Most Popular
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Jimin of BTS, actor Song Da-eun suspected to be dating, again
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Police raid popera singer Kim Ho-joong's house over hit-and-run suspicions
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What's next for the government's push in quota hike?
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Trump may like to 'solve' N. Korean nuclear problem if reelected: ex-official
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Woman falls to death from acquaintance's home after exhibiting ‘unexplained' behaviors
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N. Korea slams planned S. Korea-US military drills, warns of 'catastrophic aftermath'
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N. Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: JCS
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‘Malice should not undermine the system, social order,’ says Hybe's Bang
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[Robert J. Fouser] Social attitudes toward language proficiency
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[Graphic News] How much do Korean adults read?
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[Robert Reich] Hard-charging capitalism
For years Americans have assumed that our hard-charging capitalism is better than the soft-hearted version found in Canada and Europe. American capitalism might be a bit crueler, but it generates faster growth and higher living standards overall. Canada and Europe’s “welfare-state socialism” is doomed.It was a questionable assumption to begin with, relying to some extent on our collective amnesia about the first three decades after World War II, when tax rates on top incomes in the U.S. never fe
May 30, 2014
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That ‘Car War’ with China? U.S. already lost
Critics of China are fired up over the World Trade Organization’s ruling on Friday that Chinese tariffs on American-made SUVs and luxury cars violate international rules, coming as it does amid U.S. allegations of Chinese hacking of U.S. businesses. Echoing the rhetoric that helped President Barack Obama win crucial Ohio votes in 2012, Democrats from the industrial Midwest trumpeted the ruling as a “significant victory” for American manufacturing jobs. “It is time for China to start playing by t
May 30, 2014
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[Hwang Jang-jin] Park Geun-hye’s Sewol crisis
President Park Geun-hye has a knack for crafting pithy sound bites and taking swift action to move the public, disarm enemies and ride out of trouble at critical moments.At this time of national tragedy, however, her political genius is failing to deliver.Her latest catchphrase, “state reformation,” is widely dismissed as being far-fetched, empty and even illusory. Her hasty decision to reorganize the government and botched choice of a new prime minister have unleashed a torrent of criticism.A l
May 29, 2014
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Congrats on that diploma; You may not need it
College graduation season is in full bloom, and this year American institutions will confer about 1.8 million bachelor’s degrees. As in the past, many of the best and brightest have, or will land, jobs requiring knowledge, skills and critical thinking ― and will be paid good salaries. But increasingly, today’s college graduates face an uncertain future, and many will end up taking jobs historically done by those with high school diplomas or even less ― construction workers, taxi drivers, restaur
May 29, 2014
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[Juan L. Mercado] Alternative scenarios for future of Asia
Few Filipinos have visited the Natuna archipelago of Indonesia’s Riau province. It straddles one of the world’s potentially largest gas fields. And over the last two months, Indonesia twice accused Beijing of claiming part of Natuna, reports the South China Morning Post.In so doing, China succeeded in shifting Indonesia, from moderator between China and other South China Sea states, to opponent, notes the SCMP commentary “Peril of Price and Prejudice.” It was written by Philip Bowring, who has c
May 29, 2014
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Philippines ups tempo
I have been a major “bull” on the Philippines. The combination of an educated, English-language speaking workforce and a deep-rooted work ethic has turned the Filipino people into the care-givers, IT programmers and maritime professionals of the world.As my friend and prominent business reporter Doris Dumlao wrote in the Philippine Daily Inquirer recently “... I distinctly remember him (yours truly) telling me ― long before it happened ― that he could feel a turnaround happening for the Philipp
May 29, 2014
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Post-election economic landscape in Indonesia
Amid slowing economic growth, higher budget deficit and increased exposure to external debt, the future of the domestic political landscape is showing some distressing signs. The polarization of the political parties supporting the two pairs of presidential candidates, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo-Jusuf Kalla and Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa, are almost evenly split, indicating a divided House of Representative come October 2014. Since the stakes of both presidential candidates are high, the bitter com
May 29, 2014
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[David Ignatius] A hopeful dialogue on Mideast
BRUSSELS ― Getting the former spy chiefs of Israel and Saudi Arabia to talk together about peace is hardly a breakthrough, but it at least helps keep alive the idea of an eventual Israeli-Palestinian settlement. Sharing a public stage here Monday were Prince Turki al-Faisal, former Saudi intelligence chief, and retired Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin, former head of Israeli military intelligence. The gathering was sponsored by the German Marshall Fund, of which I’m a trustee. It was streamed live on the I
May 28, 2014
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Navigating charity’s fast and slow lanes
Imagine that you’re running a charity. Suppose you have evidence showing that your charity is highly effective ― that you are really making a difference in people’s lives. In your fundraising campaign, should you emphasize how effective you are?In a new study, Yale University economist Dean Karlan and Clemson University economist Daniel Wood offer a surprising answer. It turns out that large donors respond positively to statistical evidence of effectiveness ― but small donors respond negatively.
May 28, 2014
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Beijing’s hardheaded stance on minorities won’t stop killing
China’s problems stemming from minorities in the west of the country ― particularly the Uighurs, but also the Tibetans ― do not seem to be coming to an end. Given Beijing’s approach, it will not be solved soon.The most recent attack occurred last Thursday in Urumqi, in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Suicide bombs from two SUVs killed at least 31 and wounded 94 at a popular morning garden market. Some suspect that the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a separatist group, may have played a
May 28, 2014
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VA scandal fits established Obama narrative
We don’t normally expect our presidents to pay close attention to how long veterans are being asked to wait for care in the vast medical system run by the Department of Veterans Affairs.But we do expect presidents to appoint Cabinet officers and other aides who can run the federal government well ― well enough, at least, to prevent full-blown scandals from erupting.That’s what the VA’s long-running scheduling problems have turned into after reports that veterans died while waiting for medical ca
May 28, 2014
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[Kim Myong-sik] Problematic party affiliation in local autonomy
A few weeks ago, I met Gangnam District chief Shin Yeon-hee in her office for the first time. It was shortly before the district head stopped her official business to engage in her reelection campaign, as required by the election law. Shin invited me and four other Gangnam residents to present letters of appreciation in her name. We were cited because we had planted trees along the banks of Yangjaecheon Stream last Arbor Day in response to the district’s neighborhood beautification program. I pl
May 28, 2014
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Sewol incident and aftermath
The recent, tragic accident of the Sewol ferry, which claimed hundreds of lives, engulfed the nation with a sense of remorse and sorrow. Over a month has passed since then, and many are still resentful. Some blame the authorities, from the Coast Guard to relevant ministries, while others criticize the outdated and ineffective system. But, we should rise up from playing the blame game to conduct a “logical, heartfelt analysis and systematic reform,” so that the deaths of fellow Koreans are not in
May 28, 2014
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[Lee Jae-min] Demise of open examinations?
Many universities in Seoul have “special study groups” organized, supported and funded by the universities themselves to help college students prepare for the annual National Civil Service Examination. Each fall, when the exam results are out, banners are hoisted on campus and success stories are recorded in the school’s promotional materials. I myself used to serve as a supervising professor for one such study group for several years because of my own exam experience and government background.
May 27, 2014
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Geography of values over values of geography
PARIS ― Confronted with Russia’s reassertion of its imperial tradition and the deceptive methods and reflexes of the Soviet past, how should Europe respond? Should it give priority to “the value of geography” or to “the geography of values”?Those who opt for the former do so in the name of short-term “energy realism,” arguing that it is vital to reach an agreement with Russia because Europe lacks America’s shale gas and oil. According to this reasoning, the United States can live without Russia,
May 27, 2014
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The warped ideology of Nigerian kidnappers
LONDON ― The abduction of more than 240 Nigerian girls has shocked the world. But, unfortunately, their case is not an isolated one in Nigeria. Indeed, Nigeria’s torment is shared by many other African countries, and the motivation behind the kidnapping derives from an ideology that is global.That ideology is based on a warped and false view of religion. It is taught in formal and informal school settings worldwide. Of course, the hideous and crazed words of the leader of Boko Haram, the group t
May 27, 2014
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Fake royal show among bottom of the heap
With the Russians on the prowl, the Chinese hacking into our computers, Boko Haram in Nigeria triggering fear and celebrity hashtags, the last thing America needs is to lose a trusted ally:England.But the great Anglo-American alliance is threatened by the reality TV show “I Wanna Marry ‘Harry,’” which premiered Tuesday on Fox and which mocks foolish young American women who think they can shake their hips and marry an English royal.This stupid show does more damage to NATO than Jack Bauer shooti
May 27, 2014
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[Kim Seong-kon] The pleasure of having special people around you
It is wonderful to have some special people around you from whom you can learn valuable things in life. It is even more wonderful if the special people are foreigners. I am lucky enough to have such special people around me and am eternally indebted and grateful to them for enlightening me. Among others, professor Caroline D. Eckhardt at Pennsylvania State University comes to mind. I first met Dr. Eckhardt when I was a visiting professor at PSU in 1990. As head of the Comparative Literature Depa
May 27, 2014
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[Albert R. Hunt] Campaign donations and bribes
There are three big winners from the recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that Sen. John McCain says might “dismantle entirely” campaign-finance laws: wealthy interests, greedy politicians and investigative journalists.The decisions, culminating in another loosening of restrictions last month, were crafted by Chief Justice John Roberts and a slim majority. They essentially contend that campaign-finance limitations impede speech and that the system profits from more money. The consequence will be
May 26, 2014
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Obama late again in stepping up on VA crisis
Once again, a management mess. Once again, the White House says an angry president vows to fix things.And once again, that vow comes more than a little late, creating another political problem for Barack Obama.The president’s initial reaction to reports that Veterans Affairs officials covered up that perhaps two dozen veterans died because of delays in getting appointments was strikingly similar to his initial comments after last fall’s disastrous Affordable Care Act rollout.In both cases, the W
May 26, 2014