Most Popular
-
1
South Korean author Han Kang wins 2024 Nobel Prize in literature
-
2
Han Kang speaks up on Nobel Prize, thanks ‘enormous wave’ of blessing
-
3
Exploring works of Han Kang
-
4
Han Kang declines press conference, not to celebrate, citing global wars
-
5
Han Kang's 'first reactions' after winning the Nobel Prize
-
6
Former Ador CEO gains ground in legal battle with Hybe, as whistleblower reveals plagiarism evidence
-
7
BTS’s V and RM celebrate Han Kang’s Nobel Prize in literature win
-
8
Han Kang drives readers to bookstores both online and offline
-
9
BOK cuts key rate by quarter point to 3.25%
-
10
Han Kang: From blacklist to Nobel laureate
-
[Editorial] No-phone policy in school
It is widely known that teachers have trouble drawing attention from students with mobile phones in their hands during classes. Smartphones can be addictive in a way that hinders a variety of activities, works as a distraction and negatively affects mental well-being. In South Korea, there has been a heated dispute about whether schools should restrict the use of phones during school hours to help students focus more on what they are supposed to learn and protect them from overusing social media
EditorialOct. 11, 2024
-
[Albert Lucius] Tech-enabled entertainment: Lessons from Korean Wave
The Korean Wave, or Hallyu, is one of the most remarkable success stories in soft power and nation branding. With global icons like BTS and Blackpink leading the charge, this cultural phenomenon originated in a newly industrialized, economically struggling South Korea over 30 years ago. While traditional concert revenues are significant, a 2023 report by Allied Market Research revealed that the K-pop events business generated approximately $8.1 billion in 2021, with projections estimating it cou
ViewpointsOct. 10, 2024
-
[George Skelton] Newsom sends clear message about increasing benefits for undocumented immigrants
Has California reached its limit in providing benefits for immigrants living here illegally? That's the indication after Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed three bills passed by the liberal Legislature. The state at least has definitely hit an election-year pause. Newsom says publicly he blocked the closely-watched measures for good policy reasons. And those reasons were sound. But it was also good politics for him in the long run, and more immediately for California Democratic ally Kamala Harris. Th
ViewpointsOct. 10, 2024
-
[Editorial] Cloud over economy
South Korea maintains a current account surplus, driven by robust exports, but the surplus is declining. The country racked up a current account surplus of $6.6 billion in August, according to data compiled by the Bank of Korea on Tuesday. It was the fourth consecutive month in the black. But the August surplus was nearly $2.4 billion smaller than the July surplus ($8.97 billion) and about half of the June figure ($12.56 billion). The central bank expected the current account surplus to continue
EditorialOct. 10, 2024
-
[Editorial] Stop-gap measure
The Ministry of Education has unveiled an emergency plan to “normalize” medical school operations to deal with the inevitable gap in education for medical students who have refused to attend classes in protest against the government’s medical reform initiatives, including the increase in medical school enrollment quotas. The ministry said Sunday it will temporarily allow medical students to take a leave of absence on condition that they return to school for the spring semester
EditorialOct. 9, 2024
-
[Kim Seong-kon] Hoping for no 'October surprises' this year
In 2006, I briefly stayed in Buffalo, New York, on my way from the University of California, Berkeley to Harvard. In October that year, a heavy blizzard hit Buffalo so hard that everyone was stuck at home for about a week, suffering through all manner of ordeals, from blackouts and empty refrigerators to road blocks caused by huge piles of snow. The people of Buffalo called the untimely weather calamity “the October surprise,” because a blizzard was not expected in the fall. In the U
ViewpointsOct. 9, 2024
-
[Nedra Rhone] Americans ready to flee the country?
The first time Jen Barnett and her now husband Brett Andrews discussed permanently leaving the US was in 2016. Barnett, an Alabama native and Emory University alum, said rising political polarization in the US and a long-standing desire to live abroad pushed them to scout out Vancouver, Canada, as a possible destination -- with Seattle as a possible “blue state” home. But it turned out, neither city felt like a place they wanted to live long-term. So they shelved the idea until 2020
ViewpointsOct. 9, 2024
-
[Grace Kao] Why K-pop lip-syncing doesn’t bother me
Lip-synching during stage performances does not bother me. In fact, I sometimes prefer it. I know this is likely a minority opinion. Maybe it’s because I grew up on MTV and also watched shows like “American Bandstand,” “Soul Train,” and British music show “Top of the Pops.” The shows above all featured “live” performances by pop acts, but everyone knew they were lip-synching. Many acts also “played” their instruments on stage with
ViewpointsOct. 8, 2024
-
[Antara Haldar] Alberto Fujimori's neoliberalism
The script of Latin American politics too often reads like a “dictator novel,” and on Sept. 11, another chapter drew to a close with the death of Alberto Fujimori. As the president who most defined -- and divided -- modern Peru, Fujimori’s legacy remains a topic of heated debate. One version of Fujimori’s epitaph would commend his economics and condemn his politics, but the deeper lesson his life story offers may be that it is impossible to separate the two. Fujimori&rsqu
ViewpointsOct. 8, 2024
-
[Editorial] Strange job change
Kim Dae-nam, a former administrative official at the presidential office who caused controversy by asking an online media outlet to criticize Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the ruling People Power Party, resigned Monday as standing auditor of Seoul Guarantee Insurance. He is said to have tendered resignation because he does not want to be a burden on SGI, the party and the government. He was criticized for staying on in the job even after an audio recording of his phone conversation with a liberal
EditorialOct. 8, 2024
-
[Lee Kyong-hee] Tone-deaf first lady causes chaos
It seems the nation is engulfed in a relentless maelstrom. Unseemly rumors and speculations surrounding Kim Keon-hee, the wife of President Yoon Suk Yeol, continue to boil at a level in which even state governance is disrupted. Yet, the first lady shows no sign of curbing her behavior. Nor does Yoon exhibit anything but single-hearted dedication to protecting her. Yoon’s devotion defies his signature motto of “common sense and fairness” as the nation’s top prosecutor. It
ViewpointsOct. 7, 2024
-
[Francis Wilkinson] MAGA could spark 'Fourth Founding'
It has been a long night of terror for American pluralism and democracy. The Republican Party since 2016 has burrowed ever deeper into authoritarian terrain. You don’t have to be a political scientist to register that reality. Democratic political parties aren’t awash in lies and they don’t nominate criminals and coup plotters to leadership. Not so complicated, really. Trumpism is a daily assault on many targets, including basic decency. But among them is optimism. When lies ar
ViewpointsOct. 7, 2024
-
[Editorial] Make a decision
The dispute over the introduction of the financial investment income tax has intensified after the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea failed to work out an agreement about its legislative schedule on Friday. The new tax scheme is scheduled to be implemented from January next year, a plan that puts local investors on edge since it could have a sizable impact on their asset management as well as the domestic financial market performances. The consensus is that the tax scheme, which has been
EditorialOct. 7, 2024
-
[Editorial] Brace for trouble
South Korea is set to confront fast-paced changes in economic conditions stemming from the heightened tensions in the Middle East, as Iran on Tuesday launched direct missile attacks on Israel. Iran’s attack -- a barrage of 180 ballistic missiles -- was intended as retaliation for the killings of top Hezbollah and Hamas officials, Tehran said. The surprise move came after Israel carried out a ground invasion of Lebanon. As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a strong warning, o
EditorialOct. 4, 2024
-
[Robert Fouser] Why the US election looks so close
The US presidential election is now just a month away. October traditionally brings surprises, but as things stand now, the race is a nail bitter. Vice President Kamala Harris has maintained a small lead over former President Donald Trump in nationwide polls since mid-August, but the race for 270 Electoral College votes remains extremely close. Campaigns are focusing their efforts on seven battleground states where a few thousand votes here or there could determine the winner. Compared to most p
ViewpointsOct. 4, 2024
-
[Editorial] Follow custom
Three justices of the Constitutional Court -- Justice Lee Jong-seok, who heads the court, Justice Lee Young-jin and Justice Kim Ki-young -- will retire on Oct. 17. The court is comprised of nine justices. Three are nominated by the president, three by the chief justice of the Supreme Court and three by the National Assembly. All three justices to step down this time were picked by the Assembly, so their successors should be elected by its vote. However, the main opposition Democratic Party of Ko
EditorialOct. 3, 2024
-
[Wang Son-taek] Taking domestic politics into account in Middle East conflict
As Israel proceeds with a ground offensive against Hezbollah, the situation in the Middle East is deteriorating day by day. The prospects for ending the war are dim, while the loss of lives, including innocent civilians, and property damage continues to mount. In the past, during such crises, the United States would intervene to manage the situation. However, such interventions seem absent this time. The elements that guaranteed global peace and stability have suddenly vanished. Has the internat
ViewpointsOct. 3, 2024