force of about 30 members to investigate the incident. The move came two days after President Lee Jae Myung ordered a swift probe, warning that any drone flights carried out by civilians pose a serious threat to national security. Later in the day, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said he was considering proposing a joint investigation with North Korea. "I am considering proposing a joint inter-Korean investigation through the United Nations Command," Ahn said during a National Assembly session, adding that at t

Jan 12, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
N. Korea unlikely to respond to request for joint probe into drone incident
Foreign Affairs

IOM deputy chief warns against fear-based narratives in migration policies

When Lee Sung-ah speaks about migration, she does not begin with statistics or policy debates. Instead, she starts with people. As immigration debates grow increasingly polarized around the world, Lee, deputy director general for management and reform at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency, said the conversation needs to move away from fear-based narratives and toward a more balanced understanding of migrants. "In the end, it's the people we are talking about. When someone feels they have no opportunities, or when they live in a conflict zone, they naturally leave in order to survive. Stopping them does not mean people will stop moving across borders," she said during an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul on Friday. "Safe, orderly and regular migration pathways benefit everyone. And that is the message we are trying to send as we communicate with our partners." Like many international organizations, IOM — which works with governments on migration policy and humanitarian assistance — is navigating new challenges amid shifting global politic

Jan 10, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
IOM deputy chief warns against fear-based narratives in migration policies
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