Opinion - The Korea Times

ED Unity, Lee's most urgent task

Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has been declared Korea’s president following his victory in the presidential election Tuesday. The snap election was triggered by the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached in April for his abrupt declaration of martial law on Dec. 3. The six months since that incident have been marked by severe political turmoil. Polarization reached new heights as conservatives and liberals clashed both in the streets and across social media. Healing this political rift is now Lee’s most urgent challenge. Beyond national unity, the newly elected president must also address a fragile economy weakened by internal instability and U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies. Lee's leadership will face immediate and difficult tests as he attempts to enact essential reforms. From the outset, Lee appears to understand the weight of his responsibilities. He emphasized unity and economic growth as the two top policy priorities of his administration. In his inaugural speech on Wednesday, he pledged to be a leader

Jun 4, 2025

ED Lee Jae-myung must open new era

Voters used their mandate to the full on Tuesday to choose Lee Jae-myung as the next president, to put an end to and seek closure on six months of crisis following the Dec. 3 martial law declaration. Lee of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) began his single five-year presidential term early Wednesday morning. Lee won 49.42 percent of the votes cast, over the conservative People Power Party's (PPP) Kim Moon-soo who won 41.15 percent of the votes. Lee Jun-seok of the minor Reform Party took 8.34 percent. Earlier exit polls conducted jointly by three major broadcasters, released at 8 p.m., had projected 51.7 percent support for the DPK's Lee, giving him a solid start over the PPP's Kim Moon-soo's 39.3 percent. But as votes were opened and tallied, Lee came out the winner and Kim conceded at around 1 a.m. This election, arriving two years ahead of schedule due to Yoon's impeachment, means that the new administration must hit the ground running. Lee is expected to soon name his prime minister, chief of staff and Cabinet members to address quickly mounting tasks. Korea's once-exempl

Jun 3, 2025

ED Korea's future hinges on this election

In downtown Seoul last week, long lines formed as people waited to cast their ballots during early voting on Thursday and Friday. Salaried workers, students and other urban residents made time to stop by nearby polling stations and exercise their right to choose the nation’s next leader. Thanks to these committed voters, early voting turnout reached 34.74 percent. Although this figure is 2.19 percentage points lower than the turnout for the 2022 presidential election, it still marks the second-highest early voting rate since the system was introduced in 2013. More voters are expected to cast their ballots before polls close Tuesday night. The early turnout offers encouraging signs for the country’s future. Rather than succumbing to voter apathy, citizens showed up to make their voices heard. This is significant, considering voter frustration has peaked in this election for several reasons. Most notably, the president elected three years ago declared martial law, which cut his tenure short. His drastic and ultimately self-destructive decision imposed heavy political and economic costs

Jun 2, 2025

[ED] Korea's future hinges on this election

ED Erratic tariff strategy

The trade landscape between the United States and its partners has once again been thrown into confusion. A recent ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade invalidated President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, finding they exceeded the authority granted to the executive branch under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Yet within 24 hours, the U.S. Court of Appeals temporarily reinstated the tariffs, granting the Trump administration continued leeway — at least until the appeals process concludes. The administration, in turn, made clear it would pursue the matter all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. This legal tug-of-war reveals deeper systemic issues in Trump’s trade policy: unpredictability, legal overreach and the weaponization of tariffs for political gain. These features have not only destabilized global supply chains but have eroded America’s credibility as a reliable economic partner. For countries like Korea — heavily dependent on exports and sensitive to shifts in U.S. trade behavior — this inconsistency poses significant strategic

Jun 1, 2025

ED Ten years of China’s rise

Ten years ago, few believed that China could evolve from a producer of low-cost, generic goods into a global leader in advanced manufacturing. But in just a decade since launching its “Made in China 2025” initiative, China has defied expectations — and redrawn the map of global industrial power. Today, China holds the top position in at least seven high-tech sectors: electric vehicles, batteries, drones, 5G telecommunications, solar panels, high-speed rail and advanced materials. These are not marginal gains; they represent the heart of future industrial competitiveness. This transformation was the result of a deliberate, long-term national strategy — one that mobilized policy, capital, personnel and innovation in unison. The scale of China’s commitment is staggering. It dismantled regulatory barriers, introduced sweeping tax incentives, and directed massive public investment into research and development. Since 2010, China’s R&D budget has grown at an average annual rate of 12.7 percent, reaching 646 trillion won ($471 billion) in 2024 — more than 20 times Korea’s 31 t

May 29, 2025

Korea vs Google: map data battle

Google has once again requested permission from the Korean government to transfer the country’s 1:5,000-scale high-precision map data to its overseas data centers. Currently, the company relies on lower-resolution 1:25,000-scale maps, alongside aerial and satellite imagery, to provide mapping services in Korea. This third request — the first since 2016 — carries added significance, coming just a month after U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, whose administration labeled the restriction as a “nontariff barrier.” Amid Trump’s threats to impose hefty tariffs on Korea, some experts suggest that the government consider leveraging the issue of high-precision map data transfers as a barging chip in trade negotiations with Washington. However, the matter should not be addressed solely under trade pressure. High-precision maps are critical infrastructure for emerging spatial information industries, such as autonomous driving, augmented reality (AR) and digital twins, closely linked to national security and industrial competitiveness. If overseas transfer is all

May 28, 2025By Kang Seung-woo

ED Last-minute mudslinging

The final television debate, conducted on the eve of early voting to pick Korea's next president, was heated as expected. Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea, Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party, Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party and Kwon Young-kook of Korean Democratic Labor Party took to the floor to discuss the political divide, reforms and foreign policy issues. The four went right at the actual content of these issues and each other's flaws and faults whether related or unrelated. In light of the past six months of political turbulence, viewers would have expected more forward-looking plans on how the candidates, if elected as the next president, would work to restore Korea's democratic functions on par with its economy and cultural prowess. To a certain extent Lee stressed "politics of dialogue, communication, respect for others and compromise" and Kim talked up "politics of integration." Kwon pushed for ideas for banning satellite parties and forged a sort of a consensus for constitutional revision, a demand that has been widely shared in the p

May 28, 2025

ED DPK should uphold democratic principles

On the same day that the nation’s judges held a rare assembly to address threats to judicial independence, the liberal Democratic Party of Korea withdrew proposed bills that would have allowed non-legal professionals to join the Supreme Court and expanded the number of Supreme Court justices to 100. The bills, that were authored respectively by former justice minister-turned-DPK legislator Park Beom-kye and Rep. Jang Kyung-tae, drew sharp backlash amid the perception that the DPK's offensive against the judiciary was in full swing. The DPK's withdrawn bills mark a pause in the tension between the liberal party and the judiciary ever since the Supreme Court sent back DPK candidate Lee Jae-myung's Public Official Election Act case to the lower court early this month. The case now awaits retrial at the Seoul High Court, where Lee, the frontrunner presidential hopeful, faces charges of making false statements during the 2021 presidential race. Among the 12 charges Lee faces — across five cases — a guilty verdict on this particular charge could have significant consequences for his po

May 27, 2025

[ED] DPK should uphold democratic principles

ED Gaffes, lies, unsubstantiated claims

The clock is ticking ahead of the June 3 presidential election. Koreans will head to the polls next Tuesday to cast their ballots, and in this final week, many undecided voters are still making up their minds. This last stretch is critical — a strong performance now could make or break a candidate’s campaign. In a tight race like this, even minor missteps can trigger a domino effect, reshaping the political landscape. Candidates must be especially cautious with their words and actions, ensuring their statements are accurate and credible. Unfortunately, this rule of thumb has not been followed faithfully. Lies, gaffes and unsubstantiated claims have become so common in campaign speeches. Some of these errors, whether deliberate or accidental, even go unnoticed. Poorly chosen rhetoric not only damages a candidate’s credibility but also leaves them vulnerable to attacks from their opponents. Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate for the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), is no stranger to controversy. He has faced backlash over a series of contentious remarks on economic issues. Fo

May 26, 2025

[ED] Gaffes, lies, unsubstantiated claims

ED US troop reduction in South Korea

A recent Wall Street Journal report revealed that the Donald Trump administration considered withdrawing 4,500 of the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, relocating them to other areas within the Indo-Pacific region, such as Guam. While the U.S. Department of Defense swiftly denied the report, the idea itself is neither novel nor implausible. In fact, it reflects a broader, long-standing trajectory in U.S. military policy — one that emphasizes strategic flexibility, regional rebalancing and a recalibrated role for allies. The notion of reducing the U.S. military footprint in South Korea is often met with concern, especially given the peninsula’s history and the ongoing threat posed by North Korea. However, this potential reduction must be viewed within the context of Washington’s evolving strategic doctrine. The U.S. has for years, been moving toward repositioning its global forces to better address the rise of China and other emerging threats. This includes encouraging allies like South Korea to shoulder more responsibility for conventional deterrence, while the U.S. r

May 25, 2025

Editorial