The Korea Times

The price of distrust: Behind the doomed careers of three politicians

The National Assembly and newsrooms, as workplaces, share one thing in common. Just as editors and reporters are at times pitted against each other over issues such as content edits, editorial direction and the realities of reporting from the field, lawmakers and their staff often misunderstand one another’s motives. Lawmakers sometimes complain that their staff are passive, incompetent and lack creativity. As a result, they argue that they do not receive sufficient support. Legislative aides, on the other hand, might say their bosses are excessively demanding and treat them like personal servants, forcing them to work long hours and causing burnout. Years ago, I had opportunities, at different times, to sit down with a first-term lawmaker and a legislative staffer working for a second-term lawmaker and hear their sides of the story. The lawmaker complained about her “idle” staff. She said the National Assembly audit was just around the corner, yet none of her aides had begun drafting review papers she could study to prepare for the event. The staffer’s account was very different

Jan 13, 2026By Kang Hyun-kyung

The price of distrust: Behind the doomed careers of three politicians

Others

Korea and China at odds: Lee defends China, calls out Koreans over mutual hostility

President Lee Jae Myung said election fraud allegations are fabricated and baseless, accusing those spreading the conspiracy theory of being “out of their minds.” He claimed political extremists are fanning hatred toward China and vowed to hold them accountable for fueling anti-China sentiment. “China is being accused of involvement in election fraud in Korea. Such nonsensical allegations angered Chinese people and drove them to turn their backs on Korea,” Lee said Wednesday in Shanghai during a luncheon with Cheong Wa dae correspondents. “These allegations are baseless and unnecessary. I have addressed the issue multiple times at Cabinet meetings, openly criticized those spreading it, and promised to hold them accountable,” he said. Lee added that Korea is now paying the price, as anti-Korea sentiment in China has led to consumer boycotts of Korean goods and products. He said his recent summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping would serve as a turning point, arguing that mutual hostility between Koreans and Chinese would begin to subside. He emphasized that he and Xi agreed

Jan 9, 2026By Kang Hyun-kyung

Korea and China at odds: Lee defends China, calls out Koreans over mutual hostility

Opinion

Rude, nagging, digitally illiterate: Inside Coupang hearing disaster

More than a decade ago, it was common to hear politicians complain about the declining popularity of elective office among ambitious people, arguing that those with strong resumes were no longer running for office. Instead, they were starting their own businesses or pursuing high-paying jobs in the private sector. As they often testified, power was shifting — rapidly — from the public to the private sector. In a capitalist society, such a shift comes as little surprise. In retrospect, however, lawmakers’ observations were not entirely accurate. The National Assembly, whose primary duties include making, revising and abolishing laws, was — and still is — a powerful institution. It remains influential enough to shape, or even determine, the nation’s fate. It is true that societal change has diversified the values people pursue, to the extent that money has become as important as honor. The brain drain in elective office, a direct result of its declining appeal, raises a fundamental question: Who is primarily responsible? Last week’s hearings in the Coupang data breach provide

Jan 2, 2026By Kang Hyun-kyung

Rude, nagging, digitally illiterate: Inside Coupang hearing disaster

Opinion

Odd man out: Kim Byung-kee’s fall in the DPK

Rep. Kim Byung-kee, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has become odd man out. He is facing calls to step down not only from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) but also from within his own party. Kim faces multiple allegations. He is accused of having been treated to meals worth 700,000 won ($485) by the former CEO of Coupang. He also allegedly accepted prepaid travel vouchers worth 1.6 million won ($1,107) from Korean Air, which he used with his family to stay in a five-star hotel on Jeju Island. In another allegation, Kim is said to have instructed a legislative staffer to contact Hanwha Group to confirm whether Indonesia’s president-elect was planning to visit the company. He then allegedly relayed the information to his son, a case officer at the National Intelligence Service (NIS), so that it could be reported to his son’s superior. The PPP demanded Kim’s immediate resignation. “He created the problem, so he must take responsibility,” PPP spokesperson Rep. Park Sung-hoon said on Saturday. Park added that the allegations are serious enoug

Dec 29, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung

Odd man out: Kim Byung-kee’s fall in the DPK

Opinion

What if simultaneous interpretation had been available during the Coupang hearing?

A rare and controversial judgment call was made Wednesday during a National Assembly hearing into Coupang’s customer data theft scandal. Lawmakers urged two interpreters attending the session to rely on their own judgment — summarizing what witnesses said and presenting key takeaways instead of fully translating their remarks. The unusual request stemmed from a clash between parliamentary ground rules and professional interpretation standards. Under National Assembly rules, each lawmaker is allowed seven minutes to speak during a hearing. Within that time, they may question witnesses or comment on their answers. Once the seven minutes expire, the microphone is cut off. As a result, lawmakers often rush through questions or focus on so-called “killer questions” that can generate headlines. This time constraint becomes more acute when foreign witnesses are involved, as lawmakers feel their speaking time is effectively reduced as the interpreter translates questions and responses. However, interpreters are trained not to omit, edit or alter a speaker’s remarks. Their professional

Dec 19, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung

What if simultaneous interpretation had been available during the Coupang hearing?

Trends

AI's two paths: Why Canada is cautious while South Korea races to adopt

Canada is the birthplace of several pioneers in artificial intelligence (AI). Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton, a computer and cognitive scientist known for his breakthrough work on artificial neural networks which earned him the nickname “the godfather of AI,” is from Canada. Other influential figures such as Yoshua Bengio, a leading researcher in deep learning, and Joelle Pineau, a prominent computer scientist and professor at McGill University, are also Canadian. Despite this impressive talent pool, Canada has remained cautious about the widespread adoption of AI in everyday life. In 2018, Canada launched the International Observatory on the Societal Impacts of AI and Digital Technologies, known as Obvia, with funding from the province of Quebec. Obvia is a research network designed to study the social implications of AI and provide guidance to policymakers. Notably, it was established years before ChatGPT made its global debut in November 2022 — a sign of Canada’s far-sighted, careful approach to AI. “Our founding vision has remained unchanged,” Lyse Langlois, CEO and exec

Dec 11, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung

AI's two paths: Why Canada is cautious while South Korea races to adopt

Opinion

How data heists fuel digital imperialism

Theft, more often than not, is a financially motivated crime. Robbers steal cash, goods or both to satisfy material desires. The same logic applies to many cybercrimes: Perpetrators infiltrate networks, steal or encrypt critical data, render systems unusable and sometimes demand ransom in exchange for restoring access. But theft in cyberspace is not always driven by profit. Some attackers penetrate networks simply for amusement or to boast about their technical prowess. Others have far more ambitious motives. They target transnational digital infrastructure or that of specific nations, using hacking as a strategic tool to outmaneuver adversaries. The data breach at Korea’s e-commerce giant Coupang has stunned the public. Personal information belonging to 33.7 million customers — including names, email and mailing addresses, phone numbers and records of their five most recent orders — was stolen. The intrusion began in June, yet Coupang remained unaware until it received an email from the perpetrator: a former Coupang software engineer responsible for the company’s cybersecurity

Dec 2, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung

How data heists fuel digital imperialism

North Korea

Untangling South Korea's quest for nuclear-powered submarines

President Lee Jae Myung’s opening remarks at his Oct. 29 summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in the historic southeastern city of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, came as a surprise to many foreign policy watchers. Lee — long accused by political opponents of being overly sympathetic to China since his “xie xie” (thank you) remark stirred controversy during his presidential campaign — explicitly cited China, alongside North Korea, as a key reason his administration is pursuing multiple nuclear-powered submarines. Diesel-powered submarines are too slow for South Korea’s Navy to effectively track and outmaneuver North Korean and Chinese submarines, he said. He requested U.S. support in supplying the uranium fuel necessary for naval reactors, adding that South Korea hopes to build several conventionally armed, nuclear-powered attack submarines to defend its maritime borders in the East and West Seas. “Should this happen,” he said, “the U.S. would be able to ease part of the defense burden it currently carries.” As expected, his nuanced pitch drew a swift rebuke

Nov 20, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung

Untangling South Korea's quest for nuclear-powered submarines

Trends

Looking outward: How APEC opened new window for Korea's creative industry

Whenever large-scale international events such as the Olympics or the World Cup are held, the world’s attention naturally turns to the host nation. Extensive media coverage often sheds light on the people, culture and lifestyle of that country. The same was true this time. Last week, the southeastern city of Gyeongju successfully hosted the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, drawing global attention. Located in North Gyeongsang Province, Gyeongju was once the capital of the ancient Silla Dynasty. The city, known for its well-preserved relics, artwork and numerous historic sites, exudes a quiet dignity and is often called a “living museum,” as it holds the splendor of Korea’s past. During the APEC events, Gyeongju’s rich and diverse cultural heritage captivated investors and dignitaries from around the world. This was clear evidence that the popularity of Korean culture did not happen overnight. Some visitors, perhaps unknowingly, became ambassadors of Korean culture themselves. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, for example, posted on Instagram ab

Nov 7, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung

Looking outward: How APEC opened new window for Korea's creative industry

North Korea

Trump’s Asia tour fuels speculation over peacemaker diplomacy with N. Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming Asia tour, which begins late Friday (Washington time) with his first stop in Malaysia, has raised a pressing question: Will he attempt to broker another peace deal — this time on the Korean Peninsula — following his decisive role in securing the Gaza ceasefire earlier this month? Trump will arrive in Busan on Wednesday after wrapping up a three-day visit to Japan, where he is scheduled to meet South Korean President Lee Jae Myung for a summit. He will also deliver a keynote address at a luncheon for CEOs on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) event in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Later that day, he will attend a U.S.-APEC leaders’ working dinner. On Thursday, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to hold a summit on the sidelines of the APEC event. But one potential encounter, if realized, could overshadow all others: another handshake with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Trump met Kim briefly in 2019 at Panmunjeom, the border village dividing the two Koreas, becoming the first sitting U.S.

Oct 24, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung

Kang Hyun-kyung

Read more

The price of distrust: Behind the doomed careers of three politicians

Korea and China at odds: Lee defends China, calls out Koreans over mutual hostility

Rude, nagging, digitally illiterate: Inside Coupang hearing disaster

Odd man out: Kim Byung-kee’s fall in the DPK

What if simultaneous interpretation had been available during the Coupang hearing?

AI's two paths: Why Canada is cautious while South Korea races to adopt

How data heists fuel digital imperialism

Untangling South Korea's quest for nuclear-powered submarines

Looking outward: How APEC opened new window for Korea's creative industry

Trump’s Asia tour fuels speculation over peacemaker diplomacy with N. Korea

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