[Joseph Yi, Wondong Lee] Korea’s crisis: Sacrificing for the greater good

The current political climate in South Korea is increasingly defined by a politics of elimination -- the idea that democratic enemies must be sacrificed for the greater good. However, this approach is neither grounded in empirical reality nor conducive to a stable and functioning government capable of addressing crises at home and abroad. In the second season of Netflix's hit series “Squid Game” (spoiler alert), the protagonist sacrifices innocent players to eliminate the true enemy. A similar d

Jan. 7, 2025

[Grace Kao] Talk of death motivates living life to its fullest

As many of my friends and family members know, I talk a lot about death. Sometimes about my own, but I also remind others of their mortality. I even work it into my classes when I talk about life tables and life expectancies. This topic is not welcome by anyone I know, but I can’t help myself. Still, I believe that thinking about our individual mortality can be useful to our lives, even if it is morbid. During the past week, there has been so much news of death, so this topic is on my mind even

Jan. 7, 2025

[Lim Woong] Why privacy matters in digital age

In today’s world, data drives nearly every aspect of AI-powered technology. From recognizing patterns to making predictions and decisions, data forms the foundation of this digital era. While data enables remarkable advancements, it also brings significant risks -- especially when it involves personal information. Every tap on a smartphone, silly text message or Google search for questions too embarrassing to ask aloud contributes to an ever-expanding digital footprint. This data, paired with ad

Jan. 7, 2025

[Editorial] Deepening chaos

Clashes over arrest warrant for Yoon threaten to exacerbate national turmoil In South Korea, political turmoil over suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol, who attempted a short-lived imposition of martial law that resulted in his impeachment, deepened over the weekend after the state anti-corruption agency aborted its bid to detain him. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials on Friday sought to execute its warrant to arrest Yoon over his failed martial law bid on Dec. 3. But

Jan. 6, 2025

[Adam Nelson, May Butoy] China takes aim at Philippine democracy

In April 2024, a spokesperson for former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte suggested that the Philippines and China had entered into an undisclosed “gentleman’s agreement” between 2016 and 2022. China would not challenge the status quo in the West Philippine Sea, and the Philippines would send only basic supplies to its personnel and facilities on the Ayungin Shoal. But now, the Philippines is emerging as an essential player in resisting China’s strategic ambitions in the region, with Preside

Jan. 6, 2025

[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

[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

[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

[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

[Editorial] ‘Superaged’ Korea

South Korea needs to explore a redesign of policies for the growing elderly population South Korea has formally become a “superaged” society at a faster pace than previously expected, with policymakers and the public unprepared to tackle a host of tricky social and economic issues caused by a growing elderly population. As of Monday, the number of South Koreans aged 65 or older stood at 10.24 million, accounting for 20 percent of the country's total population of 51.22 million, according to the

Dec. 27, 2024