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Lee Hae-rin

Korea Times K-Culture Reporter

Lee Hae-rin is a City Desk reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues, tourism and taekwondo. She is passionate about speaking up for the rights of minorities, including women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and animals as well as discovering the latest makgeolli trend in town. Feel free to reach her at lhr@koreatimes.co.kr.

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Travel & Food

Gyeongju to showcase tourist events blending Korea's heritage, innovation during APEC

As world leaders gather for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, the host city of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, and the surrounding region have launched tourist events highlighting Korea’s heritage, technology and traditions to expand the global reach of K-culture and showcase the nation’s tourism potential. With one week left before the summit, the city has launched programs designed to promote Korean traditions and cutting-edge creativity. Officials from the central government, the provincial government and the Gyeongju city government announced the opening of the Daereungwon Media Art exhibition on Friday. The large-scale event will continue through Nov. 16. The project uses state-of-the-art digital technology against the setting of the ancient royal tomb complex to reimagine the brilliance of the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C.-A.D. 935) under dazzling lights and immersive media art. Visitors can also engage in interactive cultural programs such as caricature drawing, stamp tours and paper lantern making, while the iconic Cheonmachong Tomb welcomes guests

Oct 24, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
Gyeongju to showcase tourist events blending Korea's heritage, innovation during APEC
Sports

World Taekwondo president reelected to 6th term

World Taekwondo (WT) President Choue Chung-won has secured a sixth and final term, extending his 21-year tenure at the helm of the global taekwondo body by another four years, the organization announced Thursday. Delegates reelected Choue, 77, during the federation’s general assembly held at the Worldhotel Grand Juna in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China. The vote combined on-site and online participation from WT council members and national associations. Choue received 143 votes in favor, with five against and one abstention. Choue, the only Korean currently heading an international sports organization in the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), will serve until the 2029 World Taekwondo Championships. He first assumed the presidency in 2004, after the death of founding president Kim Un-yong, and won reelection in 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2021. During his tenure, taekwondo has solidified its position as a core Olympic sport and strengthened transparency through reforms to scoring and competition rules. Choue is also credited with expanding taekwondo’s global

Oct 23, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
World Taekwondo president reelected to 6th term
Travel & Food

Grand Korea Leisure passes ISO 45001 safety management review

Grand Korea Leisure Co. (GKL), the state-run operator of Seven Luck, the country’s largest casino serving only foreign visitors under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said Tuesday that it had cleared the post-certification review to retain its ISO 45001 safety management certification. ISO 45001, established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 2018, is the world’s leading occupational health and safety standard. It assesses whether companies have effective management systems and goals in place to protect workers’ safety and health. GKL first obtained ISO 45001 certification in December 2020. The recent review evaluated areas including organizational context, leadership and policy, roles and responsibilities, competence, operational planning and control, and employee awareness of safety and health. GKL received compliance ratings in all categories. "Safety for our customers and employees is our top priority," said the company's president Yoon Doo-hyun, "We will continue striving to create a safe GKL with zero serious accidents and to lead in b

Oct 23, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
Grand Korea Leisure passes ISO 45001 safety management review
Others

Chinese personnel spotted on structure in disputed waters near Korean Peninsula

Escalating a long-simmering maritime dispute, Chinese personnel have for the first time been identified on a contentious offshore structure built by Beijing in the West Sea’s Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ) — an overlapping area of the two nations’ exclusive economic zones. The revelation, disclosed Wednesday by a Korean lawmaker, swiftly prompted calls in Seoul for the government to take countervailing measures against what was described as an increasingly assertive move by China. Rep. Yi Byeong-jin of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) disclosed recent photographs of the Chinese installation ahead of a parliamentary audit of the Coast Guard. According to Yi, the photos show five individuals on the structure known as Sunlan No. 2, installed last year. Two people are visible on the upper deck, two are on the mid-left section, and one wearing a diving suit appears to be maintaining oxygen tanks near the waterline, he said. Tensions in the Provisional Measures Zone have mounted as China intensifies its “gray zone” tactics in the area, including the construction of new str

Oct 22, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
Chinese personnel spotted on structure in disputed waters near Korean Peninsula
Travel & Food

Tourists discover Korea's deeper culinary attractions

Once drawn largely to iconic dishes like kimchi, bulgogi and bibimbap, international tourists are now embracing faster fare like steaming bowls of instant noodles, rolls of gimbap and an expanding array of convenience-store snacks to reflect a growing fascination with Korea’s everyday food culture, according to government data released Monday. The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) said its analysis of foreign credit card transactions from 2018 through July this year showed steady growth in spending on what Koreans regard as “everyday” food items. Experts say the surge in demand reflects Korea’s accessible yet adventurous dining landscape, with fine dining and comfort food both thriving. The global rise of Korean cultural content has further amplified the reach of "K-food," with cooking scenes in dramas, celebrity snack endorsements and viral mukbang livestreams all fueling Korea’s expanding culinary influence. With a 35 percent jump, ice cream topped the list in terms of annual growth in credit card spending, followed by convenience store meals at 34 percent and waffles and cro

Oct 21, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
Tourists discover Korea's deeper culinary attractions
Travel & Food

Cheonan stakes its claim as Korea’s bread capital

With the scent of freshly baked bread wafting through the air, more than 290,000 visitors descended on Cheonan for the 2025 Bbangbbang Day Festival, a celebration of the city’s growing reputation as Korea’s “bread capital” and its emergence as a center of artisan baking. Held Saturday and Sunday in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, the festival blended bakery culture, interactive workshops and lock tourism. This year, officials focused on collaboration — spotlighting Cheonan's commitment to using local produce in healthy breads and linking the community across farmers, bakeries and regional businesses. In Korean, the word for bread often includes pastries and other baked goods. Cheonan earned its title as Korea’s city of bread after becoming the birthplace of hodu gwaja, or walnut pastries, first made there in 1934 using locally grown walnuts. Over time, the city developed one of the country’s most vibrant baking cultures, boasting the third-highest number of bakeries outside metropolitan areas and hosting Bbangbbang Day festival to celebrate its legacy. During the fest

Oct 20, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
Cheonan stakes its claim as Korea’s bread capital
Travel & Food

Integrated resorts eyed as pillar for Korea's future tourism growth

Vice Culture Minister Kim Dae-hyun highlighted the integrated resort (IR) industry as a pillar of Korea's future tourism growth, Friday. "With the surging global influence of K-culture and rising foreign interest in Korea, integrated resorts will serve as a future growth engines and key pillars in achieving our goal of surpassing 30 million annual inbound tourists," Kim said during a congratulatory speech at The Korea Times Global Business Club, referring to the government’s 2030 goal. Kim opened the event by highlighting the explosive growth of Asia’s integrated resort industry, citing Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and an ongoing development project in Osaka, Japan, as exemplary cases of models driving national economies. He emphasized Korea’s ongoing proactive efforts, such as easing regulations for the Inspire Integrated Resort and Kangwon Land's K-HIT project, to attract investment and strengthen competitiveness. Seo Won-suk, a professor at Kyung Hee University and president of the KOSOK, highlighted that Korea’s tourism industry must shift from quantitative growth to qualita

Oct 20, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
Integrated resorts eyed as pillar for Korea's future tourism growth
Travel & Food

Tourism experts explore lessons to reclaim Korea's competitiveness in integrated resort industry

Tourism experts and industry leaders highlighted the fast-evolving integrated resort (IR) sector and discussed the reasons behind Korea’s intgrated resort lag behind global competitors such as Japan’s Osaka at The Korea Times Global Business Club, Friday. Under the title "Strategies for securing sustainable competitive advantage in Korea's Integrated Resort (IR) industry," the event aimed to promote informed dialogue and present actionable insights, following increasing concerns about Korea’s declining competitiveness in the high-value tourism and gaming industries. Jointly organized with the Tourism Sciences Society of Korea (KOSOK), the event comes after a series of Korea Times roundatables and forums about the future of Korea's integrated resort industry. Osaka's integrated resort: model of transformation Kang Sung-sook, professor at Tezukayama University, gave a comprehensive analysis on Japan’s decisive integrated resort strategy, focusing on the Osaka project as a cornerstone for national rejuvenation. She explained that the Japanese government’s long-term plan, launched

Oct 20, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
Tourism experts explore lessons to reclaim Korea's competitiveness in integrated resort industry
Travel & Food

Experts call for regulatory reform to develop Korea’s integrated resort industry

Tourism experts examined the future and challenges of Korea’s integrated resort (IR) industry, during The Korea Times Global Business Club event on Friday. The discussion provided a comprehensive analysis of the sector’s current standing and strategies for development. Moderator Seo Won-seok, professor at Kyung Hee University and president of the Tourism Sciences Society of Korea, stressed the need for market-driven reforms and cultural differentiation. "The global competitiveness of Korea’s IRs hinges on whether we can create culturally rich and sustainable tourism destinations," Seo said, urging policymakers to embrace innovation and learn from global success stories. Lee Jin-sik, secretary general of the National Gambling Control Commission, reflected on both the achievements and the stagnation Korea has faced since the early 2000s. "Despite our early momentum, IR development has slowed due to fragmented legislation and overly cautious investment," he said, "Korea must create an environment where private and public sectors can pursue long-term growth, much like Japan and Singapo

Oct 20, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
Experts call for regulatory reform to develop Korea’s integrated resort industry
Travel & Food

Lotte launches special hotel packages to celebrate double Michelin Key win

Lotte Hotels & Resorts announced Sunday that its luxury properties, Signiel Seoul and Signiel Busan, have each earned two keys in the Michelin Key selection for exceptional hospitality. To mark the achievement, both hotels are launching special Michelin Moment packages. The newly introduced Michelin Key rating system evaluates hotels worldwide on service, facilities, location and overall guest experience, awarding from one to three keys. The first-ever selections were revealed by the Michelin Guide on Oct. 8. Signiel Seoul and Signiel Busan received two keys, which Michelin defines as properties that are "unique in every way, where a memorable experience is always a guarantee," and "(hotels) of character and charm, run with obvious pride and considerable care." Signiel, the only Korean hotel brand to achieve the distinction, is offering special packages to celebrate the recognition. The Signiel Seoul package includes a one-night stay and two 20,000-won hotel credits. Signiel Busan offers two options: a one-night stay with a two-level room upgrade, or a one-night stay with a signature din

Oct 19, 2025By Lee Hae-rin
Lotte launches special hotel packages to celebrate double Michelin Key win
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