Korea Times Politics & City Reporter
Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.
Ambassadors from European Union countries in Korea pose for a photo endorsing human rights and fundamental freedoms of sexual minorities on the occasion of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia in Seoul, May 17. Courtesy of Delegation of the EU in Korea
Hungarian Ambassador to Korea Mozes Csoma, center, poses for a photo with Dankook University president Kim Soo-bok, first from left, after receiving an honorary doctorate in political science from Dankook University, Friday. Courtesy of Embassy of Hungary to KoreaBy Kwon Mee-yooHungarian ambassador to Korea Mozes Csoma received an honorary doctorate in political science from Dankook University, Friday, in recognition of his contribution to promoting friendship between Korea and Hungary based on his understanding of Korea's history. Csoma is Korean studies scholar in Hungary, specializing in Korean history and political affairs of the Korean Peninsula. He taught at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest from 2008 and played a key role in establishing the first Korean Department at a university in Hungary.He has been serving as Hungary's ambassador to Korea since September 2018.Csoma recalled how he began learning the Korean language and research on Korea.“It dates back 25 years to when I was a freshman at university. I was very interested in modern history and international politi
Kazakhstani Ambassador to Korea Bakyt Dyussenbayev, second from right, and Consul General of Kazakhstan in Busan Ayan Kashabayev, third from left, pose for a photo with dignitaries during the opening ceremony of the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in Busan, May 12. Courtesy of Embassy of Kazakhstan in KoreaBy Kwon Mee-yooThe Consulate General of Kazakhstan opened in southern port city of Busan, May 12. According to Kazakhstani Ambassador to Korea Bakyt Dyussenbayev, the consulate general was opened by the decree of Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to "enhance the political, economic, cultural and humanitarian interaction of Kazakhstan with Busan and the southeastern region of the Republic of Korea." In his congratulatory remarks, Ambassador Dyussenbayev expressed gratitude toward the Korean government as well as Busan Metropolitan City for its assistance in opening the Consulate General. He also noted that the opening coincided with the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Kazakhstan, highlighting the two countries' lasting relations. Ayan Kashabayev,
Yongsan District chief Sung Jang-hyun, left, and Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Korea Ramzi Teymurov pose for a photo ahead of a tree-planting ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Azerbaijan at Singye History Park in Yongsan, Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Yongsan DistrictBy Kwon Mee-yooOn the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Korea, the Embassy of Azerbaijan planted a tree with Yongsan District Office at Singye History Park in Yongsan, Seoul, Thursday. Yongsan District is home to many diplomatic missions in Korea and established sister relations with the Azerbaijani district of Garadagh in 2017. Ahead of the tree-planting ceremony, Yongsan District chief Sung Jang-hyun gave a tour of the park, which contains the Danggogae Catholic Martyrs' Shrine commemorating 10 Catholics martyred on the site during the Gihae Persecution in 1839. Sung introduced the history of the site and how it was turned into a park when the area underwent redevelopment, as an example of valuing history. Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Korea Ramzi
A teacher takes the body temperature of a schoolgirl to help curb the spread of the coronavirus before entering Kim Song Ju Primary School in Central District in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this Oct. 13, 2021 file photo. Before officially acknowledging domestic COVID-19 cases, Thursday, North Korea spent 2 1/2 years rejecting outside offers of vaccines and steadfastly claiming that its superior socialist system was protecting its 26 million people from “a malicious virus” that had killed millions around the world. AP-YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yooAs North Korea's COVID-19 situation has gone out of control after confirming its first case of the infectious disease last week, the reclusive state is leaning on its ally, China, to overcome the crisis. South Korea is expected to propose working-level talks with Pyongyang this week.According to North Korea's emergency epidemic prevention headquarters, some 296,000 fever cases had been reported Saturday, with 15 deaths. The North's COVID-19 cases skyrocketed from 18,000 reported Thursday and 174,000 on Friday.Despite Pyongyang announcing t
EU Ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez, front in blue dress, makes a toast with Ukrainian Ambassador to Korea Dmytro Ponomarenko, second from right, wearing a blue mask, and other EU member state envoys in Korea during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Europe Day event in Seoul Plaza, downtown Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of the EU delegation to Korea By Kwon Mee-yooEuropean embassies in Korea celebrated Europe Day in Seoul Plaza, May 9, with the Embassy of Ukraine to Seoul as a way to show solidarity with the war-torn country. The embassies of 24 EU member states as well as the EU delegation and Embassy of Ukraine took part in this year's event, which brought some vitality to the city center after two years of the pandemic. Each country's booth offered a variety of items introducing the country, from iconic food to travel brochures. “This is my first Europe Day event in Korea because we couldn't do anything last year because of COVID. So I am very happy that we
President Yoon Suk-yeol, right, speaks with Indian Ambassador to Korea Sripriya Ranganathan at her office in Seoul, May 6. YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yooIndia Prime Minister Narendra ModiIndia is an important partner of Korea in the Indo-Pacific region, and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a congratulatory message to Korea's new President Yoon Suk-yeol, Tuseday, as Yoon assumed office. "I extend my heartfelt greetings and good wishes to ROK President @sukyeol__yoon as he commences his term in office today. I look forward to meeting him soon and working together to further strengthen and enrich the India-ROK ties," Modi wrote on Twitter.Indian Ambassador to Korea Sripriya Ranganathan attended Yoon's inauguration ceremony on Tuesday on behalf of her country. Prior to Yoon's inauguration, the Indian ambassador to Seoul paid a courtesy call to Yoon at his office, May 6. According to the Indian Embassy here, Ambassador Ranganathan discussed the huge scope of cooperation between the two countries with Yoon, starting from the long historical and cultural ties including the marriage of Queen
Outgoing President Moon Jae-in, left, and his wife Kim Jung-sook attend President Yoon Suk-yeol's inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly on Seoul's Yeouido, Tuesday. Former President Park Geun-hye, right, is seated behind Moon. Yonhap By Kwon Mee-yoo President Yoon Suk-yeol's inauguration ceremony held at the National Assembly on Seoul's Yeouido was graced by a handful of domestic dignitaries who have witnessed the ups and downs of Korea's modern history, including former presidents and their family members.Outgoing President Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook, who left Cheong Wa Dae Monday as the presidential office opened to the public on Tuesday, was on stage as the new president was inaugurated. When Yoon entered the stage for the inauguration ceremony, he first greeted outgoing President Moon and then he moved to welcome former President Park Geun-hye, who was in the first row of honored guests, right behind Moon.Park was released on Dec. 31 on a sp
gettyimagesbankSeoul-based foreign ambassadors call for cooperation on pandemic, climate changeBy Kwon Mee-yooPresident Yoon Suk-yeol's inauguration ceremony gained a lot of international attention, showing Korea's increased role and influence in the international community.According to Yoon's inauguration committee, over 300 foreign guests attended the event, including 143 foreign diplomats in Korea with high hopes for working with the new administration in many aspects.Korea's diplomacy often engages with what Koreans refer to as the “four great powers”: the United States, China, Japan and Russia. But as Korea became the world's 10th-largest economy in 2018 and is considered a middle power in Asia now, ambassadors here ask Korea to diversify its relations with other countries. Carlos Victor Boungou, ambassador of Gabon to Korea and Diplomatic Corps dean / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukCarlos Victor Boungou, the Gabonese ambassador to Korea and dean of the Diplomatic Corps, identified the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change as the two formidable challenges of the tim
Ambassador of Georgia to Korea Otar Berdzenishvili, first from right, and Seodaemun District head Moon Seok-jin, second from right, pose for a photo with Georgians in Korea during an event commemorating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Georgia and Korea at Boxquare in Sinchon, central Seoul, Saturday. The embassy offered traditional Georgian foods and wines as well as an opportunity to write the visitors' names in the Georgian alphabet. All proceeds from the event were donated to Ukrainian Ambassador to Korea Dmytro Ponomarenko, showing support and solidarity as another Black Sea neighbor country. Courtesy of Embassy of Georgia in Korea