The Korea Times

Korea needs to address polarization, upgrade its democracy

The Korean people, along with the rest of the world, rejoiced at the resilience of the country's democratic institutions and its enduring democratic spirit upon the fiasco created by President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law, which has since led to the passage of an impeachment motion against him. Three foreign reporters and analysts long based in Seoul — Michael Breen, head of Insight Communications, columnist and the author of "The New Koreans," Andrew Salmon, Asia editor for The Washington Times and Sebastien Falletti, Asia correspondent of Le Figaro — shared their insights about possible cracks in South Korean democracy as well as South Korean society in 2024, where generational, gender divides and the gap between the haves and have-nots deepen. While highly assessing the democratic resilience of South Korea, they cited the need for the nation to address polarization and upgrade its democracy.

Dec 19, 2024By Kim Ji-soo

Korea needs to address polarization, upgrade its democracy

People & Events

David I. Steinberg dies at 96

David I. Steinberg, who twice served as the country representative for the Asia Foundation's Korea Office, has died Thursday. He was 96.

Dec 9, 2024By Kim Ji-soo

People & Events

'Keep saying yes and step up to leadership'

For a long time, popular self-help books stressed that everyone needed to learn "how to say no." It almost seemed like a mantra, one that people living through these uncertain and volatile times should adhere to. So when Stephanie A. Urchick, 2024-25 president of Rotary International, advised her audience to keep on saying yes and to step up to leadership, you can bet that this writer was a bit bewildered.

Dec 5, 2024By Kim Ji-soo

'Keep saying yes and step up to leadership'

Opinion

Advancing Korean American legislators

Andy Kim, a 42-year-old Democrat and son of immigrants, won a decisive victory in the race for New Jersey's U.S. Senate seat. This election win took place on Nov. 7, alongside the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Kim will make history as the first Korean American senator and the third-youngest member of the Senate.

Nov 13, 2024By Kim Ji-soo

Books

INTERVIEW Brother Anthony, pioneer in Korean literature translation

The bookshelves in Brother Anthony's crowded workspace at a western Seoul officetel near Sogang University has more space — a lot more than when this writer last visited more than a decade ago.

Oct 31, 2024By Kim Ji-soo

[INTERVIEW] Brother Anthony, pioneer in Korean literature translation

North Korea

Tackling Korean language education for children of North Korean defectors

A North Korean defector in his 30s recently attempted to cross the heavily-fortified border between North and South Korea. The man, who fled to South Korea in 2011, stole a bus to drive across the Tongil Bridge in Paju, located south of the heavily fortified demilitarized zone (DMZ). Investigators revealed that he had been working as a construction worker in the South and was feeling homesick.

Oct 10, 2024By Kim Ji-soo

Tackling Korean language education for children of North Korean defectors

Trends

Koreans remain uncertain over housing in apartment-dominated Korea

During the Chuseok holidays this September, a popular Korean film titled "Concrete Utopia" aired on television. The story revolves around an apartment complex called "Hwanggung," which stands intact in Seoul after a devastating earthquake levels the city. In the dark and gloomy city, residents of Hwanggung as well as those who gather around the apartment for food and shelter, all struggle to survive. The film's title is an ironic question, in fact, asking us if apartments can truly provide a utopian living environment.

Sep 26, 2024By Kim Ji-soo

Koreans remain uncertain over housing
in apartment-dominated Korea

Opinion

Blossoming people ties

This summer travel season, numerous repeat visits figured prominently in Korean tourism news narrative. One Korean travel agency, Hana Tour, which in August surveyed which destinations Koreans favored for a second or third visit, found through its review of 2,000 reply posts indicated that 28 percent favored Japan, 11 percent Vietnam, 7 percent Thailand and 7 percent France. The weak Japanese yen, hovering around 800 to 950 yen to the Korean won during the summer months, made Japan an attractive destination for many young Koreans. The allure of such an affordable trip so close by increased the number of Korean travelers to Japan even in August amid reports of earthquakes and typhoons. On the popular Korean platform Naver, daily uploads by Korean travelers of shopping lists or attractions visited on their third or fourth trips engaged viewers just as if they were there.

Sep 18, 2024By Kim Ji-soo

People & Events

Redefining Korea's role as strategic leader in Asia-Pacific

When her doctoral thesis was under review at the University of Kansas, the evaluating professors asked Song Kyung-jin where she saw herself in 10 years. She responded that she envisioned working at the United Nations or serving the underprivileged. Now, as the new country representative for the Asia Foundation's Korea office, she has the opportunity to do both.

Aug 21, 2024By Kim Ji-soo