The Korea Times

Next decade to determine whether South Korea can become great power

A new government is in place after six months of interrupted democracy. Voters have cast ballots with apprehension and anticipation that a new leader will restore Korea's democracy as well as reputation as an advanced nation. Lee Geun, a professor of international relations at Seoul National University's Graduate School of International Studies and former president of the Korea Foundation, hopes to inject a national vision that compels South Korea to join in the group of great powers that will rewrite and reshape global order in the next decade or so. His new book represents a scholastic attempt to reinterpret the theories put forward by the likes of John Mearsheimer and John Ikenberry, and offers his take on a liberal global order that is rules-based and multilateral in essence. This order has produced a generalized market, allowed by a global supply and value chain, where nations compete through their ability to exchange commodities rather than fight with military might. "A great power is, simply put, a nation that can design the global order," Lee said. His book, titled "Great Power

Jun 5, 2025By Kim Ji-soo

Next decade to determine whether South Korea can become great power

North Korea

'Championing justice, human rights and good values still in US interests'

WASHINGTON — Morse Tan, a former ambassador-at-large for Global Criminal Justice in the U.S. Department of State during President Donald Trump's first administration, recalled that the nature of his office at that time had limitations in talking about his work on genocides, war crimes and crimes against humanity globally and in specialized regions like North Korea. "In fact, there was one time at a conference at Maryland, different bureaucrats were worried that I would make U.S. policy public through my prayers. So I wasn't even allowed to pray freely," Tan said, laughing. The 51-year-old is a devout Christian known for not skipping prayers. A 1.5-generation Korean American (he left Seoul at the age of 2), his office within the State Department dealt with mass atrocities and provided advice on how to address injustices around the globe to the secretary of state. It is an office not commonly seen in other countries' foreign ministries, dedicated to pursuing justice and addressing injustices. While he could not go into detail, he said he did what he could to advance the situation in No

May 15, 2025By Kim Ji-soo

'Championing justice, human rights and good values still in US interests'

Politics

Korea alliance must be seen holistically: Maxwell

When he visited Seoul last December, following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief martial law declaration, David Maxwell, vice president of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy, observed how different the street protests were. "In the 1980s, we would come down from the DMZ once a month and Seoul would smell like tear gas. ... But there is no political violence, almost no violence at all," said Maxwell, who is also a senior fellow at the Global Peace Foundation. "It looked like Independence Day ... and regardless of your political views, Koreans are protecting their democracy," said Maxwell, adding that this is one of the reasons why the U.S. continues to express support for democracy and the alliance. Speaking on the sidelines of the 2025 Capitol Forum held on Saturday, Maxwell stressed that South Korea, like other allies, must see that the United States thinks about alliances holistically. "Allies need to do that too," he said. Maxwell, a military veteran who served in South Korea, said the country is "a partner in the arsenal of democracy, providing advanced weaponry to friends, par

May 8, 2025By Kim Ji-soo

Korea alliance must be seen holistically: Maxwell

Society

An impassioned call for Korean unification

Speaker Seo In-teck, co-chair of Action for Korea United, delivered an impassioned and rousing speech for attendees at the 2025 Capitol Forum held Saturday in Washington, D.C. The audience was comprised of Korean Americans who work on North Korean human rights, speakers who have long careers dealing with North Korean human rights issues and several North Korean defectors. Directly addressing the crowd in Korean to reach the hearts of the Korean diaspora, Seo spoke on how the upcoming 80th anniversary of Korean liberation commands us to think of new vision for Koreans — the Korean Dream. The Korean Dream seeks a free and peaceful unified Korea by working on human rights issues based on Korea's founding principle of "hongik ingan," which is about benefitting all humankind. "I received a lot of positive feedback. There were some parents who appreciated the review of the American founding values and how those values have served as pillars in times of division in the United States. Korea's founding principle of 'hongik ingan' can serve us through times of division toward unity," Seo said.

May 8, 2025By Kim Ji-soo

An impassioned call for Korean unification

Politics

Civic, grassroots efforts for Korean unification steadfast

WASHINGTON — If not for the political crisis following the Dec. 3 martial law declaration, and the upcoming June 3 presidential election, the 80th anniversary of Korea's Liberation would have received much more attention than it is this year. A forum took place here attended by experts and active citizens from the Korean-American community to discuss and share their efforts to achieve the free and peaceful unification of Korea, and the crucial role the South Korea-U.S. alliance has served in efforts to date. Juxtaposed against the grave uncertainty over the U.S. and China’s rivalry and the growing ties between North Korea and Russia, the Saturday Capitol Forum was notable in its steadfast commitment to grassroots work for human rights in North Korea. Perhaps it was the sturdy and straight-back posture of participants who apparently were of the first- and second-generation Korean immigrants who built new lives in the United States but kept the motherland in their hearts. Or rather it was the spirit within this Korean diaspora combined with the nature of grassroots efforts that susta

May 4, 2025By Kim Ji-soo

Civic, grassroots efforts for Korean unification steadfast

Opinion

First they came for

Apr 30, 2025By Kim Ji-soo

Opinion

‘Resident Playbook’ debuts amid doctor shortage debate

While a drama about life on Jeju Island continues to captivate many K-drama watchers, a spin-off of a popular Korean medical drama is off to a good start on channel tvN. "Resident Playbook" is the third show in the popular "Hospital Playlist" series featuring a younger cast of junior doctors in their first year of OB-GYN training, one of the departments struggling to find new recruits in the face of South Korea's declining birth rates. The Gen Z residents are smart and often try to speak their minds without always communicating effectively, especially with older generations. The drama's premier was delayed, perhaps because of how the subject matter intersected with the doctor training controversy that engulfed the nation last year. In a latest turn of events, the government has frozen the hotly contested medical school enrollment quota at 3,058 in an apparent concession to doctors over the medical reform scheme launched by former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The Education Ministry last week announced that the admission quota for medical schools for the 2026 academic year will be 3,058, not

Apr 23, 2025By Kim Ji-soo

Opinion

Spirit of law takes hold

Korea's Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment on President Yoon Suk Yeol, ending more than 120 days of crisis after Yoon's short-lived martial law on Dec. 3. The verdict now puts Korea on a course to elect a new president within 60 days. The nation must carry forward the lessons of the past four months, which were marked by anguish, learning and awakening. Here is how Korea watchers reviewed the past four months. — Ed. Michael Breen: To a law-based democracy The ruling from the Constitutional Court to uphold the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol marks a historic moment in the dramatic story of Korea's democracy. Most significantly, it represents an upgrade from a power-driven form of democracy to a law-based one. The entire nation waited with bated breath for the decision on Friday morning. Frankly, we are so accustomed to political power, either in the form of popular pressure or top-down interference, influencing institutional decision-making that nobody was really sure which way it would go. An estimated 60 percent hoped for the result that eventually came, but a signif

Apr 4, 2025By Kim Ji-soo

K-pop

Knocking on door of world's biggest music market

The drive to the neighborhood of southern Seoul's Nonhyeon-dong, where entertainment company Singing Beetle is located, offered small but sharp uphills and bends. Thankfully, the cab driver was skillful behind the wheel, maneuvering the narrow alleys, amid the pedestrians and other vehicles. At first glance, the area seemed like a nondescript mix of commercial and residential buildings. Then again, so were the backstreets of Cheongdam-dong — even if they were more upscale — where Korea's top entertainment firms such as SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment first set up shop. The Singing Beetle is the new kid on the K-pop block, led by Michelle Cho, a songwriter and record producer with credits to songs from EXO's Baekhyun ("Stay Up" featuring Beenzino) and Kai ("Ride or Die"). Cho is the CEO of Singing Beetle and the creator behind 1VERSE, the company's maiden band project. At Singing Beetle's underground office, the five members of 1VERSE practice daily, make music and create content as they count down the days before their debut. The five are Hyuk, 25, and Seok, 24, two former N

Mar 21, 2025By Kim Ji-soo

Knocking on door of world's biggest music market

Opinion

Hawker centers, a community

Always an eager and "opportunistic" traveler, my eyes remain keen for a chance to make a trip to a place that would infuse friends, food and an experience of a distinctive locality. Thus late last year — before the political whirlwind of the short-lived martial law imposition on Dec. 3 swept up national energy — an opportunity to travel arrived, with the news of a friend visiting her homeland of Singapore to celebrate her mother's birthday. She invited me to come along. I packed, and dared to ask for lodging from a few among the multitude of friends living and working in the city state. Aside from the joyful anticipation of reuniting with various friends and eating exotic food and fruit, I was also hoping to catch a glimpse of several of the city-state's policy initiatives often touted by Korean policymakers.

Feb 12, 2025By Kim Ji-soo

Kim Ji-soo

Read more

Next decade to determine whether South Korea can become great power

'Championing justice, human rights and good values still in US interests'

Korea alliance must be seen holistically: Maxwell

An impassioned call for Korean unification

Civic, grassroots efforts for Korean unification steadfast

First they came for

‘Resident Playbook’ debuts amid doctor shortage debate

Spirit of law takes hold

Knocking on door of world's biggest music market

Hawker centers, a community

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