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Kwon Mee-yoo

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.

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Politics

Envoys keep watchful eye on Korea's presidential election

gettyimagesbankBy Kwon Mee-yooWith Korea's presidential election held on Wednesday seeing a high turnout, foreign diplomats based in Seoul were carefully observing the atmosphere of the election and gathering information on how it developed. Most embassies were keeping tabs on support rates and pledges of the two main presidential candidates ― Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party ― to report to the governments of their respective countries. While embassies were tight-lipped on any expected results, they could see the democratic governance of the whole process.“The ongoing voting exercise in Korea is a manifestation of the vibrant democracy Koreans have fought long and hard for over many years. Whatever the results, it sends a signal that Korea is coming of age as a significant presence in the international arena," Ambassador of the Philippines to Korea Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega told The Korea Times.Two frontrunners, Lee and Yoon, have some contrasting approaches in foreign policy.Lee has indicated th

Mar 9, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Envoys keep watchful eye on Korea's presidential election
  • From mishandling of ballots to last-minute Yoon-Ahn merger
Foreign Affairs

ROUNDTABLE Female ambassadors present different views on diversity

EU Ambassador Maria Castillo Fernandez, front, takes part in a roundtable on diversity and multiculturalism co-hosted by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and The Korea Times at The Korea Times' office in central Seoul, Feb. 24. Korea Times photos by Shim Hyun-chulPhilippine Ambassador Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega Philippine Ambassador to Korea Maria Theresa Dizon-De VegaIn the Philippines, which is more of a migrant-sending country, we still do have to take into account the presence of differences in different cultures and Indigenous backgrounds as we have over 180 different Indigenous groups. On the domestic level, what we've done is something similar to what Korea is doing in its approach and many other countries are doing in their approaches to greater integration.That's being able to balance a healthy respect for the Indigenous rights and Indigenous traditions in the history of the culture. But at the same time, also being very careful and being very sensitive not to isolate them from mainstream society. There has to be a balance and it has to cut across different fields

Mar 7, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
[ROUNDTABLE] Female ambassadors present different views on diversity
  • ROUNDTABLE Envoys share insights on diversity, visions for inclusive Korea
Foreign Affairs

ROUNDTABLE Envoys share insights on diversity, visions for inclusive Korea

Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin, far right, and Gender Equality and Family Minister Chung Young-ai, fourth from right, pose with female foreign ambassadors to Korea during a roundtable on diversity and multiculturalism at The Korea Times' office in central Seoul, Feb. 24. From left are Dutch Ambassador Joanne Doornewaard, Rwandan Ambassador Dalila Yasmin Amri Sued, Philippine Ambassador Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Australian Ambassador Catherine Raper, Minister Chung, Indian Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan, EU Ambassador Maria Castillo Fernandez and Oh. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Kwon Mee-yooKorea, as it continues its rapid development, is displaying greater diversity, both ethnically and culturally, as a result of international migration. In time for the occasion of International Women's Day, The Korea Times hosted a roundtable with female ambassadors and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to share insights on different levels of diversity around the world on Feb. 24.Six female ambassadors took part in the roundtable to share their home cultures' exp

Mar 7, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
[ROUNDTABLE] Envoys share insights on diversity, visions for inclusive Korea
  • ROUNDTABLE Female ambassadors present different views on diversity
Society

Wildfires destroy forests equal to 53 times area of Yeouido

A firefighting helicopter puts out fires near Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Sunday, as a series of wildfires have burned some 15,420 hectares of woodland over the weekend. YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yooWildfires in the eastern region of Korea have burned approximately 15,420 hectares of forest as of Sunday afternoon, according Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.The burnt area is equivalent to 53 times the size of Seoul's Yeouido (290 hectares) ― or 21,597 soccer fields ― and the fire has destroyed over 463 structures. More than 7,300 people have been evacuated in order to avoid the fires, though no casualties were reported. An 86-year-old woman was reported to have died while evacuating in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, but authorities are looking into the exact connection between her death and the wildfire.The UIjin blaze began on Friday morning near a mountain in Uljin County and spread north to Samcheok City in the afternoon. Five more wildfires broke out across the country in five different regions: Gangneung City and Yeongweol County in Gangwon Province, Geumjeong Dist

Mar 6, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Wildfires destroy forests equal to 53 times area of Yeouido
  • Thousands flee their homes after wildfire engulfs Uljin county
Foreign Affairs

Korea advised to use Ukrainian transliteration of city names

Messages of support for Ukraine are placed in front of the Embassy of Ukraine in Yongsan District, Seoul, Thursday. YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yooIn the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, attention to the Eastern European country has grown sharply in Korea followed by increased coverage of the nation. Discovering that some Korean media outlets are using a Russian style of romanizing the name of the capital, the Embassy of Ukraine in Seoul has officially asked the Korean media and Koreans to refer to their cities in the Ukrainian style. For instance, the Ukrainian capital is written "Kyiv" in the Ukrainian style of romanization, but "Kiev" in the Russian one. In Korea, the names of Ukrainian cities were commonly written to reflect Russian-language pronunciation, despite the country having gained independence from the Soviet Union over two decades ago. The Ukrainian Embassy here shared the Ukrainian style of transliterating city names on its Facebook page, encouraging Koreans to use the Ukrainian versions for pronunciation and spelling."In view of the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine, we asked

Mar 4, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Korea advised to use Ukrainian transliteration of city names
Politics

Presidential candidates exchange jabs over Japan

Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, does the “manse” (cheer) gesture of the March 1 Independence Movement, with two Korean national flags in his hands, during a campaign activity in Myeong-dong, central Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press CorpsLee likens Yoon to Japan's right-wingers; Yoon hits back accusing DPK candidate of treasonBy Kwon Mee-yooThe two leading presidential candidates tried to discredit each other's policies on Korea-Japan relations, Tuesday, as the day marks the 103rd anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement. Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), said he wouldn't allow Japan's Self-Defense Forces to enter Korea under any circumstances, noting that Japan does not regret its past invasions of Korea. "I will take a respectable path for the patriotic martyrs who pursued independence for Korea and for the people of Korea," he said during a televised speech on the 103th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement on KBS, Tuesday. Lee's remarks targeted his r

Mar 1, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Presidential candidates exchange jabs over Japan
  • Presidential candidates seek to form coalitions in dead heat race
Foreign Affairs

Envoy voices regret over South Korea joining sanctions against Russia

Russian ambassador to South Korea Andrey Kulik speaks during a press conference explaining his country's stance on the invasion of Ukraine at the Russian Embassy in central Seoul, Monday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Kwon Mee-yooRussia's ambassador to South Korea expressed deep regret over the country's participation in global sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine."South Korea joining the sanctions is not a 'happy news' for us,” Ambassador Andrey Kulik said through an interpreter during a news conference held at the Russian embassy in central Seoul, Monday.Last week, the South Korean government announced its participation in international sanctions against Russia. On Monday, the foreign ministry announced that South Korea joined international sanctions to block some Russian banks from a global payments system. "Considering Korea's national interests, I see no reason for South Korea joining the sanctions against Russia. The only factor pushing South Korea to impose sanctions against Russia is the strong external influence,” he claimed. The Russian env

Feb 28, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Envoy voices regret over South Korea joining sanctions against Russia
  • Korea joins US-led sanctions to ban Russia's access to SWIFT
  • Russians in Korea unite against Putin's war on Ukraine
Foreign Affairs

Dominican Republic celebrates 178th anniversary of independence

Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Korea Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo, right, and Choi Jong-uk, Director General for the Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau at Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs pose for a photo during a ceremony commemorating the 178th anniversary of the declaration of independence of the Dominican Republic at a hotel in Seoul, Feb. 23. Courtesy of Embassy of the Dominican Republic to KoreaBy Kwon Mee-yooThe Embassy of Dominican Republic in Korea held a ceremony commemorating the 178th anniversary of its independence, Feb. 23.At the event, the Caribbean nation vowed to boost cooperation with Korea in the near future, as the two countries celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties this year.Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Korea Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo announced that the embassy will host the first Dominican Week in Korea in June with a visit by Dominican Minister of Industry and Trade and director of the Dominican-Korean Chamber of Commerce.“Suffice to say that the cycle that will then come through has

Feb 28, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Dominican Republic celebrates 178th anniversary of independence
Foreign Affairs

Winners of Study UK Alumni Awards

The recipients of the Study UK Alumni Awards 2021-22 in Korea pose for a photo during the award ceremony at Four Seasons Seoul, Feb. 24. From left are KAIST professor Lee Ji-hwan, Economic Counsellor of British Embassy Seoul Mark Buttigieg, British Council in Korea Director Sam Harvey, Business and Innovation Award winner Kim Jung-eun, Social Action Award winner Choi Yi-hyun, Culture and Creativity Award winner Kang Yi-yun, British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks, Sungkyunkwan University professor Chung Hee-sun and ARKO Art Center Director General Lim Keun-hye. The award was given to four U.K. alumni in Korea for their achievements and their contributions to strengthening ties between the U.K. and Korea. The Science and Sustainability Award was presented to Lee Sang-ji. Courtesy of British Council in Korea

Feb 28, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Winners of Study UK Alumni Awards
Foreign Affairs

New Ukrainian envoy to Korea urges international support, more sanctions

Ukraine's new ambassador to Korea, Dmytro Ponomarenko, speaks during a meeting with Korean media at the country's embassy in Yongsan District, Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk By Kwon Mee-yooNew Ukrainian Ambassador to Korea, Dmytro Ponomarenko, welcomed Seoul's participation in international sanctions against Russia and urged the global community to show solidarity with Ukraine.Ponomarenko arrived in Korea last week, filling the country's ambassadorial post that had been vacant for over a year. He submitted a copy of his credentials to Korea's foreign minister Thursday, officially beginning his post and spoke with local media, Friday, explaining his country's situation."When I departed from Ukraine, the situation was on the brink. Our international partners already alarmed that the situation could be worse. But we are a peaceful nation, maybe kind of naive, and we didn't really think that Russians, our neighbors, will strike us with missiles, with t

Feb 25, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
New Ukrainian envoy to Korea urges international support, more sanctions
  • 'Stand by Ukraine': Embassies join campaign for Ukraine amid Russian invasion
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