[Editorial] Martial law’s impact

South Koreans remain deeply disturbed by what President Yoon Suk Yeol did to the nation this week. His misguided and perplexing declaration of the short-lived martial law has caused a whirlwind of outrage, confusion and conflict. Why and how he managed to do something so erratic is not yet clear; what’s certain, however, is that he has touched off a sweeping firestorm of embarrassment across Korean society. The most immediate and widely expected consequence of the martial law decree is a p

Dec. 6, 2024

[Editorial] Corporate belt-tightening

South Korea’s stock market index has declined for five straight months since July, marking the unusually long downward streak that reminds investors of major market upheavals in the past. Problems are not limited to the stock market. Korean companies are trying to grapple with the looming challenges in trade and business environments by tightening their belts or delaying their investment plans in the face of growing uncertainties. Two surveys released recently reflect the deepening worry a

Dec. 4, 2024

[Editorial] Disturbing the government

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea slashed the government budget for next year and passed the reduced budget unilaterally through the Special Budget Settlement Committee. The party, which has a majority in the National Assembly, is also pushing to impeach chair of the Board of Audit and Inspection and senior prosecutors. It seems determined to disturb the government. The budget the majority party passed through the committee amid a ruling party boycott Friday reflects only reductions

Dec. 3, 2024

[Editorial] Warning signs

South Korea’s economy is chugging along on the strength of exports of chips, but the path ahead appears rocky with numerous warning signs. The surprise interest rate cut by the country’s central bank last week is also interpreted as a sign for a worse-than-expected economic slowdown. According to government data, Korea’s exports posted on-year growth for the 14th straight month in November. Exports went up 1.4 percent on-year to $56.3 billion last month and imports declined 2.4

Dec. 2, 2024

[Editorial] Diverse forms of family

In South Korea, where a traditional notion of family has long been espoused by conservative people, the news that actor Jung Woo-sung fathered a child with model Moon Ga-bi outside of marriage has generated a firestorm of gossipy online responses and intense media coverage. Their celebrity status has probably drawn more public attention than necessary, but their decision to go public about having a child without being married to each other has a positive element as it has ignited public debates

Nov. 29, 2024

[Editorial] Tariff alarm goes off

US President-elect Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform Monday that on Jan. 20, as one of his first executive orders, he will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25 percent tariff on all products coming into the US. He also said that China will face 10 percent tariffs above any existing tariffs. This shows his will to implement strong protectionist trade policies right from his inauguration day. International trade rules are expected to be jolted. Trump said th

Nov. 28, 2024

[Editorial] Dispute on commercial law

A dispute has been intensifying over the bill introduced by the main opposition party aimed at revising South Korea’s commercial law as top officials voice conflicting views and the business community expresses strong opposition to the proposed amendment. The controversy started early this year as President Yoon Suk Yeol said that the government would push for an amendment to the law so that “boards of directors can reflect the interests of minority shareholders in a responsible way.

Nov. 27, 2024

[Editorial] Lack of sincerity

The Korean government’s boycott of a memorial service held on Sado island in Japan on Sunday for Koreans forced into labor in gold mines on the island during its colonial rule of Korea stemmed from Japan’s lack of sincerity. In order to get the Sado mines inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage list, the Japanese government pledged to exhibit data on former Korean workers and hold an on-site memorial service jointly with the Korean government each year if it consented to the designa

Nov. 26, 2024

[Editorial] Shift in fiscal policy

The Yoon Suk Yeol administration has focused on maintaining fiscal soundness as a key economic policy. But its policy showed signs of change last week amid growing concerns about the toxic mix of sluggish domestic demand and a continued slowdown in economic growth. “In the first half of this year, the government has made efforts to revitalize the economy by helping the private sector lead the way,” President Yoon said at an event Friday. “In the second half, the government will

Nov. 25, 2024

[Editorial] Growth challenge

South Korea’s economic growth, long a hallmark of its transformation, appears increasingly constrained, a negative development that calls for more decisive policy action from the government. The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday projected that the country could post a modest 2 percent expansion for 2025, a downward revision from the 2.2 percent forecast issued just last month. The IMF’s revised forecast clearly signals diminished expectations, illustrating the mounting structu

Nov. 22, 2024

[Editorial] Security void feared

The leadership of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea has said that the party will consider impeaching Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun. A member of its supreme council said in a council meeting on Monday that the Defense Ministry is “amplifying tension with North Korea again by neglecting launches of anti-North Korean leaflets” by South Korean activists, adding that it is “playing with fire to save first lady Kim Keon Hee.” Claiming that the Defense M

Nov. 21, 2024

[Editorial] Outflow of capital

Two worrying trends are sweeping the financial market in South Korea. First, a growing number of investors are jumping on the feverish cryptocurrency bandwagon. Second, investors tend to increase their holdings of red-hot US stocks rather than putting their money in the lackluster local stock market. The daily trading volume of the country’s top five cryptocurrency exchanges surpassed 20 trillion won ($14.4 billion) last week, outpacing the combined 19 trillion won of the main bourse Kospi

Nov. 20, 2024

[Editorial] Absurd trial delay

The Supreme Court’s confirmation of conviction of former lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang for embezzling donations, is a reminder of a legal maxim that justice delayed is justice denied. Last Thursday the top court confirmed the second-trial judgment that had given her a one-year and six-month jail sentence, suspended for three years, for pocketing money donated to the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. The final judiciary conclusion came f

Nov. 19, 2024

[Editorial] Uncertain outlook

With former US President Donald Trump having prevailed in his bid for a second nonconsecutive term, a host of effects are hitting countries across the globe, and South Korea is no exception. In particular, Seoul’s financial markets are fluctuating amid growing concerns about future shocks linked to Trump’s trade policies. The main bourse Kospi tumbled below the 2,500 level to close at 2,482.57 on Tuesday, down 1.94 percent from the previous day. Investors also worried about the weake

Nov. 15, 2024

[Editorial] Ruling in the spotlight

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea is intensifying its pressure on the nation's courts ahead of their initial rulings on cases involving the party's leader. Decisions on two charges facing Lee Jae-myung -- violating election law and suborning perjury -- will be made tomorrow and Nov. 25, respectively. Lee is accused of violating election law by giving false information to voters in the 2022 presidential election. He claimed ahead of the election that Kim Moon-ki, senior mana

Nov. 14, 2024

[Editorial] Drastic changes in order

The first half of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s five-year term has largely been disappointing. Instead of pushing for key policy initiatives, Yoon has been dragged down by a host of controversies and challenges amid plunging approval ratings. More worrisome is that Yoon shows no sign of making fundamental changes in his stances on controversial issues, including the soaring public criticism over first lady Kim Keon Hee. Yoon did apologize at a rare press conference Thursday to mark the second

Nov. 13, 2024

[Editorial] Dangerous ties

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea held a rally in Seoul on Saturday, substantially calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol to step down. The party was going to hold a rally in Daejeon after the first one near Seoul Station on Nov. 2, calling for a special counsel probe of first lady Kim Keon Hee’s alleged illegal intervention in state affairs. It changed locations by holding its rally near a separate rally by civic groups including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which ha

Nov. 12, 2024

[Editorial] Remain cautious, proactive

The US Federal Reserve trimmed its benchmark rate by 0.25 percentage points, reflecting cooling inflation and other economic data. But the Fed's monetary easing comes at a tricky moment as President-elect Donald Trump signaled the coming of a host of drastic changes in fiscal and economic policies. Given the close economic and financial relations between South Korea and the US, the forthcoming changes offer a difficult choice for Korea’s policymakers and central bankers. The country c

Nov. 11, 2024

[Editorial] Brace for changes

As Donald Trump has won the high-stakes US presidential election, sweeping changes are expected to affect South Korea in fields including economy, trade, security, defense and inter-Korean relations. While Trump’s slogan, “Make America Great Again,” resonated among the majority of US voters, his core stance -- “America First” -- is likely to force many countries, including South Korea, to confront drastic challenges and costly decisions in their relations with the U

Nov. 8, 2024

[Editorial] Damaging consent

The Democratic Party of Korea on Monday decided to push through a bill to require the government to obtain consent from the National Assembly before allowing exports of defense articles. If the Defense Industry Development and Support Act is revised as written by Democratic Rep. Kim Byung-joo, the government will have to ask the Assembly if it assents to such exports. Lawmakers will then have 30 days to deliberate on the request behind closed doors and make a decision. Every instance of defense

Nov. 7, 2024