Most Popular
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[Weekender] Geeks have never been so chic in Korea
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[News Focus] Mystery deepens after hundreds of cat deaths in S. Korea
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NewJeans members submit petitions over court injunction in Hybe-Ador conflict
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N. Korea says it test-fired tactical ballistic missile with new guidance technology
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S. Korea's exports of instant noodles surpass $100m for 1st time in April: data
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[KH Explains] Why Korea's so tough on short selling
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Actors involved in past controversies return first via streaming service originals
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US military commander in S. Korea during Gwangju uprising dies
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[Herald Interview] Byun Yo-han's 'unlikable' character is result of calculated acting
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‘Kim desperately wanted to denuclearize,’ Moon writes in memoirs
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[Volker Perthes] Syria’s splintered opposition
BERLIN ― Syrian opposition activists regularly express disappointment with the level of international support that they receive. Although the last meeting of the so-called “Friends of Syria” (a group of countries that convenes periodically to discuss Syria’s situation outside of the United Nations Security Council) brought more financial aid, the degree of genuine outside commitment to their cause remains questionable.The United States, the European Union, Turkey, and most Arab countries agree t
Oct. 24, 2012
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Turkey’s not-so-free speech and journalists
For a long time, it has been possible to overlook Turkey’s human rights failures. After all, the country was making remarkable progress after starting from a very hard place. Now, however, ignoring such failures is no longer possible. A 53-page report released Oct. 22 by the U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists is the most detailed on Turkish media freedoms to date. It makes for shocking reading. As of Aug. 1, Turkey was holding at least 76 journalists in jail, the report found, while pro
Oct. 24, 2012
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[Jeffrey Frankel] Four magic tricks for fiscal conservatives
CAMBRIDGE ― The United States is famous for its ability to innovate. Aspiring fiscal conservatives around the world thus might be interested in learning four tricks that American politicians commonly use when promising to cut taxes while simultaneously reducing budget deficits.These are hard promises to keep, for the simple reason that a budget deficit equals government spending minus tax revenue. But, each of the four tricks has been refined over three decades. Indeed, they first acquired their
Oct. 24, 2012
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Meningitis outbreak exposes need to cope with drug shortages
The outbreak of fungal meningitis has exposed more than one dangerous weakness in the U.S. drug supply network. The need for better oversight of large-scale compounding pharmacies might be the most glaring; it was such a facility that produced the moldy steroid injections that have caused, at last count, 23 deaths and 297 illnesses. Yet the outbreak also calls attention to the growing problem of drug shortages. A shortage in the generic form of the steroid injection may have encouraged health-ca
Oct. 24, 2012
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[Yang Sung-chul] ‘Sterile’ excitation or political paradigm change?
South Korea is experimenting with e-democracy in the Dec. 19 presidential election. The “person to watch” in this test is Ahn Cheol-soo, 50, a medical doctor-turned antivirus software guru.Though the popularity rating can be dicey, the independent presidential candidate Ahn is leading or running neck-and-neck in a two-way or three-way matchup in most polls against the candidate of the ruling Saenuri Party, Park Geun-hye, 60, and that of the main opposition Democratic United Party, Moon Jae-in, 5
Oct. 24, 2012
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[Daniel Fiedler] Costco and comparative law
One of the struggles in teaching U.S. and international law to South Korean lawyers and law students is imparting a thorough understanding of the power of prior court decisions in the common law. South Korean lawyers and law students are steeped in a civil law tradition imported from Japan that finds its roots in 19th century German and French law; both of which have as their foundation the law of ancient Rome.In this civil law system legislative enactments reign supreme and courts are generally
Oct. 23, 2012
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One ‘yes’ vote that will save money
For years now, thanks to deregulation, a lot of people have been cutting their electric bills by signing up with suppliers who charge less than the local utilities, Commonwealth Edison and Ameren Illinois.Cities and counties have started to get in on the act, cutting deals to buy power in bulk for their residents and small businesses. About 200 communities across the state have made such deals.The savings have been substantial. ComEd and Ameren locked in long-term electricity contracts that made
Oct. 23, 2012
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A simpler way for U.S. to end too big to fail
Does size matter? When it comes to U.S. banks, the answer is increasingly yes. Limiting banks’ size is a rare example of agreement among prominent Democrats and Republicans, who complain equally that U.S. banks have grown too big, too complex and too risky. They also agree that big banks benefit unfairly from an implicit government guarantee despite the authority Congress gave regulators in the Dodd-Frank Act to dismantle troubled banks. (Does anyone really believe Washington would let JPMorgan
Oct. 23, 2012
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China’s economy shows optimistic growth signs
For the world economy, caught between an unfolding eurozone debt crisis and a looming U.S. fiscal cliff, that China’s economy has slowed for a seventh straight quarter appears to be cause for concern. Yet the world’s second largest economy is actually offering reasons for some much-needed confidence that it can continue to drive the global economy, despite the fact that its 7.4 percent GDP growth in the third quarter from a year earlier represents the first time the official target has not been
Oct. 23, 2012
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Arms control should be high on president’s agenda
The presidential campaign has focused primarily on the economy and domestic issues, with foreign policy receiving relatively little attention ― especially if it doesn’t involve the tumultuous Middle East.One foreign policy issue that shouldn’t be ignored is arms control. The president in 2013 ― whether it’s Barack Obama or Mitt Romney ― will have an opportunity to use arms control to make the United States and the world safer.With the New START arms deal now in force, the strategic nuclear balan
Oct. 23, 2012
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[Kim Seong-kon] Waiting for a Nobel Prize winner
Once again, the Swedish Academy bypassed Korean writers when they announced this year’s Nobel Prize winner.As is well known, South Korea has a host of prominent writers who are well qualified for the Nobel Prize and yet, none of them has been awarded the Nobel Prize. Among this year’s candidates was our celebrated poet Ko Un whose name had been on the list for promising candidates for the past few years. Unfortunately, however, Ko Un was neglected once again by the Swedish Academy and the Korean
Oct. 23, 2012
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[Howard Davies] Europe’s flawed banking union
PARIS ― The European Union is now the proud owner of a Nobel Peace Prize. When the choice alighted on Barack Obama three years ago, the Norwegian Nobel Committee was criticized for honoring someone whose achievements were still to come. The Committee took that criticism to heart, and this time decorated an institution with a proud past, but a clouded future.The eurozone is distinct from the EU of course, but it is the Union’s most ambitious undertaking to date, and it is still struggling to equi
Oct. 22, 2012
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Sexual crimes threaten U.S.-Japan alliance
Another allegation of rape by American servicemen in Okinawa last week has reignited anti-U.S. protests by Okinawans and resentment throughout Japan. Okinawa Gov. Kazuhiro Nakaima called for more severe measures than in the past. Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto noted the severity of the allegation. Vice Foreign Minister Shuji Kira lodged a protest with U.S. Ambassador John Roos, who promised cooperation and renewed effort “to earn the trust of the Okinawan people and the people of Japan.”Earni
Oct. 22, 2012
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[Meghan Daum] Madonna’s tone-deaf tattoo of Malala’s name
There goes Madonna, classing up the joint again. To show her support of Malala Yousafzai, the 14-year-old Pakistani girl shot and critically wounded by the Taliban because of her advocacy for girls’ education, the Material Girl (a.k.a. Madge, Esther, the Queen of Pop, the Hottest Bod in the AARP) took the opportunity during a recent concert at L.A.’s Staple Center to pull her pants down and reveal a (fake) tattoo of the girl’s name inked across the small of her back.Take that, Taliban! Mess with
Oct. 22, 2012
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China must learn that size only gets you so far
For more than three decades, China has been courting its neighbors to the south. Enticing the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations into closer cooperation has been a top goal of Chinese foreign policy since the days of Deng Xiaoping, and it has brought great rewards. In 2010 the two sides entered into a free-trade agreement that created one of the world’s largest integrated markets. But now, with its aggressive attitude on demarcation lines in the South China Sea, China risks
Oct. 22, 2012
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[Dominique Moisi] Emotional calendars in Europe
PARIS ― Madrid and Warsaw recently looked very similar: both were the sites of massive demonstrations. But the crowds gathered at Europe’s western and eastern extremities had very different agendas in mind.In Spain, citizens were united by economic and social despair. They took to the streets to express their rejection of a European Union-imposed austerity policy that they believe is leading them into an abyss. They want jobs and the dignity and salaries that go with them. The indignation of som
Oct. 22, 2012
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French favor Obama in presidential race
PARIS ― The people of France have spoken on the subject of the U.S. presidential election. Naturally, you couldn’t care less about what anyone else (let alone the French) thinks about you or your electoral choices, right?The French aren’t particularly interested in appearing too keen on America, either. A Harris Interactive poll found that 66 percent of respondents either care little about the U.S. presidential race or not at all. However, should a gun be put to their head mid Gallic shrug, 88 p
Oct. 21, 2012
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[Robert B. Reich] The Party of Non-Voters
However you read the polls, the 2012 presidential election is turning into a nail-biter. Former Gov. Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama are just about tied among likely voters.The bump Romney got from the first debate seems to have been matched by the bump the president got from the good jobs report for September. (We won’t know the real results of Tuesday night’s matchup for another week.)But beware. Polls of “likely voters” are notoriously imprecise because they reflect everyone who says t
Oct. 21, 2012
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Gangnam style? Not in North Korea
By now, “Gangnam Style” has become part of the pop culture lexicon. The infectious song by South Korean singer Psy broke the Guinness world record for “most likes” on YouTube. The video has been watched nearly 425 million times and has inspired flash mobs and parodies by lifeguards, Ivy leaguers and hot moms.If you haven’t heard of “Gangnam Style,” you’ve probably spent the last month orbiting in outer space.Or perhaps you live above the 38th parallel, in North Korea.North Korea is as isolated a
Oct. 21, 2012
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Is there hope for U.S. manufacturing?
Mark Twain said there was no difference between someone who did not read and one who could not read. The same goes for manufacturing. A country that does not manufacture isn’t unlike a nation that cannot.There is much talk in the U.S. these days to bring back manufacturing jobs for energizing the stagnant economy. But, how? The malaise that has gripped the manufacturing sector shows no sign of abating. Can this be remedied?I was drawn to Korea when I advised one of the largest conglomerates of t
Oct. 21, 2012