[Kim Seong-kon] Understanding uniquely American things

There is a fascinating trend I have noticed in online media articles about America lately, such as “16 uniquely American things,” “13 positive stereotypes about Americans” or “23 US things that make the rest of the world jealous.” Those photo articles provide intriguing insights into what seems distinctively “American” in the collective mind and culture of the US. In the past, people often thought of America as a dreamland or the land of opportunit

ViewpointsOct. 2, 2024

[Howard Davies] To restore European competitiveness

Judging by its strong, dramatic language, Mario Draghi’s big report on European competitiveness was clearly intended to get EU decision-makers’ attention. Rather than trying to sugarcoat the pill, he warns that Europe is falling ever further behind the United States. Not only has it largely missed the digital revolution, but it is about to miss the AI revolution, too. Not one European technology firm can rival the likes of Apple or Microsoft. Moreover, Draghi notes that productivit

ViewpointsOct. 1, 2024

[Grace Kao] Korea’s obsession with designer handbags

In Seoul, there are designer handbags everywhere. The Hermes Birkin for the ultimate flex. The Chanel Medium Double Flap for the very fancy. Lady Dior bags by Christian Dior are very popular. Of course there are the ubiquitous Louis Vuitton bags -- how many Speedy 30 bags can you see in a single day? Of course you also see Gucci, Prada, Bottega Veneta and sometimes Burberry too. I’ve seen YSL, Mulberry and Chloe here and there. I’m not here to judge Koreans’ love of designer ba

ViewpointsOct. 1, 2024

[Yoo Choon-sik] Protecting sound firms from zombies

While there is no official definition agreed on globally, zombie firms are widely referred to as those that are risky, unproductive and unviable, yet which still manage to avoid immediate default, most likely thanks to continued support from banks, investors or governments, in light of misaligned incentives. The existence of zombie firms can be said to be inevitable for any country adopting market capitalism, at least for a certain period and under certain conditions, such as immediately after u

ViewpointsSept. 30, 2024

[Room Tone] Guide to navigating Busan International Film Festival

The Busan International Film Festival is one of the most popular and vibrant cinematic events in Asia. With its glamorous red carpet, a massive lineup of international films and a picturesque setting by the sea, it draws cinephiles, filmmakers and journalists from across the globe. Behind the dazzle, however, lies a complex, sprawling experience that can be difficult to navigate. The first rule of survival at BIFF is: Wear comfortable shoes. While the allure of dressing up for screenings or wa

ViewpointsSept. 27, 2024

[Lee Byung-jong] Big tech vs. nation-states

Elon Musk might be one of the richest and most influential people in the world, but he is not untouchable. In Brazil, he recently had to give in to a court order to remove far-right extremists’ accounts from X, the powerful social media platform he owns and runs. Having defied the court order for months in the name of free speech, Musk had to surrender finally as the court blocked the site for 20 million Brazilian users. This case shows how nation-states could rein in the seemingly inv

ViewpointsSept. 27, 2024

“Wellness: A Strategic Overview of Well Aging”

While we often think of wellness as a singular concept, it is inherently multifactorial, encompassing dimensions such as the physical, mental, emotional and social. These dimensions are interconnected and collectively contribute to our overall quality of life. Life thrives when our bodies maintain homeostasis -- a delicate balance necessary for survival. Homeostasis ensures that bodily systems regulate functions like salt levels, brain pressure and optimal heart rate. Any disruption to this bala

ViewpointsSept. 26, 2024

[Career Compass] ‘Respect is earned, not given’

I interviewed Eun-Mi Chae, the former CEO of FedEx Korea and currently an independent director of SKC. She broke new ground as the first Korean female CEO in the express transportation industry, successfully leading the company for 16 years. With over 35 years of experience, Chae is a pioneer, an exceptional communicator and an inspiring role model. Q. What was your mindset when you were first appointed as CEO? A. When I was appointed CEO of FedEx Korea, two key pieces of advice shaped my leader

ViewpointsSept. 26, 2024

[Wang Son-taek] Why do we need bipartisan diplomacy?

In diplomacy, the national interest should be the highest priority. Yet, a country's internal political dynamics can significantly impact its ability to engage in diplomatic issues effectively. The recent controversy surrounding the bid for the Czech nuclear power plant becomes a case study of how internal political strife can undermine diplomatic efforts. The blame game between the ruling and opposition parties in South Korea reflects a lack of bipartisan cooperation in diplomacy. The oppo

ViewpointsSept. 26, 2024

[Lisa Jarvis] Decriminalization and fentanyl overdose

This month, a brief, ambitious and many would say calamitous experiment came to an end: Oregon rolled back Measure 110, its policy decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of illicit drugs. Rather than handing out small fines with a nudge toward treatment, police are once again giving misdemeanors to people who are found with opioids or meth. What can we learn from this first-of-its-kind experiment in the US? Many would argue that it showed us what not to do. But an honest assessment of w

ViewpointsSept. 26, 2024

[David Fickling] Breaking our plastics habit

Could our unshakeable addiction to plastics be broken? That’s certainly the hope of activists. The US -- birthplace of the modern polymers industry, and the biggest producer of its key feedstocks, oil and gas -- has joined a bloc supporting a worldwide treaty capping plastics production. That could make a United Nations meeting in South Korea in November into a turning point in the material culture of humanity. The harder challenge will be ensuring that an agreement is workable. Whichever

ViewpointsSept. 25, 2024

[Kim Seong-kon] The pleasure of encountering Korean overseas

Recently, on the website AsAmNews, I came across an interesting item entitled, “What are the Asian languages most Americans want to learn?” Out of 42 East and South Asian languages, Japanese topped the list, perhaps due to young Americans’ interest in anime and manga. The second most popular language Americans want to learn was Korean, no doubt thanks to the worldwide popularity of K-pop, Korean cinema and K-drama. That is not all. Amazingly, the same study revealed that Korean

ViewpointsSept. 25, 2024

[Grace Kao] NewJeans fights Hybe for their survival

To know NewJeans is to love them. I don’t think I’ve ever met a K-pop fan who didn’t like them. My husband and I don’t generally agree on the K-pop groups we like, but we both love NewJeans. The songs are catchy -- my favorite is “Ditto” and his is “Attention.” We both love the orchestra hits in “Supernatural.” My mood improves after hearing their songs. Their concept conveys a retro take on the sweet and charmed world of youth. However

ViewpointsSept. 24, 2024

[Wang Son-taek] The enemies of liberal democracy

Recently, a headline captured global attention: another assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the US presidency. Fortunately, the attempt failed, and Trump remains unharmed. However, the incident raises serious concerns about the state of democracy today. Why is Trump a target again, and who benefits from this chaos? More critically, what does this say about the health of American democracy and its liberal traditions? This event is not an isolated act of violence;

ViewpointsSept. 23, 2024