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.
Korean nurses' bandages become badges of honor
In this photo taken on March 12, 2020 nurse Kim Do-yeon poses for a portrait on a break between shifts caring for patients infected with the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, at Keimyung University hospital in Daegu. - Teams of full-time and volunteer nurses caring for COVID-19 novel coronavirus patients in the largely shut-down city of at the centre of South Korea's outbreak city of Daegu are being hailed as heroes on the front line of South Korea's fight against the outbreak. The bandages they wear on their faces help to protect against painful sores incurred while wearing full protective suits for hours on end, and have come to represent their self-sacrificing efforts. Asked if she had a message to give, Kim replied: "South Koreans; fighting!", in reference to a popular Korean motivational slogan. AFP/Ed Jones
By Choi Won-suk
In this photo taken on March 12, 2020, a nurse who did not wish to be named, poses for a portrait on a break between shifts caring for patients infected with the COVID-19 novel coronavirus at Keimyung University hospital in Daegu. - Teams of full-time and volunteer nurses caring for COVID-19 novel coronavirus patients in the largely shut-down city of at the centre of South Korea's outbreak city of Daegu are being hailed as heroes on the front line of South Korea's fight against the outbreak. The bandages they wear on their faces help to protect against painful sores incurred while wearing full protective suits for hours on end, and have come to represent their self-sacrificing efforts. AFP/Ed Jones
In this photo taken on March 12, 2020, nurse Lee Da-eun poses for a portrait on a break between shifts caring for patients infected with the COVID-19 novel coronavirus at Keimyung University hospital in Daegu. - Teams of full-time and volunteer nurses caring for COVID-19 novel coronavirus patients in the largely shut-down city of at the centre of South Korea's outbreak city of Daegu are being hailed as heroes on the front line of South Korea's fight against the outbreak. The bandages they wear on their faces help to protect against painful sores incurred while wearing full protective suits for hours on end, and have come to represent their self-sacrificing efforts. Asked if she had a message to give, Lee replied, "Don't worry about it". AFP/Ed Jones
In this photo taken on March 12, 2020 nurse Kim Eun-hee poses for a portrait on a break between shifts caring for patients infected with the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, at Keimyung University hospital in Daegu. - Teams of full-time and volunteer nurses caring for COVID-19 novel coronavirus patients in the largely shut-down city of at the centre of South Korea's outbreak city of Daegu are being hailed as heroes on the front line of South Korea's fight against the outbreak. The bandages they wear on their faces help to protect against painful sores incurred while wearing full protective suits for hours on end, and have come to represent their self-sacrificing efforts. Asked if she had a message to give, Kim replied: "I'm trying hard". AFP/Ed Jones
In this photo taken on March 12, 2020, nurse Yang Uewl-rock poses for a portrait on a break between shifts caring for patients infected with the COVID-19 novel coronavirus at Keimyung University hospital in Daegu. - Teams of full-time and volunteer nurses caring for COVID-19 novel coronavirus patients in the largely shut-down city of at the centre of South Korea's outbreak city of Daegu are being hailed as heroes on the front line of South Korea's fight against the outbreak. The bandages they wear on their faces help to protect against painful sores incurred while wearing full protective suits for hours on end, and have come to represent their self-sacrificing efforts. Asked if she had a message to give, Yang replied, "Let's not loose hope. Let's cheer up!". AFP/Ed Jones
In this photo taken on March 12, 2020, nurse Park Kyung-mi poses for a portrait on a break between shifts caring for patients infected with the COVID-19 novel coronavirus at Keimyung University hospital in Daegu. - Teams of full-time and volunteer nurses caring for COVID-19 novel coronavirus patients in the largely shut-down city of at the centre of South Korea's outbreak city of Daegu are being hailed as heroes on the front line of South Korea's fight against the outbreak. The bandages they wear on their faces help to protect against painful sores incurred while wearing full protective suits for hours on end, and have come to represent their self-sacrificing efforts. Asked if she had a message to give, Park replied, "Let's overcome adversity in a difficult time". AFP/Ed Jones
In this photo taken on March 12, 2020, nurse Park Hye-mi poses for a portrait on a break between shifts caring for patients infected with the COVID-19 novel coronavirus at Keimyung University hospital in Daegu. - Teams of full-time and volunteer nurses caring for COVID-19 novel coronavirus patients in the largely shut-down city of at the centre of South Korea's outbreak city of Daegu are being hailed as heroes on the front line of South Korea's fight against the outbreak. The bandages they wear on their faces help to protect against painful sores incurred while wearing full protective suits for hours on end, and have come to represent their self-sacrificing efforts. Asked if she had a message to give, Park replied, "Soon something good will happen". AFP/Ed Jones
In this photo taken on March 12, 2020, nurse Kim Min-su poses for a portrait on a break between shifts caring for patients infected with the COVID-19 novel coronavirus at Keimyung University hospital in Daegu. - Teams of full-time and volunteer nurses caring for COVID-19 novel coronavirus patients in the largely shut-down city of at the centre of South Korea's outbreak city of Daegu are being hailed as heroes on the front line of South Korea's fight against the outbreak. The bandages they wear on their faces help to protect against painful sores incurred while wearing full protective suits for hours on end, and have come to represent their self-sacrificing efforts. Asked if she had a message to give, Kim replied, "Cheer up!". AFP/Ed Jones
In this photo taken on March 12, 2020, nurse Shim Hyoung-chul poses for a portrait on a break between shifts caring for patients infected with the COVID-19 novel coronavirus at Keimyung University hospital in Daegu. - Teams of full-time and volunteer nurses caring for COVID-19 novel coronavirus patients in the largely shut-down city of at the centre of South Korea's outbreak city of Daegu are being hailed as heroes on the front line of South Korea's fight against the outbreak. The bandages they wear on their faces help to protect against painful sores incurred while wearing full protective suits for hours on end, and have come to represent their self-sacrificing efforts. AFP/Ed Jones
This combination photo created on March 13, 2020 shows nurses from Keimyung University hospital posing for portraits between shifts caring for patients infected with the COVID-19 novel coronavirus in Daegu. - Teams of full-time and volunteer nurses caring for COVID-19 novel coronavirus patients in the largely shut-down city of at the centre of South Korea's outbreak city of Daegu are being hailed as heroes on the front line of South Korea's fight against the outbreak. The bandages they wear on their faces help to protect against painful sores incurred while wearing full protective suits for hours on end, and have come to represent their self-sacrificing efforts. AFP/Ed Jones