The Korea Times

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

Editorial

ED Controversial resignation

Ruling bloc to blame for top prosecutor quitting Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl resigned Thursday to protest the ruling bloc's campaign to weaken the state prosecution service. In a brief press conference in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office he said, “I can no longer see the collapse of justice and common sense which our society has built up for a long time.” He said he would make maximum efforts to safeguard the country's liberal democracy and protect the people whatever he now does. Yoon's resignation has essentially been heralded since Cheong Wa Dae began pushing for the establishment of the so-called Serious Crimes Investigative Agency under the Ministry of Justice. Yoon had been resisting the move as it was designed to take the investigative authority away from the prosecution for probes into six types of crimes including high-profile corruption. Yoon said he would renounce his post as the top prosecutor 100 times over if he could prevent the formation of the new investigative agency. It is worrisome that the chief prosecutor has resigned citing the reason, “destructio

Mar 5, 2021By Shim Jae-yun

Opinion

Kindness gap: Prude's death should spur wholesale change in mental health care and policing

Read all of New York Attorney General Tish James' report on Daniel Prude, a 41-year-old Black man who died last March in Rochester police custody.A tragedy on top of tragedy, Prude's death ― and what preceded ― was probably preventable, with plenty of blame to go around. The cause: Systemic flaws in police and mental health systems, but no crime, which is why James' grand jury came back without an indictment. The facts, as thoroughly presented by James, leave no other conclusion.Daniel Prude's situation was a complex psychiatric emergency. A Chicagoan, Daniel was visiting his brother Joe on March 23 when he suffered a mental health breakdown, either exacerbated or provoked by PCP. His brother called 911, and officers found Daniel, bloody, delirious, covered in feces, after he'd traveled a mile, barefoot, in freezing weather, thrown a brick through a store window, shouted at a tow truck driver that he had COVID, and stripped himself naked.Cops restrained Prude, handcuffing him and placing a spit hood over his head when he started spitting. Hooded, restrained, naked on freezing ground,

Mar 2, 2021By Shim Jae-yun

Editorial

ED Looming shortage of auto chips

It's time for carmakers to prepare for long battle Carmakers here are struggling with the global shortage of automotive semiconductors. Production disruptions are partly due to the pandemic, but it's just a matter of time before a full-blown crisis hit them.GM Korea's second plant in the bupyeong District of Incheon has been running at half capacity since Feb. 8 due to a significant shortage of chips. The Korean unit of the U.S. car giant General Motors is monitoring its supply situation closely to determine production plans for the coming weeks. Hyundai Motor and Kia are reportedly checking their semiconductor inventory status by the week. The two companies are also adjusting production plans, focusing on models having automotive chips that are in their inventories. “Some parts' inventory levels are at an emergency level and we may run out of stock in weeks,” an official at Hyundai Mobis, a component affiliate of Hyundai Motor and Kia, was quoted as saying. Separately, Hyundai Motor has embarked on direct negotiations to secure chips needed for its cars. Global carmakers

Mar 1, 2021By Shim Jae-yun

Editorial

ED Calls for deregulation

Deregulation needed; companies should pay heed to workers' rights The chiefs of major business lobby groups unanimously called for deregulation in their New Year messages. They voiced anxiety over a package of bills that passed the National Assembly, saying they would undermine business activities and have an adverse effect on companies' investment and employment decisions.The business leaders' stance contrasts with their previous messages where they usually presented new directions or managerial keywords with resolutions for the New Year. Sohn Kyung-shik, chairman of the Korea Enterprises Federation, said, “Recently a series of bills were legislated which we fear will curb companies' activities.” He called on the government to make a “paradigm shift” in mapping out business-related rules and regulations.Huh Chang-soo, chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries, cited the need for Korean companies to be able to compete with foreign firms on equal footing. “They need a basis to compete in the global market in a fair manner,” said Huh who is als

Jan 1, 2021By Shim Jae-yun

Opinion

Myanmar: The saint who lost her way

By Gwynne DyerAlmost completely obscured by the blanket global coverage of the U.S. election, they are having one in Myanmar too. The outcome is even more a foregone conclusion, although in this case it will confirm the existing government in power. But it is only by condoning a great crime that democracy there survives.Aung San Suu Kyi, known universally in Myanmar as 'The Lady,' got the Nobel Peace Prize for her leadership in the long struggle against military rule, and by 2015 it looked like she had won. Her National League for Democracy party secured an overwhelming majority in parliament in that year's election, and she became the country's effective leader.True, her official title was only 'State Counsellor,' because the army wrote the new constitution specifically to exclude her from the presidency. (She has two British-born sons, so it bans people with foreign family members from the office.) The armed forces also still controlled one-quarter of the seats in parliament, but in practice The Lady led the government.There was even a kind of formal reconciliation with the army in

Nov 9, 2020By Shim Jae-yun

Opinion

Korea's ill-fated presidents

By Shim Jae-yunIn May, I had the chance to attend a dinner with the then-presidential secretary of civil affairs, Kim Jo-won, along with several senior journalists. Touching on his prime concern at Cheong Wa Dae, Kim, now retired, said he had always been paying heed to ensure President Moon Jae-in would be able to retire from the presidency safely and enjoy his remaining life comfortably. The participants acknowledged his remark, given the numerous cases of former presidents who met ill fates during or after their presidency. The nation's first President Syngman Rhee was forced to seek exile overseas and died there, while Park Chung-hee was shot to death by one of his close aides. Their successors Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo were imprisoned and Roh Moo-hyun committed suicide. Most recently, Lee Myung-bak was put behind bars again after the Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling sentencing him to 17 years in prison. Lee's successor Park Geun-hye has been imprisoned for more than three years since March 2017, on diverse counts of criminal activity. Many outside the country wonder

Nov 4, 2020By Shim Jae-yun

Politics

Taiwan caption

Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung of the Republic of China (Taiwan) poses at his office. Courtesy of Ministry of Health and Welfare of Republic of China

Nov 4, 2020By Shim Jae-yun

Shim Jae-yun

Read more

Why not invite pope?

Who is bullying whom?

Can Yoon become Korea's Macron?

ED Controversial resignation

Kindness gap: Prude's death should spur wholesale change in mental health care and policing

ED Looming shortage of auto chips

ED Calls for deregulation

Myanmar: The saint who lost her way

Korea's ill-fated presidents

Taiwan caption

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