Most Popular
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Qoo10 liquidity crisis sparks massive complaints, fears of wider damage
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Yoon urges municipalities to embrace foreigners
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What is happening at Hybe?
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S. Korea to consent to Japan's Sado mines gaining World Heritage status: official
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Korea unveils tax reform bill to spur economy
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Actor’s excessive airport security sparks probe into human rights violations
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Actor Yoo Ah-in accused of sexual attack
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Man who let his father die due to financial difficulties to be released on parole
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S. Korea, China shifting from tensions to cooperation: Seoul
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LG Electronics achieves record earnings in Q2
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[Editorial] Unavoidable path
In South Korea, those who were born between 1964 and 1974, which is a period when the country’s economic development began in earnest, are called the second baby-boom generation. They number 9.54 million, accounting for 18.6 percent of the country’s total population and as much as 33 percent of 28.91 million Koreans who are in some form of employment. Also, their population is 35.3 percent larger than 7.05 million first-generation boomers born between 1955 and 1963. Beginning in 2015
EditorialJuly 4, 2024
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[Peter Singer] Will Biden spoil it all?
After US President Joe Biden’s stumbling and unconvincing performance during the debate with former President Donald Trump on June 27, it is no exaggeration to say that the future of our planet may depend on a decision he must make. Does he want to go down in history as the man who was responsible for the disastrous consequences of a second Trump presidency? Will he join others whose lifelong efforts to do good were undone by their refusal to put the public interest first? For progressives
ViewpointsJuly 4, 2024
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[Wang Son-taek] A third option for US President Biden
Since the surprising TV debate on June 27, the Democratic Party of the US has been heated with controversy as to whether President Joe Biden should renounce his reelection bid. Voices calling for Biden to step aside express severe frustration that the debate revealed the longtime politician’s lack of cognitive ability. They argue that if Biden runs in the election in November, he will surely lose, so he should be replaced as the Democratic presidential candidate in the form of resigning hi
ViewpointsJuly 4, 2024
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[Kim Seong-kon] The image of South Korea overseas
I recently came across an intriguing article on alot.com by Ron Winkler, entitled, “AI shows what people actually look like in these 30 countries.” The writer asked an artificial intelligence system what the average person would look like in the 30 included countries, and the article features 30 images of people presented by AI for each country, followed by the writer’s brief comments on them. AI personifies South Korea as a charming K-pop girl with the background of “the
ViewpointsJuly 3, 2024
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[Christine Ledbetter] Ethics crisis at US Supreme Court
A photo of Ruth Bader Ginsburg is pinned by a magnet to my refrigerator door, nestled among pictures of my grandchildren. With her head bowed, she is reading briefs during intermission at Arena Stage’s 2018 production of August Wilson’s “Two Trains Running” in Washington. I saw her numerous times at cultural events in DC during my eight years there. But I never introduced myself or told her she was my hero. I feared being embarrassingly inarticulate. Imagine having a he
ViewpointsJuly 3, 2024
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[Editorial] Tax revenue shortfall
Disputes are heating up in South Korea over whether the Yoon Suk Yeol administration should go ahead with its controversial tax-reduction initiatives even though revenue is forecast to decline this year as a result of sluggish corporate earnings. The country’s tax revenue stood at 151 trillion won ($108.6 billion) during the first five months of this year, down 9.1 trillion won, or 5.7 percent, from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The main culprit was a sh
EditorialJuly 3, 2024
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[Contribution] Scientific policing's role in S. Korea's public safety
By Kang Sang-gil In an unprecedentedly short period, South Korea achieved remarkable economic development, often referred to as the "Miracle on the Han River." Since the 2000s, international organizations such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Development Assistance Committee and the Paris Club have acknowledged South Korea's status as an advanced nation. In 2010, Seoul hosted the G20 Summit. In July
ViewpointsJuly 2, 2024
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[Grace Kao] BTS Jin’s hugs and idols’ 'fan service'
Immediately following BTS member Jin’s completion of his military service, he hosted an event where he hugged 1,000 fans. Apparently, he wanted to hug even more people than that, but HYBE had to talk him down. Still, the event was not without incident -- there are videos of multiple women taking the opportunity afforded by a hug to kiss him. I find this behavior disgusting and I’m glad that the suspects have been charged with sexual assault. Still, this event was one where hugs wer
ViewpointsJuly 2, 2024
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[Editorial] Change the course
These days, the ruling and opposition parties are caught in a spiral of political strife on almost every issue. However, when it comes to supporting the semiconductors industry, they are showing there is a possibility of cooperation. While foreign countries have striven to enhance international competitiveness of their industries, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea has been negative on government plans to support Korean chipmakers, condemning them as “special favors for large co
EditorialJuly 2, 2024
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[Lee Kyong-hee] Don’t write off unification
I have a sister who lives -- or lived -- in North Korea. The Korean War separated my family and she ended up in the North. We met once since then, at Mount Kumgang across the DMZ, before inter-Korean family reunion events were suspended. We had only hours to bridge six decades of separation. Yet, the opportunity of the 2009 reunion was a godsend for my family, especially for my mother, who turned 100 that year. She lived 10 more years, probably waiting for another chance to see her daughter but
ViewpointsJuly 1, 2024
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[Editorial] Disparity in outlook
South Korea’s industrial output, retail sales and facility investment all fell simultaneously in May from a month earlier, marking the first “triple minus” in 10 months. Exports continued to stay firm, but domestic indicators such as weak consumption indicate a slower recovery than the government’s upbeat outlook. The government’s official view is that the country’s economy is on a recovery path on the strength of robust exports. But the negative turn of all t
EditorialJuly 1, 2024
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[Robert Fouser] Trump on course to win
Thursday’s presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump marked the beginning of the final stretch of the race for the White House. Next up are the Republican convention in July, the Democratic convention in August and another debate on Sept. 10. Traditionally, the final stretch of the campaign begins after Labor Day in early September, but the early debate has lengthened the campaign season. Where does the race stand now and what does it mean for South Korea? According to the New
ViewpointsJune 28, 2024
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[Editorial] Predictability matters
The Financial Services Commission, South Korea’s top financial regulator, has suddenly delayed the planned implementation of the second phase for tighter debt service ratio limits. But the delay is feared to send misleading signals to the financial and real estate markets. The FSC announced Tuesday that tougher rules on household loans will be applied from the beginning of September, instead of July. The decision for the two-month delay came less than a week before the new rules were to be
EditorialJune 28, 2024
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[Wang Son-taek] New strategy after the treaty in Pyongyang
On June 19, North Korea and Russia signed a historic partnership treaty in Pyongyang. The strategic and comprehensive treaty exceeded general predictions and was evaluated as restoring the military alliance. The restoration of the alliances drew keen attention from major media worldwide as it shook the strategic balance around the Korean Peninsula. A controversial topic of South Korea's nuclear armament has been revived in Seoul and Washington. The South Korean government also strongly cond
ViewpointsJune 27, 2024
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[Ana Palacio] Putin-Kim pact offers opportunity
June has been a busy month for Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a speech at Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he outlined his terms for peace negotiations with Ukraine and proposed establishing an alternative international security system in collaboration with China. A week later, during a two-day visit to Pyongyang, he signed a strategic defense pact with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. Russia and North Korea pledged to provide each other with immediate military assistance in t
ViewpointsJune 27, 2024
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[Editorial] Youth job blues
The number of young working-age people who are unemployed and yet refuse to look for jobs has begun to increase again after falling for nine months. A Statistics Korea survey released Sunday found that 398,000 people aged 15 to 29 “just rested” at home last month doing nothing to make money or search for jobs. The figure was up 13,000 from a year earlier. Most unemployed people look for jobs, but these people do not. They give up seeking jobs and just take a rest though they have no
EditorialJune 27, 2024
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[Kim Seong-kon] Those who don the mask of justice
We often confuse justice with revenge and punish someone we hate in the name of justice. Indeed, personal acts of vengeance and political vendettas tend to wear the mask of justice. That is why Michel Foucault warned us; “Justice must always question itself, just as society can exist only by means of the work it does on itself and on its institutions.” Indeed, we should cast doubt on the people who claim that they can bring justice to our society, because what is called “justic
ViewpointsJune 26, 2024
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[Editorial] Improve safety standards
A massive fire broke out at a lithium battery plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, Monday, leaving 23 people dead and eight injured. As one of the worst chemical plant accidents in South Korea, it raises questions about the cause of the fire and the lack of safety measures. All the deceased victims were found on the second floor of the gutted warehouse at the plant of lithium battery maker Aricell, where the fire started at 10:31 a.m. Monday. Firefighters rushed to the three-story, reinforced c
EditorialJune 26, 2024
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[Grace Kao] Six degrees of Astro's JinJin
Life is full of surprises, and you never know where it will take you. This was the theme of my recent meeting and dinner with JinJin of Astro. JinJin is the leader and main rapper of the boy group. Hit singles included their bubbly debut song, “Hide & Seek,” and later songs such as “Crazy Sexy Cool,” “Blue Flame,” “After Midnight,” and “Candy Sugar Pop.” Most recently, Astro released the single “Circles” to celebrate the eig
ViewpointsJune 25, 2024
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[Editorial] Food prices too high
Food is 56 percent more expensive in Korea than in member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, according to a Bank of Korea report last week. Prices of clothing and shoes were 61 percent higher than the OECD average last year. Housing was 23 percent more expensive. On the other hand, electricity, natural gas and water bills were 36 percent cheaper than the OECD average. This is largely because the government suppresses the prices artificially for political reas
EditorialJune 25, 2024