Opinion - The Korea Times

ED Kim Moon-soo’s solo campaign

The presidential primary of the People Power Party (PPP) has ended not with a triumph of vision, but with a quiet implosion. The sudden withdrawal of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, coupled with a failed attempt to replace its candidate, has left Kim Moon-soo as the party’s lone standard-bearer. What was intended to be a competitive and rejuvenating process has instead revealed the conservative bloc’s disarray, internal stagnation and procedural hollowness. Han Duck-soo’s candidacy never gained traction. Though he brought a wealth of administrative experience, he failed to inspire or connect with the public. His retreat, thinly framed as an act of “conservative unity,” was more accurately a concession to irrelevance. The effort to restructure the race — an implicit admission of the party’s lack of confidence in Kim Moon-soo — was rejected by party members, signaling not a consensus but a deadlock. Now, Kim stands alone, campaigning under the banner of an “anti-Lee Jae-myung coalition.” But this framing reflects a defensive posture, not a proactive vision. While

May 11, 2025

ED SKT chief's insincere apology

The recent data breach at SK Telecom, Korea’s largest telecommunications provider, has triggered a crisis not only of corporate accountability but also of national security. The incident, involving the leak of universal subscriber identity module (USIM) information affecting untold numbers of subscribers, has revealed troubling deficiencies in the company’s response, leadership and overall preparedness. In failing to treat the matter with the urgency and transparency it demands, SKT and its chairman, Chey Tae-won, have compromised public trust and exposed the dangerous gap between Korea’s digital advancement and its cybersecurity readiness. Chey’s belated and inadequate apology did little to quell the growing public outrage. Only after considerable pressure did he acknowledge that the breach extended beyond a simple data leak, admitting it bore implications for national defense and security. However, his vague promises to “expand investment” in data protection and to establish an “information protection innovation committee” fell far short of what the situation demande

May 8, 2025

ED Just as toast's raised, France crashes Korea-Czech nuclear deal

The completion of Korea's nuclear reactor construction contract in the Czech Republic was halted at the last minute. As the Korean delegation arrived to sign the agreement with the Czech government, a regional court in Brno accepted an injunction filed by France’s EDF, which had lost in the bidding process. As a result, the court blocked the Czech Republic’s main electricity company, CEZ, from signing the final agreement with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) for a 26 trillion won ($18 billion) project to build two 1,000-megawatt nuclear reactors, pending a review of EDF’s complaint. The Korean delegation, which was set to attend the signing and was led by Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, stated afterward that only the official signing had been postponed, while other procedures would go on as planned. It is regrettable that the signing schedule for such a major deal — especially in a sector where Korea holds a competitive edge — has been thrown into uncertainty. Just days earlier, Korea had celebrated the impending contract signing of its first major overseas nuclear project

May 7, 2025

[ED] Just as toast's raised, France crashes Korea-Czech nuclear deal

ED Protect judicial independence

The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has once again sparked controversy — this time over actions that critics say threaten the very foundations of democracy. The liberal party has threatened to impeach Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae following a ruling that jeopardizes the political future of its presidential candidate, Lee Jae-myung. Characterizing the verdict as a “judicial coup,” the DPK has also exerted pressure on the Seoul High Court — which is currently handling Lee’s case — urging it to postpone the trial until after the June 3 presidential election. Critics say this move constitutes a clear violation of the principle of separation of powers. Rep. Yun Ho-jung, Lee’s chief campaign manager, stated on Monday that the DPK would take “every possible measure” if the court does not delay the trial. “If the Seoul High Court does not reschedule the deliberation on Lee’s case, currently set for May 15, to a date after the election, the DPK will exercise all means available to us to stop this judiciary coup,” Yun said at a press conference. His forceful remar

May 6, 2025

ED Lee's political future at stake

Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea’s (DPK) presidential candidate, has reached a critical juncture in his political career. On Thursday, the Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s decision that had previously cleared Lee of violating the Public Official Election Act. The top court found that Lee was guilty and remanded the case to the Seoul High Court, which had earlier reversed the original district court’s ruling. That district court had sentenced Lee to a one-year prison term, suspended for two years. It remains unclear whether the lower court will be able to deliver a verdict before the June 3 presidential election. It is also uncertain whether any ruling would be severe enough to disqualify Lee from running or force him out of the race. Under the current law, any individual fined 1 million won or more is barred from seeking public office for 5 years and up to 10 years if they receive a prison sentence. The stakes are high for Lee. He may face mounting internal pressure to resign and withdraw from the race. A challenging path lies ahead for both Lee and the DPK

May 1, 2025

ED More than data breach

A nationwide rush for sensitive universal subscriber identity modules, or USIMs, began Monday for 25 million people on cell phone plans from SK Telecom and carriers using its network. After a delay following a large-scale cyberattack on its subscriber server on April 18 that leaked the USIM information of its subscribers, SK Telecom began offering free USIM replacements about ten days later. Subscribers scrambled as they rushed to contact retail outlets to check for available USIM cards, in a scene reminiscent of how people used to line up to receive masks and tests during the COVID-19 pandemic. But most were unsuccessful and may have to wait for months for the promised replacements. The company said Wednesday that three months are needed to replace USIM cards for all 25 million subscribers. Meanwhile, it asked its subscribers to register with its USIM protection service program. Needless to say, many subscribers are now moving to rival carriers such as KT and LG Uplus, while those that remain feel wary and distrustful. Despite all this new information, it isn't easy to find relief in t

Apr 30, 2025

ED Walk the talk

Former Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leader Lee Jae-myung's win at the party primary is the least of all surprises. He swept through the successive primaries with consecutive wins, easily garnering the votes to become the party candidate for the June 3 snap presidential election. Support for Lee, a former mayor of Seongnam, governor of Gyeonggi Province and lawyer, reached nearly 90 percent in a weighted system comprising 50 percent party members' votes and 50 percent from public opinion polls. That is a figure unseen even when leaders like Kim Dae-jung ran for party nomination. Lee continues to be the favorite in the upcoming election, with no similarly competitive candidate emerging from the conservative People Power Party. In his third presidential bid, Lee shows he easily grasps what the country wants and needs. In accepting the party nomination, Lee vowed to bring the nation together by surmounting the divisions acutely demonstrated by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3 martial law declaration. Lee lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential race by a slim 0.73 percentage points

Apr 30, 2025

ED Riding the 'Trump effect'

With Rep. Lee Jae-myung securing a landslide victory in the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) primaries on Sunday, all eyes are now turning to the conservative camp ahead of the June 3 presidential election. The question now is who will face Lee in the presidential race? At present, there is no definitive answer. The People Power Party (PPP) is holding its own primaries, featuring a three-way contest among former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo and former PPP Chairman Han Dong-hoon. Recent polls suggest a neck-and-neck race among the three, with Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo trailing behind. If any candidate secures 50 percent or more of the vote, he will be declared the winner when results are announced on Tuesday. However, given the tight competition among Kim, Hong and Han, it's unlikely that any one candidate will surpass the 50 percent threshold. In that case, the top two contenders will advance to a run-off, with the final result to be announced on May 3. But the tight three-way race isn't the only reason the PPP's nomination remains unpredictable. Acting President

Apr 28, 2025

ED Korea, US tariff talks

The Korean negotiating team that met with the their counterparts led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington to tackle tariffs has agreed to pursue a "July package," by July 8, when the 90-day moratorium on U.S. reciprocal tariffs ends. Under the current measures, Korea faces a 25 percent "reciprocal" tariff. "South Korea brought their A-game," Bessent said at the White House. "We may be moving faster than I thought." Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok also hailed the talks. "It was meaningful," he said. "The countries were able to share the perception that they will conduct calm and orderly consultations without haste." The two sides, in drawing up a broad outline for the talks, seemed to have been on the same page, although skeptics in Seoul scrutinize the nuance in tone taken by the two sides and the speed required to produce the plan by July 8. The task ahead unfortunately will focus on the fine print. The Korean negotiating team should be prepared to clearly identify what it can offer and what it should receive in r

Apr 27, 2025

ED A looming storm

The Korean economy is facing tectonic challenges as mounting global and domestic uncertainties threaten to plunge the nation into a deeper economic slowdown. The recent move by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to halve Korea’s 2025 growth forecast from 2 percent to a mere 1 percent has sent shockwaves throughout the country. This sharp and unprecedented downgrade signals more than just a revision of numbers — it raises the specter of a full-blown recession. At the core of this downward revision lies Korea’s heavy dependence on external trade, particularly its vulnerability to the ongoing U.S.-China tariff war. The IMF’s latest report also trimmed global growth projections to 2.3 percent, shaving 0.5 percentage points off its previous estimate. Major economies such as the United States and China were not spared — both seeing significant downgrades. Yet Korea, with its 1 percent forecast, has suffered the most pronounced blow, reflecting its exposure to global trade disruptions. Korea’s economic model, built on exporting intermediary goods — particularly to China — h

Apr 24, 2025

Editorial