Russian solution
It’s as if Paul Newman and Jane Fonda had fled the U.S. in protest at something or other ― they were always protesting ― and sought Russian citizenship instead. Americans would be surprised, but would they really care? It’s a free country, as they say. Whereas the French are quite cross about the decision of […]
Stability of NE Asia
Seoul can be key regional player with skill, resolve No three neighboring countries in the world might have greater potential for economic prosperity than Korea, China and Japan. Together, they account for nearly one fifth of global GDP and trade, closely following North America and the EU. That was at least how it had been […]
Seoul’s New City Hall
An old couple stood in the plaza gazing at Seoul’s newly built City Hall. “Look at that undulating glass structure that looms over from behind the old stone City Hall building. It’s ugly,” the old man whispered to his wife. “It looks more like my baby granddaughter’s winter boot upside down. It’s rather cute,” countered […]
America’s adoption reality
In 2010, 98 children were sent from Korea to Canada for adoption, making Korea the seventh-largest supplier of children to Canada. China was the largest supplier, with 472 children sent, followed by Haiti with 172. And can you guess who the third-largest supplier was? It was the United States, which sent 148 children to Canada. […]
Downbeat mood at Cheong Wa Dae
The presidential transition team has become the “it” beat among reporters these days as power shifts from outgoing President Lee Myung-bak to incoming President Park Geun-hye. The lively, hectic atmosphere at the Korea Banking Institute (KBI), where the transition team is based, stands in stark contrast to the bleak and depressing mood in Cheong Wa Dae, […]
Googling sedition in N. Korea
The visit of Google Chairman Eric Schmidt to North Korea this week raises intriguing questions about internet usage there to which we may not get real answers for a long time. Belatedly, North Korea has had to open access to the Internet to highly select elite that includes students at two or three leading universities […]
Suicide is preventable through social care
The recent suicide of former ace baseball pitcher Cho Sung-mo, 39, traumatized the country. His death followed the suicides of his former wife, actress Choi Jin-sil, in 2008, and his brother-in-law, Choi Jin-young, in 2010. Many agree that these suicides were prompted by “anti-fans,” who spread malicious stories online. The Internet can be two-faced. For […]
Prevention of suicide
National efforts needed to take off shameful label Korea is a land of suicides. As of 2010, 33.5 Koreans out of 100,000 took their own lives, the most among 34 OECD member nations for eight straight years and 2.6 times the average suicide rate of that organization. On average, 42.6 people killed themselves every day. […]
Clash of anxieties
On the eve of the Dec. 19 presidential election, I was on my way home by subway. I was sitting on one of the seats reserved for the elderly as it was not crowded. Minutes later a man in his 30s sat in front of me and two elderly men sat beside him at the […]
Another Psy analysis
So many articles try to explain the reasons behind the rise of Psy and the implications of his windfall success as an individual and the significance of his craft on the global scene. Even the New York Times sees something more than a person here (“The Goal in Gangnam: Go Beyond the Song,” IHT, NYT, […]
Media in Tie-up with The AsiaN 
Trump, Kim, and the Three P’s of Summit Diplomacy: 
