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Sat, September 22, 2018 | 06:53

Opinion > Columnists > Andrew Salmon >

Green Korea: Streams, trees and LEDs

Like many Seoulites, I was gob-smacked when I first got an eyeful of the restored Cheonggyecheon Stream, unveiled in 2005.

Andrew Salmon | 2014-10-13 16:59

Incheon Asiad PR howlers

The Incheon Asian Games are drawing to a close and, judging by some articles in this newspaper, not a moment too soon. Granted, the 2014 Incheon Asian Games were always under a shadow of one kind or another.

Andrew Salmon | 2014-09-29 17:05

Improving manners of Koreans

So there I was last week, sitting in the back of a Seoul taxi minding my own business and innocently hoping to get quietly to my destination. Did I say quietly? No such luck.

Andrew Salmon | 2014-09-15 17:04

'Korean Cool' is hot in books

In late 2012, the globe was gobsmacked when a mutant hit by an unknown artist - "Gangnam Style" by Psy - stormed across the Interweb.

Andrew Salmon | 2014-09-03 17:08

Time for Saemaul Undong II?

An agricultural Armageddon is fast approaching.In 1994, Korea obtained a 10-year waiver against opening its rice market, then negotiated a 10-year extension. Under World Trade Organization rules, that extension cannot be renewed.

Andrew Salmon | 2014-08-04 17:12

'Comfort women' as political footballs

Diplomatically, Seoul and Tokyo have daggers drawn. The issue is the "comfort women" - a sour euphemism used to describe those Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Southeast Asian and even (a few) European women who were recruited, tricked, coerced or forced to serve in brothels ("comfort stations") set up to service the Japanese military during the Pacific War.

Andrew Salmon | 2014-07-21 17:03

Seoul's Beijing lean

Talk about a love fest. Few diplomatic tete-a-tetes are as good natured as that between South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week. This is the fifth time the two have met - although both only entered office in early 2013 - and their rapport was correspondingly warm. Along with the ongoing capitalistic transformation of North Korea's economy, South Korea's ever-increasing lean towards China is one of the least reported regional stories in global media.

Andrew Salmon | 2014-07-07 17:02

Bukchon's destruction: The upside

One evening last week, I happened to stroll through Bukchon, one of the very, very few districts in Seoul that boasts a significant cluster of hanok (traditional Korean cottages). It was a depressing experience, because two things were immediately striking. One: The district was almost entirely silent; few buildings had lights on inside.

Andrew Salmon | 2014-06-09 17:10

Farewell, Korean coast guard

A tragedy has occurred and public fury has been ignited. A president has spoken, a scapegoat has been named and a national agency has been thrown to the wolves. In the wake of the Sewol tragedy, President Park Geun-hye has dissolved the Korean Coast Guard. In the early hours of the Sewol ferry disaster, I confess to being impressed by her leadership.

Andrew Salmon | 2014-05-26 17:07

Crises demand leaders, not managers

Their activities have been overshadowed by tragedy, but TV footage of the Sewol disaster provided inspirational viewing for anyone familiar with marine rescue and recovery efforts - for those engaged displayed real courage. Two helicopters hovered over the stricken vessel, plucking people to safety. (One sudden gust of wind, one second of decontrol and one helo could have been flung against the other, to the destruction of both.)

Andrew Salmon | 2014-05-12 17:02

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Inter-Korean Summit in Pyongyang