Articles by Ahn Sung-mi
Ahn Sung-mi
sahn@heraldcorp.com-
Korean American woman elected to US Congress for first time
Marilyn Strickland, the former mayor of Tacoma, Washington, won her race for the US House of Representatives, becoming the first Korean American woman elected to the US Congress in its 230-year history. Democrat Strickland won the open seat in Washington’s 10th Congressional District, defeating state Rep. Beth Doglio, who is also a Democrat. They were competing for the seat held by US Rep. Denny Heck, who stepped down to run for the state’s lieutenant governor. &ldquo
Foreign Affairs Nov. 5, 2020
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Unification Minister urges NK to restore communication line
PANMUNJOM -- Unification Minister Lee In-young on Wednesday called on North Korea to restore suspended communication channels between the two Koreas in a move to achieve a thaw in inter-Korean relations. He also expressed hope of rebuilding the now-demolished inter-Korean joint liaison office, as well as resuming reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War. Lee’s remarks came during the ceremony for the opening of the tourism support center at Panmunjom to mark the resu
North Korea Nov. 4, 2020
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Seoul braces for uncertainty on peninsula as US head to polls
As Americans head to the polls Tuesday, the South Korean government is watching closely and bracing itself for uncertainty. Whoever is elected, the result will have a lasting impact on the Korean Peninsula and the bilateral alliance for the next four years. Seoul’s national security officials and related ministries are monitoring the election that will determine whether US President Donald Trump will lead the country for another four years or Democratic challenger Joe Biden will sweep
Foreign Affairs Nov. 3, 2020
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NK accuses Seoul of planning additional THAAD deployment
North Korea on Monday argued that South Korea is scheming to deploy an additional US missile defense system in the country, and warned that doing so would lead to “self-destruction.” Pyongyang propaganda outlet Uriminzokkiri claimed that at recent defense ministers’ talks, Seoul and Washington had agreed to establish a long-term plan for a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery in the town of Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, and that the plan was aimed at deploying a
North Korea Nov. 2, 2020
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[US elections and Korea] Trump vs. Biden: Key advisers give clues on future foreign policy
US voters this week will choose the leader of the world’s largest economic and military power, faced with the starkly different choices of incumbent President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden. The election could be a turning point for South Korea -- a key Washington ally in security, trade, and North Korea diplomacy -- which will face either Trump’s “America First” approach or Biden’s pledge to strengthen the alliance over the next four years.&nb
Foreign Affairs Nov. 1, 2020
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US backs Yoo against rival, throwing WTO race up in the air
The World Trade Organization’s leadership race has been thrown up in the air, as the US blocked the Nigerian front-runner and decided to put its weight behind South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee, despite her failure to win majority support from the member states. At a meeting in Geneva on Wednesday, the WTO’s selection panel recommended Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the next director general, as she won the backing of the vast majority of the multilateral body&rsq
Foreign Affairs Oct. 29, 2020
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[US elections and Korea] What would 2nd Trump term mean for Korea?
In September during the first televised presidential debate of the election season, US President Donald Trump said “elections have consequences.” His remark holds true not only to Americans, but to countries around the world closely watching the US election and trying to determine what the outcome will mean for them. South Korea is no exception. As a key Washington ally from security to trade and North Korea diplomacy, Seoul has a lot at stake depending on who controls the Whi
Foreign Affairs Oct. 28, 2020
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Blow for Yoo in WTO race, as EU, Japan back rival
With the EU and Japan reportedly backing Nigeria’s World Trade Organization candidate, South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee faces an uphill battle in the race to claim the top job of the international trade body. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, formerly Nigeria’s finance minister and foreign minister, and Yoo are facing off to become the first female chief in the WTO’s 25-year history, replacing Brazilian Roberto Azevedo, who stepped down a year early in August after seven years
Foreign Affairs Oct. 27, 2020
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S. Korea appears to be only country opposing Japan’s wastewater disposal: lawmaker
South Korea appears to be the only country openly opposing Japan’s plan to discharge radioactive water from the devastated Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea, a lawmaker said Monday. According to information obtained by Rep. Lee Tae-kyu from the Foreign Ministry, no other country in the world has publicly protested Tokyo’s impending decision to dispose of contaminated water. Countries in the EU and Pacific island nations, as well as the US, have responded to the issue as a m
Foreign Affairs Oct. 26, 2020
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Lee’s weighty legacy in arts, sports and even inter-Korean relations
Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee was one of South Korea’s most prominent patrons of sports and the arts. His scope of influence even extended to inter-Korean relations. In the sports world, the Samsung tycoon is best remembered for two key positions he held -- owner of the professional baseball team the Samsung Lions and member of the International Olympic Committee from 1996 to 2017. But his interest and investment in sports went well beyond that. Under his leadership, S
Social Affairs Oct. 25, 2020
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NK highlights China relations on war anniversary
North Korea spoke of its strong ties with China and expressed hope of strengthening bilateral relations further as the two countries marked the 70th anniversary of China’s participation in the 1950-53 Korean War, the North’s official newspaper said Sunday. The Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the country’s ruling Workers’ Party, ran a special report to honor China for its role in the Korean War, recalling how Chinese troops crossed the border into North Korea on
North Korea Oct. 25, 2020
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Tributes pour in for late Samsung tycoon
Tributes poured in from across the worlds of politics, business, the arts and sports for Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee on Sunday. Lee died at the age of 78 at a hospital in Seoul on Sunday morning with family members by his side, including his son and de facto Samsung Group chief Lee Jae-yong, the conglomerate said in a statement. He had been bedridden since May 2014 after suffering a heart attack. President Moon Jae-in sent floral wreaths to the late tycoon’s funeral alt
Politics Oct. 25, 2020
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[Herald Design Forum 2020] Artists stress sustainable design for innovation
Tomas Saraceno, an Argentinian contemporary artist who is behind the launch of a fuel-free air balloon, stressed sustainability during a Q&A session at the Herald Design Forum on Thursday. Saraceno launched a project, titled “Fly with Aerocene Pacha,” an air balloon powered only by the sun and air, forgoing helium or fossil fuels, as a way of exploring environmentally friendly flight. The project was exhibited as part of “Connect BTS,” a global public art project i
Culture Oct. 22, 2020
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[Herald Design Forum 2020] Herald Design Forum envisions next 10 years of design, innovation
The annual Herald Design Forum kicked off Thursday morning, marking its 10th edition by envisioning how design could change the world in the coming decade. Under the slogan “Another 10 Years,” the largest design forum in Asia brought together prominent designers, architects, artists, curators and directors. The event was held virtually for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 1,400 participants livestreaming the sessions. In compliance with the government&rsquo
Culture Oct. 22, 2020
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Seoul considers fining S. Korean sailors operating in West Africa
The South Korean government is considering whether to impose fines on its citizens if they fish in the waters off West Africa, in response to repeated maritime abductions in the region, local reports said Wednesday. The ministries of Foreign Affairs and Fisheries have been discussing the matter with other concerned agencies, seeking a way to dissuade Korean sailors from fishing in the perilous waters, primarily in the Gulf of Guinea, the report said, citing unnamed sources. The fines could a
Foreign Affairs Oct. 21, 2020
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