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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

Rival candidates seek different strategies to mend ties with Japan

gettyimagesbankThis article is the fourth in a series about the 2022 presidential election candidates' campaign pledges. In this article, their pledges for Korea-Japan relations are examined and compared. ―EDLee pursues strategic ambiguity; Yoon eyes multi-level diplomatic effortsBy Kwon Mee-yooSouth Korea's relations with Japan, its closest neighbor geographically with the exception of North Korea, have been put to the test under the Moon Jae-in administration after sinking to an unprecedented low.Two leading presidential candidates, Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), have presented starkly contrasting views of the causes of soured relations and how the two countries can mend the frayed ties. The two sides also revealed significant differences in their diagnosis of the current South Korea-Japan relations. Worst bilateral ties: undesirable vs. awfully wrongWi Sung-lac, former South Korean ambassador to Russia who is currently in charge of foreign policy at the Lee Jae-myung camp, said South Ko

Feb 22, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Rival candidates seek different strategies to mend ties with Japan
  • Defection casts light on rift within ruling party ahead of election
Foreign Affairs

Epic Azerbaijani love poem translated into Korean

The cover of the Korean edition of “Leyli and Majnun” by 12th-century Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi / Courtesy of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in KoreaBy Kwon Mee-yoo"Leyli and Majnun,” an epic love poem by the 12th-century Azerbaijani poet, Nizami Ganjavi, has been translated into Korean, as a literary gesture to commemorate the ties between Azerbaijan and Korea.The year 2021 was declared the “Year of Nizami Ganjavi” in Azerbaijan and on the occasion of the 880th anniversary of the poet's birth, the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Korea supported the first-ever translation of Nizami's poems into Korean. Azerbaijani ambassador to Korea Ramzi Teymurov noted that the Korean publication of “Leyli and Majnun” is of great importance in terms of "introducing wonderful examples of Azerbaijani classical literature to Korean readers and at the same time, contributing to the elimination of information scarcity about Azerbaijan in Korea.""Nizami Ganjavi, a prominent representative of world literature, a great Azerbaijani poet and thinker, is one of the rare per

Feb 21, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Epic Azerbaijani love poem translated into Korean
Foreign Affairs

EU, Korea discuss Indo-Pacific strategies, regional policies

gettyimagesbankBy Kwon Mee-yooExperts from Europe and Korea discussed ways of cooperating on global issues, key challenges and geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region at a roundtable, Friday.Co-hosted by the embassies of France, Germany and the Netherlands in Korea in cooperation with the Delegation of the European Union to Korea, the roundtable explored the EU's strategy for the Indo-Pacific region ahead of the Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific in Paris slated for Tuesday.Ambassador of France to Korea Philippe Lefort highlighted the significance of the forum, which will feature some 50 countries from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania, and in which Korea's Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong will give opening remarks. "The minister forum is very timely also, because in recent years there has been a growing awareness that the EU and Indo-Pacific countries are natural partners in many areas. We came to realize that our futures are deeply linked because of the interdependency of all economies and common global challenges," Lefort said.He noted th

Feb 21, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
EU, Korea discuss Indo-Pacific strategies, regional policies
Politics

Housing, real estate policies to impact election results most

By Kwon Mee-yooAmid the neck-and-neck race between the two top presidential candidates Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) and Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), housing and real estate have emerged as the key policy areas affecting the election results, a recent poll showed.According to the survey conducted by Hankook Ilbo, the sister paper of The Korea Times, in collaboration with the polling agency Hankook Research, 26.3 percent answered that housing and real estate policies are the most important issues that would influence voters' decisions on their picks.Other issues also likely to impact the results are job creation and labor policies with 11.5 percent, economic growth plans with 11.1 percent, reform on prosecution and the media with 10.9 percent and economic polarization and social welfare issues with 7.8 percent.Soaring real estate prices are considered one of the biggest policy failures of the current Moon Jae-in administration, as the President hi

Feb 21, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Housing, real estate policies to impact election results most
  • Yoon ahead of Lee within margin of error: poll
Society

Logistics workers stage 'three steps, one bow' protest

The national parcel delivery union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a “three steps, one bow” demonstration from CJ group's headquarters to the CJ Logistics office, both in downtown Seoul, Thursday, to protest the company and the Federation of Korean Industries. The union held a press conference in front of CJ group's headquarters with the Social and Labor Affairs Committee of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and accused CJ Logistics of refusing to hold talks with striking workers seeking better working conditions. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho

Feb 17, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Logistics workers stage 'three steps, one bow' protest
Foreign Affairs

INTERVIEW Dominican ambassador seeks more opportunities with Korea

Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Korea Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the country's embassy in central Seoul, Feb. 10. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Kwon Mee-yooAlthough Latin American countries were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, some are recovering fast. The Dominican Republic is one of them.According to the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean nation's GDP grew 12.3 percent in 2021. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the economy is 4.7 percent bigger than it was in 2019, following the steep decline caused by the pandemic."This means that in 2021, we are already well above where we were in 2019. This sustained recovery has not come by chance. This is the result of active policies from the government. In particular, the central bank ensured credit available for the private sector to continue growing," Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Korea Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo told The Korea Times at the country's embassy in central Seoul, Feb. 10.On the occasion of the 60th anniver

Feb 14, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
[INTERVIEW] Dominican ambassador seeks more opportunities with Korea
Politics

Opposition party takes legal action against Lee's wife over alleged power abuse

Kim Hye-kyung, the wife of Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, bows in apology during a press conference at the party's headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday, over allegations she inappropriately used a public servant and corporate card for personal errands during her husband's term as governor of Gyeonggi Province. Yonhap By Kwon Mee-yooThe main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has initiated legal action against the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate Lee Jae-myung and his wife Kim Hye-kyung for abuse of power and causing loss to the state treasury.The suit comes as the DPK candidate's wife is mired in allegations that she used a corporate card to pay for groceries, meals, medicine and other daily products for her and her family. Fresh allegations have arisen almost daily recently.Under mounting pressure, Kim made an official apology Wednesday over her alleged abuse of power and misuse of her husband's corporate card. She apol

Feb 11, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Opposition party takes legal action against Lee's wife over alleged power abuse
  • From neckties to hairdos, style makes or breaks Korea's presidential candidates
  • Leading candidates clash over COVID-19 response, North Korea
Music

Harvard student transforms Shimcheong into Disney-inspired Korean princess

Korean-American composer Julia Riew sings a song from her "Shimcheong: A Folktale” musical project. Screenshot from TikTokBy Kwon Mee-yoo"There was no Korean Disney princess so I decided to make my own," Julia Riew wrote as she unveiled a preview of "Dive," a song for her new musical project, "Shimcheong: A Folktale."In the video, Riew turns herself into an animated character through a filter with a finger snap, and sings a song describing her protagonist embarking on an adventure with the lines, “Now all the fish in the sea can't stop me. All of the waves in the world can't rock me. I'm on a mission and just watch me go."Riew, a senior at Harvard studying Theater and Music, is creating the musical starring a Korean princess, inspired by the Korean folktale, “Shimcheong,” also known as “The Blind Man's Daughter,” and Disney animated films.The third-generation Korean American from St. Louis, Missouri, said her "Shimcheong" project began about a year and a half ago when her grandfather passed away due to COVID-19 and her grandmother moved in to live

Feb 9, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Harvard student transforms Shimcheong into Disney-inspired Korean princess
Foreign Affairs

Gala concert commemorates 60th anniversary of Korea-Mexico ties

From left, Navy Attache Captain Arturo Perez, Korea United Pharmaceutical CEO Kang Duk-young, Mexican Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Carmen Moreno, wife of Ambassador of Mexico to Korea Veronica Gonzalez-Laporte, Ambassador of Mexico to Korea Bruno Figueroa, Director General of Planning and G20 Jennifer Feller and Javier Davila, Director General of Technical-Scientific Cooperation pose for a photo ahead of a gala concert commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Mexico at Seoul Arts Center, Sunday. The concert, which featured an array of classical music as well as Mexican composer Arturo Marquez's "Danzon No. 2" and an orchestrated version of Korean folk song "Singosan Taryeong," was conducted by Kim Bong-mi of the United Philharmonic Orchestra. Courtesy of the Embassy of Mexico in KoreaConductor Kim Bong-mi and the United Philharmonic Orchestra performs during a gala concert commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Mexico at Seoul Arts Center, Sunday. Courtesy of the Embassy of Mexico in Korea

Feb 7, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Gala concert commemorates 60th anniversary of Korea-Mexico ties
Foreign Affairs

Photo exhibition on Pakistan highlights nature, culture

Sara Sarwar, charge d'affaires at the Embassy of Pakistan in Korea, speaks during the opening ceremony of a photo exhibition titled "A Journey through Pakistan" at Dongjak Art Gallery in Seoul, Feb. 3. Courtesy of Embassy of Pakistan in KoreaBy Kwon Mee-yooThe Embassy of Pakistan in Korea hosted a photo exhibition titled "A Journey through Pakistan" at Dongjak Art Gallery from Feb. 3 to 5, giving a peek into the beautiful natural environment and rich culture of the country. Put on display at the gallery were photos depicting Pakistan's unique landscape such as Katpana Desert, Baltoro Glacier and Hingol National Park as well as religious landmarks including Katas Raj Temples and Shah Jahan Mosque. Sara Sarwar, charge d'affaires at the Embassy of Pakistan in Korea, said the exhibit is a precursor to Pakistan Day, which falls on March 23, and which she hopes will introduce the country to the people of Korea."In 'A Journey through Pakistan,' we have tried to highlight a few key things including the ancient heritage sites of Pakistan, the beautiful and scenic landscapes, people of Pakista

Feb 7, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Photo exhibition on Pakistan highlights nature, culture
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