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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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Society

Revised law aims to make it easier to punish stalkers

A sign reading “Women Friendly Seoul” is displayed on the wall near a restroom in Seoul Metro's Sindang Station in this Sept. 16, 2022 photo, where a female subway worker was killed two days earlier by a male coworker accused of stalking and harassing the victim. Korea Times photo by Choi Joo-yeonVictim's consent no longer required to prosecute stalkersBy Lee Hyo-jinStalkers will now face criminal punishment regardless of a victim's consent, following a revision to the so-called “anti-stalking law” that was passed at a plenary session of the National Assembly, Wednesday.The bill was passed unanimously by all 246 lawmakers attending the session, which is a rare occurrence in Korea's parliament.Through the revised bill aimed at strengthening punishment for stalking crimes, the Assembly decided to abolish a controversial clause stipulating that a stalker cannot be held criminally responsible if the victim does not consent to punishment.The initial law legislated in 2021 stipulated that stalkers can be punished only after obtaining the permission of the victim. As

Jun 21, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
Revised law aims to make it easier to punish stalkers
Photo News

PHOTOS Forum navigates past, present, future of Korea-US alliance

Korea Times Chairman Seung Myung-ho, front row fifth from right, Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Do-hoon, front row fifth from left, and Vice Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul, front row fourth from left, pose with distinguished guests before the beginning of the 2023 Korea Times Forum themed “Korea-U.S. Alliance: Security & Space Cooperation” held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in central Seoul, Tuesday. From left in the first row are Citibank Korea CEO Yoo Myung-soon, Korea Network of Women in Finance Chairperson Kim Sang-kyung, Hana Financial Group Chairperson Ham Young-joo, Shin, Lee, Seung, Yoido Full Gospel Church Senior Pastor Lee Young-hoon, KB Financial Group Chairperson Yoon Jong-kyoo, Yonsei University Chinese studies professor John Delury and George Mason University Korea Dean Robert Matz. From left in the second row are Asan Institute for Policy Studies research fellow Go Myong-hyun, Israeli Ambassador Akiva Tor, Qatari Ambassador Khalid bin Ebrahim Al-Hamar, Ukrainian Ambassador Dmytro Ponomarenko, Kuwaiti Ambassador Deyab Al-Rashidi, Brazi

Jun 20, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
[PHOTOS] Forum navigates past, present, future of Korea-US alliance
  • Korea-US alliance serves as 'compass for freedom'
Foreign Affairs

S. Korea-US alliance should open new chapter for next 70 years, experts say

Panelists engage in discussion during a session of the 2023 Korea Times Forum themed “Korea-U.S. Alliance: Security & Space Cooperation,” at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in central Seoul, Tuesday. From left are Go Myong-hyun, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, Lee Geun, professor of international politics at Seoul National University Graduate School of International Studies, John Delury, professor of Chinese studies at Yonsei University Graduate School of International Studies, and Chun In-bum, former South Korean Army Lt. general and ex-commander of the Special Warfare Command. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukFence-mending between Washington, Beijing puts Seoul in awkward positionBy Lee Hyo-jin Formed with the signing of the mutual defense treaty in 1953, the primary goal of the South Korea-U.S. alliance was to protect Seoul from possible North Korean attacks. Over the past 70 years, the bilateral ties have expanded to various areas including trade, technology and culture.But with the international order becoming increasingly c

Jun 20, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
S. Korea-US alliance should open new chapter for next 70 years, experts say
Society

INTERVIEW UNHCR Korea chief stresses fairness over speed in refugee screening

Jun Hai-kyung, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Korea representative, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the UNHCR office in central Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of UNHCRExpert calls for comprehensive review of Korea's asylum policies By Lee Hyo-jin Obtaining refugee status in Korea is often likened to a camel passing through the eye of a needle.Since Korea began to accept refugees in 1994, a total of 1,338 people were granted refugee status by 2022, constituting a tiny portion of some 85,000 applicants, according to data from the Ministry of Justice. Last year, only 175 out of 11,539 asylum seekers were accepted, translating into an acceptance rate of just 2 percent. That is why Korea ― Asia's fourth-largest economy and a leading democracy ― is often criticized for being harsh in its treatment of asylum seekers. However, Jun Hai-kyung, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Korea representative, is quite positive. Rather than criticizing the country's policies, she called for a holistic review of the refugee system, based on how it can

Jun 19, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
[INTERVIEW] UNHCR Korea chief stresses fairness over speed in refugee screening
Defense

Saluting US veterans of Korean War

An American veteran who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War is escorted while Korean naval servicemen salute during a ceremony at the Navy Second Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. Some 50 U.S. veterans and their descendants traveled to South Korea to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the two nations' alliance. Yonhap

Jun 19, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
Saluting US veterans of Korean War
Foreign Affairs

INTERVIEW ASEAN secretary-general calls on N. Korea to return to dialogue

Kao Kim Hourn, secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), speaks during an interview with The Korea Times and its sister paper The Hankook Ilbo, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-hoSouth Korea, ASEAN expected to forge comprehensive strategic partnership in 2024 By Lee Hyo-jin Escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula due to Pyongyang's repeated missile provocations are a worrisome development, not only for Seoul, but also for countries in the neighboring Southeast Asian region, according to Kao Kim Hourn, the secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).But at the same time, he saw that ASEAN, with its ability to function as a neutral facilitator in global conflicts, could play a role in denuclearization efforts on the Korea Peninsula.“The DPRK has been test firing their missiles and improving their weapons. This is not just a concern to ROK, but a concern to the regional community and the global community,” Kao said during an exclusive interview with The Korea Times

Jun 19, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
[INTERVIEW] ASEAN secretary-general calls on N. Korea to return to dialogue
Society

Seoul city on alert over BTS 10th anniversary celebration

Two women walk in front of a billboard showing K-pop group BTS' members during an event to celebrate its 10th debut anniversary, in Seoul, June 14. AP-Yonhap By Lee Hyo-jin A crowd of over 300,000 BTS fans is expected to gather at Han River Park in Yeouido on Saturday to celebrate the K-pop juggernaut's 10th debut anniversary, prompting Seoul city authorities to implement safety measures.Tens of thousands of fans are anticipated to attend “The BTS Festa @Yeouido,” the main event of a two-week-long festival held to celebrate the megastar's10th debut anniversary which falls on June 13. BTS' agency HYBE kicked off this year's festival on Monday jointly with the Seoul Metropolitan Government.Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Friday urgently ordered related authorities including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, as well as the National Police Agency, to thoroughly prepare

Jun 16, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
Seoul city on alert over BTS 10th anniversary celebration
  • BTS' 10th anniv. book becomes bestseller ahead of official release
Politics

Veterans ministry vows to play bigger role in Korea-US alliance

Veterans Minister Park Min-shik speaks during a press conference held in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Ministry of Patriots and Veterans AffairsBy Lee Hyo-jin Patriots and Veterans Affairs Minister Park Min-shik vowed, Thursday, that his ministry will play a bigger role in bolstering the Korea-U.S. alliance, with a slew of events slated for the latter half of this year to mark the 70th anniversary of the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement.“The bilateral relationship with the United States, which is bound in blood, is the most important front in Korea's diplomacy. And our ministry has a lot of work to do regarding relations with the U.S.,” he said during a press conference held in Seoul, Thursday. According to the ministry, a large-scale ceremony will be held on June 25 marking the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 and the U.N. Forces Participation Day on July 27, as well as the Turn Toward Busan ceremony on Nov. 11 commemorating the fallen United Nations soldiers who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War.The ministry will also hold various receptions and events with 22 countries

Jun 15, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
Veterans ministry vows to play bigger role in Korea-US alliance
Foreign Affairs

China unlikely to replace its envoy to Korea: experts

President Yoon Suk Yeol talks with Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Haiming after paying tribute to late former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin at a memorial altar set up at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, Dec. 2, 2022. Courtesy of presidential officeSeoul urged to be prudent regarding calls to expel envoyBy Lee Hyo-jin China is unlikely to replace its embattled ambassador to Korea, Xing Haiming, according to diplomatic observers, despite Seoul's calls for Beijing to take “proper measures” over the envoy's controversial remarks criticizing the Korean government's foreign policy.They also said calls from some ruling party politicians to expel the envoy will not help relieve tensions between the two countries.Korea's presidential office said Tuesday that it is waiting for Beijing to take appropriate measures after Xing recently said Korea was making a “wrong bet” by leaning toward the United States amid the intensifying rivalry between Washington and Beijing.Although the government did not specify what measures it expects from China, the statement was widely viewed as

Jun 14, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
China unlikely to replace its envoy to Korea: experts
Politics

Debate on foreigners' voting rights rekindled following Chinese envoy's remarks

gettyimagesbankRuling party lawmaker seeks to take away Chinese residents' suffrageBy Lee Hyo-jin Lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party are calling to strip permanent foreign residents of voting rights for local elections, citing concerns of possible interference in domestic politics by the immigrant electorate. The move, which would target Chinese residents, who make up the majority of eligible immigrant voters in Korea, comes after Chinese Ambassador to Seoul Xing Haiming's controversial remarks on Korea's foreign policy. During a dinner with main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Jae-myung last Thursday, Xing outwardly criticized the Korean government for pivoting excessively toward the United States, warning that it would come at the cost of damaging relations with China. His remarks provoked strong criticisms from the ruling party and the government. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the envoy's remarks as “irrational and provocative” rhetoric, which may be perceived as an attempt to interfere in Korea's internal affairs.Rep. Kweon

Jun 13, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
Debate on foreigners' voting rights rekindled following Chinese envoy's remarks
  • Chinese ambassador's conduct irks Koreans: Yoon
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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.