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Michael Breen

The other part of ending corruption

Under a tough new law which went into effect last week, the public official who demands cash and benefits may be jailed for up to three years. Similarly, the person who requests a favor of a public official could be put away for two years.

2016-10-03 16:50

What's missing in peace talks with NK?

The two nuclear tests and several missile tests by North Korea so far this year have drawn a furious response from South Korea, the United States and the rest of the world. President Park Geun-hye called the latest explosion an act of “maniacal recklessness.” A faction in the South Korean ruling party said we should consider developing our own nuclear weapons. The United Nations is looking at further sanctions.

2016-09-19 17:04

What is wrong with the elite?

Last week a judge, a businessman, a journalist and a politician all found themselves in trouble. Prosecutors questioned the judge about bribes and the businessman about embezzlement. At the same time, the chief editorial writer of the Chosun Ilbo resigned over a 200,000-dollar junket and lawmakers grilled the nominee for minister of culture, sports and tourism about real estate speculation and excessive consumption.

2016-09-05 16:57

Jailing conscientious objectors

In a historic change from past practice, Korean courts this year are opting to acquit rather than punish young men who refuse to do compulsory military service on the grounds of their religious beliefs.

2016-08-22 17:17

Is the world really turning dark?

Everywhere these days, it would seem, the conversation among people who follow news turns on a troubling question: What is going on? Like, Brexit. Why would the electorate in one of the world's most wealthy and stable countries vote for a historic change of national strategy without any idea of where it would take them?

2016-08-08 17:00

In Search of Korean values

In its research last year to develop the new national brand - Creative Korea - the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism came up with three key national values: creativity, passion and harmony. But are these really the core values of Korea? Harmony could be. It fits with the long Confucian tradition. The trouble, though, is that Confucius has left the building. The lock was changed and he wasn’t given a new key. You just don’t see people striving for harmony by accepting their place in orderly relationships. Something else seems to have taken over.

2016-07-25 16:05

Creative Corea needs a vision

Here's a question for the thoughtful reader: what is this country's vision? Once upon a time, it used to be re-unification. But it isn’t any more. Re-unification with the broken North would be so expensive and socially disruptive that, without any government actually having adopted an anti-unification position, we've all come to accept that it should be postponed indefinitely.

2016-07-14 16:09

Likelihood of Brexit light

The most important thing to note about last month's Brexit referendum is that the government is obliged to follow through on the result. Regardless which way the soon-to-be-chosen next prime minister voted herself, she must commit to a course of Britain leaving the European Union.

2016-07-11 16:59

Reunification with North Korea

Several years ago, I met a Methodist minister, jailed for his religion in the North Korean city of Wonsan, who had survived a massacre of prisoners in the opening weeks of the Korean War. This devout man lived a minimalist life in a dingy apartment down by the Han River, slept on a hard floor with a wooden pillow and passed much of his time reading the Bible. He had even taught himself Hebrew.

2016-06-27 16:57

Time to put the comfort woman statue where it belongs?

The comfort woman, a blue scarf wrapped around her grey neck, sits across from the Japanese Embassy, as innocent as a schoolgirl.

2016-06-13 17:45

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