[Editorial] Populist pledges

The conservative ruling People Power Party has adopted a 40-hour, 4.5-day workweek as one of its campaign pledges ahead of the June 3 presidential election. Under this pledge, employees would need to work one extra hour per day Monday through Thursday, increasing the workday from eight to nine hours. On Friday, employees would then work 4 hours only, according to the scheme. The current statutory minimum of 40 hours per week would be maintained, while the number of workdays could be reduced to 4

April 17, 2025

[Editorial] A fracture in the lecture hall

South Korea’s medical sector has been in turmoil ever since former President Yoon Suk Yeol attempted to barrel through with his controversial reform policy, which initially included a major increase in the medical school enrollment quota of 2,000 places per year for five years. Yoon's push triggered an intense backlash, leading to mass walkouts by trainee doctors and medical students. Although Yoon was removed from office after the Constitutional Court upheld his impeachment on April 4, the 14-m

April 16, 2025

[Editorial] Growing safety risks

A subway tunnel construction site in the city of Gwangmyeong, just south of Seoul, collapsed Friday. An excavator operator in his 20s was rescued underground 13 hours after the collapse. Another worker presumed to be located 35 to 40 meters underground has not been found yet. A section of the six-lane road above ground caved in, and several buildings were damaged. Luckily, signs of anomalies were sensed shortly before the collapse so the road could be controlled, preventing a greater loss of lif

April 15, 2025

[Editorial] Post-presidency pitfalls

South Korea’s unprecedented political turmoil has entered a new phase with the court’s verdict that upheld the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed attempt to place the nation under martial law in December 2024. As the country is now set to elect a new president on June 3, presidential hopefuls are taking steps to launch their bids officially. But there is one person whom neither the ruling nor the opposition parties can afford to ignore: former President Yoon, who could still

April 14, 2025

[Editorial] Winds of uncertainty

South Korea faces mounting pressure amid tariff tensions, currency woes, fiscal strain The global market received a much-needed reprieve on Thursday after US President Donald Trump unexpectedly put his extreme "reciprocal" tariffs on pause for 90 days. As with other nations, however, South Korea still faces multiple challenges, including a ballooning fiscal deficit, dizzying gyrations in the local currency and negative economic projections. South Korea’s stock market, which plunged into a tailsp

April 11, 2025

[Editorial] Persistent clash

Han's nomination of Constitutional Court justices stirs controversy, strife Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo nominated Minister of Government Legislature Lee Wan-kyu and Seoul High Court senior judge Ham Sang-hoon as successors to Constitutional Court Justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-son, who retire from their posts on April 18. Han appointed Ma Eun-hyuk as a justice of the court. If Lee and Ham are appointed following confirmation hearings, all nine seats of the Constitutional

April 10, 2025

[Editorial] Dispute over Constitution

Korea faces critical choice over referendum on revision of Constitution on Election Day With the early presidential election now set for June 3, South Korea’s politics has raised a critical issue related to the ouster of President Yoon Suk Yeol: a revision of the Constitution aimed at keeping the president’s power at bay. The Constitutional Court unanimously voted to remove Yoon from office on Friday, upholding his impeachment case and capping months of political turmoil caused by his failed att

April 9, 2025

[Editorial] Trade war intensifies

China takes retaliatory steps against US tariffs; Extra budget, elaborate strategies needed China will impose a reciprocal 34 percent tariff on all imports from the US from April 10. It also placed export restrictions on rare earth elements. These moves are being made in retaliation for US tariffs on all Chinese goods imported into the US. Then, US President Donald Trump said, "China has been hit much harder than the USA, and told Americans to "hang tough, though it won't be easy." China and the

April 8, 2025

[Editorial] Post-impeachment tasks

South Korea enters a new phase after court upholds impeachment of Yoon South Korea’s Constitutional Court unanimously decided to uphold the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday, marking an end to his trouble-laden presidency less than three years after it began. The landmark ruling not only wrapped up a disturbing chapter of executive overreach but also reaffirmed the enduring strength of South Korean democracy. But the country still confronts a slew of challenges in the comin

April 7, 2025

[Editorial] Do not fan the flames

Political tensions surge ahead of ruling on impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol As South Korea’s Constitutional Court prepares to deliver its ruling on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday, the nation stands at a precarious crossroads. Yoon was impeached by the National Assembly on Dec 14, following his attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3 — a move that threw the country into political upheaval. He was detained on Jan. 15 on charges of insurrection but released on March 8 d

April 4, 2025

[Editorial] Build up strength

Concerns about possible US-NK talks and USFK role adjustment US President Donald Trump has hinted at the possibility of restarting talks with North Korea. Asked by a reporter at the White House on Monday about whether he plans to reach out to North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong-un, Trump said, “Well, I do.” Trump said there is communication with North Korea. He called North Korea a “big nuclear nation.” Though Trump did not elaborate on the communication, it is quite obvious that Washington wil

April 3, 2025

[Editorial] No time to waste

Parties must hammer out bipartisan deal to pass supplementary budget in April South Korea’s ruling and opposition parties are wrangling over the details of a supplementary budget proposal, raising many eyebrows amid concerns that such arguments are only delaying the relief efforts needed to recover from the massive wildfires that ravaged the country’s southeastern region. The South Korean government proposed a supplementary budget worth at least 10 trillion won ($6.8 billion) on Sunday. Previous

April 2, 2025

[Editorial] Intensifying turmoil

Opposition warns it will impeach all ministers; ruling party vows to file complaint South Korea's rival parties have ratcheted up the political strife as the Constitutional Court continues to delay the announcement of its verdict over whether it will uphold suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment for his Dec. 3 martial law declaration -- now almost four months ago. Rep. Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, put pressure on Prime Minister and acting

April 1, 2025

[Editorial] Devastating wildfires

South Korea needs to swiftly help people hit by wildfires, overhaul response system South Korea has suffered the worst wildfire disaster in its history in the past week, which has left a horrifying scar on the country’s southeastern region. The unprecedented destruction and the casualties not only saddened people across the nation but also raised serious questions about South Korea’s capacity to handle large-scale natural disasters like wildfires. The massive wildfires, which started March 22 an

March 31, 2025

[Editorial] Legal reprieve for Lee

Lee Jae-myung clears one legal hurdle, still confronts scrutiny of leadership Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, was acquitted on appeal of violating election law on Wednesday — a dramatic reversal of a lower court’s ruling that had threatened to derail his political ambitions. The Seoul High Court ruled that Lee’s public statements in 2021, previously deemed violations of the Public Official Election Act, did not constitute the dissemination of false informa

March 28, 2025