[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

[Editorial] Response to tariffs

Hyundai unveils large US investment amid fears of investment, job loss in Korea Hyundai Motor Group was promised a tariff exemption in return for a large investment in the US. Alongside US President Donald Trump and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry at the White House on Monday, Hyundai Chairman Chung Euisun announced a plan to make an additional $21 billion investment in the US over the next four years. It would be the group's largest investment in the US to date. Hyundai has become the first Korean c

March 27, 2025

[Editorial] Tough challenges ahead

On his return to office, Han Duck-soo needs to tackle a host of national issues Prime Minister Han Duck-soo returned to office as acting president on Monday after the Constitutional Court dismissed his impeachment, a closely-watched ruling for its impact on state affairs of South Korea that has been mired in political turmoil, economic obstacles and social division. The Constitutional Court’s ruling on Han drew keen attention as it could offer a clue over the court’s forthcoming verdict on the i

March 26, 2025

[Editorial] Keep up cooperation

Top diplomats from South Korea, China, Japan meet amid closer NK-Russia ties The top diplomats from South Korea, China and Japan met in Tokyo on Saturday. Their meeting came a year and four months after their last gathering in Busan, South Korea, in November 2023. It is noteworthy that they met a day after top Russian security official Sergei Shoigu visited Pyongyang, demonstrating the cozy relationship between Russia and North Korea. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul said in a joint pre

March 25, 2025

[Editorial] Enough is enough

Opposition parties must rethink motion to impeach acting President Choi Sang-mok How many impeachment motions does South Korea need to stabilize its political turmoil? In the eyes of the opposition parties, filing a 30th impeachment motion seems to be okay — a questionable stance at a time when the country badly needs to address a protracted leadership vacuum in the face of challenges both at home and abroad. On Friday, the main opposition the Democratic Party of Korea and four minor opposition

March 24, 2025