[Editorial] Ruling party's overreach

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea decided at a meeting of its lawmakers on Tuesday to pursue a parliamentary investigation into Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de. It plans to bring a related motion to a plenary session of the National Assembly on Nov. 5. The party had previously floated impeaching the chief justice, but appears to have opted for an investigation out of concern of backlash from moderate voters. However, switching from impeachment to investigation does little to allay conce

2026-10-29 05:30:00:00

[Editorial] Hollow apology

Gyeonggi Province Gov. Choo Mi-ae apologized four days after making a controversial remark that appeared to portray firefighters as a drain on public finances. Her belated apology, however, has only deepened doubts about her sincerity. Choo apologized on Saturday after paying her respects to Kim Jin-seok, a fire lieutenant who died from injuries sustained in a factory fire in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. “Since you want an apology, I sincerely apologize from the bottom of my heart,” she said. No

2026-10-20 05:30:03:00

[Editorial] A rift Seoul cannot afford

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young told reporters at Government Complex Seoul on Monday that there is no problem with the South Korea-US alliance amid controversy over Washington’s restrictions on sharing intelligence with Seoul. Chung rejected Washington’s assessment that his remarks about nuclear facilities in North Korea's Kusong, North Pyongan Province, had disclosed classified US intelligence, calling it a “misunderstanding” and insisting that “the US is wrong.” At a National Assembly au

2026-10-15 05:30:03:00

[Kim Seong-kon] Let's be charming people, not abhorrent ones

We all want to become charming people who attract others’ attention and admiration. No one wants to become an obnoxious person who is annoying and offensive, causing disgust and dislike through their behavior. However, we frequently lose our charm and turn into repulsive people in our everyday lives. For example, if we are stubbornly self-righteous, we will inevitably become abominable people who ignore other people’s opinions. Indeed, no one will find such a person charming if they firmly belie

2026-10-14 05:30:01:00

[Agustino Fontevecchia] Journalists' revolt against AI

In just a few short years, AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude have become mainstream technology. The companies behind these innovative products tout their immense potential benefit for humanity. But this narrative, while not necessarily wrong, brushes aside that these models are built on the wholesale theft of copyrighted work and threaten to further weaken an already-fragile pillar of democracy: journalism. That is why Editorial Perfil, a major Latin American publisher headquartered in Argentina

2026-10-14 05:30:00:00

[Editorial] CPTPP bid in limbo

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP, is a multilateral trade pact involving 12 countries, including Japan, Australia, Canada and Mexico. South Korea has free trade agreements with all CPTPP members except Japan and Mexico. Joining the pact could expand export markets and improve trading conditions, but it would also expose domestic agricultural, livestock and fisheries sectors to greater competition and potential losses. Winning the trust of stakeh

2026-10-13 05:30:00:00

[Yoo Choon-sik] Unanswered questions on Future Response Fund

As the global boom in artificial intelligence drove unexpectedly sharp increases in South Korean semiconductor manufacturers’ earnings and tax payments, the government decided to set aside the tax windfall for a new fund rather than incorporate it into the existing budget. When introducing the Future Response Fund last July, President Lee Jae Myung said, “We will concentrate investment in four areas that will determine the nation’s future, namely the future, young people, regional development an

2026-10-12 05:30:00:00

[Man-Ki Kim] DMZ deterrence must be credible

For many veterans, including me, the DMZ is a place we remember with painful clarity. I served as an officer in the 7th Regiment of the Army’s 6th Division, stationed in the DMZ operational sectors. The danger was real, marked by blaring North Korean propaganda broadcasts and constantly shifting day and night duties. We witnessed firsthand the tragic effects of land mine blasts and gunshot wounds on young soldiers. Decades later, those vivid memories remain with all of us who served along that l

2026-10-12 05:30:00:00

[Lee Byung-jong] Coalition of middle powers

Although it is difficult to assess how likely this may be, reports have emerged that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Earlier this year, at the Davos Forum, he emphasized solidarity among middle powers in response to the Trump administration's coercive tariffs and annexationist pressure, while advocating a rules-based, multilateral international order. Participants responded to his speech with thunderous applause, and he subsequently emerged as a

2026-10-09 12:23:17:00

[Editorial] Show resolve

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul said Tuesday the demining operation at the site of two mine explosions in the Demilitarized Zone was “the first such operation in the history of our DMZ,” calling it “a firm response.” When reporters pointed out that the military’s response had been passive and defensive, he reportedly rejected the criticism, saying, “That’s not the case.” But his remarks fall short of public expectations. North Korean troops crossed the Military Demarcation Line and planted mines

2026-10-08 05:30:00:00