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.
Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war
A Palestinian demonstrator throws rocks towards Israeli soldiers during clashes in the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on October 8, 2023. Israel, reeling from the deadliest attack on its territory in half a century, formally declared war on Hamas on October 8, as the conflict's death toll surged to 1,000 after the Palestinian militant group launched a massive surprise assault from Gaza. AFP-Yonhap
By Choi Won-suk
An Israeli soldier directs a self-propelled howitzer near the southern city of Ashkelon on October 8, 2023. AFP-Yonhap
Palestinians celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis southern Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. AP-Yonhap
Palestinians break into the Israeli side of Israel-Gaza border fence after gunmen infiltrated areas of southern Israel, October 7, 2023. Reuters-Yonhap
Israeli soldiers patrol on the roads near the border with Gaza, 08 October 2023. Israel announced initiating a large-scale operation 'Swords of Iron' after surprise attacks on Israel on 07 October claimed by the Islamist movement Hamas killed more than 670 Israelis and left over 2,100 injured in the attacks, the Israeli army said 08 October. EPA-Yonhap
Israeli soldiers deploy in Sderot, Israel, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip infiltrated Saturday into southern Israel and fired thousands of rockets into the country while Israel began striking targets in Gaza in response. AP-Yonhap
Rockets are fired toward Israel from Gaza, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. AP-Yonhap
Rockets are launched from the southern Gaza Strip towards Israel on Saturday October 7, 2023. UPI-Yonhap
An Iron Dome missile intercepts a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Oct. 7, 2023. Xinhua-Yonhap
Israelis run to take cover in a shelter as a siren sounds a warning of incoming rockets fired from the Gaza strip, in Ashkelon, Israel, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. AP-Yonhap
An Israeli woman and her dog take cover in a shelter as a siren sounds a warning of incoming rockets fired from the Gaza strip, in Ashkelon, Israel, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. AP-Yonhap
Palestinians inspect the destroyed surrounding of the Palestine Tower after Israeli warplanes targeted it in Gaza City, 07 October 2023. EPA-Yonhap
Palestinians sit on a debris-strewn street near the Watan Tower, which was destroyed in Israeli strikes, in Gaza City October 8, 2023. Reuters-Yonhap
Palestinians kid walks by the rubble of a building after it was struck by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. AP-Yonhap
People chant anti-Israel slogans while waving Palestinian flags during a rally celebrating the attacks that the militant Hamas group carried out against Israel, in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. AP-Yonhap
People take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli Embassy, in Kensingston, London, as the death toll rises amid ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza following the attack by Hamas, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. AP-Yonhap
People dance in celebration of the attacks that the militant Hamas group carried out against Israel, at Bourj al-Barajneh Palestinian refugee camp, in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. AP-Yonhap
A Yemeni (L) waves a Palestinian flag as others shout slogans during a rally showing support to Palestinian Islamic factions, in Sana'a, Yemen, 07 October 2023. EPA-Yonhap
A demonstrator displays a flag of Israel during a rally in support of the people of Israel, in Buenos Aires on October 9, 2023, following the October 7 shock deadly attack on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas. AFP-Yonhap
The Brandenburg Gate is illuminated in the colors of the Israeli flag as a show of solidarity, in Berlin, Germany, Saturday night, Oct. 7, 2023. AP-Yonhap
An Israeli national flag is seen on a screen at a shopping mall to support Israel, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 8, 2023. Reuters-Yonhap
A boy waves an Israeli flag during a rally outside of the Israeli embassy on October 8, 2023 in Washington, DC. AFP-Yonhap
Israelis donate blood at the Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, Israel, 07 October 2023. Numerous volunteers waited at the hospital for their turn to donate blood for the wounded victims of the surprise attacks on Israel by Hamas from the Gaza Strip. EPA-Yonhap
Palestinians evacuate their homes after Israeli strikes on Gaza City on October 9, 2023. Israel relentlessly pounded the Gaza Strip early October 9, as fighting raged with Hamas around the Gaza Strip and the death toll from the war against the Palestinian militants surged above 1,1000. AFP-Yonhap
Palestinians inspect the destruction around Ahmed Yassin mosque, which was levelled by Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City early on October 9, 2023. AFP-Yonhap
Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike on the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on October 9, 2023. AFP-Yonhap
A photo from a wedding can be seen on the ground in a building that was hit following rockets from Gaza that were launched towards Israel in Ashkelon, southern Israel October 9, 2023. Reuters-Yonhap