[Editorial] Keep your promise

Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea, on Sunday proposed amending the nation's Constitution to allow a president to serve two four-year terms. He said the two-term presidency would not apply to the sitting president, as specified by the current Constitution. This means that if he is elected as the next president, he would serve a single five-year term even if the Constitution is amended while in office. His proposal strengthens the power of the National

May 20, 2025

[Lee Jae-min] Getting it restarted: This time let’s try a ‘soft approach’ for real consensus building

The world is getting hotter and hotter. The Geneva-based World Meteorological Organization’s report last January confirmed that 2024 was the warmest year on record. What’s even more startling is that the previous 10 years (2015-2024) were the warmest decade registered. We are feeling the heat, too. The National Institute of Fisheries Science of Korea reported that the country’s seawater in 2024 recorded the highest temperature (18.74 degrees Celsius) since 1968. No doubt climate change brings ab

May 20, 2025

[Grace Kao] Kitsch from DEVO to K-pop

I have one big regret from my college days at the University of California, Berkeley. I chose to attend my Japanese class rather than watch a free concert by the 1980s New Wave Group Devo. There are costs to being a serious student. Earlier this month, I remedied my mistake. I attended their concert, part of their 50th Anniversary tour. Devo is an abbreviation of the term de-evolution, and refers to the decline of humanity. The members hail from Ohio and they were art students at Kent State Univ

May 20, 2025

[Lee Kyong-hee] Time to talk about hope, at long last

A week into official campaigns, the presidential race lacks the usual tension between major contenders, with opinion polls showing Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee Jae-myung headed for a resounding victory even if the People Power Party and New Reform Party suddenly unite behind one candidate. Hence, the June 3 early election will put the nation’s sharply polarized political sides at a crossroads. Will the People Power Party, the flagbearer of Korean conservatism and deeply entrenched ves

May 19, 2025

[Editorial] A resignation too late

As South Korea’s presidential election approaches on June 3, former President Yoon Suk Yeol formally left the conservative People Power Party on Saturday and urged voters to rally behind the party’s embattled presidential candidate, Kim Moon-soo. Yoon’s departure came not from a moment of clarity or political integrity but from growing unrest within the People Power Party, which has struggled to reconcile its democratic image with a former leader tainted by constitutional disgrace. On April 4, Y

May 19, 2025

[Robert J. Fouser] Comparing Seoul and Tokyo

Seoul and Tokyo are two of the most populous capital cities in the world and often invite comparison. I took advantage of the opportunity after returning to Seoul from a recent visit to Tokyo. Both cities are not only the capital of their respective nations, but also the most dominant cities of their respective countries in nearly all areas of human activity. Despite this basic similarity, several significant differences emerge that affect the vibe of each. City populations vary depending on how

May 16, 2025

[Editorial] Tariff pause, strategic push

The US and China — the world’s two largest economies — agreed Monday to a 90-day suspension of their escalating tariff war, reducing duties from a punishing 145 percent to 30 percent on US imports from China, and from 125 percent to 10 percent in the reverse direction. While this temporary truce may ease immediate pressure, it offers no resolution. For South Korea, the implications are complex — a brief opening and a sharp warning. South Korea, whose economy is built on export-led growth, is dee

May 16, 2025

[Editorial] Absurd clause

The full story of an apparent Chinese espionage maneuver to obtain military secrets through a South Korean active duty soldier was revealed Monday. A Chinese national was indicted last month in connection with the case. The indictment, secured by the office of Joo Jin-woo, a National Assembly member of the ruling People Power Party, was disclosed to the media on Tuesday. According to the indictment, the Defense Counterintelligence Command caught the man trying to get USBs containing sensitive mi

May 15, 2025

[Martin Schram] Speak truth to the nuclear powerless

Ever since those two mushroom clouds darkened the skies above the fiery hell that was Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the world’s two nuclear superpowers somehow found ways to work together -- even in times of intense conflict -- to prevent the world from plunging itself into all out nuclear war. Yet, although we have gone 80 years without another nuclear bomb being detonated as an act of war, the fear of The Bomb remains as menacing as ever. This past week, we have been watching a nightmarish, longest

May 14, 2025

[Kim Seong-kon] We need a leader of 'duty and honor'

On June 3, 2025, the Korean people will elect their new president, who will lead the country for five years. Undoubtedly, the future of South Korea will depend on what kind of leader Koreans will choose at that time. In the eyes of some foreign experts, South Korea is now at the crossroads of a capitalist country with a free-market economy and a socialist country where the government controls everything. South Korea is also caught in the crossfire of a trade war between two warring countries. Un

May 14, 2025

[Editorial] Election race begins

With just three weeks until South Korea’s presidential election on June 3, the race has officially begun. On Monday, the seven declared candidates launched their campaigns, but early polls show the contest is mainly focused on a two-way battle. A poll released by Hangil Research on Tuesday showed that Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea led with 49.5 percent support. Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party followed at 38.2 percent. Lee Jun-seok of the minor conserv

May 14, 2025

[Editorial] Lowest in economic growth

South Korea posted the lowest economic growth rate among 19 major economies in the first quarter. The global economy is embroiled in unprecedented uncertainties caused by a tariff war that the US started and a renewed trade protectionism. Slowed growth has become the reality of many major economies, but the nosedive of South Korea's growth rate is obviously a matter that Koreans should think hard. According to the Bank of Korea, the Korean real gross domestic product -- a key measure of economic

May 13, 2025

[Lim Woong] True profanity: Hypocrisy in high places

While student rulebooks routinely label swearing as a form of misconduct, the reality in today’s classrooms is far more nuanced. Many teachers find it hard to address, as students often use offensive language casually — sometimes to vent frustration, sometimes to assert identity, and at times, unfortunately, to wound others. Yet research shows that swearing, when used with intent and in the right context, can have psychological benefits. It can increase pain tolerance, enhance physical performan

May 13, 2025

[Amrit Amirapu, Arvind Subramanian] Manufacturing-led export strategies still make sense

With the specter of deglobalization looming large, developing economies are scrambling to devise new growth strategies. The most effective path to development in recent history -- specializing in export-oriented, unskilled labor-intensive manufacturing -- now appears to be blocked. The model that once propelled the economies of South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, China and Vietnam is becoming less accessible for countries in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. What made the traditional development mo

May 12, 2025

[Yoo Choon-sik] Warnings over Korea’s economy

Warnings about serious economic conditions do more than simply forecast impending difficulties — they serve as urgent calls to action, urging individuals, institutions and nations to adjust their course before a disaster strikes. These warnings are not just theoretical predictions but critical signals meant to prompt meaningful changes before circumstances worsen beyond repair. One example of an advance warning having a positive effect is when an individual alters their lifestyle after receiving

May 12, 2025