Lotte boss faces daunting challenge
Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin is facing his biggest challenge since he took office in 2011. The group’s key affiliates have been involved in a series of scandals, and this is dampening his drive to expand the group’s business scope. Also at risk are his efforts to solidify his position within the group after he […]
Taming Tokyo
President Obama’s forthcoming trip to Korea and Japan in late April is partly meant to narrow the growing differences between Washington’s two important allies in Northeast Asia. The need for action appears to be urgent from the U.S. perspective in regards to maintaining its Asian strategy. What is particularly worrisome for Washington is that South […]
Hatred among NE Asians
Mutual hatred between Korean, Japanese and Chinese people has risen to a worrisome level recently. This is no doubt a cause for concern, not only for those who strive for peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia, but for anyone who wants this world to be free from additional troubles. According to an opinion poll conducted […]
Boys to take charge of K-pop in second quarter
While the first few months of the year in K-pop may have been dominated by girl groups, the boys appear poised to capture the lion’s share of the headlines in the months ahead with new albums and singles scheduled for release. One of the most anticipated will come from EXO, which scored big last year […]
Designing hangeul
Calligrapher promotes beauty of hangeul Few may readily identify Kang Byung-in, but his calligraphic writings have donned popular items such as soju labels and TV drama titles. Calligrapher Kang, 52, has written titles for popular dramas the “Woman Who Marries Thrice” (2014), “Faith” (2012) starring hallyu star Lee Min-ho, “The Innocent Man” (2012) starring actor […]
Unveiling of drones raises eyebrows
The defense ministry’s decision to make public South Korea’s in-service unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is raising some eyebrows. In the wake of growing concerns over North Korea’s drone incursions and criticism of the South’s lax surveillance, the Ministry of National Defense publicized its indigenous UAVs in an apparent move to show off its more advanced […]
Saenuri’s mayor hopefuls in 1st TV debate
The three Saenuri Party members hoping to contest the Seoul mayoral race appeared in their first televised primary debate, Wednesday. During the debate, former Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, seven-term lawmaker Chung Mong-joon and Supreme Council member Lee Hye-hoon also attacked sitting Mayor Park Won-soon, a member of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD). Stressing […]
Samsung to unveil Note4 in September
Samsung Electronics plans to unveil the Galaxy Note4 at this year’s technology exhibition in Berlin, Germany, in September, according to company officials Wednesday. “Samsung is considering holding a launch event of the Note4 at the IFA trade fair. It is in the middle of finalizing specification details for the upcoming phablet,” said an official by […]
Obama overreacts to selfie brouhaha
What if David Ortiz had used an iPhone for a selfie with President Barack Obama? Would the White House consider legal action against Apple? These are questions asked by some Koreans after the U.S. presidential office showed displeasure after the photo the Boston Red Sox star took of himself and the President on a Galaxy […]
Kim Jong-un keeps job
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was re-elected as the first chairman of the country’s powerful National Defense Commission (NDC), Wednesday. His re-election came during the first session of the North’s newly-elected Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA), said the state-run North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim was initially chosen for the post during the session in […]
Media in Tie-up with The AsiaN 
Trump, Kim, and the Three P’s of Summit Diplomacy: 
