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Choi Won-suk

Korea Times Photo Reporter

Choi Won-suk is a photojournalist at The Korea Times. Before joining the newspaper, he also worked as a photojournalist with AFP and St. Joseph News-Press in Missouri. He spent 13 years in the United States, graduating with a Bachelor of Journalism degree (Cum Laude) from the University of Missouri - Columbia and a Master of Arts in Photography from Ohio University - Athens. Over the past 11 years, Choi covered various news events such as presidential elections, the 2019 North Korea-United States Hanoi Summit and 2022 Qatar World Cup. But above all, Choi believes in local journalism and finds a lot of joy telling life stories of ordinary citizens in small neighborhoods.

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Darkroom

Border closed

In this Nov. 16, 2018 file photo, concertina wire lines the top of a wall at the San Ysidro port of entry in San Diego. The dividing line between the United States and Mexico at the edge of the Pacific Ocean is now more than just a towering metal wall that cuts through the sandy beach. Overnight, workers stacked up rows of coiled wire, hoping to discourage the Central American migrants gathering in Tijuana from crossing illegally. It marks one of numerous spots along the U.S.-Mexico border where soldiers and contractors have been installing different versions of sharp wire barriers. AP A migrant, part of a caravan of thousands traveling from Central America en route to the United States, walks past the border fence between Mexico and the United States while on his way to a temporary shelter in Mexicali, Mexico November 18, 2018. Reuters U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers form a line along the southbound lanes of the San Ysidro port of entry Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in San Diego. Migrants approaching the U.S. border from Mexico were enveloped with tear gas Sunday after a

Nov 27, 2018By Choi Won-suk
Border closed
News

South Koreans send themselves to 'prison'

For South Koreans seeking an escape from the everyday grind, a 24-hour lock-up at a fake prison gives them "a sense of freedom." It's an unconventional means of escape, but the participants here are paying $90 a night to stay in a South Korean prison.Tucked away in the northeast corner of the country, the "Prison Inside Me" facility hosts stressed out workers and students who are willing to spend 24 hours in solitary confinement.28-YEAR-OLD PRISON STAY PARTICIPANT, PARK HYE-RI, SAYING:"Ironically, it feels this prison is giving me a sense of freedom."Here, there's a ban on any kind of communication, mobile phones, clocks, or even mirrors, and customers say the solitude allows them to get away from their busy lives.South Korea has an infamously demanding academic and work culture. According to data from the OECD, South Koreans worked over 2,000 hours in 2017, putting in the third-longest hours among OECD countries.The country's suicide rate is double that of the U.S., and one of the highest in the world.Co-founder Noh Ji-Hyang says part of the inspiration for the m

Nov 25, 2018By Choi Won-suk
South Koreans send themselves to 'prison'
News

South and North Korean soldiers encounter to reconnect a road in DMZ

South Korea's Defence Ministry on Thursday (November 22) released a video of South amd North Korean military officers meeting at the border to reconnect a road across the two countries.In the video, which was filmed in mid-November, military officers from the two Koreas were at the military demarcation line (MDL) during the road construction in the demilitarised zone (DMZ). Military officers from the two Koreas had short talks about the schedule and progress of construction, the ministry added.The two Koreas reconnected a road across the MDL inside the DMZ on Thursday in joint efforts to exhume remains of soldiers killed duringKorea War, which was part of military agreement signed in latest inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang.The 3 km-long tactical road was established in a site that the two parties have designated for the project as it was a notorious battle site of the war. (Reuters)

Nov 25, 2018By Choi Won-suk
South and North Korean soldiers encounter to reconnect a road in DMZ
News

Blow for Russia as Interpol elects new President

International police body Interpol elected Kim Jong-yang of South Korea as president on Wednesday (November 21), beating a Russian national whose candidacy had raised concerns in Europe and the United States about the risk of Kremlin interference.Interpol - the world largest international law enforcement organisation - has elected a new president. And it isn't the expected Russian candidate that was raising alarm in Europe and the U.S. over Kremlin interference, but instead a South Korean one.The surprise move came at an annual meeting in Dubai on Wednesday (November 21).Interpol's 194-member states appointed Kim Jong-yang, rejecting Russia's frontrunner Alexander Prokopchuk who had been widely tipped to win. He's currently one of four vice presidents but was facing strong opposition from Western lawmakers.They accuse Russia of already abusing Interpol to settle scores and harass dissidents. Other Kremlin critics say Prokopchuk - a former major general in Russia's interior ministry - takes orders directly from Putin.FUND MANAGER AND KREMLIN CRITIC, BILL BROWDER, SAYING:"If a Rus

Nov 22, 2018By Choi Won-suk
Blow for Russia as Interpol elects new President
News

North Korea destroys guard posts in DMZ

North Korea demolished guard posts in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on Tuesday (November 20) after the two Koreas agreed to "completely destroy" those near their heavily-fortified border last month.Footage provided by South Korea's defense ministry showed guard posts in North Korea blown up in thick smoke.It follows a military pact at a summit last month in North Korea that called for a halt to "all hostile acts," a no-fly zone near the border and the gradual removal of guard posts, firearms and landmines from the DMZ separating the two.As an initial step, the neighbors agreed to demolish 11 guard posts within 1 km (0.6 mile) of each side of the border and withdraw equipment and personnel stationed there by the end of November, the ministry said. (Reuters)North Korea detonates DMZ guard posts at southern border. (SOUTH KOREA DEFENSE MINISTRY)North Korea detonates DMZ guard posts at southern border.  (SOUTH KOREA DEFENSE MINISTRY)

Nov 22, 2018By Choi Won-suk
North Korea destroys guard posts in DMZ
News

North Korea says it has a new 'tactical' weapon

Kim Jong Un's weapons - back in the spotlight Friday (November 16). The North Korean supreme leader has reportedly been inspecting a newly developed tactical weapon.That's according to state media, though the only evidence they fed out of the hermit state was a photo and a statement on its website. It's the first mention of a new development in its weapons program in months.The North Koreans said its new addition can protect the state like a steel wall, and that its development had been a special interest of Kim Jong Un's father. Kim hadn't visited a test site since his unprecedented summit with U.S. President Trump in June.It was all hand-shakes and smiles over the summer, when North Korea agreed to work towards denuclearization. Though what exactly that meant was unclear.The U.S. State Department doubled down on their trust in the country, saying in response to the new test, that the U.S. remains confident that promises made will be fulfilled. (Reuters)

Nov 18, 2018By Choi Won-suk
North Korea says it has a new 'tactical' weapon
Darkroom

CA wildfires: Number of missing persons skyrockets

Embers blow in the wind as a Camp Fire burns a KFC restaurant on November 8, 2018 in Paradise, California. Fueled by high winds and low humidity, the rapidly spreading wildfire has ripped through the town of Paradise, charring 18,000 acres and destroying dozens of homes in a matter of hours. AFP A firefighter battles a hotspot caused by the Woosley Fire in Malibu, California, USA, 10 November 2018. EPA Fires burn near home as seen Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, from a helicopter over the Chatsworth section of Los Angeles. Flames driven by powerful winds torched dozens of hillside homes in Southern California, burning parts of tony Calabasas and mansions in Malibu and forcing tens of thousands of people — including some celebrities — to flee as the fire marched across the Santa Monica Mountains toward the sea. The cause of the blazes was not known. AP Smoke is seen over the ocean as the Woolsey Fire burns in Malibu, California, U.S. November 9, 2018. Reuters An air tanker drops flame retardant to protect homes as fires burn Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, as seen from a h

Nov 18, 2018By Choi Won-suk
CA wildfires: Number of missing persons skyrockets
News

North Korean leader watches 'Mass Games' with Cuban President

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel watched a massive performance known as the 'Mass Games' alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang, state media reported on Tuesday (November 6).North Korean state-run television KRT released a video of Kim, Diaz-Canel and their wives watching the show titled "The Glorious Country" in the May Day Stadium on Monday (November 5). North Korean dancers were seen waving Cuban and North Korean flags during the performance, which in the past has produced some of the most iconic images of the isolated country.Diaz-Canel and his delegation arrived in Pyongyang on Sunday (November 4) for meetings with North Korean counterparts to discuss ways to boost bilateral ties, according to the North's official news agency KCNA.North Korea and Cuba established diplomatic ties in 1960. They are the last in the world to maintain Soviet-style command economies, though under President Raul Castro, the Caribbean nation has taken some small steps towards the more market-oriented communism of China and Vietnam. (Reuters)

Nov 7, 2018By Choi Won-suk
North Korean leader watches 'Mass Games' with Cuban President
News

South Korean first lady inaugurates memorial to first century queen in India

South Korean First Lady, Kim Jung-sook, inaugurated a memorial of a first century queen, Heo Hwang-ok, in the northern temple town of Ayodhya on Tuesday (November 6).Ayodhya, known as the birthplace of the Hindu god Ram, holds special significance for both nations.It is believed that Indian princess Suriratna, also known as Heo Hwang-ok, travelled to Korea in 48 A.D. and married a local king Kim Suro, the legendary founder of the Karak dynasty and king of the state of Geumgwan Gaya in southeastern Korea.Kim who is on a four-day visit to India, also participated in the celebrations of Hindu festival of light Diwali and prayed for prosperity between the two nations. (Reuters)

Nov 7, 2018By Choi Won-suk
South Korean first lady inaugurates memorial to first century queen in India
News

Cuban President meets North Korea's Kim Jong Un to boost bilateral ties

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel held talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un upon his arrival to Pyongyang on Sunday (November 4) to boost bilateral ties.Diaz-Canel and his delegation, which included the Vice President of Cuba's Council of Ministers Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz and several other cabinet ministers, were met by honor guard and their North Korean counterparts on the tarmac.The Cuban leader arrived from Russia where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday (November 2).He is now travelling through Asia with China, Vietnam and Laos next on the itinerary. (Reuters)

Nov 5, 2018By Choi Won-suk
Cuban President meets North Korea's Kim Jong Un to boost bilateral ties
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