N. Korea’s brinkmanship
China must do its utmost to discourage Pyongyang North Korea looks set to launch a long-range rocket soon in defiance of widespread international condemnation. Reports have it that the Stalinist country has reportedly completed installing the rocket on a launch pad. Pyongyang announced its plan to launch the rocket between Dec. 10 and 22 but […]
More important than half-price tuition
Recently a technician with only a high school diploma was promoted to CEO of a leading Korean conglomerate. Even considering he has devoted his 30-year career entirely to the development of washing machines at that company, it was an unprecedented case as a college diploma has been regarded as of utmost importance in Korean society. […]
Subprime ―Korean style
Quick policy responses needed for soft landing Alarm bells are ringing louder for the possible eruption of a Korean version of the subprime mortgage crisis. Without prompt action and durable solutions, the nation might face another devastating economic crisis. According to the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), mortgages that were offered in excess of the recent […]
Is Ahn Perot or Nader?
The death of one opportunity often leads to the birth of another. When a person goes through such a process, it usually leads to transformation. This happened on Monday to Ahn Cheol-soo, former independent presidential candidate. It was captured in a speech he made during a ceremony to mark the disbandment of his campaign team. […]
To be a good volunteer use your brain
There is probably an unwritten rule that a celebrity offering to do volunteer work for a good cause should immediately be embraced. Well, that’s not what happened to Jeong So-dam, the glamorous Korean cable TV announcer when our paths crossed on Nov. 29. Ms. Jeong was the MC of an event about American political philosophy […]
How Gallup missed the mark ― again
On the eve of Election Day, the Gallup Poll indicated that Mitt Romney would become president. His margin of victory: one percentage point ― 49 percent Romney to 48 percent Obama. This projection was based on telephone interviews of 2,551 likely voters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia conducted between Nov. 1 […]
Stabilizing people’s lives
Start by knowing correct reasons of past failures For one, surveys show that the majority of voters want governmental change but the ruling party candidate, Park Geun-hye, is enjoying the highest ratings in the polls. This is largely because Park has successfully kept her distance from the unpopular President Lee Myung-bak by acting as an […]
A micro look at name cards
Sometimes details, even very small ones, have big things to say. Such it is with the ubiquitous name card in Korea. In going through a pile of recently received cards, a number of thoughts come to mind. Romanization: This is the great emotion stirrer that divides people into three camps ― pro-McCune Reischauer (MR), anti-MR, […]
Egypt ― Morsi goes too far
“There is no middle ground, no dialogue before (Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi) rescinds this declaration,” said pro-democracy advocate and Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohammed ElBaradei. “There is no room for dialogue when a dictator imposes the most oppressive, abhorrent measures and then says ‘let us split the difference.’” Morsi won last June’s presidential election fair […]
Pyongyang’s losing game
Missile gamble will not pay at home, abroad Concerns of the international community will likely become a reality once again, as North Korea has made its intention to launch another rocket official. No matter what North Korean officials say to justify what they call the peaceful promotion of space science, the world knows it is […]
Media in Tie-up with The AsiaN 
Trump, Kim, and the Three P’s of Summit Diplomacy: 
