The Korea Times

Seven days in May ― saving America from within

By Martin Schram“Seven Days in May,” the epic 1960s novel and a film starring Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas and Ava Gardner, was a fictional tale about right-wing Pentagon generals who tried to topple the U.S. government.Seven Days in May, 2022, the epic tragedy starring us all, is the reality news that is now dominating news screens everywhere. You and I are feeling like we are trapped into watching a slo-mo version of heart-wrenching, mind-numbing scenes that just keep on looping.We know the whole world is watching us in stunned disbelief. And sometimes it feels like we, too, are outside looking in. We see half of our nation's leaders willfully lying to us ― and their followers pretend they don't know they are being lied to. We suddenly have enemies whose evil isn't about committing willful action against us, but willful inaction ― a fear of taking common-sense acts to save us from ourselves. Because their honest action may cost them the power ― and that is what they crave most of all.Today, our Seven Days in May 2022 tale actually begins with a context-setting preface from 2015: Te

Jun 1, 2022By Shim Jae-yun

Seven days in May ― saving America from within

People & Events

Starkey Korea CEO gets Korean War medal on behalf of late father

Starkey Korea CEO Shim Sang-don, left, receives a certificate for an honorary Korean War Medal from Brigadier Gen. Woo Kyung-kwan, on behalf of his late father Shim Eun-taek at Starkey Korea Hall in Seoul, Wedneday. Courtesy of Starkey KoreaBy Shim Jae-yunStarkey Korea CEO Shim Sang-don received a Korean War military medal on behalf of his late father, Shim Eun-taek, who served the nation in the 1950-1953 war, during a ceremony at Starkey Hall in Seoul, Wednesday. The award ceremony took place as part of a government campaign to find the unsung heroes of the war and honor them or their descendants with Korean War military medals since 2019. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the government for offering such a medal of honor without forgetting (my father's service), though belatedly,” Shim said after receiving the medal. Brigadier Gen. Woo Kyung-kwan, in charge of personnel affairs of the ROK Army, presented Shim with the medal on behalf of Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup. Participants in the event included dignitaries such as former South Chungcheong Province Governor Shim

May 25, 2022By Shim Jae-yun

Starkey Korea CEO gets Korean War medal on behalf of late father

Opinion

New initiative, security and summit

New initiative, security and summit By Shim Jae-yunThe upcoming summit between President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden will be crucial in a true sense for both leaders, given the looming tectonic changes in the security and economic landscapes of Northeast Asia. The summit will take place only 11 days after Yoon was sworn in as the nation's president, the earliest-ever of its kind. This compares with Yoon's predecessors ― 79 days for the late Roh Moo-hyun, 54 days for Lee Myung-bak, 71 days for Park Geun-hye and 51 days for Moon Jae-in.Yoon will be bracing for the first test due to the U.S. bid to unite its allies behind it to contain the growing influence of China in the Asia-Pacific region. For starters, Biden is expected to pressure Korea to join the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). “So as it relates to our economic framework, it's going to focus on building agreements with Indo-Pacific partners. The United States has strong economic and trade ties in the Indo-Pacific so it is essential for us to step up economically in the region and to do it fa

May 18, 2022By Shim Jae-yun

Opinion

Foreign policy recommendations for Yoon

By Shim Jae-yunIn my column titled, “Can Yoon become Korea's Macron?” for May 27 of last year, I pointed out some similarities between the two leaders, such as their political inexperience and maverick characters in defiance of the political establishment. As Yoon has become the head of state against all odds, expectations are growing for him to inject fresh air into leading Korea in the right direction for the better.Despite some upbeat expectations, however, President-elect Yoon is bracing for a plethora of daunting challenges ahead in carrying out his duty as the new president beginning May 10. Most of all, he needs to unite the nation and repair the extreme sense of division, which deepened during the campaign, marred by negative character attacks between the leading candidates. Yoon beat his rival, Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), by only 0.73 of a percentage point. He now faces staunch resistance from the majority party with 172 parliamentary seats.In addition to these weighty challenges at home, the political novice must also tackle the

Mar 16, 2022By Shim Jae-yun

Opinion

From antipathy toward hope

By Shim Jae-yunThe presidential election is supposed to be full of hope as it is a “sacred” process of inaugurating a new head of state who will lead the nation for the next five years. Contrary to the expectation, however, the ongoing race is disappointing at large, having become a battleground among candidates with record displays of antipathy rather than empathy. Another disappointment is the waning of the nation's only progressive party with National Assembly seats ― the Justice Party.For starters, the nation is seeing a rare phenomenon: an increasing number of undecided voters with less than two months left before the March 9 presidential election. People are voicing their distrust of the major presidential contenders. Many around me are wondering whether they can decide who to vote for until the poll day. Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has been the object of public cynicism for his apparent lack of morality as seen in his criminal record, profanity against his sister-in-law and purported irregularities in a major

Jan 12, 2022By Shim Jae-yun

Opinion

Candidates' foreign policy dilemma

By Shim Jae-yunThe importance of an appropriate foreign policy cannot be overemphasized, especially for mid-sized countries such as Korea. History shows that such a policy is occasionally so significant as to determine the country's sustainability, and this is so for Korea due to geopolitical sensitivity, as it is surrounded by much larger, powerful nations. For leaders, a balancing act combining ideals and reality is essential. When they lack the caliber to meet this requirement, they face a serious dilemma.Former President Roh Moo-hyun was no exception. Despite his image of being anti-American, he implemented diverse policies favorable to the United States based on the bilateral alliance, such as signing the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement and dispatching Korean troops to Afghanistan, even at the cost of inviting criticism from his conventional supporters who lambasted him as a neoliberal. While his efforts to seek inter-Korean cooperation culminated in his summit with North Korea's then-leader Kim Jong-il in 2007, he also stressed the country's firm alliance with the U.S. Here, I

Nov 17, 2021By Shim Jae-yun

Opinion

Inter-Korean summit and US role

By Shim Jae-yunVarious indicators are appearing pointing to a possible inter-Korean summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. For starters, both Koreas have expressed a positive attitude about such a meeting, and China appears to expect a “peace mood” to prevail ahead of its hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympics next February. In addition, U.S. President Joe Biden reaffirmed Washington's stance of supporting Moon's peace process on the Korean Peninsula in a Sept. 21 speech at the United Nations.Cross-border communications lines were reopened Monday, following an instruction from the “omnipotent” supreme leader Kim. His influential sister Kim Yo-jong said Sept. 25 that the North was ready to conditionally discuss an inter-Korean summit. It seems fair to say that she closely conferred on the matter with her brother. Former Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun, a prominent North Korea expert, even forecast the summit could take place soon, possibly within this year, or at least around the time of the Olympics. He said the two Koreas

Oct 6, 2021By Shim Jae-yun

Opinion

Why not invite pope?

By Shim Jae-yunUnification Minister Lee In-young has expressed hope that Pope Francis' much-envisaged visit to North Korea will happen soon. “We know the pope has been showing consistent interest and affection toward the reconciliation of the South and the North. The pope's visit, if realized, will sow the seeds of blessing and peace in the North while conveying messages of reconciliation in global society,” he said Tuesday in a congratulatory remark to observe the inter-Korean Peace Day and the 200th anniversary of the birth of Saint Andrew Kim Dae-geon. President Moon Jae-in is also pressing to hold talks with Pope Francis during the G20 summit to be held in Rome in October to discuss the pope's possible visit to the North. “I believe Moon is unswervingly working for a meeting with the pope,” a source familiar with the issue told The Korea Times. Moon has been making strong efforts to realize the papal visit to the North. As Moon is set to end his term in May next year, time is running out for him to make progress in his much-touted initiative of rekindling

Aug 18, 2021By Shim Jae-yun

Opinion

Who is bullying whom?

By Shim Jae-yunChinese President Xi Jinping said foreign forces would “be crushed to death before the Great Wall” should they attempt to bully or influence the country. Xi also clarified China would not tolerate “sanctimonious preaching,” apparently targeting the United States, during a speech at Tiananmen Square on July 1, marking the centenary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Xi's remarks reminded me of the harsh war of words between the top foreign and security officials from the U.S. and China in Anchorage, Alaska, March 18. The extremely tense meeting highlighted the beginning of hegemonic warfare between the two superpowers, each touching upon the most vulnerable parts of the other including human rights abuses and territorial issues. Under the former President Donald Trump administration, China enjoyed rising global influence taking advantage of his isolationist “America first” policy. For Xi, it was a fortunate period as an increasing number of countries around the globe were turning their backs on the “unilateral” U.S. on

Jul 7, 2021By Shim Jae-yun

Opinion

Can Yoon become Korea's Macron?

By Shim Jae-yunFormer Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl has continued to steal the limelight with various opinion polls showing he leads prospective presidential aspirants along with Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung. A survey conducted by the Korea Society Opinion Institute on May 21 and 22 showed Yoon was the most-favored presidential candidate with support of 32.4 percent, ahead of Lee at 28.2 percent and former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon with 10.3 percent.Now all eyes are on whether Yoon will be able to maintain this lead in the upcoming presidential race and become the nation's next president in May 2022. He has already emerged as the most preferred presidential candidate for the “non-ruling” camp, and will likely declare his bid soon, continuing to remain a significant factor in the crucial election.Kim Chong-in, former chairman of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), lauded Yoon for his charisma and audacity. “He succeeded in making 'fairness' his brand, which is the spirit of the times. I think he snatched the limelight.” Kim, a highly

May 26, 2021By Shim Jae-yun

Shim Jae-yun

Read more

Seven days in May ― saving America from within

Starkey Korea CEO gets Korean War medal on behalf of late father

New initiative, security and summit

Foreign policy recommendations for Yoon

From antipathy toward hope

Candidates' foreign policy dilemma

Inter-Korean summit and US role

Why not invite pope?

Who is bullying whom?

Can Yoon become Korea's Macron?

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