[Editorial] Pressure on Choi

Opposition asks police to investigate acting president over failure to arrest Yoon The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea on Tuesday filed a criminal complaint with police against acting President Choi Sang-mok. It accused him of dereliction of duty for doing nothing to handle matters with the Presidential Security Service, which blocked the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials from executing a warrant to arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol. Party leader Lee Jae-myung sai

Jan. 9, 2025

[Kim Seong-kon] We should start ‘a new beginning every day’

Today, I believe we are living in an extremely polarized world divided by two mutually antagonizing groups, such as the left and the right, the rich and the poor, or the young and the old. Like a chronic disease, I argue the enmity between each of these contrasting groups plagues our society that seems to edge towards civil war as a result. Although polarization has become a global phenomenon these days, it seems to be especially persistent and acute in the Korean political climate. Recently, I

Jan. 8, 2025

[Peter Singer] Australia’s social-media experiment

Late last year, Australia’s parliament, reacting to concerns about the effect of social media on children’s mental health, amended the Online Safety Act to require users to be at least 16 years old to open an account on social media platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and X. The amendment is expected to come into effect by the end of 2025. The law received widespread support in Australia, both in parliament and among the public, but it has also been criticized. Some dispute the link be

Jan. 8, 2025

[Editorial] Race against 'China tech'

South Korea confronts slow AI advance; China continues to achieve rapid progress China stands as one of South Korea’s most significant trading partners while also emerging as a formidable rival in domains where Korean firms have traditionally excelled in technological prowess and market competitiveness. This rivalry is vividly on display at this year's CES technology trade show, running from Tuesday to Friday in Las Vegas, where Chinese companies are showcasing their rapid strides in the global

Jan. 8, 2025

[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

[Editorial] Procedural fairness

Impeachment committee withdraws insurrection charge to quicken trial The National Assembly’s impeachment investigation committee, which acts as prosecutors in the Constitutional Court impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol, effectively withdrew the insurrection charge from the motion on Friday. The article of impeachment written by the committee is composed of two parts -- criminal charges related to insurrection and constitutional law violations related to the martial law declaration. Ins

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

[Editorial] Economic outlook for 2025

Government considers extra stimulus steps to address challenges at home and abroad The South Korean government on Thursday put out a gloomy projection for the country’s economic growth in 2025 amid a slew of challenges ahead, including political turmoil at home and growing trade-related uncertainties abroad. The Finance Ministry said the Korean economy is forecast to grow 1.8 percent this year, which is lower than the Bank of Korea’s forecast of 1.9 percent and the earlier projections of other f

Jan. 3, 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