The Korea Times

Will humanity ever learn from history?

South Korea is home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ranging from 5,000-year-old dolmens (stone tombs) to temples, palaces and even hand-carved Buddhist scripture woodblocks that somehow survived seven centuries without decay. I had the unique opportunity to visit some of the UNESCO sites last year during the 2026 World Heritage Festival, and as the guide talked about some of the temples in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, and Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, they mentioned how these beautiful places were once raveged by war and only rebuilt sometime later with much effort made to preserve their original states. The nation of South Korea is no stranger to war. To this day, Adm. Yi Sun-sin (1545-98) is celebrated for his 23 consecutive naval victories during the Imjin War (1592-98). However, the admiral’s triumph against Japan not the first thing that comes to mind when "Korea" and "war" are used in the same sentence. The 1950-53 Korean War between the North and South is well known. With the war never really coming to an amicable end, the stench of it still lingers in the air as

1d agoBy Bambot Valentine

Thoughts of the Times

AI’s lies

Artificial intelligence (AI) is all the rage these days. Some are actively describing the technological aspects, while others are enthusiastically telling its impacts. Here, I would like to bring up a curious issue associated with the intelligent algorithm of AI, from the perspective of an ordinary person. AI aims to be like humans, yet superpowered in every way. We have celebrated its positive aspects such as problem-solving, creativity and efficiency. But what about its darker side, for instance, lying? When people talk about AI’s lies, they usually mean AI systems provide false information. Sometimes this happens because the system does not truly understand the question. Other times, the error comes from flawed training data or human manipulation. What is clear is AI does not yet have intentions or emotions like us, so its lies are not deliberate. Still, it can be worse than a human lie. Here, we definitely need to remember that human lies usually fall into two categories. The first is unintentional or protective lies. A child might claim to have finished homework to avoid punishment

2d agoBy Sho Chang-young

Thoughts of the Times

Sending a peace message to Middle East

As the Iran war enters its sixth week, U.S. President Donald Trump appears to be searching for a way out of an increasingly intense and complex conflict. Iran, a theocratic regime supported by its Revolutionary Guard forces, remains determined to resist the United States. The talks between the U.S. and Iran have broken down for now. Trump is being widely criticized as an irresponsible leader who initiated this conflict. It can be argued that he has applied the classical doctrine of Carl von Clausewitz, the Prussian military theorist whose ideas may no longer be suitable in the era of artificial intelligence-driven warfare. In today’s context, war is far more likely to produce destruction and loss of life than to achieve sustainable peace. Indeed, modern warfare stands in stark contrast to Clausewitz’s original concept. Trump’s call for U.S. allies to ensure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz can also be viewed as a self-serving and irresponsible attempt to shift the burden of the conflict. The strait is an open waterway through which all nations have the right of passage and Ir

Apr 13, 2026By Heo Ma-ne

Thoughts of the Times

Arrest of Nepal's ex-PM

In a bold move in Nepal politics, former Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and a former home minister were arrested for the human and material damage caused during the Gen Z protests last September. Both politicians are likely to be charged under provisions carrying a maximum prison sentence of up to 10 years. They have since been released. The arrests came after the newly formed government under rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, widely known as Balen, decided to implement the report prepared by the probe commission led by former Special Court Chair Gauri Bahadur Karki. The immediate test for Shah as an instrument of change was implementing the findings of the Karki Commission, formed to investigate the killings and property damage during the protests that left 77 people dead and many injured. The first cabinet meeting has shown positive signs in this regard. Shah was sworn in as prime minister on Friday after his party secured a landslide victory in the country’s first election since last year’s youth-led protests. President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed him as prime mini

Apr 12, 2026By Brabim Karki

Thoughts of the Times

Endless stories and endless love

He killed his bride. He was furious about his ex-wife’s affair. He, the king, seemed to want to take vengeance on every woman. One woman named Shahrazad married him in order to save other women with her wit and wisdom. She told a story to her husband, the king. Her stories never ended but continued the next day. The stories were exciting and intriguing. The king could not kill his wife as he wanted her to tell stories continuously. The story saved not only her but also many others including the king himself. This is how the famous “One Thousand and One Nights,” or “The Arabian Nights,” plays out. She used to tell me about her life from her early days in her rural home. She had to walk a very long way to school. With her feeble legs and arms in her teenage days, it was an arduous trek. She could not enter college, as was the case for women from her generation. Her parents were always busy working in the field. She could not feel the gentle, friendly love and caring from her parents. She had to endure totally different circumstances when she got married. Her husband's family m

Apr 8, 2026By Lee Nan-hee

Thoughts of the Times

Another day old

Recently, prior to April Fool's Day, I was pleasantly tricked. Clicking on YouTube videos, I came across a song called "Another Day Old" by one Eddie Dalton, who is enjoying a growing online following. Well, I was attracted to the song because I have been counting my days in this eighth decade. I have been and continue to be thankful and grateful for each added day of living. I don't mind getting old. As Maurice Chevalier popularized the sentimental phrase, "I prefer old age to the alternative." I listened intently to the lyrics. The ballad was of a blues/soul genre. The visual identity of the singer was a middle-aged black man, and his voice had a gravelly, soulful, slightly raspy tone. Liking it very much and playing it immediately a few times, I thought, now that is someone whom I would like to see and hear in concert, or someone whom I would like to see perform in a nice nightclub. I especially liked the verse: “We're just passin' through time, like the wind through the pines Just small little pieces, in a bigger design The older I get, the more that I know There ain't nothin' wrong

Apr 7, 2026By William R. Jones

Thoughts of the Times

The Iran war, the Middle East and US foreign policy

The current war raging between Iran and Israel plus the United States represents a stark departure from the behavior of previous U.S. leaders. The administrations of Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden maintained traditional strong alliance with Israel, including military assistance, but avoided being drawn into sustained military combat in the Middle East. U.S. President Donald Trump in his second term has decided to join Israel in devastating air attacks on Iran, while moving U.S. Army and Marine Corps forces into the region. A ground invasion of Iran may soon occur. Trump has reversed course from earlier sustained emphasis on the absolute requirement to avoid direct military engagements overseas. He is acting unilaterally, without securing any approval from Congress. This contrasts with the approaches of both President George H.W. Bush and President George W. Bush in respectively responding to the 1990 invasion of Kuwait by Iraq and launching our invasion of Iraq in 2003. The current conflict is sometimes referred to as the Third Gulf War, but is distinctive from the earlier two wa

Apr 6, 2026By Arthur I. Cyr

The Iran war, the Middle East and US foreign policy

Thoughts of the Times

Reading as foundation of writing

It is often said that reading and writing go hand in hand. This familiar expression captures a simple yet profound truth: The ability to write well is deeply rooted in the habit of reading. To illustrate the close relationship between reading and writing, I may draw on my own experience. Half a century ago, I came to Canada to work for a Canadian bank. As my work followed a typical nine-to-five schedule, I had plenty of free time after work, and I devoted much of that time to reading books. I read widely, exploring a broad spectrum of disciplines. I read in English, as Canadian bookstores mostly sell books published in that language. Reading is not merely a way of acquiring knowledge; it is also a form of dialogue with great minds across time and borders. Through these encounters, my perspective on human beings, society and life gradually broadened, and my understanding of the world steadily deepened. Reading not only enlightened me but also nurtured both my critical and creative thinking. Exposure to diverse ideas taught me not to view issues from a single perspective but to reflect on

Apr 5, 2026By Lee Hyon-soo

Thoughts of the Times

K-wave at its peak

March 21, a Saturday, perfectly captured the dual spirit of modern Korea — a nation grounded in the pragmatic values of the past, yet standing at the pinnacle of global soft power. The day began with a practical errand. As we are good friends, I accompanied Mrs. Leiko, the wife of the Hungarian ambassador to Korea, to Jongno 3-ga and Jongno 5-ga, areas in Seoul renowned for their dense labyrinth of gold shops. She had recently had a gold crown removed from a wisdom tooth, and, given the staggering rise in gold prices, we hoped it might fetch a fair price. Upon arrival, I realized the tooth was only part of the story. She had also brought necklaces, rings and bracelets. Her decision reflected a shift in generational values. Once, she had imagined passing these pieces down as heirlooms; now, she felt modern children might find them outdated. Rather than leaving behind unused objects, she chose to convert them into cash, giving her children the freedom to shape their own futures. I was surprised when the modest collection totaled more than 10 million won — a reminder that the global f

Apr 1, 2026By Shin Hye-suk

Thoughts of the Times

Sydney to Seoul: Finding a different rhythm of running

At 6:00 a.m., Seoul was still winding down from the night before. As I stepped onto the metro heading to Gwanghwamun for the Seoul Marathon, I found myself surrounded not by fellow runners, but by late night revelers heading home. It was a striking contrast. Two different rhythms of the same city intersecting in a single carriage. By the time I reached the start line, the streets had transformed. About 40,000 runners gathered beneath the early morning sky, representing a running culture in Korea that feels both fast growing and deeply embedded. What stood out was the diversity of run clubs, each group dressed in its own colors, almost like teams lining up for competition. It felt organized, communal and quietly competitive. Only later, scrolling through social media, did I realize I had been running alongside influencers and even celebrities. A reflection of how visible and mainstream running has become. The Seoul Marathon is not only one of the oldest in the world, but the oldest in Asia. There was something powerful about running in a race with such history, especially as the rest of

Mar 31, 2026By Geoffrey Chen

Thoughts of the Times

Will humanity ever learn from history?

AI’s lies

Sending a peace message to Middle East

Arrest of Nepal's ex-PM

Endless stories and endless love

Another day old

The Iran war, the Middle East and US foreign policy

Reading as foundation of writing

K-wave at its peak

Sydney to Seoul: Finding a different rhythm of running

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