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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

Moon, Biden may meet ahead of June G7 summit

President Moon Jae-in, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden / YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yooPresident Moon Jae-in may hold a summit with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden ahead of the G7 summit in June. Officials of Korea and the U.S. have been discussing the summit issue, Yonhap News Agency reported on Friday, citing multiple government sources. Moon and Biden were speculated to meet face-to-face for the first time at the G7 summit scheduled for June 11-13 in the United Kingdom, but the discussion is showing the possibility of an earlier bilateral summit, as early as later this month.If agreed, Moon is likely to travel to the U.S. to meet Biden.Moon held phone talks with Biden on Feb. 4 after the latter's inauguration in late January, discussing the peace process on the Korean Peninsula and other issues. The two leaders agreed to have an in-person meeting after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. Suh Hoon, Moon's top security adviser, is currently visiting Washington, D.C., for talks with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts. It is said Suh would discuss the possible South Korea-U.S. summit with his U.

Apr 2, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Moon, Biden may meet ahead of June G7 summit
  • Japan's PM Suga to meet Biden in US on April 16
Politics

Younger generations turning away from liberal ruling party

Park Young-sun, left, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's Seoul mayoral by-election candidate, casts a ballot at an early voting station in Jongno District Office, central Seoul, Friday, while Oh Se-hoon, candidate of the main opposition People Power Party, waves during a campaign at Sangam-dong in western Seoul, Friday. Young voters are turning toward Oh of the conservative party, reflecting frustrations with the current liberal Moon Jae-in administration. Joint press corpsBy Kwon Mee-yooIt is commonly perceived that younger people are more liberal than older generations and tend to vote for the more liberal parties or candidates. Looking at the Seoul mayoral by-election slated for April 7, however, the usual tendency doesn't seem to be applied, as polls have shown that people in their 20s and 30s are more supportive of Oh Se-hoon of the main opposition conservative People Power Party (PPP) than Park Young-sun of the ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).With the election day drawing closer, the release of new opinion polls has been officially banned since Friday, b

Apr 2, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Younger generations turning away from liberal ruling party
Foreign Affairs

Swedish embassy celebrates 75th anniversary of Pippi Longstocking

Namyangju Mayor Cho Kwang-han, left, picture book artist Baek Hee-na, second from left, and Swedish ambassador to Korea Jakob Hallgren, right, participate in the SwedenTalk program during the opening ceremony of the “Congrats, Pippi! & Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA)” exhibition at the Jeong Yak-yong Library in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, March 26. Courtesy of Namyangju CityBy Kwon Mee-yooThis year marks the 75th anniversary of Astrid Lindgren's red-haired character Pippi Longstocking. To celebrate the occasion, an exhibition titled “Congrats, Pippi! & Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award” (ALMA) is being held at the Jeong Yak-yong Library in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.The exhibit, co-organized by the Embassy of Sweden in Korea and Namyangju City through Sept. 30, brings the story behind the creation of Pippi Longstocking and Lindgren's message in her stories.Lindgren (1907-2002) is one of the most beloved Swedish authors, known for her children's novels "Emil of Lonneberga" and "Karlsson-on-the-Roof" as well as the most famous "Pippi Longstocking.

Apr 2, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Swedish embassy celebrates 75th anniversary of Pippi Longstocking
Foreign Affairs

Indonesian embassy presents online fashion show for sustainability

Online fashion show “An Exotic Journey to Nusantara” presented by the Embassy of Indonesia in Seoul / Captured from Embassy of Indonesia in Seoul websiteBy Kwon Mee-yooThe Embassy of Indonesia in Seoul presented an online fashion show titled “An Exotic Journey to Nusantara” on March 27 to commemorate the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development in 2021.Nusantara is an Indonesian word for the Indonesian archipelago and the show highlighted fashion as the country's potential creative sector as well as its diversity.Umar Hadi, ambassador of Indonesia to Seoul, emphasized the importance of culture and the creative economy. “This event is very special for us at the embassy. It is our fashion project. We want to promote collaboration between Indonesia and South Korea in the field of creative economy. And we want to promote closer cultural ties between the two countries,” Hadi said. “South Korea is a global superpower when it comes to exporting its creative economy and monetizing its culture products. The Korean wave has co

Mar 31, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Indonesian embassy presents online fashion show for sustainability
Foreign Affairs

Panama wins Best Ambassador Award

Athanasio Kosmas Sifaki, right, ambassador and general consul of the Republic of Panama to Korea, receives the Best Ambassador Award 2021 for promoting mutual understanding between the two countries, from Kim Jong-woon, chairperson of the Korea Culture Ambassador Friendship Association, at the award ceremony held in the National Press Club in central Seoul, March 24. Courtesy of Embassy of Panama in Korea

Mar 31, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Panama wins Best Ambassador Award
Foreign Affairs

Uzbek senator emphasizes efforts to promote women's rights in central Asia

Tanzila Narbaeva, chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan / Courtesy of Embassy of Republic of Uzbekistan in KoreaBy Kwon Mee-yooUzbekistan has shared how Central Asian countries made progress in improving women's rights on the principles of inclusiveness, during a United Nations' annual gathering on gender equality and women's empowerment.The 65th session of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) was held from March 15 to 26. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, representatives from member states, U.N.-affiliated organizations and non-governmental organizations took part the meetings either in-person or virtually under the theme of “Women's full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.”This year, Uzbekistan chaired the Dialogue of Women Leaders of Central Asian Countries. Tanzila Narbaeva, chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, issued a video message for the session.Narbaeva spoke of “how t

Mar 30, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Uzbek senator emphasizes efforts to promote women's rights in central Asia
Politics

Lawmakers to sing 'March for the Beloved' to support Myanmar protest

Rep. Lee Yong-bin, right, and Rep. Song Young-gil, left, both of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, pose for photos with Myanmarese students at a special photo exhibition supporting pro-democracy protests in Myanmar at Seo District Office in Gwangju, March 16. Courtesy of Rep. Lee Yong-binBy Kwon Mee-yooKorean lawmakers will sing “March for the Beloved,” a song representing the May 18 Gwangju pro-democracy movement, in support of anti-coup protests in Myanmar.Rep. Lee Yong-bin of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) suggested, Sunday, that legislators here sing the song in relay to show their support for pro-democracy protests in Myanmar and condemn the military junta's brutal crackdown on protesters. “March of the Beloved” was composed in 1981 by then student activist Kim Jong-ryul and the lyrics were from a poem by activist Baek Gi-wan to commemorate the sacrifices of citizens who were killed during the 1980 Gwangju democratic uprising. The song has since been recognized as a tribute to the spirit of democracy and freedom sought by Gwangju citizens.

Mar 29, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Lawmakers to sing 'March for the Beloved' to support Myanmar protest
Politics

Seoul mayoral by-election campaigns going negative

Park Young-sun, Seoul mayoral candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, visits a clothing shop at the Express Bus Terminal Underground Shopping Mall in southern Seoul during her election campaign, Sunday. Joint press corpsBy Kwon Mee-yooWith 10 days left ahead of the Seoul mayoral by-election, the campaigns of two leading candidates ― Park Young-sun of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and Oh Se-hoon of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) ― are focusing on mudslinging rather than promotion of their respective policies. The smear campaign tactics are more actively used by Park's side, as recent polls show Oh is outstripping her. Rep. Yun Ho-jung of the DPK, who went on the stump for Park, referred to Oh as “trash that lies” during a campaign speech at a traditional market in Jungnang District, Saturday.“Let's separate the truth from the garbage on April 7; whether or not the candidate who approved a redevelopment plan and lied about it is garbage. He's garbage,” Yun said. Oh's in-laws reportedly owned land in Naegok-dong in southern S

Mar 28, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Seoul mayoral by-election campaigns going negative
Foreign Affairs

Shvydkoy hopes to bring contemporary Russian culture to Korea

Mikhail Shvydkoy, special representative for the Presidential Council for International Cultural Cooperation in Russia, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times ahead of the opening ceremony for the 2020-2021 Korea-Russia Year of Cultural Exchanges at Westin Josun Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Seoul Cyber UniversityBy Kwon Mee-yooRussian cultural expert Mikhail Shvydkoy emphasized the importance of exchanging contemporary culture as Korea and Russia celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties through cultural exchanges this year.Shvydkoy, special representative for the Presidential Council for International Cultural Cooperation in Russia, visited Korea to attend the opening ceremony of the 2020-2021 Korea-Russia Year of Cultural Exchanges in Seoul. He is a high-profile and influential figure in Russia's cultural circles. Shvydkoy studied theater at the Russian University of Theatre Arts and worked at Theatre magazine and founded the Kultura television channel. Shvydkoy served as the Minister of Culture from 2000 to 2004.In 2017, Shvydkoy visited Korea to attend an intern

Mar 25, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Shvydkoy hopes to bring contemporary Russian culture to Korea
  • Russian foreign minister calls for efforts to keep peace after North Korea's missile launches
Arts & Theater

Art meets science: VR, drones take over MMCA in 'Multiverse' performing arts program

Seo Hyun-suk's VR performance "X (Indifferent Spectacle)" at MMCA Seoul / Courtesy of Seo Hyun-suk By Kwon Mee-yooVirtual reality (VR) bridges the physical and digital world in many different fields, and it has entered art museums to push the boundaries of contemporary art. Wearing a VR headset and lying down on a bed leads the user to explore the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul (MMCA) in a completely different way, in Seo Hyun-suk's new artwork "X (Indifferent Spectacle)."Seo scanned the venue, Gallery 5 of MMCA Seoul, in 3D, using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology, and made the VR version in the gallery's actual size. In the participatory performance, users can take a stroll around the gallery space reproduced in the virtual world, stepping into some unlikely sensations as they explore a familiar museum in an unfamiliar way. The "X" in the title comes from philosopher Immanuel Kant's concept of the transcendental object, as users

Mar 20, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Art meets science: VR, drones take over MMCA in 'Multiverse' performing arts program
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