Editorial

ED Korea tourism boycott in Thailand

Korea owes a lot to “hallyu,” or the Korean wave. The country’s meteoric rise as one of the popular tourist destinations has been possible thanks to the global sensation of K-pop and Korean dramas.

ED Dangerous military deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty during a summit, Wednesday. Putin highlighted that the new pact includes provisions for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against either country. Kim emphasized that the treaty signifies an elevation of bilateral relations to the status of an "alliance."

ED South Korea, are you ready?

In the relentless pursuit of combating the global climate crisis, the imperative to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030 looms large. Amidst this urgent call to action, one resource stands out as pivotal in accelerating our clean energy transition: offshore wind power. The Global Offshore Wind Report 2024 from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) heralds a transformative moment, emphasizing that offshore wind is no longer confined to regional success stories but is poised for unprecedented global growth.

ED New wall in North

North Korea was found to have been building up walls within the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas. Bisected by the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), the DMZ is the buffer that keeps the armistice intact, more or less, between the two Koreas that never signed a peace treaty after their 1950-1953 fratricidal war.

ED Coupang’s controversial practices

The recent revelation of illegal and deceptive practices by Coupang, Korea’s leading e-commerce firm, is alarming. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has imposed fines totaling 140 billion won ($101 million) and filed a complaint with the prosecutors' office. This action follows allegations that the company manipulated its in-app algorithm to favor its own private brand products. The antitrust watchdog also accused Coupang of mobilizing its employees to artificially boost search rankings and give high ratings to its own goods, thereby deceiving consumers through fraudulent means.

ED Stand firm on Putin-Kim summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forthcoming visit to Pyongyang for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will certainly do more harm than good to South Korea as the two like-minded autocratic leaders are expected to escalate tensions with the coalition of democratic countries.

ED What's the rush?

ED Need for US-Korea-EU trilateral cooperation

In the wake of rapprochement between Korea and Japan, much of the focus has been on the strengthening trilateral relations among Korea, Japan and the United States. However, in our increasingly interconnected world, Korea and the United States should aim to deepen cooperation with partners based on shared issues rather than limiting themselves to regional alliances. Within this framework, the European Union emerges as a promising partner.

ED Doctors' strike contested

Access to medical treatments is generally not a major concern in developed countries like Korea, although costs can vary. However, a nearly four-month-long dispute between the government and the medical community over increasing the enrollment quota for medical schools has made health care somewhat less accessible.

ED Tit-for-tat clashes

Tensions are escalating on the Korean Peninsula as South and North Korea continue to engage in a tit-for-tat exchange over the North’s release of trash-laden balloons. In response to these actions, the presidential office announced on Sunday a plan to commence loudspeaker broadcasts along the border areas.