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SCMP
Asia

The Korea Times

Entertainment & Arts

SCMP
Asia

The Korea Times

Opinion

Columnists

Peter S. Kim

China's new era under Xi

Last month, the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party put beyond doubt the fact that President Xi Jinping will rule the world's second-largest economy with an iron fist for years, if not decades. By extending the constitutionally mandated maximum term of 10 years, Xi is now the first leader since Mao Zedong to sit for an unlimited rule.

2022-11-06 17:00

. Mark Peterson

Sadness upon returning to Korea

After three years of carefully observing COVID-19 restrictions at home in America, I decided that, with five vaccination shots and a decline in the number of illnesses in both America and Korea, it was time for me to return to Korea. I have been struck with so many things about Korea after this long absence, but the most unfortunate, of course, is the tragedy in Itaewon.

2022-11-06 17:00

. Donald Kirk

From 'ppalli-ppalli' to tragedy

Blame it on Korea's culture of “ppalli-ppalli” - “quickly, quickly.” That was the simplistic explanation that a Korean gave me for the crowd surge in the narrow Itaewon alley where so many were trapped, crushed and died last weekend. “They were madly pushing each other,” she said. “It's in the genes.”

2022-11-03 14:35

. Andrew Hammond

Brazil brings end to Bolsonaro era

Brazil's vote on Sunday to end the controversial Bolsonaro era was close and divisive, but the nation now has a huge opportunity to unite and rebrand itself to the global community under President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

2022-11-02 14:06

Eugene Lee

Itaewon tragedy and bad governance as its cause

I like writing on political issues and governance and do it often. However, it breaks my heart to have to write this piece. I must start with words of condolence to all those affected. I wish them strength in the face of the irreplaceable losses that took so many lives last Saturday in Itaewon. What was supposed to be a night of fun turned out to be one of horror, especially ...

2022-11-01 17:18

. Bernard Rowan

Looking back and ahead

I moved this summer to a new home. I packed up my life over several decades and “put it” in a new place. In turn, I have begun to sort through my effects. There are books I am going to give to my school library. There are clothes, toys, and carpets to present to Goodwill, a charitable non-for-profit in America. However, I found treasures, not with monetary value, but for my s...

2022-11-01 17:08

. John Burton

BTS will soon meet the army - not its legion of fans known as ARMY (Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth) but the actual military service. Can the world's biggest boyband survive that experience and retain its popularity when it returns to the stage, expected in 2025 at the earliest. Will BTS even exist then?

2022-10-31 13:46

. Jason Lim

Deadly crowd crush in Itaewon

As I write this, the body count keeps going up. It's now 154 people confirmed killed and 133 injured in Itaewon where tens of thousands of young revelers showed up to party on the last Saturday before Halloween. Exact details of what happened are still weeks away, but the rough story is no mystery. Too many people showed up to party in too small a space. There was no crowd co...

2022-10-30 15:52

. Casey Latigue

Normal questions, abnormal country

Over the last decade I have organized numerous conferences and forums featuring North Korean refugees. One of the best insights was from a North Korean refugee who said during Q&A that one main reason North Korea continues to survive is that people look at it as a normal country.

2022-10-27 15:16

Bernhard J. Seliger

Nuclear power: devil's energy or inexhaustible clean energy?

Living as a foreign national in South Korea, there are many advantages and rewards. For me as a German, one of the best things is the unfettered technological optimism of the country, which starkly contrasts with the irrational fears that technologies trigger in Germans.

2022-10-27 15:15

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