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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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Sports

Spanish taekwondo medalist's belt grabs Koreans' attention

Spain's Adriana Cerezo Iglesias reacts after the women's -49kg taekwondo final match, during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Makuhari Messe Hall in Tokyo, Saturday. AFP-YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooA Spanish taekwondo medalist has caught the attention of Koreans as a special inscription on her black belt has gone viral online. The 17-year-old, Adriana Cerezo Iglesias, won the first medal for Spain after losing 10-11 to Thailand's Panipak Wongpattanakit, the bronze medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, in the women's -49kg taekwondo final on Saturday. The teenage athlete had beaten China's two-time Olympic champion, Wu Jingyu, with a 33-2 win in the quarter-finals.Koreans immediately noticed something strange about her belt, which was decorated with her motto in “broken” Korean. What was meant to be read as, “Train Hard, Dream Big,” was spelled out as “(railway) train,” “ha-du (Korean phoneticization of 'hard')” and “Dream, Big (but written in a grammatically incorrect fashion).” The Internet shared images of her belt, saying, &ldq

Jul 26, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Spanish taekwondo medalist's belt grabs Koreans' attention
  • What is behind Korea's gold drought in taekwondo?
Sports

Olympic athletes reveal they're K-pop fans, and stars reply to them on social media

Table tennis player Shin Yu-bin poses with her autographed BTS “BE” album in this June 15 photo. Screenshot from InstagramBy Kwak Yeon-sooThis summer, Olympic athletes have not only grabbed the attention of sports fans but also that of K-pop fans as they share a sense of unity around their love for K-pop.Shin Yu-bin, the youngest member of the women's table tennis team, who earned first place in the team competition, has revealed that she is a huge fan of BTS. She carries photos of BTS members in her backpack and listens to BTS's songs such as “Dynamite” and “DNA,” when she warms up before her matches. On June 15, she shared a photo of herself holding an autographed album by BTS on her Instagram account with the comment, “I'm a successful fan.”In previous interviews, the teenage athlete picked members V and Jin as her favorites, saying, “I have a crush on them. They're so handsome.”In a screenshot posted on the fan community platform, Weverse, which shows Shin saying that she uses BTS's music to get pumped up, V left a comme

Jul 26, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Olympic athletes reveal they're K-pop fans, and stars reply to them on social media
  • BTS member V roots for Korean table tennis teen
Sports

Athletes at Tokyo Olympics adapt to changed medal presentation format

China's Yang Qian puts her gold medal on herself after it was presented by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, after winning the gold in the women's 10-meter air rifle at the Asaka Shooting Range in Tokyo, Saturday. AP-YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooAthletes at the Tokyo Olympics, who are required to comply with the host's stringent rules and regulations to prevent COVID-19 infections, are adapting to changes in medal ceremonies. According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), face masks must be worn at all Olympic venues, while social distancing must also be maintained and hugs as well as handshaking must be avoided when celebrating. Over the weekend, medalists were seen hanging medals around their own necks as part of the IOC's efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus by minimizing contact between people. China's Yang Qian and Switzerland's Nina Christen, who won the gold medal and the bronze medal in the women's 10-meter air rifle event, respectively, put their medals on themselves after they were presented by IOC President Thomas Bach. Traditionally, med

Jul 25, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Athletes at Tokyo Olympics adapt to changed medal presentation format
  • From 'archery genius' to world champion: Kim Je-deok
Sports

From 'archery genius' to world champion: Kim Je-deok

Archer Kim Je-deok appears on SBS's variety show “Finding Genius” in 2016 at the age of 12 as the “archery genius.” Now 17 years old, Kim has won the gold medal in the mixed team event at the Tokyo Olympic Games, Saturday. Courtesy of SBSBy Kwak Yeon-sooFive years after winning three gold medals at the 45th National Junior Sports Festival, archery exponent Kim Je-deok nabbed Korea's first gold medal of the Tokyo Olympics in his senior debut with his teammate An San in the archery mixed team event. Kim and An, the youngest members of the men's and women's archery teams, defeated Steve Wijler and Gabriela Schloesser of the Netherlands in the final, Saturday. Bronze medals went to Alejandra Valencia and Luis Alvarez of Mexico.The pair's dramatic victory underscores Korea's strength in archery. Team Korea has captured 14 of 17 gold medals in archery competitions since the current format was introduced to the Olympics in 1988.The 17-year-old Kim is tipped for a bright future as he became the youngest person to ever win an Olympic gold medal in Korea's archery team

Jul 25, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
From 'archery genius' to world champion: Kim Je-deok
  • Athletes at Tokyo Olympics adapt to changed medal presentation format
  • Korean athletes lauded for overcoming obstacles
Sports

Multiple-time Olympians seeking to redeem reputation, repeat victory in Tokyo

From left are shooter Jin Jong-oh, volleyball player Kim Yeon-koung, taekwondo practitioner Lee Dae-hoon and fencer Kim Ji-yeon / Korea Times file Some veteran athletes chase elusive gold By Kwak Yeon-sooBeing an Olympian is great. It's arguably the lifelong dream of all athletes to represent their country and reach the pinnacle of their sport. Although it may vary depending on the region, being named an Olympian promises fame, prestige and even money.While a string of athletes have willingly or unwillingly decided to drop out of the Olympics despite the many benefits of participating, there are multiple-time Olympians seeking to redeem their reputations or collect medals in Tokyo.Jin Jong-oh, a six-time Olympic medalist, aims to become the most successful male shooter of all time by winning one more medal of any color. He has already won four gold medals and two silver medals, tying with China's former sharpshooter, Wang Yifu, for the most Olympic medals won by a m

Jul 24, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Multiple-time Olympians seeking to redeem reputation, repeat victory in Tokyo
  • Veteran shooter Jin Jong-oh eliminated in 10m air pistol
  • Korean epee fencers knocked out of Olympic competition
  • Korea wins gold in archery's mixed team Olympic debut
  • Team Korea claims first gold medal in Tokyo
Sports

Raging pandemic saps Olympic vibes

Presidential election, Korea-Japan diplomatic row divert public interest By Kwak Yeon-sooThe Olympics are usually a time when family, friends and sports fans gather to watch the Games on TV and root for their national team. Although Korea and Japan have equivalent time zones, which is ideal for viewers to keep track of events, people here are less optimistic about this year's Games as they have been, and still are, plagued by several problems, not least the COVID-19 pandemic.The sports festival opens Friday after being postponed for a year due to the pandemic, but COVID-19 infections in Japan have shown no signs of abating. Tokyo is in a state of emergency and is experiencing its worst COVID-19 surge since January, with daily cases reaching 1,832, Wednesday. More than 75 cases have been linked to the 2020 Tokyo Games.The situation is no different in Korea.Seoul and its surrounding areas are under Level 4 social distancing measures, the highest in the government's four-tier system, until July 25; and the tough measures are likely to be extended. Under Level 4, people are not allowed t

Jul 22, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Raging pandemic saps Olympic vibes
  • Korean archer An San shoots Olympic record score in ranking round
  • Korea going for multiple gold medals right out of the gate in Tokyo
Sports

Award-winning B-boy hopes to take part in breakdancing's Olympic debut

B-boy Kim Jong-ho, also known as Leon, poses after an interview with The Korea Times at Fusion MC dance studio in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-minBy Kwak Yeon-sooWhen the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that breakdancing would be included in the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, B-boys and B-girls embraced the idea, while many artists were thrilled to be able to take part in such a major competition.“Breaking,” as it is also known, is a style of street dancing that evolved from the hip hop movement of the early 1970s and made its Olympic debut at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires. Since then, it has received the approval of the IOC board and gained full membership.Kim Jong-ho, known professionally as B-boy Leon, said he hopes breaking will become mainstream through the global sports event.“It's a big deal for us. We believe the inclusion will bring an increased attention to breaking and offer more opportunities for B-boys and B-girls. I can actually feel that dancers are training harder than before because they

Jul 19, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Award-winning B-boy hopes to take part in breakdancing's Olympic debut
Entertainment

Korean celeb's Chinese husband apologizes over cheating scandal

Actors Choo Ja-hyun, left, and Yu Xiaoguang / Courtesy of SBS By Kwak Yeon-sooActress Choo Ja-hyun's Chinese husband Yu Xiaoguang, who is also an actor, apologized on Saturday after leaked footage showed him letting a woman, whom he called a close friend, sit on his lap. He denied cheating on his wife.“I'm so sorry for any anger or frustration this has caused you. After watching the video, I have deeply reflected and am regretting my actions. Most of all, I greatly disappointed my wife, who deserves nothing but love. I'll be more careful of my words and actions and make sure this never happens again,” Yu wrote on his Weibo account.Earlier, Choo took to Instagram to thank fans for their support while admitting she's “embarrassed” by the situation. “Although I personally know the people who appear in the video, my husband's behavior was inappropriate. Even if it was a mistake, he should take full responsibility for his actions and their outcomes. I reproached for his

Jul 18, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Korean celeb's Chinese husband apologizes over cheating scandal
Films

Director Yoon Dae-woen wins 2nd prize in Cinefondation section at Cannes

Director Yoon Dae-woen, second from left, poses along with other filmmakers Theo Degen (left), Carina-Gabriela Dasoveanu and Rodrigo Ribeyro, after being awarded the 2021 Cinefondation prizes during a ceremony held in the Bunuel Theatre, Friday (CET). Courtesy of the Festival de CannesKorean actors take part in the award as presenter, juryBy Kwak Yeon-sooAlthough no Korean titles competed for the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival, director Yoon Dae-woen's short film, “Cicada,” won the second prize in the Cinefondation Selection, signaling a bright future for Korean films.The Cinefondation Selection was launched in 1988 as part of a search for talented new filmmakers. Yoon's 17-minute-long film, “Cicada,” which was his graduation project from the Korea National University of Arts, revolves around a transgender sex worker named Chang-hyun, who works on Sowol-gil, a street on Mount Nam. The film follows one strange night in the protagonist's life and likens the experience to that of a cicada coming out of its shell to full maturity.The 30-year-old di

Jul 18, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Director Yoon Dae-woen wins 2nd prize in Cinefondation section at Cannes
Films

Old-time movie theaters disappearing into history

A pedestrian walks past the facade of the Seoul Cinema in Seoul, July 4. YonhapHit first by multiplexes, then by the pandemic, old-time movie houses pushed out of business By Kwak Yeon-sooSince the coronavirus outbreak, movie theaters, once teeming with cinephiles, have been struggling to stay afloat. Compared to multiplex operators, times for independent theaters were tougher. Small, independent theaters had been suffering a dramatic fall in audience numbers since the late 1990s when multiplexes run by nationwide theater chains appeared and absorbed movie fans by offering a wider selection of films.The lingering pandemic has dealt a final blow to the already struggling independent cinemas that have failed to entice audiences back. Seoul Cinema's recent announcement that it would close its shutters permanently at the end of August after 42 years in business is no surprise at all to those who are familiar with the film industry. Old movie houses have found it tough to hang in there. “Seoul Cinema, which has been loved as the cultural center of Jongno District for over 40 years,

Jul 15, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Old-time movie theaters disappearing into history
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