Opinion - The Korea Times

ED When in doubt, follow the Constitution

When in doubt, follow the Constitution. President Lee Jae Myung and Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae are at odds over the selection of a nominee for Supreme Court justice. Both sides accuse each other of violating the Constitution. To resolve the dispute, they should both carefully examine what the Constitution actually stipulates about the recommendation and appointment process, rather than interpreting it in ways that serve their respective interests. Article 104, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution makes clear how Supreme Court justices are appointed. It states: “The Supreme Court justices shall be appointed by the president on the recommendation of the chief justice and with the consent of the National Assembly.” This provision establishes distinct roles for the executive, legislative and judicial branches and reflects the principle of checks and balances in the appointment of Supreme Court justices. The chief justice recommends candidates, the National Assembly gives its consent and the president makes the appointment. The Constitution therefore gives each branch a defined role in the pro

1d ago

[ED] When in doubt, follow the Constitution

ED Top aide's resignation offer provides opening for reform

Controversies over some of President Lee Jae Myung's Cabinet nominees have prompted chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik to offer his resignation. Kang's departure would create a void that Lee would have wanted to avoid, particularly since the senior presidential secretary for policy role is also vacant. But Lee should accept the resignation so he can begin to turn things around and tackle his low approval ratings — the result of a poor nominations process, division within the ruling bloc and declining economic conditions for ordinary Koreans. Rep. Yong Hye-in, a legislator with the minor Basic Income Party, stepped aside as nominee for minister of gender equality and family after criticism flared over her intention to retain her proportional representation seat while serving as Cabinet minister. Kim Seung-won withdrew his nomination for justice minister after a series of allegations reemerged over his potential exercise of influence in pushing forward clinical trials for a COVID-19 drug, along with drunk driving and sexual harassment scandals. President Lee repeatedly apologized for his shor

2d ago

[ED] Top aide's resignation offer provides opening for reform

ED Close gaps in Korea-US relations

Despite Seoul's $350 billion investment pledge to the U.S. and President Lee Jae Myung considering support for restoring free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, relations between Korea and the U.S. remain tense. Without a clear, transparent interpretation and agreement, neither side is likely to gain anything. Seoul is expected to announce the first project under its investment pledge before the Chuseok holiday later this week. The announcement, which was initially scheduled for last week, faced a delay due to "commercial viability" issues and continued discussions over contentious provisions, as Lee said during a press conference on Friday. Among several points of contention are the proposed $22.3 billion Encinal natural gas-fired combined-cycle power plant in Texas — which emerged as a leading candidate for the first project — as well as the building of eight nuclear reactors in the U.S. and a liquefied natural gas project in Alaska. Korea is also seeking to increase its stake in Westinghouse, a move the U.S. side seems to oppose. Of the eight nuclear reactors, Seoul hopes two

Sep 21, 2026

ED Warning sign for gov't personnel system

The resignation of Kim Seung-won as President Lee Jae Myung’s nominee for justice minister should not be treated merely as the withdrawal of one embattled candidate. It exposes deeper weaknesses in the government’s personnel vetting system and raises serious questions about its ability to maintain public trust while pursuing sweeping judicial reforms. Kim withdrew on Saturday, only 20 days after his nomination. His decision came just two days after the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee approved his confirmation report, with the ruling Democratic Party of Korea pushing it through after opposition lawmakers walked out. The speed of the reversal is striking. If the candidate was sufficiently qualified to receive a confirmation report, why did concerns serious enough to force his resignation emerge afterward? Conversely, if the concerns were already known, why was he nominated in the first place? That is the question the administration now needs to answer. Several allegations had been raised during the confirmation process, including questions involving alleged lo

Sep 20, 2026

[ED] Warning sign for gov't personnel system

ED Korean universities seek higher internationalization

The Korea Times University Rankings 2027 survey of 60 universities this year saw Korea University topping the list, followed by Seoul National University and Yonsei University. It is the second year Korea University topped the ranking, scoring 149.52 points out of 200. The survey evaluated the schools across four categories — education, research, student support and graduate outcomes — to gauge how well the schools were building the broader ecosystem needed for globalization. Seoul National University and Yonsei University followed with 142.22 points and 140.74 points, respectively. They were followed by Sungkyunkwan University, which ranked fourth this year, followed by Hanyang and Sogang Universities to round out the top six. Ewha Womans University, Kyung Hee University and Dongguk University retained their slots in the Top 10 global universities in Korea, while Sejong University made a significant jump to rank at No. 7. This year’s survey placed greater emphasis on faculty diversity, student success and sustained research collaboration. New indicators, including the ratio of fu

Sep 18, 2026

[ED] Korean universities seek higher internationalization

ED Lee should have courage to correct his mistake

President Lee Jae Myung faces a critical decision: He can proceed with the appointment of his justice minister nominee, Rep. Kim Seung-won of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), or he can acknowledge a mistake and withdraw the nomination. Doing so would require courage. Admitting a mistake is never easy, but it can be a sign of political courage. And in this case, that courage could pay off. The decision Lee makes now could have consequences that shape the remainder of his presidency. A red flag has been raised over Lee’s leadership. His support base appears to be weakening, with a series of recent public opinion polls showing his job approval rating falling to a new low. Lee and the ruling party are facing a dual crisis. Externally, declining approval has made it more difficult for Lee to maintain momentum behind his major policy agendas. Internally, deepening divisions within the DPK have become another source of concern. Tensions between Lee’s aides and party members critical of the president are increasingly visible. The rift within the ruling party has become so serious

Sep 17, 2026

[ED] Lee should have courage to correct his mistake

ED Lee must rebuild public trust

President Lee Jae Myung’s approval rating has fallen into the low 30s, according to a recent Realmeter poll. Only a few months ago, his support hovered around 60 percent. Such a sharp decline should concern the president and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) — not simply because approval ratings measure popularity, but because public confidence provides an important foundation for effective governance. The central responsibility rests with Lee. His early popularity was built largely on the promise of a government that would deliver results, but concerns about the stock market and housing, along with a series of controversial personnel decisions, have eroded that confidence. The president’s frequent use of social media and highly visible, livestreamed Cabinet meetings may have been intended to strengthen communication, but they have also exposed him to criticism that he is becoming too involved in the minutiae of government. More troubling is the growing controversy surrounding constitutional reform and the possibility of granting prosecutors broader authority to withdraw i

Sep 16, 2026

ED Seoul must weigh in on AI risks

Warning voices from within the U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) industry, from researchers to executives, have raised the alarm about safety challenges related to the technology. For Korea, where President Lee Jae Myung has repeatedly pushed for the country to become one of the world's top three AI powers as a goal for his administrative, these warnings signal an urgent need for shared safety regulations. Over the weekend, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who has been warning about AI safety risks, called on companies to slow the pace at which companies are working to develop the technology. He has repeatedly expressed concern over the dramatic advancement of AI and the growing possibility of recursive self-improvement, in which AI systems are able to autonomously develop a new generation of AI. “I believe that if slowing down bought us even an extra year or two before models reach critical levels of capability, and we used that time to advance alignment, we could greatly reduce the risk that something goes seriously wrong,” Amodei said. Support from rivals like Elon Musk, who owns Spa

Sep 15, 2026

ED Conditions for Espionage Act to succeed

The expanded Criminal Act, which now covers espionage activities benefiting other foreign countries or entities beyond North Korea, took effect on Sunday. The amendment was approved by the National Assembly on Feb. 26, decades after a revision of the law was first proposed. Before the revision, offenses under the law only covered the collection of intelligence or classified information for North Korea. Offenders could face punitive measures including the death penalty. Accordingly, those who engaged in similar activities on behalf of a third country could avoid punishment for espionage under the previous law. Under the amended law, however, people who collect intelligence related to national security or share it with agents working for other foreign countries will be subject to punishment. The legislation was much needed as hybrid warfare is in full swing around the world, with nations seeking to expand their influence while countering foreign influence in their own territory. The amendment should have been introduced much earlier, but partisan politics delayed the legislative process. E

Sep 14, 2026

[ED] Conditions for Espionage Act to succeed

ED Yong's resignation and lessons for Lee gov't

The resignation of Yong Hye-in as President Lee Jae Myung’s nominee for minister of gender equality and family affairs is more than the withdrawal of a controversial candidate. It is a reminder that legal eligibility is not the same as political legitimacy, and that public officials must meet a higher standard of accountability than merely staying within the boundaries of the law. Yong announced her resignation Sunday, just 14 days after Lee nominated her. Until only a few days ago, she had firmly rejected calls to step down, arguing that there was nothing legally wrong with simultaneously retaining her proportional representation seat in the National Assembly and serving as a Cabinet minister. Technically, that argument had a legal basis. The National Assembly Act permits lawmakers to concurrently serve as Cabinet members. But politics is not conducted solely through legal technicalities. Public office requires not only legality but also public trust, political responsibility and a willingness to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest. That was where Yong’s position b

Sep 13, 2026

Editorial