Matthew Bell
Editor
Matthew Bell is an editor at The World.
I’m an editor and correspondent based in the Boston newsroom. When I’m not working closely with producers and hosts on our daily program, I’m looking for new story angles to report – especially related to China, the Middle East and religion. By way of background, I studied comparative religion and Chinese history at the University of Vermont. That led me to Mandarin language classes and U.C. Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism. My first job in public radio was at KQED in San Francisco. I joined The World as a staff reporter in 2001 and over the years I’ve covered a wide range of global stories: from immigration to U.S. foreign policy; international business to North Korea’s nuclear activities; the wars in Iraq, Ukraine and the Gaza Strip to human rights in China. I spent three years as The World’s Middle East correspondent based in Jerusalem. Beyond journalism, I’m helping to raise a couple of kids in Massachusetts and trying to become a better guitar player.
In unanimous court decision, South Korea’s president is ousted
A large crowd of protesters erupted in cheers when the announcement came from South Korea’s Constitutional Court. All eight of the judges on the court agreed that Yoon Suk Yeol had “violated the basic principles of a democratic state” and would be removed from office immediately. The country remains deeply divided politically. South Koreans will now vote for a new president in 60 days.
Japan’s ‘listening lounges’ offer pure music with a side of drinks
They go by a few different names, but Japan’s listening lounges are going through something of a revival. They’re music bars where simply sitting and listening to records is the main attraction. In fact, some of these establishments have strict rules against conversation and other distractions like cellphone photos. It’s all to maximize the listening experience, which often relies on extraordinarily expensive vintage stereo equipment that almost nobody can afford at home.
South Korean women are calling their leaders to account
South Korean women are at the center of the weekly protests calling for the removal of President Yoon Suk-yeol. They see Yoon as an obstacle to women’s rights, which is hardly surprising. This is a politician who won the election in 2022 promising to lead a backlash against feminism.
Japan’s tourism boom presents a special challenge for Kyoto
The city of Kyoto is known as Japan’s cultural and spiritual capital. It’s for good reason: Kyoto has hundreds of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, some of which are associated with the country’s imperial history. They’re popular with tourists, but some of the locals in Kyoto say they’re overwhelmed.
