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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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Foreign Affairs

Kim Hae-yong appointed 5th secretary general of ASEAN-Korea Centre

By Kwon Mee-yooKim Hae-yong, secretary general of ASEAN-Korea CentreKim Hae-yong, former Korean ambassador to New Zealand, was appointed as the fifth secretary general of the ASEAN-Korea Centre on April 16.The new secretary general said he "is both honored and humbled to represent the ASEAN-Korea Centre at this critical time, as the two regions are joining efforts to overcome the COVID-19 crisis and together preparing for a powerful post-pandemic transition and cooperation.”"The ASEAN-Korea Centre will spare no effort in strengthening the ASEAN-Korea partnership for a more sustainable, thriving and mutually beneficial future together," Kim said upon taking office. Kim studied linguistics at the undergraduate level, and public administration in graduate school at Seoul National University. He earned a second master's degree in East Asian studies from Indiana University. Kim joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1983, where he has worked in various posts, including serving as Korean ambassador to New Zealand and Myanmar, as well as director-general for FTA negotiations, and m

Apr 19, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Kim Hae-yong appointed 5th secretary general of ASEAN-Korea Centre
North Korea

International human rights groups urge Biden to highlight rights issue in North Korea policy

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden / Korea Times fileBy Kwon Mee-yooAlmost a dozen international human rights organizations sent a joint letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, urging him to prioritize human rights in his North Korea policy and negotiations. According to the letter released Thursday, 11 non-governmental organizations and coalitions asked the Biden administration to incorporate human rights issues into strategy discussions and future negotiations with North Korea and urged the South Korean government to do the same.“We recognize the significance of North Korea's threats to global security, and we understand why policymaking by the U.S and its allies focuses on counter-proliferation issues. But decades of failure to hold the North Korean government accountable for its human rights abuses have only served to entrench totalitarian rule, and this has made the work of weapons counter-proliferation even harder," the letter reads.“Negotiations with North Korea need to address improvements on human rights issues and bring the country i

Apr 18, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
International human rights groups urge Biden to highlight rights issue in North Korea policy
Foreign Affairs

Rwanda commemorates 27th anniversary of 1994 Genocide against Tutsi

Yasmin Amri Sued, ambassador of Rwanda to Korea, takes part in an online event to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Courtesy of Embassy of Rwanda to KoreaBy Kwon Mee-yooOn the occasion of the 27th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, the African country's embassy in Korea held an online event on April 7 to honor the memories of the victims and spread awareness about the incident.April 7 is designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda to remember the last genocide of the 20th century against the Tutsi minority by the Hutu extremist-led government. Within some 100 days, more than 1 million Tutsis were murdered.Over 40 ambassadors here took part in the lighting of candles and observed a moment of silence in honor of the victims, led by Ambassador Carlos Victor Boungou of Gabon, the dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Korea, during the opening of the online event.A documentary film about the history of the Rwanda genocide was streamed online, followed by

Apr 15, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Rwanda commemorates 27th anniversary of 1994 Genocide against Tutsi
Trends

Park Ark interprets Korean seasonal customs with contemporary dance

Park Ark, left, poses for a photo after being named the top content creator for Korean seasonal customs by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation (KCDF), April 9. Courtesy of KCDFBy Kwon Mee-yooPark Ark's video series depicting Korean traditional seasonal customs in contemporary dance won the best creator award from the Korea Craft & Design Foundation (KCDF).The KCDF and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism selected and supported 12 creators to produce videos related to seasonal customs and the 24 seasonal divisions, and Park's creation won the top accolade, April 9. Park's videos “Winter,” “Summer” and “Spring” were recognized for interpreting Korean seasonal divisions through contemporary dance, corresponding to the contest's aim of modernizing the ideas of seasonal customs.Park is an artist who works with video and virtual reality (VR) and is currently enrolled in the graduate program of the School of Film, TV & Multimedia at Korea National University of Arts (K-ARTS).“Though this project ran for about six months, I had bee

Apr 14, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Park Ark interprets Korean seasonal customs with contemporary dance
Foreign Affairs

Korea's effort in Afghan reconstruction recognized

Meerwais Nab, deputy foreign minister for political affairs of Afghanistan / Courtesy of Embassy of Afghanistan in KoreaAfghan vice foreign minister hopes to expand tiesBy Kwon Mee-yooAs the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan pursues a path toward peace and stability after a long conflict with the Taliban, Korea played an important role in the country's reconstruction. Now, the two countries seek further cooperation in trade and commercial ties, according to the country's ranking official.Meerwais Nab, deputy foreign minister for political affairs of Afghanistan, visited Korea from April 6 to 9 for the first-ever political consultation between the two countries. "We had a constructive and productive discussion with Lee (Kyung-chul, Korea's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan), and meantime exchanged conversation with second vice foreign minister Choi Jong-moon. I expressed gratitude on the meaningful contribution of the Republic of Korea to the reconstruction process of Afghanistan in the last 20 years, specifically on the social development and capacity-building," Nab s

Apr 12, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Korea's effort in Afghan reconstruction recognized
Foreign Affairs

'Xico Rainbow' donated to Multiculture Museum

Mexican Ambassador to Korea Bruno Figueroa, right, holds an agreement certificate with Kim Yoon-tae, director of the Multiculture Museum, in front of “Xico Rainbow” at the museum in northwestern Seoul, April 7, after the embassy donated the sculpture by Sin I-fie to the museum's Mexican Gallery. "Xico Rainbow" is a collaboration between Mexican designer Cristina Pineda's character Xico, inspired by the Mexican dog breed Xoloizcuintle, and the Korean artist who interpreted and painted a Korean traditional "dancheong" pattern on the sculpture. Courtesy of Embassy of Mexico in Korea

Apr 12, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
'Xico Rainbow' donated to Multiculture Museum
North Korea

North Korea likely to stay more reclusive in face of UN sanctions

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un delivers a closing address at a three-day conference of cell secretaries of the North's ruling Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang, Thursday, in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency, Friday. YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yooNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has announced his impoverished state will embark on an “Arduous March” as he strives to navigate prolonged economic difficulties amid global sanctions. This was the first time for Kim to use the term, “Arduous March,” which his father and former leader Kim Jong-un referred to during periods of hardship from 1994 to 1998 to overcome economic crises and serious famines. As a result, Pyongyang watchers predict the North will resort to further belt-tightening rather than seeking negotiations with the U.S. or the international community for sanctions relief.According to the North's Korean Central News Agency, Friday, Kim announced the decision at the closing of the cell secretaries' conference of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) the previous day.“I made up my min

Apr 9, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
North Korea likely to stay more reclusive in face of UN sanctions
Foreign Affairs

Portuguese ambassador lauds importance of cultural exchange

Manuel Goncalves de Jesus, Portuguese ambassador to Korea, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the embassy in Seoul, April 6. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk By Kwon Mee-yoo Korea-Portugal celebrates the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2021. Courtesy of Embassy of Portugal in Korea Korea and Portugal established their diplomatic ties on April 15, 1961. Sixty years later, the friendship between the European country and Korea is flourishing despite the COVID-19 pandemic.Portuguese ambassador to Korea, Manuel Goncalves de Jesus, shared the long history between the two countries. Though the history of modern diplomacy between the two countries has run for 60 years, the beginning of the relationship goes back to the 16th century.“We are what we are now as a result of what we had been in the past, so understanding the history b

Apr 9, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Portuguese ambassador lauds importance of cultural exchange
Foreign Affairs

Envoys connect through social media challenges during pandemic

New Zealand Ambassador to Korea Philip Turner holds a porcelain cup instead of a disposable one as part of the #GoGoChallenge in this video posted on the embassy's social media on March 23. Captured from FacebookBy Kwon Mee-yooThe COVID-19 pandemic has changed lifestyle in many ways, and the lives of ambassadors in Korea are no exception. Their calendars used to be jam-packed with events as they communicated with other diplomats as well as public and private figures of the country. But the pandemic and social distancing rules have forced the canceling of events or limiting the number of guests, making networking difficult.Instead of clinking glasses at events, foreign diplomats in Korea are finding new ways to communicate though social media and share a positive influence.New Zealand Ambassador to Seoul Philip Turner posted a video of himself ordering a coffee served in a porcelain cup ― instead of a disposable one ― at a coffee shop, on the embassy's social media on March 23, participating in the #GoGoChallenge.#GoGoChallenge is a social media campaign initiated by Korea's Ministry

Apr 5, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Envoys connect through social media challenges during pandemic
Society

Plastic Mill recycles neglected small plastic waste

Transparent plastic bottles must be separated from other plastic waste for better recycling. / gettyimagesbankBy Kwon Mee-yooKorea is known for its high recycling rate, as most people in the country are familiar with basic waste-sorting practices separating general and recyclable waste. According to 2018 statistics compiled by the Ministry of Environment, Korea's recycling rate is about 86 percent, which is one of the highest in the world.However, experts say those numbers are illusory, because the ministry only counts the amount of recyclable waste collected. “After being collected, recyclable waste is sorted at a recycling plant or a materials recovery facility before actually being recycled. A sizable portion of the collected recyclable waste is classified as general waste at the facility as it falls short of the standard for recycling. The government's statistics can't tell how much of the recyclable materials are actually reused,” Hong Su-yeol of Resource Recycle Consulting said.“Koreans have been deluded into thinking that they are good at recycling as they so

Apr 3, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Plastic Mill recycles neglected small plastic waste
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