Opinion - The Korea Times

ED Diplomacy shouldn't be a reward system

In a democracy, the spoils, or "patronage system," have long been taken for granted, likely since before the introduction of the term in the United States, often attributed to President Andrew Jackson. In this system, elected officials often fill key government posts with individuals who understand their vision, choosing supporters rather than on the basis of pure meritocracy. However, there are areas where cronyism as a means to fill vacancies carries risk, and diplomacy is one of them. The role of foreign missions has become increasingly important as nations seek to mobilize all available legitimate resources to strengthen their economic security. Growing geopolitical turbulence and the resulting disruptions to global supply chains have made their functions even more critical. Embassies and consulates serve as outposts for gathering up-to-the-minute information on global industrial trends and relaying it back to their governments, enabling timely and effective policy responses. Given these responsibilities, geopolitical awareness, a deep understanding of bilateral relations and sound

Apr 27, 2026

[ED] Diplomacy shouldn't be a reward system

ED Despite chip rally, challenges ahead

Korean chipmaker SK hynix last week posted an unprecedented operating profit of 37.61 trillion won ($25.42 billion) for the first quarter. A few weeks ago, Samsung Electronics reported a record-setting 57.2 trillion won in operating profit for the same period. Together, they have earned 94 trillion won in the first three months of the year on the back of a semiconductor supercycle. More significant is that the nation's top two IT companies are poised to expand their presence in the global tech domain due to increasing worldwide demand for chips. Notably, SK hynix's operating margin stood at 72 percent, exceeding the 58 percent posted by Taiwan's TSMC in the first quarter, as well as the 65 percent recorded by Nvidia in the last quarter of 2025. The performances of SK hynix and Samsung led to a surprise boom in Korea's first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP), which rose 1.7 percent, surpassing the market forecast of 0.9 percent. This growth expansion was the highest since the third quarter of 2020, when Korea saw GDP growth of 2.2 percent. Significantly, the growth in this strategic s

Apr 26, 2026

[ED] Despite chip rally, challenges ahead

ED A $1 copper mine

The sale of the El Boleo copper mine in Mexico for a nominal $1 is more than a failed overseas investment. It is a stark indictment of how Korea has managed public resources, corporate governance and long-term economic strategy. Roughly $2 billion in public funds, channeled into El Boleo through the state-run Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corp. (KOMIR) and its predecessor, has effectively evaporated. Years after the project’s collapse became evident, accountability remains elusive. The origins of this debacle trace back to the late 2000s under the Lee Myung-bak administration, when “resource diplomacy” became a central pillar of national policy. State-backed enterprises were encouraged, if not pressured, to secure overseas energy and mineral assets in pursuit of resource security. In that climate, due diligence often gave way to political expediency. The Boleo project, launched in the early 2010s, proceeded despite questions about inflated reserve estimates, low ore grades and high production costs. By 2014, Korea had invested heavily in mining rights as well a

Apr 23, 2026

ED Special inspector for presidential corruption

As international conflict in the Middle East and the upcoming June 3 local elections block out most other news, a notable move is taking place regarding the possible appointment of an independent special inspector general for presidential corruption. In Korea's government structure, this inspector general would be tasked with investigating any corruption allegations involving the president's family and aides. They will report their findings to the president, but otherwise operate independently. Earlier this week, President Lee Jae Myung requested that the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and main opposition People Power Party (PPP) recommend a candidate. This was part of the president's campaign pledge when he ran last year. The two parties should do so promptly. The first special inspector general was installed by former President Park Geun-hye in 2014, but the seat has been vacant since 2016. Successive presidents, Moon Jae-in and Yoon Suk Yeol, considered appointing a special inspector but never moved on it. The lack of a watchful eye stands out especially with the Yoon admin

Apr 22, 2026

[ED] Special inspector for presidential corruption

ED HYBE chief faces arrest warrant

HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, creator of K-pop boy group BTS, has been under a legal microscope since late 2024 over alleged violations of the nation's Capital Markets Act in 2019. He stands accused of misleading investors and venture capital firms, telling them that the initial public offering for HYBE would be delayed. This misinformation prompted the investors to sell shares to companies related to HYBE, enabling Bang to rake in around 190 billion won ($129.1 million). Given President Lee Jae Myung's vow to revive Korea's undervalued capital market, the investigation into Bang's possible stock fraud is one of the high-profile cases. After questioning the chairman five times, police on Tuesday requested a court issue an arrest warrant for Bang. Under the Capital Markets Act, an illicit gain of 5 billion won or more through fabrications can result in a minimum five years in prison to a life sentence. HYBE maintains that the chairman followed the rules surrounding the IPO and said they would continue to cooperate with further investigations. Nevertheless, the hope is that the allegations

Apr 21, 2026

ED Cool-headed approach toward North Korea

The war in Iran has dealt a blow to South Korea on both the security and economic fronts. The economy is reeling from the fallout of the Middle East conflict, as the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz shows little sign of ending anytime soon. Meanwhile, North Korea’s anxious response to the war has created a more dangerous security environment on the Korean Peninsula. Since the outbreak of the conflict on Feb. 28, North Korea has doubled down on efforts to make its weapons systems more lethal and accurate. On Sunday, it launched a Hwasong-11 Ra — one of the newest and most complex members of its solid-fuel ballistic missile series — from an unspecified location. This cluster munition-armed short-range ballistic missile carries dozens of smaller bomblets designed to saturate a wide area rather than strike a single target. According to the Korean Central News Agency, leader Kim Jong-un observed the test and expressed satisfaction with the weapon. It marked the fourth such launch this month and the seventh this year. North Korea’s flurry of missile launches reflects insecurity — a

Apr 20, 2026

[ED] Cool-headed approach toward North Korea

ED A hollow trip, a damaging signal

A recent visit to Washington by Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the main opposition People Power Party, was, by any reasonable standard, a failure of purpose and execution. It produced no discernible diplomatic outcome, conveyed no coherent message and, perhaps most detrimentally, left behind a sense of triviality where seriousness was required. Diplomatic travel is a means to advance national interests, clarify positions and build leverage. By those measures, this trip yielded little. There were no substantive discussions, no clearly articulated policy gains and no evidence that Korea’s priorities were meaningfully advanced. Notably, Jang failed to secure meetings with high-ranking U.S. government officials, limiting his engagements largely to think tank figures such as members of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Making matters worse was the quality of what was achieved. Instead of reinforcing Korea’s standing, the visit became fodder for public ridicule. Photographs were circulated online — particularly those involving the party's Supreme Council member Kim M

Apr 19, 2026

ED Work to alleviate violence in schools

Korean schools are known for being intensely competitive. Sadly, a pressure cooker environment often stirs violence. Violence among students is a serious problem, but attacks against teachers are just as serious an issue. Recently, a high school teacher in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province, was stabbed by a student. The student fled the scene before turning himself in to the police. The teacher suffered multiple stab wounds and underwent surgery. The student told the police that the teacher had reprimanded him harshly when he taught the student in middle school. Seeing violence in schools is tragic. Korean schools and teachers should ideally be recognized as authority figures responsible for educating the country's future workforce. But reality paints a different picture: They are increasingly suffering from student management issues, which can even manifest as violence. Along with efforts to improve the rights of students, the rights of teachers must be safeguarded. Society and the education community must make serious efforts to elevate teachers' rights. A recent survey of 3,551 te

Apr 17, 2026

[ED] Work to alleviate violence in schools

ED Youth left out of recovery

Headline employment figures suggest an economy on the mend. Payrolls have expanded by more than 200,000 for two consecutive months and the employment rate has reached a record high. However, beneath these indicators lies a far less comforting reality: Gains are distributed unevenly, and the young people on whom future growth depends are being left behind. Employment among those aged 15 to 29 has been in steady decline for more than three years, with the pace of contraction beginning to accelerate. What appears at first glance to be a robust labor market is, for many young people, an increasingly inhospitable one. The causes are neither temporary nor superficial. Structural changes in hiring practices have raised the bar for entry-level workers. Firms have started favoring experienced candidates and depending more heavily on rolling recruitment systems, under which workers are hired when needed rather than all together in seasonal recruitment drives, effectively narrowing the gateway through which young job seekers traditionally enter the workforce. At the same time, key sectors that on

Apr 16, 2026

ED Trump's envoy pick

Michelle Park Steel, President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to South Korea, is widely regarded as a trusted ally of the U.S. leader. Trump has described her as one of the strongest congresswomen in the United States and an “America First patriot” whose family fled communism. Her nomination could provide an opportunity to improve communication between Seoul and Washington. If the Lee Jae Myung administration succeeds in building a constructive relationship with Steel, it could help restore the Korea-U.S. alliance to a more stable footing. In this regard, her nomination offers cautious optimism for improving bilateral ties amid global geopolitical disruptions. If Trump's nominee secures U.S. Senate confirmation, Seoul should move to strengthen communication with Steel to explore ways to narrow differences on trade and diplomatic issues. Restoring bilateral relations to their previous level is more critical than ever. Her nomination is also historically significant. If confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate, Steel, a former two-term member of the U.S. House of Re

Apr 15, 2026

Editorial