[Editorial] Shrinking options

A president can survive a bad poll when its causes are isolated. Yet President Lee Jae Myung now faces a broader political problem: His approval rating has fallen to 38 percent, according to a Gallup Korea poll released Friday, slipping below the 40 percent threshold for the first time since he took office in June 2025. The causes are converging across issues the administration has so far handled poorly. The poll shows that Lee’s Cabinet nominations have become key liabilities. In addition, the

2026-09-14 05:30:00:00

[Man-Ki Kim] Korea should invest more in defense

For many Koreans who attended elementary school in the 1960s, the smell of cornbread baking at school remains a vivid memory. Made with corn flour provided through foreign assistance, the bread helped feed children whose parents struggled to provide lunch. For some, it made school something to look forward to. Korea's GNI per capita in 1960 was $158, according to World Bank records. On Tuesday, the Bank of Korea reported that GNI per capita could exceed $40,000 this year. A country once dependen

2026-09-14 05:30:00:00

[Yoo Choon-sik] Can guidelines alone fix flaws in 'Yellow Envelope Act'?

The Ministry of Employment and Labor earlier in September issued guidelines stating that labor union demands for companies to pay a preset percentage of corporate profits as bonuses do not legally constitute matters subject to mandatory bargaining or labor disputes. According to the “Implementation Guidelines on Matters Subject to Labor Disputes, Including Management Performance Bonuses,” management decisions — such as factory relocations, business sales and the introduction of artificial intell

2026-09-14 05:30:00:00

[Graphic News] Chuseok overseas trips rise, spending falls

Chuseok overseas trips rise, spending falls 추석 해외여행 증가, 여행객 1인당 지출은 감소 Nearby overseas destinations such as Japan and Vietnam are emerging as popular choices among Korean travelers during the upcoming Chuseok holiday, with travel demand rising while spending per traveler has declined slightly from a year earlier. 일본과 베트남 등 가까운 해외 여행지가 다가오는 추석 연휴 기간 한국인 여행객들에게 인기 있는 선택지로 떠오르고 있다. 여행 수요는 증가하는 반면 여행객 1인당 지출액은 1년 전보다 소폭 감소할 것으로 예상된다. According to a survey of 1,000 Korean travelers conducted by globa

2026-09-13 10:00:02:00

[Ethan Lee] Beyond the glittering skyline: Why housing rights must precede urban redevelopment

Last year, I stood in Guryong Village, Seoul’s last remaining shantytown, situated just a stone's throw away from the towering, affluent skyline of Gangnam. Through my camera lens, I documented the stark spatial inequality and the looming threat of displacement faced by its residents. This documentary recently won third Place at the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Film Contest at the Tribeca Festival. However, as I celebrated this cinematic achievement, a sobering realization dawned on me: Captur

2026-09-11 11:25:33:00

오디오 기기에 대한 키워드

오디오 기기(audio equipment)는 전기적 신호를 소리로 변환하거나 증폭(amplification)해 음악과 음성을 재생하는 장치를 의미합니다. 대표적으로 앰프(amplifier), 디지털-아날로그 변환기(DAC), 스피커(speaker), 이어버드(earbud)와 같은 장치가 있으며, 각각의 역할과 설계 방식에 따라 음질의 특성이 달라질 수 있습니다. 오디오 시스템(audio system)을 평가할 때는 단순히 가격이나 출력(output)만 비교하기보다 신호가 얼마나 정확하게 처리되고 불필요한 잡음(noise)이나 왜곡(distortion)이 얼마나 억제되는지를 살펴보는 것이 중요합니다. 앰프(amplifier)는 오디오 신호를 증폭해 스피커나 헤드폰을 구동하는 핵심적인 장치입니다. 앰프의 성능을 평가할 때는 출력뿐 아니라 신호 대 잡음비(S/N ratio), 총고조파왜율(THD), 임피던스(impedance)와 같은 기술적 지표도 고려할 필요가 있습니다. S/N rati

2026-09-11 10:00:00:00

Linking growth to jobs 성장과 일자리 연계

A country can have a record current-account surplus and still have too few jobs. South Korea is providing a fresh example of this awkward contradiction. 역대 최대 경상수지 흑자를 기록하고도 한 나라는 여전히 일자리가 부족할 수 있다. 한국이 이러한 기묘한 모순의 새로운 예시를 제공하고 있다. Semiconductor exports are lifting growth forecasts toward 3 percent, while the labor market is losing momentum. The economy is accelerating on paper while slowing where people look for work. 반도체 수출로 성장예측률은 3퍼센트에 가깝게 오르고 있는 반면 노동 시장은 동력을 잃고 있다. 경제 지표만 보면 성장은 가속화하고 있지만

2026-09-11 10:00:00:00

[Editorial] Paper prosperity

A nation can cross a $40,000 income threshold without a single dollar reaching the average kitchen table. That uncomfortable contradiction now captures the dilemma at the heart of South Korea’s economy. The Bank of Korea on Tuesday projected that per capita gross national income will exceed $40,000 in 2026, assuming exchange rates hold steady and external shocks stay at bay. After 12 years in the $30,000 range since first crossing that threshold in 2014, the country is finally poised to move up.

2026-09-11 05:30:00:00

[Lee Byung-jong] Korean troops for the Iran war?

The South Korean military has participated in US-led wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Through these deployments, Korea suffered significant troop casualties and other collateral damage, while gaining material benefits as well as Washington's confidence. The question now is whether Seoul will send military forces to support the US-Israeli war with Iran. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly asked Seoul to join US operations there in return for continued US security commitments to Korea.

2026-09-11 05:30:00:00

From human capital to innovation: Uzbekistan–Korea educational partnership

The long-term stability of relations between states depends not only on political agreements or economic projects, but also on the opportunities created for human capital. After all, specialists capable of mastering new technologies, applying scientific ideas in practice, and communicating effectively with international partners do not emerge on their own. Behind this lies quality education, scientific research, and the exchange of experience. In this regard, the educational dimension of the rel

2026-09-10 14:28:38:00