Most Popular
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BTS, NewJeans fandoms clash over Hybe-Min Hee-jin conflict
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N. Korea launches missiles in latest show of military, nuclear strength
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High temperatures may worsen mental health conditions: study
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Samsung chief travels to France to encourage young talents
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Korean battery makers zero in on global commercial EV market
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Yoon leaves for Prague to cement nuclear energy push
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N. Korea fires multiple short-range ballistic missiles: JCS
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[Off the Pages] German bestseller gets new twist in ‘Snow White Must Die -- Black Out’
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4th case of lumpy skin disease confirmed in S. Korea
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Main opposition to railroad multiple contentious bills after Chuseok
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[Editorial] No tolerance for violence
South Korea’s political scene hit turbulence when Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, was stabbed in the neck during a visit to the southeastern port city of Busan on Tuesday, a shocking physical attack that sparked a chorus of condemnation from the public as well as political figures. The Democratic Party chair was stabbed on the left side of his neck by a man who disguised himself as an autograph-seeking supporter Tuesday morning. The suspect, who was
Jan. 4, 2024
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[Editorial] The right not to know
The tragic death of actor Lee Sun-kyun last week has ignited criticism against the police for not complying with its own press guidelines, and the media for reckless coverage of private details that most people do not want to, or need to, know. Since October, Lee stood in front of hundreds of flashing cameras on three different occasions and apologized to the public for “causing concern” before he entered the police building for questioning on his alleged use of prohibited substances
Jan. 3, 2024
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[Editorial] Security void
Starting this year, the National Intelligence Service has taken its hands off anticommunist investigations entirely, handing the job to the police, who have taken full charge. Anticommunist investigations target violations of the National Security Law, such as espionage and anti-government activities. It was one of the main duties of the intelligence agency. The police say they are well prepared to assume the role, but public concern is still great. The previous Moon Jae-in administration pushed
Jan. 2, 2024
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[Editorial] Fix 52-hour workweek
The Supreme Court’s latest ruling on the 52-hour workweek system is expected to offer some relief to companies as well as workers in need of a more flexible allocation of work hours without violating related laws. But the dispute still lingers over possible side effects of the ruling, calling for remedy in labor policy. The top court on Monday overturned some part of the lower courts’ rulings that found an owner of a flight cabin cleaning company in violation of the Labor Standards A
Dec. 29, 2023
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[Editorial] The first lady conundrum
The Democratic Party of Korea, which holds majority control of the National Assembly, is set to pass a bill Thursday to appoint a special counsel to investigate first lady Kim Keon Hee over her alleged involvement in stock price manipulation that took place between 2010 and 2012. Under the previous Moon Jae-in administration, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office investigated the allegations against Kim for a year and half, but failed to indict her. The court ruled on the Deutsch
Dec. 28, 2023
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[Editorial] Supply chain risk
Conflict over supply chains is deepening between the US and China. China on Thursday banned the export of technology to extract and separate rare earths, materials used to manufacture a wide array of high-tech products. Beijing stresses protecting national security and public interest as the main reasons, but it seems to have made a countermove to a US move to expand restrictions on trade with China. Prior to the Chinese ban, the US said it will launch a survey to identify how US companies are s
Dec. 27, 2023
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[Editorial] Policies for older people
Both the ruling and main opposition parties are now rushing to announce new election pledges targeting the elderly in a bid to win more seats in the forthcoming general election in April next year. In rapidly aging South Korea, it is no surprise that politicians are catering to this important voter group. But the question is whether generous -- or populist in the eyes of critics -- election pledges can be implemented without securing enough funds. Last week, both President Yoon Suk Yeol and Demo
Dec. 26, 2023
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[Editorial] Ailing party's best bet
Han Dong-hoon accepted his new post as interim leader of the ruling party and resigned as justice minister on Thursday. The daring and relatively articulate former prosecutor seems to be the torpid party’s best bet. The ruling People Power Party has been powerless ever since the last general elections in 2020, and is terrified of another crushing defeat in the upcoming vote in April. With the Democratic Party of Korea holding the majority in the National Assembly and thus, the power to pas
Dec. 22, 2023
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[Editorial] Reduce security risks
President Yoon Suk Yeol nominated his national security adviser Cho Tae-yong as director of the National Intelligence Service and Cho Tae-yul, a former second vice foreign minister, as foreign minister. Considering Yoon's appointments of Kim Yung-ho and Shin Won-sik as the unification and defense ministers in August and October, respectively, the president has effectively completed his new diplomacy and security team. They have a lot on their shoulders now that the tension around the Korean
Dec. 21, 2023
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[Editorial] Fears of negative growth
South Korea’s economic growth has been tepid in recent years, with experts calling for drastic measures to shore up sagging productivity and the shrinking working-age population. And a new report highlights the forthcoming crisis: a negative growth from 2042, a mere 19 years from now. The report, issued by the Economic Research Institute of the Bank of Korea, paints a truly gloomy picture for the country in the 2030s and 2040s unless the country deals with its sluggish productivity and plu
Dec. 20, 2023
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[Editorial] Boost military intel
North Korea fired its fifth intercontinental ballistic missile this year into the East Sea on Monday morning, just 10 hours after it launched a short-range ballistic missile Sunday night as it reviled South Korea and the US over their latest show of resolve against the North’s nuclear provocations. A US nuclear-powered submarine arrived in Busan on Sunday, after South Korea and the US said “any nuclear attack by North Korea against the US or its allies will result in the end of the K
Dec. 19, 2023
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[Editorial] Self-serving ex-activists?
In the National Policy Committee of the National Assembly on Thursday, the Democratic Party of Korea, which holds a majority in the Assembly, passed a bill to treat democratization movement contributors as “persons of distinguished service to the state,” amid protest by members of the ruling People Power Party. In a bid to prevent the opposition party from rushing the bill, the People Power Party requested the creation of a six-member panel under the committee that must deliberate th
Dec. 18, 2023
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[Editorial] Support singletons
The South Korean government has long pushed for policies aimed at supporting what is considered a typical form of families with more than two members: two parents and a child or two. But it’s time to acknowledge that such a traditional concept does not work any longer, as over one third of Korean households are single-person households, and the share of these smallest of family units has been on a steady rise in recent years. According to Statistics Korea, 7.5 million Korean nationals were
Dec. 15, 2023
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[Editorial] Get the job done
The preliminary candidate registration for the general election on April 10 opened this week, but once again, rival parties are dragging their feet to set electoral boundaries and rules. Those who sign up as preliminary candidates can open an election office, hire up to three paid staff members, launch a fundraising organization, make phone calls, give out name cards and wear a sash to make themselves known. Introduced in 2004, the preliminary registration system is designed to provide opportuni
Dec. 14, 2023
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[Editorial] Normalize the judiciary
The most urgent task for Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, who was inaugurated in a ceremony Monday, is to do away with judiciary distrust stoked by his predecessor, Kim Myeong-su. Distrust of the court was fanned by trial delays, among other factors. It took three years and nine months to issue first-trial sentences against former Justice Minister Cho Kuk and two years and five months for Yoon Mi-hyang, an independent lawmaker. Cho was indicted in connection with his children’s unlawful universi
Dec. 13, 2023
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[Editorial] Regulating AI
The European Union agreed Friday to a set of new controls aimed at regulating artificial intelligence, marking the world’s first attempt to put limits on the use of fast-evolving technology that generates both positive and negative responses. The EU’s new law, called the “AI Act,” is yet to be formally approved by the European Parliament and the bloc’s 27 member states, but Friday’s political agreement signals that the legislation’s key points have been
Dec. 12, 2023
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[Editorial] Did 'people come first'?
The state audit agency released last week the final results of its yearlong inspection into North Korea’s killing of a South Korean government official who drifted into the North’s waters in the West Sea in 2020. Relevant government agencies under the Moon Jae-in administration at the time -- the presidential National Security Office, the Coast Guard, the Unification and Defense Ministries, and the National Intelligence Service -- did virtually nothing to save the South Korean citize
Dec. 11, 2023
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[Editorial] Mental health care matters
As far as mental health care is concerned, South Korea has grim statistics. Over 1 million people suffer from depression, suicide rates remain stubbornly high and a growing number of people are seeking medical help. Worse, doctors and medical facilities meant to treat patients suffering from mental illness are in short supply. To address the serious situation, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration on Tuesday unveiled a comprehensive initiative to overhaul and improve the mental health care system --
Dec. 8, 2023
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[Editorial] Diversify imports
The Chinese customs authorities recently suspended shipment of industrial urea to South Korea. They are said to have held off urea shipments as a short supply of the raw material at home is looming. Reportedly, major Chinese fertilizer producers will stop exporting urea until the end of the first half of next year to meet domestic peak-season demand. These developments raise concerns in Korea about yet another severe shortage of urea solution. Beijing's urea export curbs two years ago cause
Dec. 7, 2023
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[Editorial] Lessons from botched bid
Busan lost its bid to host the World Expo 2030 last week after spending hundreds of billions of won over the course of a year and half. President Yoon Suk Yeol apologized to South Koreans saying that it was all his fault, and the mayor of Busan said his city is considering trying again for the next expo in 2035. The fact that the South Korean bidding team, at least officially, didn’t see Riyadh’s landslide victory coming until the last minute was disconcerting. The Saudi Arabian capi
Dec. 6, 2023