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Park Moo-jong

Campaigns with no humor

Most politicians live and die by their use of language. Some win thanks to their witty silver tongue. Some lose due to their poor sense of humor or an absurd slip of the tongue. Over the decades, "successful" world leaders have demonstrated how humor can be the best weapon. When it comes to a politician's humor, Winston Churchill (1874-1965) could be second to none, together with Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865). Sometime in 1946, Churchill, the British prime minister during World War II, was leaving the House of Commons, when Bessie Braddock (1899-1970), a member of parliament from the Labour Pa...

2017-05-04 17:07

Election 2017Early voting turnout strong

Cigarette price: up or down?

Cigarette prices have been an interesting issue that is nothing to sneeze at in the ongoing presidential campaign with 10 days to go until the voting day on May 9.

2017-04-27 18:05

In a crisis of leadership

English words suffixed with "-ship" number more than 600, according to various dictionaries. Of them, positive and good ones include championship, scholarship, friendship and worship among others. On the contrary, negative and bad words are censorship, dictatorship, brinkmanship and the like. What is the best -ship? Lovers may certainly choose a pseudo-English word of Korean origin or a Konglish word, "skinship," meaning holding through physical contact.

2017-04-20 17:29

Long queue of 'polifessors'

By Park Moo-jong "Polifessor? What do you mean?" A foreign journalist asked me during the 2002 presidential election campaign period."That's the coined Korean-English term, a compound of politics and professor, referring to university professors who put aside research and teaching to follow a presidential candidate in a bid to get a high government post or parliamentary seat," I explained."What a good Konglish word like handphone (mobile phone) or remocon (remote controller)!" the English reporter exclaimed.Korean media "invented" the word to describe professors who flocked to the campaign c...

2017-04-13 17:10

It's public education, stupid!

Korean words familiar to foreigners could be kimchi and bibimbap, rather like Italian spaghetti and Japanese sushi. "Palli palli" or quickly may be included especially for East Asian people encountering quick-tempered Korean tourists. In addition, two words about private education are increasingly becoming familiar to foreign parents these days, thanks to Korean mothers' unrivaled craze for education for their kids. The two are "gwawoe" or out-of-school private tutoring, and "hagwon" or private teaching institutes.

2017-04-06 17:11

All unhappy ex-presidents

The sad history of former presidents of the Republic of Korea continues to break the hearts of the people. Disgraced Park Geun-hye, the first-ever head of state impeached for bribery three weeks ago, will stand criminal trial either under or without physical detention sooner or later. She is one of the 11 former presidents who lived or are living unfortunate lives after their forced or legal retirement, except for her father, Park Chung-hee (1917-1979) who was assassinated by his top intelligence officer while in office.

2017-03-30 17:18

Very cheap, shameful China

China's cheap retaliation against South Korea for its hosting of a U.S. THAAD missile defense battery to destroy incoming North Korean ballistic missiles is getting out of hand. As the first parts of the missile interception system arrive in South Korea begins, China is stepping up taking retaliatory measures on all levels out of a sort of anti-Seoul hysteria. Looking into what China is doing proves it is definitely not a superpower, even if it has the largest population - nearly 1.5 billion - occupies the fourth biggest land mass on the globe and is the second-largest economy only after the...

2017-03-23 16:50

Eradication of deep rooted evils

A little unknown term is in vogue in the political world since presidential frontrunner Moon Jae-in from the opposition Democratic Party of Korea mentioned it as his prime election pledge last month.

2017-03-16 17:07

What's the secret?

"What's the secret?" "Why are Korean women so good (in golf)?" These are two of signature questions many of my foreign acquaintances used to ask me over the past two decades. The Korean ladies again fascinated and stunned not only golf lovers, but others across the world by dominating the leaderboard at the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore last weekend.

2017-03-09 17:35

Quo Vadis Korea?

It has been a painful period for the Republic of Korea since the National Assembly voted to impeach the embattled President Park Geun-hye on Dec. 19 last year over the corruption and cronyism scandal dubbed “Choi Soon-sil gate.” We, Koreans, are experiencing commotions and troubles and we do not know where all of these will lead us.

2017-03-02 17:49

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