[Yoo Choo-sik] Politics has role to play to stop won’s troubles

In a narrow sense, the exchange rate of a country’s currency is determined by the flow of funds across the border for transactions involving goods, services and investment assets. However, longer-term exchange rate trends are widely considered to reflect overall perceptions of the country's economic fundamentals. Economic fundamentals not only refer to quantitative measures such as gross domestic product, current account balance, stock prices, foreign investment and consumer prices, but also enc

Jan. 6, 2025

[Lee Byung-jong] South Korea’s darkest hour?

This New Year dawns under a shadow in South Korea, absent the usual joy and optimism. Instead, the country is beset by a series of crises that weigh heavily on its spirit. The impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol and the ensuing political instability is just one facet of the turmoil. Economically, stagnant exports are reeling under pressure, with further damage anticipated from the protectionist policies of the incoming Trump administration. Adding to the collective grief, the tragic plane cra

Jan. 3, 2025

[Wang Son-taek] Six priorities facing South Korea in 2025

Everyone speaks of hope in the new year -- progress, promotion, growth, acceptance, and so on. They count their wishes and dream of another wonderful life in the new year. For Koreans entering 2025, however, hopeful wishes are luxuries. Last year, there were too many national incidents and accidents, and the Korean society and people should focus on healing what has been damaged and extended to the new year. The priority is to normalize a situation in which significant disruptions to the operati

Jan. 2, 2025

[Kim Seong-kon] Greeting the New Year, 2025

We greet every New Year’s Day with high hopes and expectations for the unknown future. The thought that a whole new year is ahead of us always makes our hearts flutter. As the year begins, therefore, we give all our blessings to the world and make new plans, hoping that they come true in the upcoming months. However, this New Year’s Day is different. Instead of being hopeful, we feel rather uneasy because the political turmoil in our country means the upcoming year is deeply uncertain. For one t

Jan. 2, 2025

[Mariana Mazzucato] Good growth requires right public-private partnerships

The United Kingdom’s Labour government has given serious thought to the public investment needed to get the economy back on track after 14 years of austerity, neglect of social infrastructure, and capital flight triggered by Brexit and uncertain economic conditions. It understands that the situation demands a new strategy to tackle big problems like child poverty, health inequities, a weak industrial base and struggling public infrastructure. What should this look like? The UK Department for Bus

Dec. 31, 2024

[Yvette Wohn] No funeral wreaths for the living

As someone who researches hate speech, I have seen my share of creative ways in which people try to abuse and insult others, but I was completely shocked when I saw funeral wreaths being used in Korea as a way to protest against celebrities and believe it is a form of toxic fan culture that needs to stop. For those who are not familiar, a funeral wreath in Korea is a tall, free-standing floral arrangement, much like a one-sided Christmas tree, composed of white flowers. This floral tower is sent

Dec. 31, 2024

[Meredith Sumpter] Alaska’s successful election system

At the end of a bitter and closely divided election season, there’s a genuine bright spot for democracy from our 49th state: Alaskans decided to keep the state’s system of open primaries and ranked choice voting because it is working. This is good news not only for Alaska, but for all of us ready for a government that works together to get things done for voters. Alaska’s new system has only been in place for two years. Yet, voters protected it from a repeal effort driven from the extremes becau

Dec. 30, 2024

[Lee Kyong-hee] Warmongers, shamans and plastic surgery

South Koreans obviously will remember December 2024 for the rapid quashing of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law decree and his impeachment. But if allegations surrounding his self-coup prove true, the back story will not take a backseat when judging how sinisterly Yoon behaved. The allegations paint a picture of a leader who not only put his nation’s democracy at risk but also its security to gain traction on his stalled policy goals. The imminent question before the Constitutional Court is

Dec. 30, 2024

[Room Tone] Live TV in an on-demand world

Korean television broadcasting officially began in the aftermath of the Korean War, as the nation sought to rebuild and modernize. The first television station, HLKZ-TV Channel 9, was established in 1956, marking a significant milestone in Korean media history. Broadcasting in black and white, HLKZ-TV primarily aired educational programs, cultural content and news, reflecting the developmental aspirations of the time. In July of that same year, HLKZ-TV made history by airing “Heaven’s Gate,” Kor

Dec. 27, 2024

[Robert J. Fouser] 2025, a challenging year ahead

The end of 2024 also marks the beginning of the second half of the 2020s. Decades often develop a distinct image that reflects historical events and cultural trends. After two decades that are hard to classify, the 2020s have so far been the decade of rotating crises. The decade opened with the worst pandemic in a hundred years. That was followed in 2022 by the first major war in Europe since World War II as Russia invaded Ukraine. Then, in 2023, the Middle East exploded after Hamas’ attack on I

Dec. 27, 2024

[Career Compass] Expectation-setting meeting to jump-start work relationship

How do you jump-start working with your new team members and become an effective manager? One of my mentees working in Singapore is getting promoted in January, leading a team of five people. She was determined to become “the best boss on earth,” but, as this was her first time managing others, she sought my advice on crafting a thoughtful and effective approach. A suggestion I offered was to hold an “expectation-setting meeting” within the first month with each of her direct reports. It is stra

Dec. 26, 2024

[Wang Son-taek] Misconception of People Power Party

Three weeks have passed since the insurrection by President Yoon Suk Yeol in the name of martial law declaration. Many things have happened and are happening. President Yoon was impeached at the National Assembly, and the Constitutional Court began deliberation on Yoon’s impeachment. Law enforcement is investigating the insurrection charge. However, people do not feel comfortable watching the impeachment trial or investigations. The international community is also paying close attention to Korea

Dec. 26, 2024

[Park In-jo] Discover, develop science talent early

At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, South Korea ranked eighth in the world. The outstanding achievements of Korean athletes can be attributed in some part to the athletic specialist system established in the 1960s and to corporate support for athletes since the 1980s. Why not apply the early discovery and training system for athletic talent and corporate support for athletes to develop scientific talent? Individuals make career decisions based on their interests and on expectations of wealth a

Dec. 26, 2024

[Kim Seong-kon] I am dreaming of a colorful Christmas

Every Christmas Day, I like to reminisce about the fabulous, colorful Christmas trees I saw on Michigan Avenue in Chicago in 1978. The sparkling electric light bulbs and multicolored ornaments on the trees in the streets and inside shop windows were dazzling and fabulous. If you have ever had the experience of looking down upon Los Angeles from a descending airplane at night, you must have felt the same awe and adoration that I felt when I saw those Christmas trees. LA’s colorful night scenery i

Dec. 25, 2024

[Wondong Lee, Joseph Yi] South Korea’s democracy at a crossroads: Rhetoric, polarization and institutional erosion.

South Korea’s impeachment votes against President Yoon Suk Yeol, unsuccessfully on Dec. 7 and successfully on Dec. 14, following his Dec. 3 martial law declaration, highlight the deep fractures within the country’s political landscape and the erosion of democratic norms that have long underpinned its institutions. Rather than serving as a moment of democratic reaffirmation, the impeachment attempts devolved into another proxy battlefield in the polarized war between progressives and conservative

Dec. 24, 2024