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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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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
Photo News

PHOTOS Election Day 2025

A patient lying in a hospital bed receives help from a family member to vote in the 2025 presidential election at a polling station in Seoul's Yongsan District, Tuesday. Yonhap

Jun 3, 2025By Kwak Yeon-soo
[PHOTOS] Election Day 2025
Society

First World Ramen Festival in hot water over poor planning

Poor planning and logistical issues were some of the complaints that left a sour taste in the mouths of attendees at the 2025 World Ramen Festival, which took place in Busan from May 2 to Sunday. Organizers said the festival would have more than 2,200 ramen brands from 15 countries, including Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and the United States, participating in the inaugural event. Shortly after the festival began, ramen enthusiasts realized that there were less than 10 ramen brands available — even fewer than the number found in convenience stores. Many took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their concerns about logistical issues, saying the organizers did not provide hot water or offer enough varieties of ramen to satisfy their expectations. “A total of seven types of ramen at the World Ramen Festival? Vietnamese and Thai ramen brands have official importers here, so you can buy them whenever you want,” one visitor wrote on X. Another wrote, “I threw away most of the ramen because the water was lukewarm. This is the worst festival I have ever been to.” Some food trucks left the ven

May 13, 2025By Kwak Yeon-soo
First World Ramen Festival in hot water over poor planning
North Korea

Trump signals interest in restarting talks with NK, calling it ‘big nuclear nation’

U.S. President Donald Trump signaled his interest Monday (local time) in restarting talks with North Korea, calling it a “nuclear nation” and revealing there is communication with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. His remarks came in response to a reporter’s question about whether the U.S. may reach out to North Korea. Calling North Korea a “big nuclear nation” and Kim a “smart guy,” Trump said, “We have a great relationship, and yeah, we have ... there is communication.” However, he did not elaborate on how his administration is communicating with the reclusive regime. Since his inauguration on Jan. 20, Trump has repeatedly referred to North Korea as a “nuclear power,” raising concern that the U.S. could be moving toward recognizing the North as a nuclear-armed state. However, experts said Trump's latest comments suggest his willingness to engage with Pyongyang rather than indicating any changes in U.S. policy. “Although we cannot rule out the possibility of the U.S. holding ‘unofficial’ talks with North Korea behind the scenes, Trump is expressing his wish to

Apr 1, 2025By Kwak Yeon-soo
Trump signals interest in restarting talks with NK, calling it ‘big nuclear nation’
Politics

Opposition leader tops poll as Korea braces for Yoon's impeachment ruling

A poll released Monday showed that Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), remains the most favored candidate in the event of a snap presidential election. The same poll showed that the DPK's approval rating surpassed that of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) as the nation braces for the Constitutional Court’s ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment. While the top court has yet to announce the date for its verdict, legal experts predict it could be delivered later this month. According to the survey conducted by Realmeter on 1,510 adults, 49.5 percent of respondents supported Lee as a president in the future, followed by Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo at 16.3 percent and Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo at 7.1 percent. Former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s approval ratings stood at 6.7 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively. “Lee is maintaining a commanding lead in the latest poll with nearly 50 percent support. His approval rating rose after his acquittal in the appellate trial on charges of violating the Public O

Mar 31, 2025By Kwak Yeon-soo
Opposition leader tops poll as Korea braces for Yoon's impeachment ruling
Politics

Prolonged court deliberation on Yoon's impeachment fatigues nation

Calls are growing for the Constitutional Court’s swift decision on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment, as its protracted deliberation is causing public fatigue with continuous political confrontations and months of rallies either supporting or opposing the removal of the president. As public expectations for a verdict have risen and been dashed every week since the final hearing on Feb. 25, this situation is even leading to criticism toward the court for causing further political turmoil and national confusion. Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), requested the court to swiftly rule on Yoon's impeachment over his Dec. 3 martial law declaration. "There must be a reason why the court has not made a ruling since the final hearing, but the public, who are not aware of internal circumstances, cannot help but feel anxious and suspicious," Lee wrote on Facebook, Sunday. "I ask the Constitutional Court to deliver a wise decision as soon as possible for the benefit of all the people." Rep. Na Kyung-won of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) also

Mar 30, 2025By Kwak Yeon-soo
Prolonged court deliberation on Yoon's impeachment fatigues nation
Politics

Rival parties bicker over disaster funds as wildfire victims await aid

As Korea faces its worst-ever wildfire disaster, the nation's two main rival political parties are embroiled in a blame game over the nation's reserve funds for unexpected calamities. The ruling People Power Party (PPP) is pushing to restore the reserve fund, which was significantly reduced by the opposition-controlled National Assembly late last year, while the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is advocating for a supplementary budget. In December, the National Assembly passed the 2025 budget bill, cutting the total reserve fund in half — from 4.8 trillion won ($3.6 billion) to 2.4 trillion won. The fund specifically allocated for disaster and emergency response was reduced from 2.6 trillion won to 1.6 trillion won. The PPP blamed the DPK for cutting the reserve fund and pushing for a large-scale supplementary budget. It also formed a special committee for wildfire disaster response and urged the government to expand the designation of special disaster areas. “The DPK not only drastically cut the reserve fund during last year’s budget review, but also left key govern

Mar 28, 2025By Kwak Yeon-soo
Rival parties bicker over disaster funds as wildfire victims await aid
North Korea

Kim Jong-un could visit Russia in May: sources

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may visit Moscow in May on the occasion of Russia’s Victory Day, as the two countries have been solidifying bilateral military cooperation. The visit, if it occurs, would be another public display of a growing friendship between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This assessment was based on a recent meeting between Kim and Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu in Pyongyang. “We are closely monitoring for signs of the North Korean leader’s potential visit to Russia,” a senior unification ministry official said on condition of anonymity. Although the timing and exact location of Kim’s trip is unknown, some analysts speculate the timing of Kim’s possible visit could be either May or September when the Eastern Economic Forum takes place. The possibility of Kim not visiting Russia cannot be ruled out either, according to the analysts. A recent increase in high-level exchanges could be another sign that the two nations are preparing for a leaders’ summit. Friendly ties between Russia and North Korea have been expanding across all

Mar 27, 2025By Kwak Yeon-soo
Kim Jong-un could visit Russia in May: sources
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