Ideological exclusion in Korea
Korea’s recent hosting of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress in Jeju Island was sadly marred by the government’s decision to quell legitimate debate by barring the entry of four foreign attendees suspected of being opposed to the construction of a controversial naval base at Gangjeong Village. Those barred included […]
Insulting Muslims
One of the first scenes in the ridiculous but thoroughly nasty film “Innocence of Muslims” shows angry Muslims running through the streets smashing things and killing people. So what happens when a clip from the film dubbed into Arabic goes up on the Internet? Angry Muslims run through the streets smashing things and killing people. […]
On ‘Gangnam Style’
Psy’s jumpy dance hit “Gangnam Style” has taken the world by storm, leaving Koreans shocked and surprised. The song broke out on YouTube and has jumped to No. 11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in just two weeks. The distinctive “horse dance” is infectious. The popularity of the song is rapidly spreading from the […]
One more apology
Park’s problem is not about history but democracy Rep. Park Geun-hye, presidential candidate of the conservative Saenuri Party, expressed “somewhat evolved” views Monday about her father’s past misdeeds. It’s a regret we can’t give higher marks to Park’s apology for the history related with nearly two decades of dictatorial rule by her father, the late […]
Normalizing Italy
LONDON ― Italy’s political exceptionalism ― its chronic inability to marshal coherent governments backed by stable parliamentary majorities ― is weakening Europe and threatening the eurozone’s survival. More than electoral reform is needed: Italy requires comprehensive institutional renewal. Italy’s particular characteristics put its political system and institutional framework at odds with other democracies, and expose […]
Thoughts on the day of Chuseok
Waves of the East Sea and the East China Sea are high due to aggravating disputes on territorial sovereignty over the Dokdo Islands and the Senkaku/Diaoyudao Islands. China, Japan and Korea are involved in these disputes. Nonetheless, these three nations share the same tradition of observing Aug. 15, Full Moon’s Day of the lunar calendar. […]
Sad portrait of this era
One evening, when I came home earlier than usual, I happened to notice that a neighbor who had lived on the same level of my apartment building was moving to another area. However, the method of moving was disturbing because it involved a high-volume quarrel between a middle-aged woman and a couple of porters who […]
Putin’s Kulturkampf
MOSCOW ― August is often an unlucky month in Russia, particularly President Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Submarines have sunk, neighbors have been invaded, and forests have burned out of control. But, this August, the crisis was purely man-made ― indeed, made by one man. The conviction of three members of the agitprop punk-rock group Pussy Riot […]
Psy and K-pops
Few Koreans will want to make little of or speak ill of the global sensation Psy has touched off. Still, one can hardly deny some bewildering elements in the worldwide frenzy about this Korean singer-rapper and his mega hit, “Gangnam Style.” We Koreans, who understand the delicately nuanced messages in its words _ both envy […]
Why Psy and not JYP?
I just watched Psy perform live in New York City’s Rockefeller Center on NBC’s Today Show, a venue usually reserved for the most popular of international singers. I mean, you can’t get much more mainstream than that in the U.S. Wait. And the song just hit No. 1 in iTunes in 17 countries across the […]
Media in Tie-up with The AsiaN 
Trump, Kim, and the Three P’s of Summit Diplomacy: 
