COVID-19 vaccines for poor countries
It's so encouraging to hear that the vaccines for COVID-19 from Pfizer and Moderna are becoming a reality and will soon be available to be deployed.Many advanced countries are competing to reserve their country's portion of the vaccines and in the case of Canada they have pre-bought enough vaccines for 10 times the population. The mechanism to help vaccines be bought and distributed to other countries has been set up and is called the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator. Now the question is, “Is there enough money in this envelope to buy and deploy the vaccines for the most vulnerable people?” South Korea is making concerted efforts to secure vaccines for its own people and the unification minister is very vocal about supplying vaccines for North Koreans.South Korea should definitely secure vaccines for its own people and North Koreans but also make sure it does its fair share by committing 1 percent of the country's domestic COVID-19 response to ACT, so that not only it serves its own people but the entire world. Sunnie KimGangbuk-gu, Seoul
Set the record straight
Dear editor,We have seen an article titled “Human rights violations ― painful history shared by women in Korea, Kashmir” that was published in your newspaper on Sept. 8.The article is riddled with factual inaccuracies, false narratives and baseless allegations against India. Above all, it is politically motivated and divorced from ground realities. The purpose of writing this letter is to set the record straight and present the facts to your esteemed readers in an objective manner.Jammu and Kashmir is and has been an integral part of India since Oct. 26, 1947, when the then ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir signed the Instrument of Accession to bring about its lawful merger with the Union of India.This accession was completely lawful in terms of the Government of India Act, 1935, Indian Independence Act, 1947, and international law, and is total and irrevocable. On the contrary, Pakistan is in illegal and forcible occupation of Indian territories of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.On Aug. 5, 2019, the Parliament of India pass
Help developing countries cope with COVID-19
After record-long rainy days and their damage plus the disastrous effects of the COVID-19 resurgence, one would wonder if there's any end to the tunnel anywhere.President Moon Jae-in is largely surrounded by criticism that comes with the second half of his mandate. and a growing number of people have begun to voice the opinion that he can't seem to do anything right. Understandably, the patience of Koreans is beginning to run thin. Yet all is not negative. Among the better news that has transpired over the past few days is that Doctors Without Borders was able to secure a six-month moratorium on restrictions on TB diagnostic and treatment supplies to be shipped to North Korea. While many might think that it's probably wrong to focus on people outside of South Korea at this time, we must remember our dreadful days of a developing nation just a few decades ago.We must build solidarity with those who do not have the wherewithal to defend themselves from the pandemic. So it's great the South Korean government announced a $50 million package to make COVID-19 therapeutics and diagnostics a
COVID-19 and US hegemony at crossroads
America today stands at a crossroads, one that questions the very legitimacy and longevity of its imperial hegemony. As a Korean American studying in the U.S., I worry that I am committing myself to a country that is now a falling order, an imploding structure.Several questions must be asked. American scientists are some of the smartest, and its economy is unparalleled in size ― how is it, then, that it has failed so miserably in responding to this virus? The U.S. harbors some of the largest tech giants, too ― why is it, then, that even basic tech infrastructure for contact tracing is lacking?What is really challenged here is American ideology. Consider how Congress paid for a $2.4 trillion stimulus package when it could not afford basic needs, such as testing and masks. The priority here was placed not on public health, but on economic progress. Unfortunately, in this pursuit of economy over public health, the U.S. lost both, posing a great challenge of legitimacy to the American neoliberal ethic.And why are Americans so uniquely against wearing masks? Consider, here, the importance
How to deal with 'corona blues'
These are strange times we are living in. The new coronavirus has us all practicing social distancing, and staying away from large social gatherings such as school as much as we possibly can. This is no doubt critical for our physical health. But it's certainly creating a lot of challenges for mental health. The fact that I can't meet up with friends, get proper exercise, or go anyplace without wearing a mask … I have to admit it's stressing me out.I did some research on this phenomenon. It turns out that there's a term for it: the “corona blues.” All around the world, people are stuck at home feeling anxious, lonely and depressed. It can result in bad digestion, headaches and insomnia.Because all of us struggle with this situation in different ways, I wanted to pass on some useful tips I got from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Stay safe and healthy everyone! Five tips for dealing with the corona blues:1. Take care of your body: Eat healthy, well-balanced meals, and avoid junk food and fast food. Get enough sleep, and open a window for s
Age is not just a number
A week ago, I met up with a friend and he introduced me to his cousin who recently flew in from Vietnam to pursue his undergraduate studies here in Korea. He looked so young, energetic and bubbly that I had to inquire about his age, which the lad disclosed with a smile on his face. Upon hearing it, I almost immediately began to reminisce on my high school days when we studied “Literature in English.” We usually read books in different genres but my favorite were dramas set in the medieval period. I still remember one of Shakespeare’s classics titled “Antony and Cleopatra,” where Cleopatra reflected and said “My salad days, when I was green in judgment, cold in blood...” She was talking about her youthful and naive infatuation with Julius Caesar, and as young students, we began to use the metaphors of “salad days” and “green” to describe our more youthful selves, just like Cleopatra used it to described a time of immaturity and inexperience, contrasting her past feelings for Caesar with her deeper, more mature love for Mark Antony. As I spoke with the young man who
Experiencing double inpatient surgeries
Into Africa, with a fluttering heart
William George Aston: Ireland's intellectual bridge to Korea
Embracing beauty in imperfection
Read more