The Korea Times

INTERVIEW From sculptor to surgeon

This photo shows Shim Hyeon-jeong working on her artwork when she was a student at Seoul National University College of Fine Arts in Seoul. Courtesy of Shim Hyeon-jeongFine art graduate dreams of authoring illustrated textbooks for doctorsBy Jung Min-hoSome people are born with extraordinary talent, but struggle to find a way in life to make the most of it. Shim Hyeon-jeong always had an artistic flair, which eventually led her to Seoul National University College of Fine Arts, a prestigious school where she majored in sculpture. Becoming an artist had appeared to be her natural next choice after graduation until she decided to pursue her new dream of becoming a doctor.“It was my little brother with an intellectual disability who motivated me to open my eyes to other fields of study. Taking a psychology class made me wonder whether there could be an answer to why my brother and other people like him think and act differently. That was the first time I thought that I could do something different other than fine arts,” Shim, 37, said in a recent interview with The Korea Tim

Mar 8, 2023By Jung Min-ho

Health

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK Time for Korea to drop air travel mask mandate

gettyimagesbank By Jung Min-hoA flight attendant starts telling passengers to put on their masks after serving meals on a plane late at night. A passenger sitting next to the window without wearing one continues to sleep as if he did not hear the voice, while some people reluctantly put their masks back on to cover only their mouth while their noses remain exposed. This scene, observed on a Korean Air flight from Incheon to Sydney on Feb. 26, showed that Korea's air travel mask mandate no longer achieves the results it intended: Many don't wear their masks (unless they are told to by flight attendants) and the rule is not being strictly enforced.Korea is one of only a handful of countries that still require people to wear masks on airplanes and other public transportation amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But the effectiveness of that policy has increasingly been questioned, especially given the fact that more than 98 percent of the population are estimated to have COVID-

Mar 6, 2023By Jung Min-ho

[REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK] Time for Korea to drop air travel mask mandate

Foreign Affairs

Korea to announce 3rd-party solution to forced labor issue

Activists lay flowers in front of a statue symbolizing the victims of Japan's wartime forced labor, in Seoul, March 1, Independence Movement Day. The Korean government is expected to announce its solution to settle a dispute with Japan over the issue on Monday. YonhapJapan refuses to compensate victims, but agrees to join fund to improve relationsBy Jung Min-hoKorea will announce its solution to settle a dispute over wartime forced labor caused by Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule on Monday as part of a diplomatic deal to restore the two countries' relations after nearly five years of tensions.According to government sources and Japanese media reports, Sunday, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Nippon Steel ― the Japanese companies ordered in 2018 by the Supreme Court here to compensate South Korean victims of slave labor ― will not pay damages. Instead, they are expected to contribute to a fund set up to improve relations between the two countries.The Future Youth Fund, which is likely to be co-created by the Federation of Korean Industries, Korea's big-business lobby group, and its counte

Mar 5, 2023By Jung Min-ho

Korea to announce 3rd-party solution to forced labor issue

Defense

Korea 'perfectly placed' to help build collective defense of democracies: scholar

Yang Eun-ho, a member of the Black Eagles, Korea's flight display team, back, observes as Mark Keritz, a pilot of the Royal Australian Air Force's Roulettes aerobatic display team, checks the cockpit of Team Korea's T-50B aircraft at Avalon Airport, near Geelong, Australia, Feb. 27. Courtesy of Republic of Korea Air Force'Washington should support Seoul's effort as war shows it can no longer arm all of its allies'By Jung Min-hoGEELONG, Australia ― The world has seen how quickly Russia's war in Ukraine has been depleting U.S. weapons stockpiles, which shows Washington can no longer arm all of its allies and partners at the required speed. To help fill the shortages and build a stronger collective defense of liberal democracies around the world, Korea should expand its role, according to a defense expert, Thursday.Peter K. Lee, a research fellow at the United States Studies Centre of the University of Sydney, speaks during an interview at Avalon Airport, near Geelong, Australia, March 2. Courtesy of Korea Aerospace Industries“Korea is perfectly placed to support the defense capab

Mar 2, 2023By Jung Min-ho

Defense

KAI to focus on Egypt project after FA-50 export deal with Malaysia

Korea Aerospace Industries CEO Kang Gu-young, fourth from left, smiles as he speaks to members of the Black Eagles, the flight display team of the Korean Air Force, at the exhibition hall of the Avalon Airshow at Avalon Airport, near Geelong, Australia, Wednesday. Courtesy of Republic Of Korea Air Force'Geopolitical climate reshapes global arms procurement market in favor of Korea'By Jung Min-hoGEELONG, Australia ― A recent deal to export 18 FA-50 domestically-developed light attack fighters to Malaysia has paved the way for Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to create other stories of success as it aims to continue to expand its global reach.The next goal of the nation's sole jet maker this year is to win the preferred bidder status for Egypt's project to locally produce jet trainers and lightweight fighters in collaboration with a foreign company, KAI CEO Kang Gu-young told reporters at its promotion booth set up for the Avalon Airshow here Wednesday.KAI will be the company's first foray into Africa's military aircraft market if it inks a contract to export more than 100 T-50 Golden

Mar 1, 2023By Jung Min-ho

KAI to focus on Egypt project after FA-50 export deal with Malaysia

Defense

Korea's Black Eagles open Australian airshow as two countries bolster security ties

Korea's Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Jung Sang-hwa, right, speaks to his Australian counterpart, Robert Chipman, left, during the opening event of the Australian International Airshow, also called the Avalon Airshow, at Avalon Airport, near Geelong, Australia, Tuesday. Courtesy of Air ForceAir Force chiefs vow to bolster relations at event that excluded China and RussiaBy Jung Min-hoGEELONG, Australia ― Korea's Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Jung Sang-hwa was standing right next to his Australian counterpart, Robert Chipman, when the Black Eagles, the aerobatic flight team of Korea, roared through the skies here Tuesday (local time) to open the Avalon Airshow.Throughout their 20-minute performance, the two had a conversation about the meaning of the team's first participation in the biennial event, which was introduced in 1988, and what their countries can and should do for “peace and freedom” in the Indo-Pacific region.Speaking to The Korea Times, Jung acknowledged Australia's support during the 1950-53 Korean War and said he was moved by the T-50B aircraft ― Korea's fir

Feb 28, 2023By Jung Min-ho

Korea's Black Eagles open Australian airshow as two countries bolster security ties

Defense

KAI to export 18 FA-50 fighter jets to Malaysia

KAI CEO Kang Gu-young, right, and Datuk Muez bin Abd Aziz, secretary general of Malaysia's defense ministry, sign the FA-50 aircraft deal in the ministry office in Malaysia, Friday. Courtesy of KAIBy Jung Min-hoKorea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the nation's sole aircraft maker, has won a 1.2 trillion won ($920 million) deal to export 18 FA-50 light attack aircraft to Malaysia, the company announced Friday.KAI signed the contract with Malaysia's defense ministry after beating rival bidders, including India's Tejas, Pakistan's JF-17, Russia's MIG-35 and Turkey's Hurizet. The achievement is the company's latest expansion into the Southeast Asian market after Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.At the request of Malaysia, KAI will modify the model by adding an aerial refueling system and expanding its weapons capacity, a KAI official told The Korea Times. The goal is to start delivering them in 2026.Malaysia is considering procuring an additional 18 FA-50 aircraft, the company noted.KAI attributed the success to the superior quality of its aircraft and the follow-up support, which ha

Feb 24, 2023By Jung Min-ho

KAI to export 18 FA-50 fighter jets to Malaysia

Defense

Seoul, Washington step up deterrence against North Korea

South Korean delegates pose with U.S. officials inside the USS West Virginia, a U.S. Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, during their visit to the nuclear submarine training facilities at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia. Courtesy of South Korea's Ministry of DefenseUS considers deploying nuclear-powered aircraft carrier for drills in South Korea next monthBy Jung Min-hoSouth Korea and the United States have conducted a tabletop exercise on responding to possible North Korean nuclear attacks and reaffirmed pledges to do so every year as part of their joint efforts to reinforce deterrence capabilities, the allies said in a statement, Friday (KST). In addition, Washington is also considering sending a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, among other strategic assets, to South Korea for Freedom Shield, a large-scale combined exercise planned for next month, military sources said.“Both sides affirmed that the alliance stands ready to respond to the DPRK's (North Korea) nuclear threats,” the South Korean and U.S. delegations said in the statement after the drill,

Feb 24, 2023By Jung Min-ho

Seoul, Washington step up deterrence against North Korea

North Korea's threats bring South Korea, Japan closer despite old grudges

Defense

North Korea's threats bring South Korea, Japan closer despite old grudges

This photo shows a South Korean KDX-111 destroyer (front), a U.S. Arleigh Burke-class destroyer (center) and a Japanese Atago-class destroyer during joint maritime missile defense drills in the waters off South Korea's eastern coast, Wednesday. North Korea's evolving threats have brought South Korea and Japan closer despite their historical grievances. Courtesy of Defense MinistrySeoul-Washington-Tokyo security cooperation expands amid new Cold War climateBy Jung Min-hoAfter North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile off its eastern coast on Feb. 18, cameras installed in Japan captured the images of the projectile's last seconds before it fell into the sea. Based on those pictures, released by Japan's Ministry of Defense and NHK, analysts in South Korea made their assessments of how successful the test was.This demonstrated what Tokyo can do to help Seoul understand the risks posed by the regime ― and what it could do more of if the two had better relations. Although the two nations share many common interests, such as countering the North's aggressions, a mix of hi

Feb 24, 2023By Jung Min-ho

North Korea's threats bring South Korea, Japan closer despite old grudges

Politics

Beleaguered opposition leader accuses Yoon of abusing power

Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday. NewsisLee Jae-myung insists innocence as lawmakers set to vote on arrest warrantBy Jung Min-hoThe embattled opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, again denied all the corruption allegations facing him, Thursday, accusing President Yoon Suk Yeol of abusing his power to remove his political opponents, ahead of lawmakers' upcoming vote on his arrest warrant. A day after describing the president as a “gangster,” Rep. Lee of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) claimed he had become a victim of the prosecution's “legal hunting” only because he lost in the presidential election.“It is a crime to abuse the power given to gain personal benefits, remove political opponents or consolidate power further,” Lee said during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul. “The Yoon administration and the ruling party appear to have no interest in the lives of the ordinary people, economy or security bu

Feb 23, 2023By Jung Min-ho

Jung Min-ho

Read more

INTERVIEW From sculptor to surgeon

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK Time for Korea to drop air travel mask mandate

Korea to announce 3rd-party solution to forced labor issue

Korea 'perfectly placed' to help build collective defense of democracies: scholar

KAI to focus on Egypt project after FA-50 export deal with Malaysia

Korea's Black Eagles open Australian airshow as two countries bolster security ties

KAI to export 18 FA-50 fighter jets to Malaysia

Seoul, Washington step up deterrence against North Korea

North Korea's threats bring South Korea, Japan closer despite old grudges

Beleaguered opposition leader accuses Yoon of abusing power

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