Articles by Kim Myong-sik
Kim Myong-sik
-
[Kim Myong-sik] 8th Army relocation and new concept of war
It was regrettable that Vice Defense Minister Lee Joo-suk had to represent the Korean government in the significant ceremony last week marking the opening of the new headquarters of the US Forces in Korea in Pyeongtaek because of domestic political complications. President Moon Jae-in had just returned home from attending the G-20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, the day before, and newly appointed Defense Minister Song Young-moo had yet to receive his letter of appointment at the Blue House because
Viewpoints July 19, 2017
-
[Kim Myong-sik] Moon’s populist approach to nuclear decisions
South Korea is at a crossroads in both the peaceful and military uses of nuclear power. The Moon Jae-in government shut down the oldest nuclear power plant in the nation and then announced a halt to two reactor construction projects, envisioning a total phasing out of nuclear energy in a few decades. In the area of military use, the new government says it remains committed to the international nonproliferation regime, but public opinion is turning heavily in favor of going nuclear. The governmen
Viewpoints July 5, 2017
-
[Kim Myong-sik] What change of power means in Korea
What does it mean to have a change of power in the Republic of Korea? Quite disturbingly, it means that the most prestigious medical facility in the nation rewrites the death certificate for a civic activist who died after being hit by police water cannon during a violent demonstration. It also means that the head of the National Police Agency publicly apologizes to the family of the dead more than 19 months after the incident and nine months after his death. When the Seoul National University H
Viewpoints June 21, 2017
-
[Kim Myong-sik] Moon’s tightrope walk in THAAD politics
From my new home in Gimpo, I can see a lot of Republic of Korea Marines at checkpoints and coastal strips, in open trucks moving to and from exercise sites and even in “makguksu” noodle restaurants where they spend time with their families on weekend visits. Marines are a proud bunch of people. Their octagonal service caps, red-and-yellow name tags and beige suede boots look good and so do their sprightly movements with which they seem to distinguish themselves from other service members. I hear
Viewpoints June 7, 2017
-
[Kim Myong-sik] Moon’s discreet steps for post-election stability
Gallup Korea has assessed an 87 percent approval rate for President Moon Jae-in (saying he “will do well for the next 5 years”) in the second week after he took office on May 10. This high rate of endorsement for Moon, who was elected with 41.4 percent of votes cast in the May 9 election, is surprising. Pollsters and analysts attribute the figure to a number of image factors that portrayed a “real person” who breathes and works in the middle of the people, in contrast to his reclusive predecess
Viewpoints May 24, 2017
-
[Kim Myong-sik] Most difficult presidential task: National security
Moon Jae-in enters the Blue House with the heaviest presidential task ever: protecting the security of the nation’s 50 million people under the worst possible circumstances. He has to do this with 41 percent of popular support and only 119 seats in the 299-member legislature. The unsuccessful presidential candidates have done their best during the short two-month campaign and are poised to be possible strong contenders for the next presidency. Dispirited though they might be now, they might acc
Viewpoints May 10, 2017
Most Popular
-
1
Medical profs at top hospitals suspend surgeries, clinics
-
2
Exports to US reach all-time high, widen gap with China
-
3
Trump rekindles criticism: US forces defending 'wealthy' S. Korea 'free of charge'
-
4
Samsung chip business back on track, logs W1.9tr operating profit in Q1
-
5
Shinsegae faces showdown with investors over SSG.com's delayed IPO
-
6
[Music in drama] Rekindle a love that slipped through your fingers
-
7
Ex-pro baseball player who killed debtor appeals sentence
-
8
Hopes rise for possible Gaza truce deal
-
9
S. Korea discussed possible participation in AUKUS Pillar 2 with Australia: defense minister
-
10
[New faces of Assembly] Architect behind ‘audacious initiative’ believes in denuclearized North Korea