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[Editorial] Resetting the alliance
President Lee Jae Myung’s summit with US President Donald Trump this month is expected to mark a turning point in the Korea-US alliance. It will be their first in-person meeting since Trump returned to the White House in January, and it follows Seoul’s hard-won tariff deal that secured trade terms on par with those for Japan. But economic parity is only part of the story. As security threats multiply and US foreign policy grows increasingly transactional, the summit presents an opportunity for S
Aug. 4, 2025 -
[Lee Byung-jong] Boss politics in Korea and US
Despite vastly different political histories, South Korea and the United States are beginning to resemble each other in one critical respect: the rise of boss politics. This style of personality-driven leadership, defined by charismatic control over political parties and unwavering loyalty from supporters, has become increasingly evident in both countries. It marks a shift from institutional politics to one dominated by individual influence — where dissent is punished and power is concentrated a
Aug. 1, 2025 -
[Editorial] Take down hurdles
The global success of “KPop Demon Hunters,” an animated film released on Netflix in June, has provided an unexpected boost to Korea’s soft power. The film, in which a fictional K-pop girl group battles demons with music-infused powers, has topped streaming charts in over 30 countries and propelled its soundtrack to second place on the Billboard 200. But perhaps more telling than the film’s entertainment value is what it revealed about Korea’s export potential and its limitations. While fans from
Aug. 1, 2025 -
[Wang Son-taek] Subtler signals in Kim Yo-jong’s statement
On Monday and Tuesday, Kim Yo-jong, deputy director of the North Korean Workers’ Party and sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, issued statements filled with strong and resolute language targeting both South Korea and the United States. She declared that, regarding South Korea, “We have completely exited the era of perceiving them as compatriots,” and told the US, “Contact between North Korea and the US is only America’s wish.” At first glance, these remarks might suggest that North Korea
July 31, 2025 -
[Editorial] Corporate anxiety
Two bills certain to dampen Korean companies’ activity are set to become law. The more concerning of the two is the so-called "Yellow Envelope Bill," which would revise Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act. Industrial and business circles have expressed concerns about the bill numerous times, but the government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea have pressed ahead with the legislation. The majority party on Monday passed the bill and a Commercial Law revis
July 31, 2025 -
[Editorial] Banking beyond margins
South Korea’s four largest financial groups — KB, Shinhan, Hana and Woori — posted a combined net profit of 10.33 trillion won ($7.42 billion) in the first half of 2025, setting a new record. What makes this figure striking is not only its magnitude but the underlying composition of these earnings. Despite four benchmark rate cuts by the Bank of Korea since late 2024, commercial banks promptly lowered deposit rates but were reluctant to reduce lending rates. As a result, the net interest margin
July 30, 2025 -
[Kim Seong-kon] Metamorphosis: Painful but worthwhile
Children are fascinated by the metamorphosis of an ugly caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. They are also amazed by the sight of a cute baby bird hatching from an egg. Watching these marvelous processes, children dream about their own metamorphoses that could turn them into an enchanting prince- or princess-like figure someday. The transformations that take place inside a cocoon or an eggshell occur over a prolonged waiting period. When the time comes, the gorgeous butterfly or cute baby bir
July 30, 2025 -
[Grace Kao] Real K-pop idols cover animated ‘KPop Demon Hunters’
What does it mean when real-life K-pop idols cover songs from an animated film about K-pop demon hunters inspired by K-pop? A lot, actually. The Netflix film “KPop Demon Hunters” has just reached a new milestone. It is the first Netflix film to hit a new weekly viewing high more than a month after its initial release. In week 5, it garnered 25.8 million views, its biggest week ever. It’s No. 1 among Netflix films in the US as I write. It is on its way to being one of the top 10 most-watched Netf
July 29, 2025 -
[Paul Joseph Junhwan Kang] K-dash leads Korea’s cultural future
Korea stands at a crossroads. Twenty years ago, few could have predicted that a small peninsula would become the epicenter of global cultural fascination. Today, the "K" prefix has become synonymous with excellence across industries — from entertainment to beauty, from technology to cuisine. But success breeds vulnerability, and Korea's cultural dominance now faces its greatest test: how to evolve before others replicate what made it special. The answer lies not in protecting the K-brand, but in
July 29, 2025 -
[Editorial] Improper meeting
It was recently revealed that National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik visited the incarcerated former leader of the minor Rebuilding Korea Party earlier this month. Woo met Cho Kuk in the Seoul Southern Correctional Institution on July 9, according to Yonhap News Agency on Saturday. It was a special visit, known as a "visit with change of location" in Korean. Unlike regular inmate visits, which are limited to 30 minutes, there is no time limit. Special visits also take place in a more private set
July 29, 2025 -
[Editorial] Beef and barriers
As the Aug. 1 deadline for US reciprocal tariffs approaches, South Korea faces intensifying pressure to make politically sensitive trade concessions. Nowhere is this tension more visible than in the dispute over American beef. On July 24, US President Donald Trump took to social media to praise Australia’s decision to open its beef market — including imports of cattle over 30 months old — and warned that countries refusing “magnificent” US beef were “on notice.” Among major US trade partners, So
July 28, 2025