The Korea Times

Editorial Undiplomatic move

Tokyo hit for trying to raise territorial issue일본, 영토 문제 제기로 비난 받아The Japanese Embassy in Seoul has touched off controversy with its refusal to accept a New Year's gift sent by President Moon Jae-in because it was wrapped in paper showing an image of Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo. Cheong Wa Dae sent gifts of traditional liquor and other agricultural items last Tuesday to 15,000 people in diverse sectors of society, including foreign envoys.주한 일본대사관이 문재인 대통령이 보낸 새해 선물이 독도의 모습을 담은 종이에 싸여 있다는 이유로 수령을 거부해 논란이 일고 있다. 지난 화요일 청와대는 외국 사절을 포함한 약 15,000명의 사회 각계 인사들에게 전통주와 기타 농산품을 보냈다.Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Aiboshi returned the gift Friday, lodging a protest against the image and renewing his country’s territorial claim to the islets, according to Japanese news reports Saturday. There is nothing wrong with the presidential office using the image of Dokdo, which is Korean territory that has been under the effective control of Seoul, following its liberation from colonial rule by Japan.아이보시 고이치 주한 일본대사가 14일 독도에 대한 일본의 영유권을 재차 주장하고 독도 이미지에 대한 항의의 표시로 이 선물을 돌려보냈다고 일본 언론이 보도

Jan 28, 2022By Ahn Seong-jin

Editorial

Editorial Fear of Omicron variant

Time to take new strategy to defeat pandemic코로나19를 종식시키기 위해 새로운 전략을 취해야 할 때Korea reported 6,603 COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, marking an increase of 798 cases from a day earlier, mostly prompted by the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. This means the daily number of infections surpassed 6,000 for the first time since Dec. 24 when it stood at 6,233. It is a sharp increase of 2,439 cases from the 4,164 reported Jan. 13.정부당국은 수요일 총 6,603명의 코로나19 신규 확진자를 발표했는데, 이는 대부분 오미크론 변이의 빠른 확산으로 인해 전날보다 798명이 늘어난 것이다. 이것은 일일 확진자 수가 6,233명이었던 지난 12월 24일 이후 처음으로 6,000명을 돌파했다는 것을 의미한다. 이는 지난 1월 13일 발표한 4,164명에서 2,439명이 크게 늘어난 것이다.The Korea Disaster Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has attributed the recent upsurge to the highly-transmissible Omicron variant, which is more than two times as contagious as the Delta variant. For instance, the Omicron variant, which accounted for 12.5 percent of total infections in the first week of January, rose to 26.7 percent last week. Health authorities say that should such a trend continue, it is certain that Omicron will become the dominant strain starti

Jan 24, 2022By Ahn Seong-jin

Editorial

Editorial Growing China risk

Korea needs to diversify export markets한국은 수출시장 다변화가 필요하다South Korea is likely to bear the brunt of China's expected economic slowdown this year, raising the need to reduce its undue dependence on the world's second-largest economy. The question now is how to minimize the fallout from the growing China risk.한국은 올해 중국의 예상되는 경기 둔화에 직격탄을 맞을 가능성이 높아 세계 2위 경제대국에 대한 과도한 의존도를 줄여야 할 필요성이 제기되고 있다. 이제 문제는 증가하는 중국 리스크로 인한 여파를 어떻게 최소화할 것인가이다.The Chinese economy expanded 8.1 percent year-on-year in 2021, which was ostensibly a solid rate of growth. But it has begun to lose steam. Its growth rate plunged to 4 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, after reaching 4.9 percent in the third quarter, 7.9 percent in the second quarter and 18.3 percent in the first quarter.중국 경제는 2021년 전년 대비 8.1% 성장했는데 표면적으로는 견실한 성장률이었다. 그러나 기력을 잃기 시작했다. 성장률은 3분기 4.9%, 2분기 7.9%, 1분기 18.3%에 이어 지난해 4분기에는 4%대로 곤두박질쳤다.Such a downward trend is predicted to continue this year. China faces negative factors, such as possible defaults by real estate developers, rising prices of crude oil and other raw materials, trade fricti

Jan 24, 2022By Ahn Seong-jin

Editorial

Editorial Another awful collapse

Should the developer be allowed to continue building?HDC 현대산업개발은 건설을 계속해도 되나?An awful accident occurred Tuesday as the exterior walls of a high-rise apartment building under construction crumbled in Gwangju, 330km southwest of Seoul, trapping six workers inside. The accident occurred barely seven months after a similar disaster in the same city, in which a building under demolition collapsed onto a road, causing 17 casualties, including bus passengers, last June.서울에서 남서쪽으로 330km 떨어진 광주에서 건설 중인 고층 아파트 외벽이 무너져 안에 있던 근로자 6명이 갇히는 끔찍한 사고가 발생했다. 이 사고는 지난해 6월 같은 도시에서 철거 중인 건물이 도로로 무너져 내려 버스 승객 등 17명의 사상자를 낸 비슷했던 참사가 발생한 지 7개월 만에 일어났다.People are more than astonished to hear that the company behind both accidents was the same one, HDC Hyundai Development Co. HDC is a large construction company ranked ninth in terms of contract amount last year, and its parent HDC Group is the nation's 28th-largest chaebol or family-run conglomerate.사람들은 두 참사의 배후에 있는 회사가 같은 회사인 HDC 현대산업개발(HDC현산)이라는 것을 듣고 충격을 금치 못하고 있다. 현산은 지난해 도급순위 9위의 대형 건설사로, 모기업 HDC그룹은 국내 재계 순위 28위의 재벌 총수일가 기업이다.We feel despair beyond anger

Jan 16, 2022By Ahn Seong-jin

Editorial

Editorial Union voice on boards

Bill passed for union representation in boards이사회에서 노조 대표 선임 법안 통과되다The National Assembly passed a bill Tuesday that will mandate public institutions to appoint a union representative to their boards of directors. If the bill is signed into law, 131 public firms and institutions such as Korea Electric Power Corp. will be obliged to name a nonexecutive director recommended or picked by the chief of a labor union to their boards, starting from the latter half of the year.국회는 화요일 공공기관의 이사회에 노조 대표를 임명하도록 의무화하는 법안을 통과시켰다. 법안이 법제화되면 올 하반기부터 한국전력 등 131개 공공기관은 노조위원장이 추천하거나 선발한 비상임이사를 이사회에 의무적으로 선임해야 한다.The passage of the bill came after Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), called on the Assembly to deal with it last December. Yoon Suk-yeol, the presidential contender of the opposition People Power Party (PPP), backed Lee's stance. The presidential Economic, Social and Labor Council initiated the plan early last year to produce a social consensus. It is designed to enhance the managerial transparency of public firms and institutions by inclu

Jan 14, 2022By Ahn Seong-jin

Editorial

Editorial Ahn's growing popularity

Candidates should compete over policies대선 후보들은 정책으로 경쟁해야Minor opposition People's Party presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo is drawing attention after gaining a double-digit support rate in recent opinion polls. According to a survey by Embrain Public released Monday, Ahn secured a 10.1 percent support rate.국민의당 안철수 대선후보가 최근 여론조사에서 두 자릿수 지지율을 얻어 눈길을 끌고 있다. 월요일 엠브레인퍼블릭이 발표한 여론조사에서 안철수 후보는 10.1%의 지지율을 기록했다.Without a doubt, Ahn is still waging an uphill battle with his popularity falling far behind the two leading candidates ― Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). Lee and Yoon garnered a 39.4 percent and 29.9 percent support rating, respectively.의심할 여지없이 안철수는 여전히 유력 후보인 더불어민주당 이재명 후보와 국민의힘 윤석열 후보에게 크게 밀리며 힘겨운 싸움을 벌이고 있다. 이재명 후보와 윤석열 후보는 각각 39.4%와 29.9%의 지지율을 기록했다.Yet, Ahn's leap is noticeable because his support rate previously lingered at around 5 percent, overshadowed by the two frontrunners since he declared his presidential bid on Nov. 1.그러나 안철수 후보의 약진이 눈에 띄는 것은 그의 지지율이 11월 1일 대선 출마 선언 이후 두 선두

Jan 7, 2022By Ahn Seong-jin

Editorial

Editorial Lack of discipline, vigilance

Military slammed for another security lapse또 다른 안보상 실책으로 군 비난 받아An unidentified South Korean was found to have crossed the heavily fortified border into North Korea, raising concerns about the military's security lapse. This case has demonstrated that there is a big hole in the military's readiness posture.신원 미상의 남한 주민이 중무장된 남북 접경을 넘어 북한으로 탈출한 것으로 밝혀져 군의 안보 실책에 대한 우려가 커지고 있다. 이번 사건은 군의 대비 태세에 큰 구멍이 있음을 보여주었다.The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Sunday that the crossing took place on Saturday evening. The person was detected by surveillance equipment in the eastern part of the Demilitarized Zone, which bisects the two Koreas, at 6:40 p.m., on New Year's Day.합동참모본부(JCS)는 토요일 저녁 월북이 이루어졌다고 일요일 밝혔다. 이 주민은 설날 오후 6시 40분경 남북한을 양분하는 비무장지대(DMZ) 동쪽 지역의 감시장비에 포착됐다.But the military had not noticed the person until 9:20 p.m. when a soldier watching the CCTV replayed the recorded footage. Then it carried out a search operation and confirmed that the person crossed the military demarcation line at around 10:40 p.m.그러나 군 당국은 CCTV를 보고 있던 한 병사가 녹화된 영상을 재생한 오후 9시 20분이 돼서야 이 주민을 알아차렸다. 이어 수색작업을 벌여 오후 10

Jan 7, 2022By Ahn Seong-jin

Editorial

Editorial Let's make fresh start

Time to turn challenges into opportunities해결 과제들을 기회로 만들 때The New Year has just started, bringing both challenges and opportunities to the country. This is an important year for the people of South Korea who are craving for a return to normal life and a better future, all the more so as they will choose their new leader in the March 9 presidential election.우리나라에 도전과 기회를 가져다 주는 새해가 막 시작되었다. 일상 회복과 더 나은 미래를 열망하는 국민들에게는 3월 9일에 있을 대선에서 새 지도자를 뽑기 때문에 더욱 중요한 한 해다.It is also true that 2022 will be a tough year. The country is expected to face a number of thorny issues such as the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic, soaring inflation, global supply chain bottlenecks, climate change, and the escalating Sino-U.S. rivalry.2022년이 힘든 한 해가 될 것이라는 점도 사실이다. 한국은 코로나19의 재확산, 치솟는 인플레이션, 세계적인 공급망 병목 현상, 기후 변화, 고조되는 미중 경쟁과 같은 많은 난제들에 직면할 것으로 보인다.One of the most pressing tasks is to contain the further spread of the pandemic. The public health crisis has dealt a setback to South Korea although it was lauded for its well-established quarantine system. Now it is time for the country to overhaul its strateg

Jan 3, 2022By Ahn Seong-jin

Editorial

Editorial Brazen-faced move

Japan hit for trying to list mine as heritage site일본, 광산을 세계유산으로 등재하려는 이유로 비난 자초Japan has come under growing criticism for pushing to register as a UNESCO World Heritage Site former mines that used Korean forced labor during the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. On Tuesday, Japan's Cultural Affairs Agency proposed a number of mines on Sado, an island in Niigata Prefecture as a 2023 candidate for the UNESCO list.일본은 1910년부터 1945년까지의 일제 강점기 동안 한국인 강제 노동의 현장이던 옛 광산들을 유네스코 세계문화유산으로 등록하는 것을 추진하면서 많은 비난을 받고 있다. 일본 문화청은 20일 니가타현의 섬 사도에 있는 다수의 광산을 2023년 유네스코(UNESCO) 등재 후보지로 제안했다.Tokyo has been taking flak for failing to inform people of its forcible mobilization of Korean workers on Hashima Island, despite having pledged to do so in its application to UNESCO in 2015. Against this backdrop, it is deplorable for Japan to try again to register the mines ― another island site of forced labor ― as a global cultural heritage site.일본 정부는 2015년 유네스코에 하시마섬을 등재하면서, 그곳에서 한국 노동자들을 강제 동원했다는 사실을 알리겠다고 해놓고 약속을 지키지 않아 비난을 받아왔다. 이런 마당에 일본이 또 다른 강제징용의 섬 광산을 세계문화유산으로 등재하려 시도하는 것은 개탄스러운 일이

Jan 2, 2022By Ahn Seong-jin

Editorial

Editorial Lame apology

Candidates should do more to avoid 'family risks'후보들은 '가족 리스크' 피하기 위해 더욱 힘써야The wife of main opposition People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol made a belated apology Sunday over allegations that she had falsified credentials for lecturing posts in colleges. During a press briefing at the PPP headquarters, Kim Keon-hee acknowledged she exaggerated or falsified her career to stand out and felt ashamed of such misdeeds.국민의힘 윤석열 대통령 후보의 부인이 대학 강의를 위해 경력을 위조했다는 의혹에 대해 일요일 뒤늦게 사과했다. 김건희 씨는 국민의힘 당사에서 가진 언론 브리핑에서 그럴 듯하게 보이기 위해 자신의 경력이 부정확하거나 부풀려진 점을 인정하며 자신의 과거 행위에 대해 부끄러움을 느꼈다.It is unprecedented for the wife of a leading presidential candidate to make a public appearance for an apology. Kim blamed herself for exaggerating her career in job applications. She came under pressure from the PPP to apologize as her husband's support rate was declining at a rapid pace. Yet her apology was called into question due to a lack of sincerity in her remarks. She appeared to be focused more on defending Yoon than on reflecting on what she did. So one cannot but raise doubts about h

Dec 27, 2021By Ahn Seong-jin

Ahn Seong-jin

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Editorial Undiplomatic move

Editorial Fear of Omicron variant

Editorial Growing China risk

Editorial Another awful collapse

Editorial Union voice on boards

Editorial Ahn's growing popularity

Editorial Lack of discipline, vigilance

Editorial Let's make fresh start

Editorial Brazen-faced move

Editorial Lame apology

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