The Korea Herald

[Editorial] Speed up construction

The government on Tuesday announced 14 candidate sites for dams to be built or redeveloped. Four are in the Han River area, six in the Nakdong River area, one in the Geum River area, and three in the Yeongsan and Seomjin Rivers area. The decision has overturned the declaration by the Moon Jae-in administration six years ago that it would no longer build government-initiated large dams. Three of the 14 envisioned dams are multipurpose dams, seven are for flood control and four are for water suppl

EditorialAug. 1, 2024

[Kim Seong-kon] Cultural differences make our eyes open

Despite many striking similarities, there are a myriad of cultural differences between the East and the West. Living in Korea and the US, I can attest to the plethora of such differences. Those differences reflect how Koreans and Americans perceive things differently. The way of disciplining a child is a good example. For instance, American parents usually “ground” a badly behaving boy by confining him in his room, probably with no TV or computer. On the other hand, Korean parents pu

ViewpointsJuly 31, 2024

[Kim Seong-kon] Cultural differences make our eyes open

[Editorial] Aging population

South Korea’s total population bounced back in 2023 after falling for two years in a row, but a closer look at the details in the latest data reveals that the government faces deepening demographic challenges on multiple fronts, especially the rapidly aging population. The country’s total population -- which compiles data on childbirth, death and cross-border movements -- reached 51.77 million as of Nov. 1 last year, up 0.2 percent, or 82,000, from a year earlier, the 2023 census by

EditorialJuly 31, 2024

[Lisa Jarvis] Extreme heat hits mental health

On July 22, planet Earth achieved a terrifying milestone: Global temperatures reached their highest level in recorded history, breaking a record set just one day before. This year is expected to be the hottest in centuries. Heat waves are hotter, longer and more frequent than they were in the 1960s. By now, most of us understand that extreme heat is bad for our health, making our hearts, lungs, kidneys and other organs work much harder. But too often we overlook the quieter, less obvious toll he

ViewpointsJuly 30, 2024

[Lisa Jarvis] Extreme heat hits mental health

[Grace Kao] Asian Americans in US Census counts

The United States is a land of immigrants, with many racial and ethnic groups. How the US government counts them changes regularly, and the latest revisions affect all minority groups, including Asian Americans. For immigrants to the US, including those from South Korea, it is often a shocking transition for them as they are identified via the racial categories in the US. Certainly, for new arrivals from Korea, China, India, the Philippines and other countries in Asia, it’s not obvious why

ViewpointsJuly 30, 2024

[Grace Kao] Asian Americans in US Census counts

[Editorial] Intelligence crisis

Military authorities are reportedly investigating the circumstances in which personal data on overseas South Korean agents was handed over to the North. About a month ago, the Defense Counterintelligence Command found a leak of classified personal information on overseas agents belonging to the Korea Defense Intelligence Command. The leaked data is said to concern not only agents acting publicly as diplomats stationed at embassies but also undercover agents doing spy work with their identities c

EditorialJuly 30, 2024

[Heidi Boghosian] Perilous to rely on tech overloads

Starting Thursday of last week with ripple effects for days afterward, a routine software update caused a record-breaking freeze across much of the world. CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity vendor deployed by Microsoft systems, installed an update that analysts say probably skipped quality testing. The result disabled an estimated 8.5 million computers in perhaps the largest cyber event in history. Affected were Microsoft-powered systems critical to the online operations of banks, hospitals, police fo

ViewpointsJuly 29, 2024

[Heidi Boghosian] Perilous to rely on tech overloads

[Lee Kyong-hee] Fake peace or path to real peace?

Addressing the Republican National Convention on July 18, a few days after surviving an assassination attempt, Donald Trump said that “it’s nice to get along with someone who has a lot of nuclear weapons.” He said he got along very well with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un. “He’d like to see me back too. I think he misses me, if you want to know the truth.” Trump’s attempt to reach a breakthrough on North Korea’s nuclear arms failed to yield substa

ViewpointsJuly 29, 2024

[Lee Kyong-hee] Fake peace or path to real peace?

[Editorial] E-commerce troubles

Last week, South Korea’s e-commerce industry plunged into turmoil as two well-known platforms affiliated with Singapore-based Qoo10 Group failed to make payments to sellers, reportedly due to liquidity issues, amid mounting concerns over an industrywide impact. As the crisis deepened over deferred payments, retail vendors and travel agents suspended services or terminated contracts with Tmon and WeMakePrice. Thousands of customers rushed to the two companies’ headquarters to demand r

EditorialJuly 29, 2024

[Robert Fouser] President Kamala Harris?

On July 21, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to become the Democratic Party's nominee. The announcement came after weeks of turmoil following his disastrous debate performance at the end of June. Biden tried to resist calls for his withdrawal but bowed to reality as support for his candidacy collapsed in the Democratic Party amid weakening poll numbers in the race against former President Donald Trump. Trump

ViewpointsJuly 26, 2024

[Robert Fouser] President Kamala Harris?

[Editorial] Kakao’s woes

Kakao Corp., South Korea’s biggest messenger operator, is confronting a major crisis after founder Kim Beom-su’s arrest Tuesday for alleged stock price manipulation related to last year’s takeover of K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment. The incident opens up the potential of a leadership vacuum at Kakao, raising concerns about the impact on its sprawling affiliates as well as its restructuring and growth plans in the tech sector amid intensifying competition in artificial intelli

EditorialJuly 26, 2024

[Wang Son-taek] Problems beneath political polarization

Political violence and unprecedented upheavals are taking place around the world, and the level of anxiety is also being raised. Former US President Donald Trump was shot, but saving his life with some millimeters of margin escape was enough to shake the global community. About a week later, President Joe Biden said he was stepping aside as the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party. Earlier in May, Prime Minister of Slovakia Roberto Pizzo was shot and almost killed by a gunman. In June,

ViewpointsJuly 25, 2024

[Wang Son-taek] Problems beneath political polarization

[Editorial] Challenges ahead of Han

Han Dong-hoon won a fierce fight to be elected as the new leader of the People Power Party, but he faces another tough challenge. He has to fight the gigantic opposition forces which dominate the National Assembly. He also has to resolve internal party conflict with loyalists of President Yoon Suk Yeol who are critical of him. Above all, it is important to restore trust from those who are disappointed with the current performance of the Yoon government and the governing party. Expectations for s

EditorialJuly 25, 2024

[Lisa Jarvis] Biden's COVID and summer surge

Last week the White House announced that President Joe Biden had tested positive for COVID-19, making him the most prominent example of this summer’s mini-surge. Each summer, COVID-19 seems to catch people in the US off guard by defying our assumptions about how viruses ought to behave in warm weather. The flu, for example, typically goes underground until the winter holidays. But COVID-19 burbles back up to ruin our vacation plans and force us to offload summer concert tickets. Based on w

ViewpointsJuly 25, 2024

[Lisa Jarvis] Biden's COVID and summer surge

[Kim Seong-kon] To have or not to have children, that is the question

These days, one of the primary questions of young couples in South Korea is “Shall we have children or not?” In the past, however, Koreans not only took having children for granted but many customarily raised five to six children per home. At that time, Korean parents’ primary concern at childbirth was, “Is it a boy or a girl?” In the past, Koreans preferred sons to daughters. When a mother gave birth to a baby girl, therefore, she felt ashamed as if she had committ

ViewpointsJuly 24, 2024

[Kim Seong-kon] To have or not to have children, that is the question

[Robin Epley] Avoid all-female Democratic ticket

The question everyone has been asking in hushed tones now grows to a roar: Does Kamala Harris have what it takes to beat Donald Trump? God, I hope so. The future of American democracy might depend on it. Harris’ sudden candidacy represents hope that is desperately needed among the centrist and left-leaning American electorate, many of whom could not imagine President Joe Biden beating Trump. Now that the party has listened to voters and Biden has been convinced to step aside, it’s

ViewpointsJuly 24, 2024

[Robin Epley] Avoid all-female Democratic ticket

[Editorial] Deepening ‘NEET’ problem

Governments around the world are trying to boost their economically active populations to drive growth in a sustainable way. But they face deepening labor problems, especially regarding rising youth unemployment, as well as more young people who are not in employment, education or training, known as NEET. South Korea is no exception. The government has taken measures to reduce its NEET ratio and boost overall economic participation. But the latest data shows that the country confronts an increas

EditorialJuly 24, 2024

[Grace Kao] Webtoons in college classrooms

While TV dramas may portray college classes with assigned readings, essays and tests, the truth is that professors also must adapt to technological shifts, especially in terms of media consumption. Webtoons are an important medium through which the Korean Wave flows. For those of you who are unfamiliar, webtoons are vertical “scrolling comics” built for viewing on a cellphone. They originated from and were developed in Korea. They enjoy a large fan base. For some people outside Korea

ViewpointsJuly 23, 2024

[Grace Kao] Webtoons in college classrooms

[Editorial] Probe transparently

First lady Kim Keon Hee was questioned face-to-face by prosecutors over the weekend. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office is investigating allegations of her involvement in a stock price manipulation case and her acceptance of a Christian Dior handbag and other luxury gifts in exchange for favors. So far, two former first ladies have been investigated by the prosecution. Kim has become the first to be directly questioned by the prosecution while still holding the position. It is an emba

EditorialJuly 23, 2024

[Yoo Choon-sik] Safe choice not always best policy

The Bank of Korea governor’s news conference on its monetary policy, held early this month, was largely successful by signaling to the markets that it would not rush to begin lowering interest rates despite a slump in domestic demand. However, it was less successful in providing clear guidance on conditions under which it might begin doing so. There is nothing wrong with the long-standing practice of South Korea’s central bank avoiding making explicit promises about the future course

ViewpointsJuly 22, 2024

[Yoo Choon-sik] Safe choice not always best policy