[Kim Seong-kon] The pleasure of reading alternate history novels

They say that there are no “ifs” in history because what has been done cannot be undone. Still, sometimes we cannot help but wonder, “What if things had been different?” For example, we ponder, “What if John F. Kennedy had survived the assassination attempt?” Today’s America would be completely different. We may also ask, “What if the US had not intervened in the Korean War and thus North Korea had occupied the South?” “What if General Park Chung-hee had failed in his military coup?” or “What if

April 30, 2025

[Andrei Quinn-Barabanov, Vitaliano Tobruk] Tariffs: A disruptive force in global trade

Recent developments in global trade have highlighted the disruptive impact of tariffs on businesses and economies. While commonly used to protect domestic industry, the imposition of tariffs on another country often leads to higher costs and prices, disrupts supply chains, destabilizes businesses and harms supplier relationships. Tariffs can also provoke retaliatory actions including countertariffs, government investigations into companies, export restrictions and sanctions. As South Korean busi

April 29, 2025

[Lim Woong] Rethinking good teachers in Korea

Recently, there’s been growing concern about applicants with relatively low grades being admitted to elementary teacher colleges in Korea. Many people assume that teachers’ academic performance and content knowledge directly influence their effectiveness, fueling fears of declining teaching quality. The common explanation for why lower-scoring students are accepted is straightforward: high-achieving students are increasingly uninterested in teaching careers. Why? Because teachers' authority is w

April 29, 2025

[Marcel Fratzscher] EU must revive multilateralism

US President Donald Trump’s misguided trade war against the rest of the world could mark the beginning of the end for both his political dominance and his “Make America Great Again” movement -- but only if Germany and Europe can coordinate a powerful international response. The European Commission and the outgoing German government’s biggest mistake was to signal a willingness to concede to Trump’s demands, potentially turning his economic blunder into a political victory. It should be clear by

April 28, 2025

[Yoo Choon-sik] Statistical integrity must top governance agenda

We have been witnessing an exponential increase in the frequency of writings emphasizing the value of good governance over the past several years, particularly in debates on how to ensure that artificial intelligence innovation contributes to the sustained prosperity of humanity. South Koreans are also observing a growing number of discussions on governance issues in another context — sparked by the political turmoil following former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law in early

April 28, 2025

[Lee Byung-jong] Foreign students surge in Korea

Iseut’s interest in South Korea began when she was in high school in France. Initially drawn to Japanese culture, she soon became captivated by Korea — especially its “beautiful language.” Her fascination deepened as she became an avid fan of K-pop, particularly the 13-member group Super Junior. This growing passion eventually brought her to Korea, first as a language student and later as an exchange student. Now, after more than a decade of living and studying in Korea, Iseut is set to receive

April 25, 2025

Won way, or another

They say what goes up must come down, but it isn’t usually supposed to happen at the same time. Here’s one thing that can manage it: The Korean won. The currency is down against the US dollar in April, falling from 1,470 won to as low as 1,418 won. Or should that be rising? It’s all a lot simpler if you work in euros. When the value of the euro rises, so does the usual currency exchange rate, which measures how many dollars you get for one euro. But like the Japanese yen and the Chinese yuan, th

April 25, 2025

[Mark Z. Barabak] Odd alliances in Trump lawfare

Lawfare makes for strange bedfellows. As part of his tightening grip on power, and his assault on 200-plus years of checks and balances, President Donald Trump has bludgeoned some of the nation's leading law firms into shameful submission, extracting hundreds of millions of dollars worth of free legal work for his pet causes. More significantly, the vengeful felon-in-chief has sent a clear-cut message: Oppose his heedless, plainly unconstitutional actions in court — one of the only avenues left

April 23, 2025

[Kim Seong-kon] Out of the 'Badlands' and into a 'Dreamland'

These days, we are witnessing some extraordinary global crises: territorial disputes, trade wars and ideological clashes. Many of us are worried about severe inflation and the sharp increase in prices. Others are concerned about the worldwide decline of democracy and the prospect of Orwellian societies looming everywhere. Suffice to say, many of us feel that our future has become nebulous and grim. Recently, I watched a television drama that mirrors our present and foretells our possible future.

April 23, 2025

[Song Mi-ryung] Future of rural areas starts with place-making

Since Jan. 24, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has put in place a system of a “temporary lodging facility for farming-based rural sojourn” to respond to the population decline in South Korea's rural areas. The facilities are temporary lodging facilities with a gross floor area of 33 square meters or less — not including ancillary facilities such as parking spaces and septic tanks, etc. — built on rural farmland for city dwellers to spend time at for weekend farming or farming

April 23, 2025

[Grace Kao] Americans consider leaving the US

About a month ago, I learned that three colleagues were leaving Yale for the University of Toronto. Philosophy professor Jason Stanley, history professors Timothy Snyder and Marci Shore are not only senior scholars at Yale, all three study fascism. Stanley appeared in many media outlets — The Guardian, PBS, The Atlantic, etc. — explicitly noting that America’s slide into authoritarianism and fascism is a major impetus for his departure. Are their departures a sign of an impending mass exodus of

April 22, 2025

[Lee Kyong-hee] Next president and seat of power

The most important elements in real estate are said to be location, location and location. Where someone works and lives projects status. Moreover, the presidential mansion stands for the head of state’s power and authority as well as the country’s history and tradition. By June 4, a day after the early presidential election, we should know who will replace ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol. The election will turn the page on a sordid tenure. The early favorites of the snap election already are pos

April 21, 2025

[Patricia Lopez] Trump open to deporting US citizens

The White House made it clear during a visit from Nayib Bukele, the president of El Salvador, that it plans to let Kilmar Abrego Garcia rot in the brutal prison to which — as the administration has admitted in court — he was deported by mistake. The spectacle in the Oval Office on Monday was chilling. President Donald Trump warmly greeted Bukele and called him a “great friend.” Bukele, who brands himself as the “coolest dictator” in the world, won smiles from Trump as the two men agreed that the

April 21, 2025

Sleepless in April

For a week every April, like clockwork, my sleeping habits are thrown into complete disarray. It’s not jet lag, a deadline or a marathon drama binge. No, it’s the Masters golf tournament. Each year, I find myself staying up into the early hours, eyes glued to the television, watching the iconic fairways of Augusta National unfold in cinematic glory. While the days are a blur of yawns and caffeine, as soon as the nighttime broadcast kicks in, something clicks. Suddenly, I’m wide awake, fully aler

April 18, 2025

[Robert J. Fouser] Lee Jae-myung in the lead

After a long wait, the South Korean Constitutional Court removed Yoon Suk Yeol from the presidency in a unanimous decision on April 4. The decision triggered a snap election set for June 3. In the two weeks since, potential candidates have made their intentions clear, and the outlines of the race have formed. As things stand now, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is expected to receive the party’s nomination. After Yoon’s removal, the conservative People Pow

April 18, 2025