Heesu Lee is a Bloomberg reporter based in Seoul, South Korea, where she covers the energy markets in Asia. Recently, she’s also been covering the ferry crash in Seoul.
In Depth recently spoke with Heesu about her experience covering the ferry crash, as well as her take on the most significant issues facing the Asian energy market.
You recently put a lot of time into covering the ferry crash in Seoul. What was it like to move outside your normal beat?
As an energy markets reporter, I usually spend my days sitting at my desk, making calls to analysts, traders or company officials. Covering the ferry disaster was definitely different from what I do on a daily basis. On the day of the accident, I was immediately sent to speak to families and friends who may have lost their loved ones. I was on my feet, running around to observe and speak to as many people as possible to really deliver and capture the moment right after the accident. There were a lot of pieces to the ferry story, from the official response to the family anguish to the actual details of the crash.
What were some challenges that you faced in covering such a major story?
Getting accurate information was a challenge because it was absolutely chaotic. Another challenge was talking to families and survivors who were dealing with probably the most traumatic event in their lives. They were very angry at journalists for being insensitive and making frequent errors in their reporting. I needed them to share their stories, but at the same time, I didn’t want to be rude or appear insensitive to their feelings. It was tough.
What are the most significant issues facing energy markets in Asia today?
Energy security is one of the most pressing issues facing the Asia-Pacific region. Energy consumption and demand is constantly rising, while there are concerns over safety of nuclear power after the meltdown of three reactors in Japan’s Fukushima in 2011. There are also environmental issues where countries need to find ways to reduce carbon emissions.
You’ve also done a lot of stories about the luxury industry, including the opening of a Johnnie Walker House in the Gangnam district and the trend of tourists flocking to the district for plastic surgery. How did those stories arrive on your radar? Why are they important to Bloomberg’s audience?
The story on Johnnie Walker House was done as Gilbert Ghostine, the president of Diageo’s Asia-Pacific unit, was coming to Seoul for the opening. I wrote the plastic surgery story after noticing so many tourists walking down the streets wearing masks after cosmetic surgeries. As a Bloomberg reporter, I think it’s important to provide content that our clients will find interesting and enjoyable, and the luxury industry is definitely one of those areas.