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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

Roh Tae-woo's mixed presidential legacy

Then-President Roh Tae-woo, accompanied by first lady Kim Ok-sook, attends the opening ceremony for the 1988 Seoul Olympic Summer Games held for the first time in South Korea, in this file photo. YonhapHe was co-leader of military coup, but first directly elected presidentBy Kwon Mee-yooRoh Tae-woo, Korea's first democratically elected president, passed away at the age of 88, Tuesday, leaving a mixed legacy regarding his role in Korea's path to democracy. The general-turned-president was the first to be elected through a direct election in 1987 after military dictatorship, but also helped stage a military coup and was responsible for the suppression of the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Movement. Born in the southeastern city of Daegu on Dec. 4, 1932, Roh later served in the Korean Army after graduating from the Korean Military Academy where he met Chun Doo-hwan whom he helped to overthrow the government in the Dec. 12, 1979, military coup.Roh is also accused of brutally cracking down on pro-democracy protesters during the 1980 uprising under the Chun administration.After retiring as a

Oct 26, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Roh Tae-woo's mixed presidential legacy
  • Former President Roh Tae-woo dies
  • PHOTOS Key moments of ex-President Roh Tae-woo
  • Moon's office faces dilemma over state funeral for former President Roh
  • Korea to hold state funeral for late ex-President Roh
Foreign Affairs

Ambassadors share Korean War tales for UN Culture Week

Guests take part in a "Thanks to You" performance during the opening ceremony of the first U.N. Culture Week at the War Memorial of Korea in central Seoul, Oct. 19. YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yooAmbassadors to Korea from Poland, Colombia and Mexico have shared their respective countries' stories related to the 1950-53 Korean War as part of the first U.N. Culture Week at the War Memorial of Korea. The War Memorial hosted an event for U.N. Day, which fell on Oct. 24, at the culmination of U.N. Culture Week that ran from Oct. 19 to 23, commemorating the 71st anniversary of the start of the war and the 30th anniversary of Korea's U.N. membership."The U.N. supported the establishment of the government of the Republic of Korea, and the United Nations Command's dispatch to the Korean War signifies the world's first and only case of collective security under the U.N. system,” War Memorial of Korea Director Lee Sang-chul said during an opening ceremony for the event, Oct. 19.“We hope to express gratitude and create peace beyond the memories of war through the U.N. Culture Week.”On We

Oct 25, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Ambassadors share Korean War tales for UN Culture Week
North Korea

Nuri rocket launch could prompt North Korea to test ICBM

South Korea's first locally-developed space launch vehicle, known as Nuri, lifts off from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, Thursday, YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yooSouth Korea's launch of its first-ever, locally developed space launch vehicle, Thursday, was a partial success. While South Korea vows to succeed in a second launch scheduled for next May, there are increasing concerns that the move might prompt North Korea to develop and test-fire more advanced inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), while claiming it was pursuing a “balance of power on the Korean Peninsula.”Space launch vehicles and intercontinental ballistic missiles share most of the same technology, but the difference is whether they are carrying a satellite or a warhead.While developing ICBMs which could reach the continental U.S., North Korea test-fired missiles in the past under the pretext of attempting to place satellites in orbit, including its Kwangmyongsong-3, and Kwangmyongsong-4 rockets. But the international community did not accept the claim and North Korea was banned from

Oct 22, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Nuri rocket launch could prompt North Korea to test ICBM
Foreign Affairs

Korea-Africa Foundation president visits Ghana, promotes forum

Lyeo Woon-ki, right, president of the Korea-Africa Foundation, poses with Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchway during his visit to Ghana earlier this month. Courtesy of the Korea-Africa FoundationBy Kwon Mee-yooLyeo Woon-ki, president of the Korea-Africa Foundation (KAF), visited Ghana to strengthen cooperation between Korea and Africa earlier this month. Lyeo picked Ghana ― where he had served as Korea's ambassador from 2014 to 2018 ― as his first destination after taking the post at the foundation in March.During his six-day trip from Oct. 6 to 11, Lyeo met political, economic and academic figures of Ghana, promoting the role of the KAF as well as the upcoming Korea-Africa Forum (KOAF), slated for December. The KOAF is a ministerial-level conference launched in 2006 to boost partnerships between Korea and African countries. Alongside the KOAF, the KAF also holds the Korea-Africa Business Forum, the Seoul Dialogue on Africa and the Korea-Africa Youth Forum.Lyeo met Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, and the minister showed high expectati

Oct 22, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Korea-Africa Foundation president visits Ghana, promotes forum
Foreign Affairs

Beach cleanup in Incheon

A delegation of the European Union to Korea and embassies of EU member states take part in a beach cleanup campaign on Eurwangni Beach in Incheon, Oct. 18. They collected hundreds of kilograms of waste as part of an initiative to raise public awareness of plastic waste in the ocean and to protect marine biodiversity. Courtesy of the Delegation of the European Union to Seoul

Oct 21, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Beach cleanup in Incheon
Foreign Affairs

Korea, Japan to remain apart on historical issues

President Moon Jae-in has a phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at Cheong Wa Dae, Friday, in the left photo. Kishida, right, briefs his phone call with Moon to Japanese media, Friday. YonhapJapanese PM Kishida sends offering to war-linked Yasukuni ShrineBy Kwon Mee-yooPresident Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida have reaffirmed that the two nations are far from narrowing the differences in their views on historical issues such as Japan's wartime forced labor and sex slavery.The leaders had their first phone call Friday, which was made 11 days after Kishida took office. During the 30-minute call, the two agreed to develop bilateral ties in a future-oriented manner, according to Cheong Wa Dae and Japanese media report.They also discussed other issues such as concerns over North Korea, denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and COVID-19 response.Although the two U.S. allies share similar security concerns over North Korea and China, their talks again showed disagreement over lingering colonial and wartime issues, signaling these are likely to remai

Oct 17, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Korea, Japan to remain apart on historical issues
  • Korea voices 'deep regrets' over Kishida's ritual offering to war shrine
Foreign Affairs

'Gout de France' brings sustainable gastronomy to Korea

French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Lefort holds a plate of Tarte Tatin with cream at a breakfast meeting introducing the sixth edition of Gout de France at his residency in central Seoul, Oct. 14. Korea Times photo by Kwon Mee-yooBy Kwon Mee-yooThe sixth edition of Gout de France, also known as Good France, an international initiative promoting French cuisine, kicked off Oct. 14, centering on the culinary heritage and specialty of the Centre-Loire Valley region. A handful of French restaurants in Korea will offer a special menu using ingredients and recipes from Centre-Loire Valley, also known as Centre-Val de Loire in French, and online events will also be held to complement the festival amid the pandemic.French gastronomy was included in the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010, becoming the first food culture to be recognized by the UN agency.The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and chef Alain Ducasse launched Gout de France in 2015 to promote the country's culinary heritage as well as travel destinations for foodies around the world.Since

Oct 17, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
'Gout de France' brings sustainable gastronomy to Korea
Foreign Affairs

Monument for German participation in Korean War

Ambassador of Germany to Korea Michael Reiffenstuel, left, and the War Memorial of Korea Director Lee Sang-chul, center, stand before a monument recognizing Germany's contribution during the post-Korean War period during an unveiling ceremony at the museum in Yongsan District, Seoul, Friday. In June 2018, Germany was recognized as a participating nation in the Korean War for its decision in 1953 ― while the war still raged ― to send medical staff to support U.N. forces in South Korea with a field hospital that was set up in 1954 after the ceasefire agreement had been reached. Yonhap

Oct 17, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Monument for German participation in Korean War
Foreign Affairs

Italy steps up fight against climate change for future generations

Italian Ambassador to Korea Federico Failla explains the photos of Monte Bianco at the "Italian Routes. Mountains, Mountaineering, Climate Change" photo exhibition at High Street Italia in southern Seoul, Oct. 6. Korea Times photo by Kwon Mee-yooItalian ambassador discusses impacts of climate changeBy Kwon Mee-yooClimate change is an important issue in Italy, just like everywhere else, and the Italian Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute in Seoul are presenting a photo exhibition to raise awareness of the effects of climate change on Italy's mountain landscape and culture. Titled "Italian Routes. Mountains, Mountaineering, Climate Change," the exhibition, curated by Italian photographer Fabiano Ventura, captures the scenery of Italy's mountain ranges, comparing current photos with historical images to show the extent to which glaciers have melted away."The exhibition here is visual proof of what has happened to our mountains, especially in the Alps," Federico Failla, ambassador of Italy to Korea, said during an interview with The Korea Times at High Street Italia in southern Se

Oct 15, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Italy steps up fight against climate change for future generations
Foreign Affairs

Hangeul signboard for Nicaraguan embassy

Ambassador of Nicaragua to Korea Rodrigo Coronel Kinloch, right, holds a sign of the embassy in Hangeul (Korean alphabet) with Multiculture Museum Director Kim Yun-tae at the embassy in Seoul, Oct. 5. The embassy said that it hopes to enrich its bond of friendship with Korea by having a sign with the name of Nicaragua in Hangeul alongside its name in Roman letters. Courtesy of the Embassy of Nicaragua in Korea

Oct 14, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Hangeul signboard for Nicaraguan embassy
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