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Kwak Yeon-soo

Korea Times Digital Content Reporter

Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.

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Politics

Kim Hong-up, ex-lawmaker and son of former President Kim Dae-jung, dies at 75

Kim Hong-up, an ex-lawmaker and the second son of former president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Kim Dae-jung, died on Wednesday. He was 75. The exact cause of his death has not yet been confirmed, but Kim reportedly suffered from complications related to kidney disease. Kim served as a key aide to his late father during the elder Kim's turbulent years in the main opposition party under military dictatorship. In 1976, Kim Dae-jung was imprisoned for supporting the Declaration for Democratization, a statement calling for an end to authoritarian rule. Kim Hong-up and his mother, Lee Hee-ho, led a campaign to save the former president’s life. He was arrested again in 1980 and sentenced to death, which was commuted in 1982, when he was exiled to the United States. Kim Hong-up accompanied him during his time in the U.S. and served as director of the Korea Democratic Human Rights Research Center, working to raise international awareness of the human rights situation in South Korea. In 1997, he helped his father to win the presidential election. Kim Dae-jung served as the president of Korea fr

Sep 24, 2025By Kwak Yeon-soo
Kim Hong-up, ex-lawmaker and son of former President Kim Dae-jung, dies at 75
Photo News

PHOTOS 30th Busan International Film Festival

From left, actors Lee Byung-hun, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, Park Hee-soon, Son Ye-jin and director Park Chan-wook pose on the red carpet at the 30th Busan International Film Festival at Busan Cinema Center in Busan, Wednesday. Yonhap

Sep 18, 2025By Kwak Yeon-soo
[PHOTOS] 30th Busan International Film Festival
K-pop

HYBE chairman Bang appears before police for questioning

Bang Si-hyuk, chairman and founder of K-pop powerhouse HYBE, appeared before police on Monday for questioning on allegations of unfair trading linked to the company’s initial public offering (IPO). During his appearance for questioning, Bang apologized for "causing concern" due to his personal matters. "I will fully cooperate with the investigation," he said. Bang and several former HYBE executives are under investigation for violating the Capital Markets Act. Police suspect that during HYBE’s IPO process, they misled existing shareholders into believing there were no plans for a listing, inducing them to sell their shares to a private equity fund’s special purpose company. HYBE later pursued the IPO, and police allege that Bang illicitly gained roughly 190 billion won ($140 million) through the private equity fund’s share sale. Police began investigating the case late last year, searched the Korea Exchange in June to seize documents related to HYBE’s listing and raided HYBE’s headquarters in July. Separately, the Financial Supervisory Service’s special judicial police are a

Sep 15, 2025By Kwak Yeon-soo
HYBE chairman Bang appears before police for questioning
Photo News

PHOTOS Lee, Trump exchange symbolic gifts at White House

A handcrafted metal turtle ship model which President Lee Jae Myung offered to U.S. President Donald Trump as a gift in Washington, D.C., Monday. The ship, modeled after the battle ship of Admiral Yi Sun-sin of the Joseon era (1392-1910), represents the shipbuilding cooperation between Korea and the U.S. Courtesy of presidential office

Aug 26, 2025By Kwak Yeon-soo
[PHOTOS] Lee, Trump exchange symbolic gifts at White House
Society

Bomb threat prompts evacuation at KSPO Dome in Seoul

Spectators were forced to evacuate the KSPO Dome in southern Seoul on Sunday afternoon after a bomb threat was reported at around 2 p.m., with special police forces mobilized to the scene, officials said. Police evacuated everyone from the arena and searched for a purported explosive device. However, no explosives were found and no one was injured. K-pop boy group THE BOYZ's "THE BLAZE" World Tour concert in Seoul, originally scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. at the KSPO Dome, was postponed to 6 p.m. due to an inspection of the venue’s internal facilities. "We inform you that the inspection has been completed. The venue will be opened to ticket holders from 4:45 p.m. and the concert will begin at 6 p.m. We sincerely apologize for making you wait outside in hot weather. Cool water will be handed out around the venue, so please take note," the group's agency Onehundred posted on X.

Aug 10, 2025By Kwak Yeon-soo
Bomb threat prompts evacuation at KSPO Dome in Seoul
People & Events

Not your average marathon: Korea’s running scene goes full fandom in 2025

What do Mickey Mouse, Pikachu, Marvel superheroes, Hello Kitty and the cast of beloved Korean variety show “Infinite Challenge” have in common? This year, they are leading a pop-culture parade across Korea’s marathon scene, transforming fitness into a festival of fandom and fun. Forget grueling finish lines — 2025 is all about themed running events where costumes, character encounters and Instagram moments take center stage. From dashing through Yeouido Park with Mickey and Minnie at the inaugural Disney Run, to grabbing limited-edition merchandise at the Sanrio Cutie Run to embarking on a mission-filled Pokemon Run along Jeju’s scenic trails, these events are more parade than race. It is not just pop culture icons making waves — Korea’s entertainment legacy joins the party, too. The Infinite Challenge Run turns nostalgia into exercise, bringing the beloved variety show’s cast and fans together for immersive experience zones and a festival-style concert in Busan. Let’s take a look at five of Korea’s most unique running events planned for the second half of this year.

Jul 28, 2025By Kwak Yeon-soo
Not your average marathon: Korea’s running scene goes full fandom in 2025
Lifestyle

Escape the heat wave: 8 must-visit indoor destinations to survive Seoul’s sweltering summer

When the summer sun turns up the heat in Seoul, with temperatures pushing past 37 degrees Celsius and humidity reaching around 80 percent, it is the perfect excuse to discover the city’s indoor attractions. Even as the Korea Meteorological Administration issues heat wave warnings, Seoul offers countless ways to stay cool and entertained without braving the sweltering streets. Here are some of the best indoor places to explore in Seoul during the summer. 1. The Hyundai Seoul The Hyundai Seoul is a cultural hub and home to a wide variety of dining and shopping venues. Directly connected to Yeouido Station (Lines 5, 9) via an underground passage, the mall regularly hosts pop-up events at Creative Ground (B2 level). Japan’s largest discount retailer, Don Quijote, is holding a pop-up booth until Aug. 1. The mall features the stunning Waterfall Garden, a 12-meter-high indoor waterfall surrounded by lush greenery, and the expansive Sounds Forest, one of Korea’s largest indoor gardens, bathed in natural light from a 20-meter-high glass ceiling. These spaces offer a refreshing, nature-inspir

Jul 11, 2025By Kwak Yeon-soo
Escape the heat wave: 8 must-visit indoor destinations to survive Seoul’s sweltering summer
Health

Noodles, dumplings, kimchi among top sources of sodium in Koreans’ diets

Koreans consume about 1.6 times more sodium than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Tuesday. According to surveys conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the average Korean consumed about 3,136 milligrams of sodium a day in 2023, far more than the WHO’s recommended 2,000 milligrams a day. The average sodium intake for men was 3,696 milligrams per day while the average for women was 2,576 milligrams per day. Results showed that noodles, dumplings, kimchi and soup were among Koreans' main sources of sodium. “We need to make continued efforts to reduce sodium intake by cooking with less salt,” the ministry said. The WHO calls sodium reduction one of the most cost-effective strategies for addressing chronic conditions such as heart disease. Meanwhile, Koreans’ daily sugar intake was estimated at 35.5 grams in 2023, making up 7.7 percent of their total caloric input. The figure was less than the 10 percent recommended by the WHO. However, sugar intake was significantly higher among female children,

Jul 1, 2025By Kwak Yeon-soo
Noodles, dumplings, kimchi among top sources of sodium in Koreans’ diets
K-pop

BTS' Suga donates $3.6 mil. to build autism center at Severance Hospital

Suga, a member of K-pop juggernaut BTS, donated 5 billion won ($3.6 million) to Yonsei University’s Severance Hospital to help establish a treatment center for children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), partnering with the hospital to support long-term care and research for their social independence. The hospital held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Min Yoon-gi Treatment Center in Seodaemun District, Seoul, Monday. Min Yoon-gi is Suga’s real name. The center, set to open in September, will provide psychiatric support for individuals with ASD, aiming to establish programs using language, psychological and behavioral therapies geared toward developing skills for social independence. "Over the last seven months preparing for the program launch and engaging in volunteer work, I have come to understand that music can be a positive outlet for expressing emotions and communicating with the world,” Suga said in a statement. “I am so happy and grateful that I was able to participate in the treatment process for children with ASD.” According to a press release from

Jun 23, 2025By Inna Christine Cabel and Kwak Yeon-soo
BTS' Suga donates $3.6 mil. to build autism center at Severance Hospital
Society

Want to study in Korea? Add this prestigious tech university to your college list

Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) will open applications for international students to their undergraduate programs beginning with the fall 2026 semester. It is the first time for POSTECH, one of country’s best-known science and technology institutions, to open its doors to international undergraduate students. Korean language proficiency is not an essential requirement for application. However, applicants are required to submit their English proficiency scores, official graduation certificate or certificate of expected graduation, official transcript, personal statement and recommendation letter. Applications for international undergraduate students will open on Sept. 26 with a deadline of Nov. 3. Admissions decisions for the class of 2030 will be announced on Jan. 5, 2026. POSTECH will hold its admissions Q&A session online at 4 p.m. June 23. Those applying through the International Admissions I track must hold foreign citizenship, while students applying through the International Admissions II track must have completed their entire education course — from first

Jun 16, 2025By Kwak Yeon-soo
Want to study in Korea? Add this prestigious tech university to your college list
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