Editorial

ED Russia arrests missionary

Russia’s recent arrest of a Korean missionary on charges of espionage is feared to further exacerbate already soured relations between Seoul and Moscow. Russia’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday it will positively consider letting the Korean national, identified only by his surname Baek, meet a Korean consular official at the request of the Korean Embassy in Moscow.

ED Trump isn't unpredictable

With Donald Trump set to be the Republican presidential nominee after a string of primary wins on March 5, South Korea and other U.S. allies will be increasingly focused on the implications of a potential second Trump presidency for global stability and economic prosperity. A commonly expressed concern is that a restored Trump presidency would be unpredictable. In reality, Trump's policies are relatively clear. The distinctions in Trump's foreign and economic policies are in their divergence from traditional U.S. policy, not in their inherent unpredictability.

ED Cutthroat election looms

In Korea, political engagement is a vibrant facet of society, where protest rallies are often compared to a cherished national pastime. Since the milestone of direct presidential elections in 1987, borne from the fervor of the democracy movement, events like the impending April 10 general elections possess the power to ignite a collective fervor across the nation.

ED Escalating medical dispute

ED Unfit to be envoy

President Yoon Suk Yeol's recent diplomatic reshuffle highlights a significant flaw in the selection and review process of candidates for key posts.

ED Korea needs foreign caregivers

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon reiterated the need to introduce foreign caregivers in Korea to address the increasing demand arising from rapid aging and a declining population. However, he clarified his opposition to the notion of applying the minimum wage to foreign caregivers, citing it as "unrealistic" due to the financial burden it would impose. "As (families) need to pay more than 2 million won ($1,500) per house (in case of employing the foreign workers under the minimum wage system), it would eventually become too expensive," Oh said on Facebook Wednesday.

ED Looming nuclear turmoil

Since the advent of nuclear weapons in 1945, a fragile peace has been maintained among the major nuclear powers, sustained by the fear of mutually assured destruction.

ED Fertility rate plummets

The persistent alarm over the nation's declining fertility rate has resonated frequently. While many countries grapple with low birth rates and aging populations, the rapid decline in Korea's fertility rate stands out. The speed of the fall is alarmingly swift. According to recent data from Statistics Korea, the country recorded its lowest quarterly fertility rate on record in the fourth quarter of last year, registering at 0.65. Furthermore, the fertility rate for all of 2023 stood at 0.72, marking a significant drop from 0.78 the previous year.

ED Same old faces

The conservative ruling People Power Party (PPP) wrapped up its selection of candidates for the April 10 general elections in 212 constituencies as of Sunday. The party’s nomination process has drawn enormous attention amid expectations that it would impress voters with what it hopes is a “renovated” selection based on drastic generational change in the current political establishment.

ED What Yoon's speech missed

President Yoon Suk Yeol spoke about how and why South Korea and Japan need to work together at this critical juncture, but his speech didn't reveal much about the lessons the nation should learn from its traumatic past.