[Robert J. Fouser] Where should next president live?

The possibility of an early presidential election in South Korea in May raises the interesting question of where the new president should live. Until President Yoon Suk Yeol, every South Korean president had lived in Cheong Wa Dae, commonly known in English as the Blue House. Located behind the main royal palace Gyeongbokgung, Cheong Wa Dae was long the center of political power in South Korea. After winning the presidency in 2022, Yoon Suk Yeol refused to live in Cheong Wa Dae, arguing that it

March 7, 2025

[Jeffrey Frankel] Trump’s imaginary victories

The torrent of far-out policy moves that Donald Trump has announced during the first month of his second presidency has left pundits struggling to find method to the madness. Some say it is all a negotiating tactic: Trump starts by staking out an extreme position, so that he later has space to exchange “concessions” with the other party without giving up anything valuable. They point to Trump’s 1987 book, “The Art of the Deal,” which encourages readers to “do things that are bold or controversia

March 6, 2025

[Editorial] Build strength

Pause of military aid to Ukraine, comment on Taiwan hint at Trump's 'deal-making' US President Donald Trump reportedly ordered a pause to all US military aid to Ukraine. The move comes just days after an argument at the Oval Office meeting in which Trump and US Vice President JD Vance upbraided Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for being insufficiently grateful for Washington's backing. Pausing aid is a step to pressure Zelenskyy into accepting Trump's plan to end the Ukraine war through pea

March 6, 2025

[Wang Son-taek] Moments that made a diplomatic fiasco

The heated exchange in the White House on Feb. 28 between US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shocked the world. The meeting was supposed to be a routine diplomatic event where national leaders exchanged opinions using calculated expressions and sophisticated language. However, what transpired shattered every fundamental element of diplomatic communication. Given the significance of this failure, a thorough review should be meaningful. W

March 6, 2025

[Editorial] Division exacerbates crisis

Rival parties stuck with wasteful wrangling amid ongoing political turmoil, economic woes The March extraordinary session of the National Assembly is set to begin Wednesday, but concerns are mounting over whether the ruling and opposition parties can handle urgent bills including a supplementary budget due to the intensifying partisan strife that has regrettably aligned with street protests over impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. Since Yoon's Dec. 3 botched martial law declaration, South Korea h

March 5, 2025

[Robert D. Atkinson] Korea’s digital gamble: Will new tech rules hurt innovation and help China?

South Korea is on the verge of making a costly mistake by copying Europe’s misguided digital competition regulations. The Korean government’s proposed competition rules for major internet platforms misunderstand how digital markets function and would actually hurt Korean consumers’ online experience. Even worse, by unfairly penalizing large American technology companies, these policies risk provoking President Trump, who is already looking for excuses to slap tariffs on adversaries and allies al

March 5, 2025

[Kim Seong-kon] The Heungbu and Nolbu traits in our minds

The story of "Heungbu and Nolbu” is one of Korea's all-time favorite folktales, together with “The Story of Sim Cheong,” “The Story of Chunhyang” and “The Fairy and the Woodcutter.” It is the story of two brothers: Heungbu is a poor, but goodhearted, empathetic little brother and Nolbu is a rich, but coldhearted, avaricious big brother. Their comparison presents us with a good parable for our time. One day, good-natured Heungu takes care of a swallow with a broken leg. The grateful swallow bring

March 5, 2025

[Editorial] Blind spot

Employment irregularities found in election commissions; inspection ruled unconstitutional The presidential audit agency said Thursday that it found irregularities in every instance of career staff recruitment conducted by Korea's election commissions for 10 years from 2013. During the 10-year period, the commissions hired experienced workers 291 times. The Board of Audit and Inspection detected 878 cases of corruption in these periodic recruitments. None of them were clean. A wide array of offi

March 4, 2025

[Vitit Muntarbhorn] Protecting children in the age of AI

The age of artificial intelligence is very much here. The term “generative AI” is now commonplace, with the public fascinated that AI can actively produce content such as written and audio creations. In fact, the world is moving toward artificial general intelligence whereby robots will be able to match and even outdo human intelligence. Aptly, its relationship with children invites reflection and precaution. On the one hand, AI can bring great benefits, building on the strengths of existing dig

March 4, 2025

[Grace Kao] Preparing for a zombie attack

I love a good zombie movie or Korean drama series. Let me convince you why you should pay attention the next time you watch one. In the United States in 2011, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an instructional guide for how to prepare for a “zombie apocalypse.” Coincidentally in April 2011, the US Defense Department issued a “secret” document titled CONOP 8888 ― otherwise known as “Counter-Zombie Dominance” ― that provided strategic instructions for how to survive a zombie

March 4, 2025

[Lee Byung-jong] Samsung’s fall vs. SK’s rise

Until recently, South Korea was often called “the Republic of Samsung.” Accounting for nearly 20 percent of the country’s total exports, Samsung Group dominated industries ranging from electronics and finance to construction. SK Group, on the other hand, was a distant second or third in terms of economic influence. Yet, in just a few years, their fortunes have reversed dramatically. Although Samsung remains Korea’s largest conglomerate, its performance has stagnated in recent years, while SK has

Feb. 28, 2025

[Editorial] Fix safety loopholes

A collapsed bridge and other disasters show the cost of inaction for Korea's safety oversight A bridge collapse at a highway construction site in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, has once again exposed the nation’s persistent safety failures. On Tuesday morning, several slabs fell from a bridge under construction on the Seoul-Sejong expressway, killing four workers and injuring six others. Emergency personnel rushed to the scene within minutes, mobilizing helicopters, fire trucks and more than 140 fi

Feb. 28, 2025

Hurry up and slow down

When I explain the Korean age system to my non-Korean friends, the inevitable question always follows: “Why?” I usually respond with a canned answer, “Such in a rush are Koreans that the clock starts at conception.” Though meant to be facetious, there is a kernel of truth to it. In South Korea, wherever you look, the clock ticks. Many see this ticking clock as a key driver behind South Korea's modern achievements. Even Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, recently remarked, “Of course, Korea is very imp

Feb. 27, 2025

[Wang Son-taek] The price of disruption and arrogation

The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution on the Russia-Ukraine war on Monday, and its contents are both astonishing and disappointing. The resolution demanded a swift end to the war between the two nations and called for sustainable peace. However, it failed to mention who initiated the invasion and who bears responsibility for this tragic conflict. This resolution marks a stark departure from the consistent position of Western nations over the past three years, which condemned R

Feb. 27, 2025

[Editorial] Veto inevitable

Democratic Party pushing Commercial Act revision that businesses adamantly oppose The ruling People Power Party will ask acting President Choi Sang-mok to veto the Commercial Act amendment that opposition parties are pushing unilaterally. Floor leader Kweon Seong-dong said the bill is anti-corporate and poses a serious threat to business management activity. Kweon urged Lee Jae-myung, chair of the Democratic Party of Korea, to scrap the market-distorting law first if he wants to lead a party for

Feb. 27, 2025