South Korea is well-known for its society’s great fervor toward education, but activists say that the country must break away from its relentless focus on credentials. More than 98 percent of the teenage population graduates from high school, and in 2017, 68.9 percent of those in the 18 to 21 age group advanced to college, according to the Education Ministry. The figures are among the highest in the OECD.  Lee Ki-woo (Korean Council for University College Education)However, this fervor for educa

Social Affairs March 22, 2018

Eighteen students from Dwight School Seoul joined 240 students from Dwight campuses around the world to perform at Carnegie Hall on Feb. 13, in honor of their Chancellor Stephen Spahn, the longest-serving head of school in the United States. Dubbed “A Sky Full of Music,” the largest concert in the school’s 146-year history featured several pieces of classic, jazz, traditional Korean and Chinese tunes with a celestial theme. All tickets were sold out at the Carnegie Hall’s iconic 2,800-seat Stern

Social Affairs March 22, 2018

Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday revealed the final part of the government’s constitutional amendment bill that seeks to introduce a presidential system that allows two consecutive four-year terms.In addition, the proposed bill includes measures to distribute the power of the president and lower the voting age.  Cho Guk, the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs (center), announces the government proposal on constitutional reform at Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday. (Yonhap)Cho Kuk, senior president

Politics March 22, 2018

China’s contribution to South Korea’s fine dust problem has been scientifically proven for the first time, a metrology institute said Tuesday.According to findings by the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, the rise of the fine dust level to the range of 50 to 100 micrograms per cubic meter in Korea in spring is partly due to the large amount of fireworks used in China for its spring festival celebrating the Lunar New Year. The World Health Organization announce the daily average

Social Affairs March 21, 2018

Political parties clashed Tuesday over a constitutional revision plan, while the government presented elements of its amendment proposal to the public. The government is expected to present the bill to the National Assembly on Monday.While the move to revise the basic law was initiated by the National Assembly early last year, lawmakers across the aisle are struggling to narrow their differences to draw up an amendment bill. The Moon Jae-in administration presented its own bill Tuesday to push i

Politics March 21, 2018

Prosecutors on Monday requested an arrest warrant for former President Lee Myung-bak, who is suspected of 20 criminal charges including bribery, embezzlement and power abuse. As Lee has denied most of the allegations against him, the prosecution viewed him as at risk of destroying evidence. The allegations against him include bribery of some 11 billion won ($10.3 million) from the state spy agency, individuals and conglomerates, such as Samsung.  Lee Myung-bak (Yonhap)The former president, who w

Politics March 20, 2018

Former President Lee Myung-bak admitted to receiving $100,000 from the state spy agency through his former presidential aide while in office, but refused to disclose how the money was used, according to the prosecution.Lee denied other corruption allegations against him and returned home in the early hours of Thursday, after a marathon overnight interrogation by the prosecution that had begun the previous morning.Lee Myung-bak (Yonhap)The prosecution suspects the National Intelligence Service se

Politics March 15, 2018

Former President Lee Myung-bak was questioned late into the night on Wednesday over corruption allegations that include bribery, abuse of power and embezzlement.Lee faces nearly 20 criminal allegations, including receiving illicit funds of some 11.1 billion won ($10.4 million) from the state spy agency, individuals and businesses, including Samsung.  Former President Lee Myung-bak stands in the photo line at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office early in the morning for questioning Wedn

Politics March 14, 2018

Former President Lee Myung-bak appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor‘s Office at 9:25 a.m. on Wednesday for questioning on a string of corruption allegations that include bribery, abuse of power and embezzlement.Lee Myung-bak arrives at Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday, March 14. (Yonhap)“I stand here today feeling wretched. I am sorry for causing concerns, when the country’s economy is facing difficulties and the security environment is at a sensitive point,”

Politics March 14, 2018

Former President Lee Myung-bak is due to appear at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday for interrogation as a suspect in a string of corruption allegations which include bribery, abuse of power, embezzlement and dereliction of duty.Lee, who was in office from 2009 to 2013, faces nearly 20 criminal charges including receiving illicit funds of some 11 billion won ($10.3 million) from the state spy agency, individuals and corporates, including Samsung. The prosecut

Politics March 13, 2018

Former lawmaker and a contender for the ruling Democratic Party’s Seoul mayor candidacy Chung Bong-ju on Monday denied allegations of sexual misconduct, calling them a “political conspiracy.” Chung, lawmaker from 2004 to 2008, also said he would continue with his bid for Seoul mayor in the June 13 local elections. Chung Bong-ju (Yonhap)“The news report (on the claimed misconduct) was released without checking the facts,” he said in a press meeting at the National Assembly. “It is not true that I

Politics March 13, 2018

Park Soo-hyun, the former presidential spokesman and the ruling party’s contender for South Chungcheong governor, denied all allegations of adultery and abuse of power against him on Sunday, saying they are political maneuverings.In a press briefing at the National Assembly, Park said the claim raised by his former aide Oh Young-hwan is fabricated, as part of Oh and his former wife’s revenge against him for not complying with their requests. Oh had first raised the allegations on Tuesday that Pa

Politics March 11, 2018

The wife of a lawmaker accused of sexual harassment came under fire on Sunday for saying she believes in her husband’s integrity, expressing joy over his decision to resign. Mok Hae-jung, wife of three-term lawmaker Rep. Min Byung-doo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, wrote on her Facebook late Saturday that while she admits Min is at fault, she stands by him. Min had said he would give up his parliamentary seat, just a few hours after a woman claimed he had forcefully kissed her in a kar

Politics March 11, 2018

Gwanghwamun is the largest main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace in the center of Seoul. Constructed in 1395, the gate was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times over the past several hundred years of history and was finally restored as it is in 2010. In the front of the gate is the Gwanghwamun Square that was redesigned to open to the public in August 2009. The backdrop of the traditional wooden palace and Bukak Mountain on one side and tall modern buildings surrounding the area on the other, Gwanghw

Culture March 9, 2018

China, Japan and Russia -- members of the six-party talks on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula -- are showing different views on the inter-Korean summit slated for April. While China and Russia welcome the development, Japan appeared to be perplexed, expressing cautious doubt toward the communist regime.(Yonhap)The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement late Tuesday showing support for the decision to hold the top-level meeting, which would be the third of its kind. The first inter-K

Foreign Affairs March 7, 2018