Opinion - The Korea Times

ED Excessive, divisive remarks

A leader's language should be refined and unifyingThe ideological gap between South Korea's major political parties is not wide by Western standards.Since the Republic of Korea was born 75 years ago, political power has changed between two centrist parties. After numerous name changes, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) represents the right-of-center forces now, and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), the left-of-center group.That might change soon.“Anti-state forces significantly undermined South Korea's security by begging for the lifting of U.N. sanctions on North Korea and pushing for an end-of-war declaration with Pyongyang.” Those remarks did not come from one of the far-right YouTubers. The speaker was none other than President Yoon Suk Yeol, and the occasion was a ceremony to celebrate the founding anniversary of the Korea Freedom Federation, a prominent conservative civic group, last Wednesday.Everyone could see those words were directed at Yoon's center-left predecessor, Moon Jae-in, and his engagement policy with North Korea. However, faced wi

Jul 2, 2023

ED New way of counting age

Most will stay the same. So, is this pressing? It is often said that age is just a number.Not in Korea. In this country with a solid Confucian tradition of prioritizing seniority, age is more than a number. The adage, of course, is a way to prevent alienation or discrimination for reasons of age. However, Koreans' unique adherence to age may explain why not many people here jumped with joy when the government made them “younger” by up to two years on Wednesday.Or they knew that not much would change if the nation unified the three ways of counting ages into one system. Even news-thirsty media outlets paid only superficial attention to it.Koreans have long had three ages ― Korean age, American or international age, and calendar age. According to the Korean way, Koreans are one year old when they are born and two on Jan. 1. So, people born on New Year's Eve became two years old in as many days. If foreigners ― who become only one year older on their first birthday ― found that their Korean friends, of the same age looked younger, they were not wrong.Ancient Koreans' emphasi

Jun 29, 2023

ED No more new fossil fuels

By Jang DaulKoreans were recently concerned about the news that Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min was offered a whopping 100 million pounds from Saudi Arabia akin to the case of Cristiano Ronaldo. Fortunately, Son was not interested in the deal, saying “Money doesn't matter to me.”Gulf oil money flowing into global soccer is not a new issue. Already the UAE owns Manchester City, Qatar owns PSG and Saudi Arabia owns Newcastle United. The influence of oil money is not limited to soccer, but has expanded to boxing, golf, F1, cricket and esports.Some argue that it is sports-washing to cover up human rights, labor, gender equality and minority issues while petro-states claim that it is part of their strategy to reduce dependence on oil and diversify.However, witnessing the global climate crisis and the persistent lobbying of these Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, at U.N. climate conferences against a rapid fossil fuel phaseout, it seems that it could be sports-washing to distract people from demanding these states to play a greater role and take on more responsibility.T

Jun 28, 2023

ED Irksome hedge funds

Seoul must deal more effectively with activist investorsTo appeal or not to appeal? That Shakespearean question might be the biggest headache for Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon right now. Last week, an international tribunal told the government to pay 69 billion won ($53.6 million) to U.S. hedge fund Elliott Management. The total payment, including interest and legal costs, will be about $100 million.The Permanent Court of Arbitration's verdict ended a years-long dispute over the controversial merger of two Samsung Group affiliates in 2015. Elliott and some other shareholders of Samsung C&T, a builder, opposed the merger with Cheil Industries, a food company. The opponents claimed the deal sharply undervalued Samsung C&T and its investors' interests. However, Samsung pushed ahead with the deal which was essential for transferring the group's management control from Lee Kun-hee to his son, Jae-yong. The National Pension Service (NPS), which had an 11.2-percent stake compared to Elliott's 7.12 percent, played a decisive role with its swing vote. Later, the deal stood at the

Jun 27, 2023

ED Toward better partnerships

Vietnam emerges as alternative to China Prompted by a rapid realignment of global supply chains, the economic map of South Korea is also shifting fast. Such changes are conspicuous in the nation's recent relations with two major trading partners ― the United States and China. The central Bank of Korea (BOK) said Thursday that South Korea registered a $7.78 billion deficit in trade with China in 2022, posting a shortfall for the first time in 21 years. This was due to the hefty reliance on China for exports paired with the drastic drop in prices of semiconductors.In contrast, the nation registered a record surplus of $67.79 billion in trade with the U.S., riding on the booming exports of cars plus the rise in dividends resulting from increased direct investment into the U.S. What is noteworthy is that such changes in the economic landscape involving the three nations are not temporary, but structural.Against this backdrop, Vietnam has emerged as a major economic partner for Korea. It became Korea's third-largest trading partner, surpassing Japan, last year when the two countries marke

Jun 26, 2023

ED End infanticide

Stricter birth reporting system, stiffer penalties neededFor years now, Korea has lamented the fact that it has the lowest birthrate in the world.However, a recent spate of heartbreaking stories in the news showed that the nation has not adequately cared for the children who have already been born.Last Wednesday, a woman in her 30s admitted to killing two babies and keeping their bodies in a freezer in her apartment. Another woman in her 20s handed over her newborn to people she met online. An infant was also found dead due to malnutrition 76 days after being born. These are the proverbial tip of the iceberg, however. These unfortunate four were just a part of 23 sample cases of unregistered babies. The Board of Audit and Inspection said it uncovered 2,236 cases over the last eight years in which hospital births were logged, but that the registration of the births had yet to be made.The woman who strangled her two babies cited financial difficulties. Others said they could not raise their children for economic and other reasons. One shudders to think what the investigations concernin

Jun 25, 2023

ED Busan is ready!

Let's meet in Korea in 2030World Expo 2030 reminds many middle-aged Koreans of the 1988 Seoul Olympics.Korea, a late mover, won its bid for the Summer Olympiad in a near-miraculous come-from-behind story in 1981. Seven years later, Seoul hosted the largest and most successful Olympic Games in history. In Paris on Tuesday, President Yoon Suk Yeol said his country is ready to make World Expo 2030 “the best one of all times,” if Korea succeeds in bringing the event to its second largest city ― Busan. Few Koreans doubt it.This time, too, Korea started later than its main competitor, Riyadh of Saudi Arabia. According to media reports, the Saudi capital has already won promises of support from 70 of the 179 Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) members, the international body governing the World Expo based in the French capital.Yet, few know who will be smiling come the deciding month of November.Expo watchers say it will be a three-way battle. This, therefore means that Rome is also an important player, throwing down the gauntlet just recently. Italy and Korea admit that

Jun 22, 2023

ED Global Pivotal State

Korea needs to modernize its national security strategyBy Lee GeunOne of the traits of a pre-modern society is the importance of titles. In a status-driven society, titles symbolize privileges, wealth, power and respect. In the pre-modern era, when there was no meaningful economic growth, wealth was inherited by those who had high titles or positions. Interestingly, one of the most successful modernizers of the 20th century, Korea well inherited that pre-modern tradition, and it is no secret to that the Korean people love titles and positions. At a restaurant or any service center, employees commonly call their customers “president” or “chairperson” even though they do not know a customer's real title. Likewise, the customers do not correct those addressing them when their real titles are of a lower rank.With titles go protocols. Koreans are extremely sensitive about where they sit at a conference table, and where they stand at a photo zone. The size of a car, the width of offices, and the amount of time they can spend on speeches also matter significantly for

Jun 21, 2023

ED Gay rights under threat

Sexual minorities are born, not made, so, treat them as suchAn unprecedented scene occurred in Daegu last Saturday. Municipal employees clashed with police officers in the southeastern city, the capital of Korean conservatives. At the direction of Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, Daegu officials tried to block the Daegu Queer Culture Festival (DQCF), the annual LGBTQ pride parade. In a rare role reversal, police protected the rally to ensure its smooth finish. The mayor said the event was OK, but the participants' “illegal occupation” of roads and streets was not. He was lying. A march must be on the boulevards, not the plazas and sidewalks. The prosecutor-turned-politician knew laws on assembly permits it, but pretended not to. Conservative politicians have not hidden their disdain for queer festivals or LGBTQ people. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also disapproved of similar events using Seoul Plaza. “Personally, I can't agree with homosexuality,” he said. However, personal preference is one thing, and fulfilling one's duty as an elected official should be another. Hong, a pro

Jun 20, 2023

ED Rare visit to China

Seoul, Beijing urged to improve relations The United States is extending an olive branch to China in an apparent bid to mitigate possible confrontations between the two superpowers in many fronts. China appears to be feigning hesitancy. Yet it is positive for the two giants to seek amicability in terms of regional and global stability. For South Korea, their move is all the more important especially given the currently soured relations with China. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid a two-day visit to Beijing from Sunday to discuss pending issues with Chinese leaders. Blinken's visit drew particular attention as it was the first such kind since the launch of the Biden administration. The visit was also the first in five years made by a U.S. secretary of state. He met with Wang Yi, director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, Monday, following his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, Sunday.Well reflecting the sensitivity of bilateral relations, the officials declined to comment at the start of their meetings. Yet they broadly agreed to prepare a “safet

Jun 19, 2023

Editorial